For Real

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned off the Fasten Seat Belt sign, and you may now move around the cabin. However we always recommend to keep your seat belt fastened while you’re seated. In a few moments, the flight attendants will be passing around the cabin to offer you hot or cold drinks, as well as a light meal. Alcoholic drinks are also available at a nominal charge/with our compliments. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. Thank you." Sabi nang chief flight attendant.

It has been a months since I didn't have a contact with him. Wala din kasi kaming masyadong communications sa isa't isa. Tiningnan ko si Jared. Mukhang tulog na siya. Yung mga cabin crew naman ay nag safety demonstration na sila. May nakita naman akong baby sa kabilang side ko na natutulog. She looks so very cute. Nagwave ako sa kanya. Tumawa naman siya at napataas pa ang paa. She look a half american and half filipino.

After one hour ay nagising na si Jared. "Did you eat your meal already?" Tanong niya sakin. Umiling naman ako.

"I just had a drink." Sagot ko naman. He called the attendant and told her something. Kinilig naman yata ang babae nang makita si Jared. After ilang minutes ay bumalik na rin yung flight attendant na may dalang pagkain. Kinuha naman ni Jared yon at binigay sakin.

"Here, you need to eat first."

"Thank you." I smiled. He stand up and place his coat on my shoulders. Naka turtle neck nalang siya ngayon. Kitang kitang yung mga muscles niya dahil hinubad niya ang coat niya. "Bakit mo binigay sakin?" Tanong ko naman.

"You need to be warm." Bumalik na siya sa upuan niya at nag umpisang kumain.

"How about you?" Alinlangan ko.

"I'm okay as long as I am with you." He just smile.

Kumain na din ako. I check my watch at isang oras nalang bago kami makarating sa Incheon airport. Hindi ko ata manguya nang maayos yung pagkain ko dahil sa sobrang excited. Natapos na kaming kumain dalawa and this is it pancit. My most awaited part.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened and all carry-on luggage is stowed underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Thank you." He said. I mean the Captain.

Tiningnan ko ang expression ni Jared nang narinig niya ang boses na iyon. Mukhang wala naman siyang pakielam. Hindi din niya siguro alam na siya yon.

"Flight attendants, prepare for landing please. Cabin crew, please take your seats for landing." He added. Inulit naman iyon nang mga flight attendant sa mga pasahero.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Incheon Airport. Local time is 10:50 pm and the temperature is 19°C.

For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about. At this time, you may use your cellular phones if you wish.

Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.

If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you.

On behalf of Philippine Airlines and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. This is Brett Liam Alorro ,your Captain. Have a nice night everyone."

Yes ,I heard it right it is Brett who is the captain of the airplane. They owned the Philippine Airlines. Tumayo na si Jared at sumunod naman ako. Binigay ko sa kanya yung coat niya pero hindi niya yun tinanggap at pinasuot sakin.

Pababa na kami nang Airplane nang nakasalubong namin si Brett. He is good looking in his uniform. Nagkatinginan naman kami. Una siyang lumapit samin at ngumiti. Tumigil naman kaming dalawa ni Jared.

"I saw your names in the list and I didn't expect that you will be travelling together. First outside country, Iza?" Tanong niya at tumingin sakin. Mukhang wala naman siyang masamang intensyon. I smile at him.

"Oo, biglaan din kasi." Nasabi ko nalang.

"We're going now." Jared interrupted.

"Don't worry bro. I'm good now. I will let you with Iza. Basta Iza kapag sinaktan ka niya. Nandito lang ako ha. Babaliin ko ang buto ni Jared sabihan mo lang ako. " Habol niya pa. Ngumiti nalang ako sa kanya. Mukhang mabuti na siya ngayon. Maayos na din ang mukha niya hindi tulad nang last namin na meet. Mukhang sabog siya.

"Take care." I said before we left. Kinuha na namin yung maleta namin ni Jared. Tiningnan ko naman yung mga tao dito. It's really Korea. Grabe, ang ganda dito. Tumatapak na ako sa lugar na pinapangarap ko.

"I'm so excited." Masaya kong sabi kay Jared. Kakaiba yung nararamdaman ko ngayon. I'm speechless.

"I'm glad that you are happy baby." Then he kissed my forehead. "Kung hindi dahil sayo I can't go here." Sabi ko ang give him a kiss in his lips. He chuckled.

