Here Comes My Man

SATURDAY
Airport.

I arrived in Makati around 3 pm. I withdrew money from my ATM and took a cab to Hotel Durban. When I reached our room, I thought it was cozy and pleasant. I put down my things and laid down. I just watched TV and took a nap. I took a shower and planned on walking to Ayala station to take a train near my old uni and then take a cab to the airport. I got dressed and off I went. It was 7 pm and I was still walking. I got lost and reached the dark and secluded place. I didn't realise I was already walking in the highway. I decided to just take a cab from Makati to the airport. The cab driver was kind enough to tell me not to get a cab from the arrival because they would rip us off. I had a good talk with the driver.

I arrived at the airport around 9pm and was expecting your plane to land at 10:30. I took a seat at the second floor of the arrival area near the television so I could see the flight status. I checked the screen every now and then. I was so excited and nervous like the first time we met up. I'm not sure why. I was listening to Here Comes My Man when I saw 3K765 ----- SINGAPORE ---- MANILA ---- LANDED. I smiled like an idiot and jumped from my seat. I hurried down the stairs and waited for you to appear from the arrival area. As I saw you walking all manly, I wanted to meet you halfway but the guard didn't allow me. They just kept offering me a cab. You gave me a big hug. I held your arm while walking to the departure area where we took a cab.

After dropping off your luggage in the hotel room, we ate dinner at Shakey's. I remember clearly how I felt that night. I could not believe you were with me again. Post dinner, we bought water and glass slipper at 711. We went back to the hotel room and dot dot dot.

SUNDAY
Meet up with friends.

We originally planned to watch a movie in Greenbelt before meeting my client and the girlaloos but I completely forgot that Metro Manila Film Festival movies were still running. We went to Glorietta hoping that there would be English movies but there were none. We decided to take a train and a jeep to Robinson's Manila where we met my client to give her application.





After meeting with the client, we took a bus going to Casimiro. I wasn't feeling well and my tummy felt bloated. You told me to hum "OMMMMMMMM" and sure enough, it helped even though it was funny. We met up with Murphy in 711 and took a tricycle to Trish's house. What a feast. Adobo, chips, wine, beer, cheese.

Going home, Angie dropped us off in Alabang Zapote with Marz. The ride was bumpy but we didn't mind. You and I were seated at the back. I was in between your legs and I wished we could remain like that for just a little while longer. We shared a cab with Marz and both of you talked about How I Met Your Mother. We arrived at the hotel around 1 am and surprisingly, we still had the energy to dot dot dot.

After some time, our bodies craved for something meaty. We ate at a 24/7 Arab restaurant where they served really, really good food for a not so expensive price. At 3:30 am we went back to bed and fell asleep.

     





MONDAY
Tattoo.

We went to Wild Ones after work and got a tattoo on the back of our hand. Mark the artist recommended that we eat first before the procedure and he suggested Zark's. Their burgers were delicious, but I couldn't finish off mine. You ate the rest of my burger.

Getting the tattoo wasn't that bad. Personally, the outlining was painful. The shading part hurt but in a comfortable way - that doesn't make sense. I don't know about you but you didn't seem to be in pain at all.

It was already around 10 pm when we finished. We walked and bought petroleum jelly from a drug store. It was already late and there were no more UV Express vans going to Makati which I hoped there would be. We took a cab instead who tried to rip us off. He was asking us to pay 500 but I knew it should only be around 200. I told him to drop us off in Glorietta and we walked from there to Padre Burgos. We got back to the hotel and took a shower. We were so tired but I knew nothing can stop us from dot dot dot.


TUESDAY
Pizza & Beer.









I insisted that you stay in the hotel to rest as you had flu, but you still waited for me in Starbucks and read your book. I decided to take you to Pho Hoa for lunch and have noodles with soup to make you feel a bit better.










We wanted to relax that night and stay in with pizza, beer, and a good movie.You bought the beer while I was at work, and we both went to Yellowcab to buy the pizza together when I got out. We watched Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist while we enjoyed our food. After the movie, we felt like sleeping, but you know that doesn't actually happen until after dot dot dot.    

WEDNESDAY
Dinner & The Hobbit




You were still feeling a bit under the weather that Wednesday and so I decided to take you for a healthy lunch again. We had Korean food at a restaurant called Kaya. I ordered a bowl noodle soup and my favourite: Bibimbap (lots of veggies and an egg on top). You seemed to like it.

After work, we walked around Greenbelt then had dinner at Sumosam. There was a server with a nice bum and we wanted her to take our picture but...no luck.

         




Before watching the last full show of The Hobbit, we drank a bit at Tapella. We walked around again and had a smoke before going to the cinemas. I fell asleep during the first part of the movie then I watched what was left of the movie. The Hobbit finished around 1 am and we walked back to the hotel. I enjoyed walking with you late at night while listening to the Dwarves' song. We got back to the hotel and took a shower, and got ready for bed. Little did we know that we got ready for something else...

