Every Flight Counts

Kabanata 34

May ibang participants na rin doon. Dahil bagong sali lang ako ay iyong sa may bandang likod at gilid na lamesa na ang naibigay sa akin.

Habang naka-standby at naghihintay ay hindi ko mapigilang makaramdam ng excitement. Both from the thought of seeing Zaid and the wonderment of what his reaction will be upon seeing me. He totally has no idea about this plan of mine. So I guess it's safe to say that this is quite a surprise.

Habang naghihintay lang doon at tinatapik-tapik ang lamesa ay hindi ko mapigilang marinig ang pinag-uusapan ng mga nasa harap na mukhang regulars at suki ng workshop.

"Shit antagal naman ni Papi Zaid,"

Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi ng babae. Akala ko ay malala na iyon pero ang dami ko pang narinig na mga pagnanasa mula sa mga nasa harap ko. Sa grupo ng limang kababaihan sa harap ay apat ang nakumpirma kong pumupunta lang dito para kay Zaid habang isa lang ata sa kanila ang gusto talagang matuto dahil nananatili lang na tahimik.

Hindi ko maiwasang pasadahan sila ng tingin. Sa pag-iinspeksyon ko ay nabuo ko ang hinuha na tila mga high school o college students pa lang sila.

I mentally shook my head. Mukhang mga bata pa, ang lalandi na!

Ganyan ka rin naman dati.

I blinked tensely at that tiny voice inside my head. I sighed as I guiltily accepted the fact that I'm actually no different with these girls.

Natigilan ako sa mga iniisip nang bumukas na ang pinto. My lips automatically parted when I saw him.

Shit. Triple shit.

He looks so dashing as ever. Alam mo yung habang naglalakad siya at tinitignan mo pa lang kung gaano siya kagwapo ay bigla mo pang marerealize kung gaano siya kasuccessful and fulfilled sa life? Ang lakas lakas tuloy ng dating niya sa bawat hakbang niya. Wala pa siyang ibang ginagawa pero grabe na. Sobrang lakas.

Rinig na rinig ko rin ang frantic reactions ng mga teenagers sa harap ko. Sabay kaming napamura sa nakita. Sa isip nga lang yung sakin.

I sighed. I really can't blame these girls though. Zaid is just really... irresistible.

Nang makarating sa harap ay ngumiti si Zaid sa lahat. I almost dropped my heart at that.

He was adjusting the folds of his long sleeves while roaming his eyes around. My heart doubled its speed in anticipation for him to see me.

And so it happened.

Our eyes met.

I witnessed how his lips parted.

He stopped moving. He stopped what he's doing. His hands just stayed in place.

There was something in his eyes. Something I've always used to see when we're in college. Something I've always used to see whenever we were together. Something I've always used to see whenever he looks into my eye.

My heart fluttered. I smiled at him. A real happy one. I miss you, Zaidie.

I saw his lips parted even more at that.

Kung hindi pa tinawag ng isang staff ang atensyon niya ay hindi pa agad nasimulan ang gawain.

I can't help but admire him even more when he started talking. He's absolutely the best in this field. Hindi pa siya nagpapakitang gilas pero sa pagsasalita niya pa lang ay matutukoy mo na.