Naglakad naman kaming dalawa palabas. Siya naman ang may dala nang dalawang suitcase namin. Habang ako naman ay hindi parin makapaniwala na nasa Seoul na ako. Naririnig ko ang mga tao na nagsasalita nang korean . Sabihin niyo na mukha akong bata pero I'm really having fun here.

Nilanghap ko ang hangin.

May tumigil naman sa harapan namin na isang van. Nakita ko namang may lumabas na lalaki sa drivers seat saka tinulangan si Jared sa maleta namin. Nagtaka naman ako kong sino iyon.

"Sino yon?" Tanong ko kay Jared.

"Family driver." Maikli niya sagot. Pumasok na siya sa loob kaya sumunod din ako.

"May family ka dito? "Nagtataka kong tanong.

"I have a twenty five percent of being a Korean. Because my mother is a half Korean and half Flipino. That's why the my grandfather and grandmother lives here in Seoul." Explain niya sakin. Napanganga naman ako sa nalaman ko. Sana all may lahing koreano.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi. Wala man lang akong kaalam-alam." Niyugyog ko siya. Natawa naman kaming dalawa. Pinitik niya ang ulo ko.

"Hindi ka naman nagtanong." Sagot niya. Napasimangot naman ako doon. May mga features talaga siya nang pagiging Korean. Yung mata at lips niya. Nag umpisa nang umalis ang van. Ako naman ay tumitingin padin sa paligid.

"We did a great choice to visit here since today is October. It's a perfect time to visit Korea." Narinig kong sabi niya.

"You did a great choice." And I winked at him. Natawa naman siya.

Nakita ko naman yung Namsan Seoul Tower. Namangha naman ako sa LED lights nito sa exterior. 500 meters ang taas nito mula sa city. Ganito pala ang itsura niya. May mga cherry blossoms din sa ilalim nito. Timing talaga ang pagpunta namin dito dahil Autumn.

"Nakikita mo ba yan Jared?" Sabi ko sa kanya. "Diyan hinintay ni Jandy si Junpyoo." Kwento ko sa kanya habang tinuturo parin ang tower.

"Who are they?"

"Yung nasa Boys Over Flowers. Si Junpyoo yung asawa ko doon. Alam mo ba magkapareho kayo nang ugali. Minsan mabait minsan naman sobra sama. Pero kahit paano he is nice." He just rolled his eyes at me. Nagpipigil naman ako nang tawa ko.

"Totoo naman ang sinasabi ko. Junpyoo really loves Jandy so much pero yung mother ni Junpyoo ay against sa kanila. Kaya nilayuan ni Junpyoo si Jandy dahil mahirap lang daw sila tapos nafall naman yung kaibigan ni Junpyoo kay Jandy na in the first place siya yung crush ni Jandy. Grabe yung love story nila." Kwento ko sa kanya.

"Why is that Junpyoo keeping a distance on that Jandy if he really loves her. If his mother resist on there relationship. He can fight for the two of them. What a coward." Napalaki naman ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

"Ganon naman yung ginawa niya a huli eh. Kahit nga pinaglayo talaga sila nang tadhana. " Tumingin lang siya sakin.

"Stop with your kdrama nonsense." Napasimangot naman ako. I put my head on his shoulder while looking at the beautiful Seoul. The city is filled with a wide range of tourist attractions of all types. Ang linis din nang mga kalsada nila at walang masyadong traffic. Ibang iba sa Pilipinas.

Seoul is also a city of palaces, with five huge palace complexes located throughout the city and now restored to their former glory. Yung mga palasyo na nakikita nadin sa mga korean drama katulad nalang nang Tale of Nokdu, Love in the Moonlight at Scarlet heart .Naprepreserve nila iyon at inaalagaan talaga. Isa na doon ang Gyeokbokgung Palace.

Parang familiar naman yung dinadaanan namin ngayon parang nakita ko na talaga ito. "Saan na tayo?" Tanong ko kay Jared.

"Itaewon." Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"As in Itaewon?" Pag uulit ko.

"Bingi ka?" Pang aasar niya.

Nakita ko yung mga lugar kung saan nagshooting ang Itaewon Class. It's really true. Unang araw palang pero marami na akong nakikita na mga lugar na gusto kong mapuntahan. Napamangha naman ako sa nasisilayan ko ngayon.

