CHAPTER III: Anniversary

Days, weeks, months, and year passed when we became husband and wife, today is our first wedding anniversary. We decided to celebrate it out of the country, Switzerland to be exact. Abala ako sa pag - aayos ng gamit na dadalhin namin habang hinihintay ko siyang makauwi, our flight is 4:00 pm in the afternoon and it is already 2:30 wala pa s’ya. Well, 1 hr pa naman bago ang usapan naming time ng uwi niya which is 3:30. 

Nang matapos kong igayak an gaming mga gamit ay naligo na ako para mamaya pagdating niya ay siya na lang ang gagayak. But natapos na lamang akong mag skin care routine at mag – ayos ng sari ay wala pa rin siya. Everything is already settled, siya na lang ang hinihintay. Napatingin ako sa wristwatch na suot ko, 3:20pm na, asan na kaya nag lalaking ‘yon? 

I opened my pouch to get my phone, I dialed his number pero ring lang ito nang ring, walang sumasagot. I dialed his number again, saka siya sumagot. 

“Hon, what’s up? Katatapos lang ng meeting with my board of directors, missed me?” nagtaka ako. 

“What do you mean ‘what’s up’ and ‘missed me’? did you just forget our plan today?” inis na tanong ko, natahimik siya sa kabilang linya. 

“Hon, what do you mean ‘plan’?” nagtatakang tanong pa niya. Lalo akong nainis, bubulyawan ko na sana siya nang muli siyang magsalita sa kabilang linya “oh shoot, the flight! I’m sorry honey, pauwi na ako” I ended the call sa sobrang inis ko sa kan’ya. 

Lumabas ako sa kwarto at hinanap ang driver na maghahatid sa amin sa airport. Nakita ko siya sa labas, inihahanda ang kotse na gagamitin namin. “Manong Joey pakikuha na nga po ng bagahe namin sa taas, dalawang maleta lang naman iyon, pakitulungan na lang si manong, Joel.” Utos ko rin sa hardinero namin. 

Sumakay na ako sa kotse habang hinihintay sila na mailagay sa kotse ang mga bagahe namin. Nang matapos sila ay sinabihan ko si manong na ihatid na ako sa airport. “Hindi na po ba natin hihintayin si sir, ma’am?” takang tanong niya. 

“Hindi na, kung gusto niya sumunod bahala siya sa buhay niya.” Quarter to 4 na, 4:30 ang flight. Kung hihintayin ko pa siya, maiiwan kami ng eroplano, sayang ang ticket na binili ko. Iniwan ko ang maleta na may mga gamit niya sa kwarto pati na rin ang passport niya. Kung gusto niya sumunod bumili na lang ulit siya ng ticket niya. “Tayo na manong, mal-late na ako sa flight” unbothered na sabi ko. 

“S-sige po, ma’am” nag - aalangan namang sagot niya. One thing I hate the most is when my plans are not going accordingly. 

Pagkadating naming sa airport ay sakto namang nag a - announce na ang flight na sasakyan ko. Kaya nagdire – diretso na ako sa pagsakay sa eroplano. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon! Welcome on board our flight from the Philippines to Zurich, Switzerland. This is Captain Kyle Andrius Falkerson speaking, alongside my co-pilot, Howard Gavin Taller. I have some information about our flight. We departed at 4:30 pm local time from the Philippines, and our estimated flight duration is approximately 12 hours. Our estimated time of arrival in Zurich, Switzerland is 6:30 am Central European Time tomorrow. The weather in our route is good, and the forecast says it will be sunny in Switzerland when we arrive. We remind you that if you need any special attention, all our crew will be ready to assist you. We’ll be flying over some famous places, such as parts of Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, and the European Alps, and you will be able to follow our route on one of the entertainment system channels. Latest update on weather at our destination will be given as we approach Zurich. Enjoy your flight!"i

Wala akong katabi sa seat dahil hindi naman natuloy sa pagsama ang magaling kong asawa. I put my headphone on at nakinig lamang sa music the entire flight. Wala naman akong ibang gagawin kundi ang matulog, kumain, at making sa music habang hinihintay na lumapag ang eroplano sa Switzerland. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Captain Kyle Andrius Falkerson speaking. We’ve already started our descent procedure into Zurich Airport in Switzerland. We expect to land at 6:30 am Central European Time, right on schedule. If you want to adjust your watch, it is currently 6:15 am in Zurich. The weather in Zurich is sunny, with a gentle breeze, and the temperature is 12 degrees Celsius. We wish you a pleasant stay in Switzerland and we hope to see you again very soon. On behalf of all our crew, thank you for choosing our airline for your journey from the Philippines to Switzerland today. We appreciate your trust in us and look forward to serving you again."

Nagising ako sa announcement ng piloto, finally, inayos ko na ang gamit ko maging ang sarili ko nang maka-landing ang eroplano sa Switzerland. Pagkalabas sa airport ay naghanap na agad ako ng masasakyan at nagpahatid sa The Dolder Grand Hotel, ito ang napili naming pag stay-an dahil it has a breathtaking views of Lake Zurich and the Alps. We are supposed to stay there for a week pero dahil hindi ko na siya kasama I am willing to stay a week longer, bahala na sya sa buhay niya. 

Nang makarating na ako sa hotel ay agad akong nag book ng room for 2 in case na sumunod ang magaling kong asawa. Nang makapasok ako sa designated room na itinuro sakin ng staff ay nag ayos na ako ng gamit. Nang matapos sa pag - aayos ay nagpasya akong libutin ang hotel room na inookupahan ko. Nang mapalapit ako sa bintana ay inalis ko ang blinds na nakaharang dito to see the view. I am completely stunned when I saw the view, I can see the famous Swiss Alps and the Zurich Lake. I’m in awe with the view, this view is really the reason why I want to have a vacation here in Switzerland. As a nature lover, this is absolutely a paradise. 

I was enjoying the view while sipping a glass of wine when my phone rang, it’s an international call. “Thanks god, you answered!” it’s my husband. “Ano, sumagot na ba?” rinig ko pang tanong ng isang babae sa kabilang linya, it’s Joan. “Hello, hon?” muling nagsalita ang magaling kong asawa. 

“Yeah?” malamig kong sagot sa kan’ya. 

“Where are you now? It’s an international call, does it mean nasa Switzerland ka na?”may pag – aalalang tanong nito. 

“Yes” diretsong sagot ko. 

“B-but… honey why didn’t you wait for me?” frustrated na tanong niya. 

“I thought ayaw mong sumama?” I casually said while sipping my wine. 

“What? Hindi ba’t ang sabi ko’y pauwi na ako? Why didn’t you wait for me?” 

“Because I’ll be late on our flight. Kung hinintay kita edi nand’yan pa rin ako sa pilipinas as of now?” I heard him sigh

“I bought another ticket, my flight is 7:00 am tomorrow, wait me there”

“Okay” I said nonchalantly “If I’m not mistaken, it’s 3 in the midnight na d’yan, right?”

“Yes, Honey. God, I missed you already!” 

“Bakit magkasama pa rin kayo ni Joan?”

“Oh, nagpatulong lang ako sa kan’ya bumili ng ticket na ang flight ay early in the morning”

“Okay?” I said, questioning what’s next. 

“That’s it. Sinabihan ko rin kasi siya na mag stay na muna hangga’t hindi pa kita nakakausap ‘coz your number is out of reach.”

“Okay, tell her to take a rest” 

“Yes, honey. I’ll hang up now, see you tomorrow, iloveyou!”

“Bye”