Bittersweet Sunday

Last sunday i was practically floating on air with excitement. I’m gonna be meeting an angel, she said coffee would be enough (we don’t drink coffee but we like to tambay on coffee shops hehe), but i’ll be treating her to fine dining if need be. Because it’s not often that I get to spend time with her.

She was on her way to New Zealand and has a stopover at Singapore. She only got 2 hours to spare before she flies to that country far away. I was joking at her months before if she could go via Singapore on her way to NZ, and sure enough she booked that route. I was so happy… I literrally clapped my hands when I read her email. See… I was that giddy!

Sunday came and I was already at the airport an hour before her ETA. Looking at the monitor, I read that she’s supposed to land at Terminal 2. So off I go at Terminal 2 waiting for that angel to show off her halo and wings and stand out among the crowd.

I keep on texting her, both numbers she gave me, telling her I was just outside waiting for her. My smile was so big, people watching me would have thought I’m meeting a family or a boyfriend. But I am meetng a wonderful friend, and friends after all are the family we get to choose. And the boyfriend… he knows how excited I am of meeting her.

I know we only have two hours to spare before her next flight, so time is of the essence.

First came the text from her that she’s already landed but not off the plane yet. And then a few minutes after that she texted me that she’s already on the skytrain on her way to Terminal 3 of the airport where her next flight will be taking off. And I was waiting at Terminal 2 where her first flight was supposed to land!

Changi Airport is like a HUGE mall. You’ll drown with choices. And the mall side is just a portion of this whole building, so i litterally ran towards the skytrain. Nawala ang poise basta makadagan lang.

I got to Terminal 3 and thats when she texted me that she’s at the A-series gate, so I ran again towards that direction, which is in the other end of this huge hall. It was like a scene in a movie where people search through a crowd looking for someone. She’s here! We’re under one roof yet I still couldn’t find her! So close yet so far!

I was in the second floor with walls made of glass letting you see the floor below… and that’s where I saw her! Chichi was right there, smack in the middle of the hall waving her hand like crazy towards me! I actually jumped and clap my hands from being so happy (see, i do that when  I’m ridiculously happy) to finally see her. It was like opening a gift and finding out that you got what you  really wanted inside the box.

I went down and tried to get as close to her as possible, but the guard told me that I am only allowed up to that point. She can’t go out and I can’t get in. *sigh*

It was bittersweet. At least I was able to hear her voice when I called her up earlier while I was searching for her inside that labyrinth. Which is I think the reason why she ran out of roaming balance (huhu sorry chi). At least I was able to see her, get a glimpse of her and see that smile which I missed since the last time I saw her last january. At least I was able to text her and tell her that I was there, and she saw me and somehow it was all worth it.

It was bittersweet, not being able to enjoy that coffee or that dinner with her. All the words and laughter I would have wanted to share with her floated inside my head, while I stand there and texted her that it was as far as they would allow me to go.

we had this last exchange through mobile while she was off to that land far far away :

chi : “You’re making me cry. Pang commercial material kaayo atong gibuhat. I love you because you are one mad and crazy friend…I am sitting here at my gate now and imagining sipping coffee with you. I love you dear dee. Thank you for being my angel, beautiful and perfect but crazy too.”

Dee: God bless on your new life in New Zealand. I am glad to see you even from afar. Raincheck on that coffee date. Bittersweet sunday really. I am on my way back to the train station. Sige lang magkita ra nya ta, doesn’t matter where. (My place? Your place?) I love you chi, meeting someone like you doesn’t happen that often. I am really glad I came. Kita gihapon ko nimu even if wala ko nka-hug.. somehow thats enough.

Would you believe that I’ve only met this person once. It was last January when I finally get to meet her in person. But our friendship started late last year. She and together with the other supergirls (those that I’ve met in person) inspired me in so many ways.

She often tells me I’m her crazy angel cause I usually pop up when she’s frantic, but God knows she’s the one who is heaven sent.

God bless in New Zealand Chi! Show them what you got! Atta girl!

p.s: I owe you coffee, dinner and a huge tight hug! I promise to visit you there.