"Malapit na ba tayo?" Tanong ko. Hinimas naman niya ang buhok ko at nilagay yung braso niya sa likuran ko. Nasa dibdib na niya yung ulo ko. I really love his smell.

"We're close. You can sleep if you're tired. We will just a night there on my grandmas's house then after that we can go hotel."

"Hindi ba masyadong gastos?" Tanong ko naman sa kanya. Ngumiti lang siya sakin.

"Nothing is more precious than you baby. " I give a kiss on his lips. It is just a passionate kiss. "Thank you again." I said in his ears. I'm so lucky to have him.

Biglang tumigil ang van. Tininganan ko naman kung nasaan kami. Nasa ibaba kami nang Namsan Tower. Bumaba agad ako. I can see the breath taking view up here. Yung mga ilaw nang mga building sa ilalim ay parang mga alitaptap na parang nagsasayaw dito sa itaas pati narin ang mga sasakyan. Ang ganda, sobra.

"Did you like it?" Tanong niya sakin.

"Yes, I will always will. " I am tearing eye right now. I'm just so happy.

"Halika dito." He hold my hand. Naglakad kami nang ilang minuto at nakita ko naman ang love locks. Bigla kung natandaan na dito pala sa N Seoul Tower naka locate ang love locks. Nakikita ko din sa mga kdrama ito.

It allow couples to profess their love. Tradition says that writing the names of two lovers on a lock and fixing it around the base of the N Seoul Tower can secure the couple’s love forever.

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"I know that you already know that N Seoul Tower is one of the only few places in the world where visitors are actively encouraged to hang these symbols of love onto important monuments. We can double the magic by making a wish in the Wishing Pond on the second floor of the tower. Why don't we try it?" He said. I'm just smiling while he is saying the meaning of the tower. He knows every single thing I like.

"Sure! "Masaya kong sabi. Hindi ko alam that he is romantic. Binigay naman niya sakin ang isang lock at black pen. Medyo lumayo ako sa kanya para hindi niya makita yung isusulat ko. Hinayaan niya lang ako. Nag isip naman ako kung ano ang isusulat ko. Someday or in the future pwedeng hindi na kami magkasamang bumalik dito o mag isa nalang ako. I'll write for the future. Pwede din kasi a short message yung ilagay tapos yung ansa unahan pangalan yung isusulat.

'A million times over, I will choose you.' -Iza

Bumalik na ako sa kanya. "I'm done." Masaya kong sabi sa kanya. Lumapit naman siya. "Make a wish before you lock it up." Sabi niya. Sabay naman kaming lumapit doon dalawa. I open the lock using the key and place it inside then I make a wish.

Tumingin naman ako kay Jared at sabay naming nilock dalawa. Nag apir naman kami pagkatapos naming gawin iyon. Tumingin ako sa langit dahil nakita kong may mga fireworks na lumilipad doon. Ngumiti lang ako habang nakatingala.

"Iza." I heard Jared's voice.

Tumingin naman ako sa kanya. "Ano?"

"Did you remember what I said when we are in the resort while we are looking up to the stars?" He asked me. I just nodded. Bigla ko nalang naalala na ginoodtime niya ako noon.

"Oo naman. Bakit ko naman malilimutan iyon." Kibit balikat kong sabi.

"It's true Iza. Everything I said there was all true."

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya. Trying to sense if he will laugh or he is joking. Pero hindi siya natawa.

"Love is a falling star. You are the star. I'm falling."

My eyes became big when I hear it out. Did I heared it right? He is falling for me for real?

"Wh-at?" Utal kong sabi sa kanya.

"You heared it right, Alexandra. I'm falling for you." Hindi parin masink in sa utak ko kung tama ba talaga yung narinig ko.

I stared in his brown eyes. I can see the reflection of my face in his eyes.

"Huwag mo akong binibiro, Jared." Nag asta naman akong parang nagbabangayan lang kaming dalawa pero ang lakas nang tibok ng puso ko. "I'm not joking, Iza. I'm saying the truth here." He hold my two hands.

"I didn't know when it started. First of all, I didn't want to fall in love but then I met you and my decision changed. Ever since I met you. There is one else is worth thinking about." He sigh while saying that. I can feel that he is sincere towards his words.

Ang lakas na nag tibok nang puso ko.

"Will you be my girlfriend? For real." He asked. Napaiyak naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"Yes!"