THURSDAY
Meet the folks.

We checked out at 12 noon and took a cab to BF. I didn't want to say anything, but leaving Makati meant that you would be on your way to Singapore soon. When we reached BF and got out of the cab, my sister's childhood friend saw us and he/she asked, "Joy! Is he your cousin?" I did not expect that at all. Anyway, we had lunch at Charbroiled burger and had killer tacos and Wasabi burger.
       

I went home while you waited at Cafe Boheme. When I got home, I told everyone I was going to wait for you at Starbucks because you would be "taking a cab from the airport". Around 4 pm, I told my parents that you have already arrived and that we were eating at Starbucks. Before going back to the house, we did eat at Starbucks. We shared a banoffee pie.

While walking the short distance to our house, I can feel that you were nervous. You looked so adorable. My mom, dad, brother, lola, Cal, manang Ining and manang Soling were waiting. Of course, we had to act like it was our first meeting so we were about two feet away from each other.

As a welcome gesture, we invited ate and her family and went to ATC. We all had dinner in Crisostomo which is a restaurant that serves Filipino food. I figured they wanted to let you try Filipino food. After dinner, we also made you try Mochiko, but it was too cold for you.
       

Back home, we watched the Godfather on your laptop. We were snuggled close together in a bed, but we didn't get to finish it because I fell asleep. I was so tired and you felt so comfortable.

Our sleeping arrangement was quite interesting. There's a new bed in the den where you can pull out another single bed at the bottom. My brother slept on the bed while I slept on the bottom bed beside your mattress. I didn't plan to sleep there but you know, two nights left before you leave, I didn't want to sleep without you beside me.


FRIDAY
Movie date.

We woke up around 9 am. You played computer games first before taking a shower. We drove to ate's place and checked out the site since we wouldn't make it in time for the 12:10 showing of Jack Reacher. We had lunch at Brooklyn Pizza where we ordered so much food for two. We had pasta, half pizza, and buffalo wings. No regrets. After lunch, we watched Red Dawn which was a pretty cool, fast paced movie.


We went outside to have a smoke and saw a mustang parked outside the Cinemas. I took a picture of you with it.

Anyway, kuya JJ wanted to watch Jack Reacher that night so we waited for him, ate Jae, and kuya Julius. Meanwhile, we waited at San Mig Pub like last  August and stayed there for a bit until we felt the need to go somewhere else because dot dot dot. After going through traffic and the heavy rain, we finally reached ATC. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for screaming at you when you tried to cover me with your jacket and protect me from getting wet. I'm sorry, love.


We proceeded to the cinemas and waited for them. I was in a terrible mood because my socks were wet and you were making me feel better by kissing my cheeks, and being so close to me. I love feeling your beard when you kiss me. The rest of the gang arrived and well watched the movie.



When we got home, you checked your posting for the next two years. A rifleman. You expressed how much you hated it. Sigh. You deserve to be in command school. You worked so hard and gone through so much.

Anyway, as promised, you brought your commando face paint. We played with it and drew on each other's faces.


We washed our faces after and were ready to sleep. But it dawned on us that this was the last time we would ever get to sleep next to each other in a long time again. We tried to hold back our tears because my brother was playing computer games but we couldn't. We stepped outside and cried.





SATURDAY
Airport.

My heart felt heavy when I woke up the next morning. I started to count the hours left.


Around 11 am, my sister and her family came for lunch. My mom prepared food for a little farewell party. After lunch, all of us went to see Ate Jae and Kuya JJ's new house. It was almost done!

We went back home and played online monopoly.


Around 6pm, my mom told us to leave soon. It was raining heavily and she said the traffic might be heavy going to the airport. We reluctantly left the house.

While driving, I couldn't help but cry. I wanted to take you anywhere but the airport. What hurt the most was hearing you repeatedly say, "I don't want to go." I didn't want you to leave either. I suppose the feeling of being left behind is as difficult to deal with as the feeling of leaving but I'm sure there's a difference. One thing is for sure though, both feels like shit.

I parked the car and we continued crying until we were able to calm each other down. We walked to the nearest store and had ice cream which made us feel a little better. We walked back to the car and talked about when we're going to meet next and I said I wanted to go to Singapore this time.

Around 7:45, we made our way to the departure area. Last time, I couldn't look at you because I didn't want you to see me cry. This time, I didn't care anymore. We held each other tight and we kissed and hugged. Watching you fall in line and walk past the clearance was just so difficult. You looked back every now and then. How you looked just broke my heart.

We're planning to meet in August since there will be a mutual holiday then. Still not sure whether you can because of your posting but I'm hoping that we can meet in 7 months. Anyway, I'm still very glad and grateful that you came here and had the balls to meet my family and friends.