“Beh, 3 months lang daw binigay sayo na pahinga ha! Baka mamaya isang taon na lang lumipas, hindi pa kita nakikita dito sa Pilipinas!”

It’s my sister—Irene. Well, I was already here in Italy a few hours ago and here I am talking to my sister na maraming kuda. 

“Just say you missed me and I’ll go home” sabi ko sa kanya at umirap kahit hindi niya ko nakikita. 

“Yuck! Ang feeling? Che! Babush na, I have work pa. Good luck with your journey and please update me from time to time.”

“Ay bakit beh, jowa ba kita?”

“Kapatid mo ako aber! Natural kailangan mo ko masabihan para alam ko kung humihinga ka pa ba o wala na ko ulit aantayin galing Italya” Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya. I don’t know what to say. “Charot! Sige na, bye!”

The call ended bago pa ako makasalita kaya pinatong ko na lang phone ko sa side table and I let myself fall sa kama ko at pumikit. Welcome to Italy, Karina. I just arrived here and I feel so exhausted. Jetlag? Maybe. 

Hindi ko alam saan magsisimula. I don’t know what my mom’s whereabouts and the information I know is her address 5 years ago and few of her friends na hindi ko sigurado kung kaibigan pa ba niya ngayon. 

The first thing I need to do is sleep and after that, I’ll go to Milan. That’s the city where my mom lives. 

——————

I’m on my way now to Milan, Italy. I only slept for 2 hours and took a shower then here I am. Ayaw ko mag-aksaya ng oras because finding my mom is the reason why I took a break from showbiz. 

“Oh my god! Hi! Are you by chance, Karina Alcantara?” ! I forgot my face mask! 

“Uhm, hi? I think you’re mistaken. I’m Samantha.” the girl in front of me looks like she is not convinced but she walks away. 

I am Karina Alcantara, of course, they know me. Ugh! Why did I forget my face mask?

I sense that people are staring at me at parang iniisip nila if I am really Karina Yu. Good thing the train is already here kaya agad akong pumasok at pumwesto sa may bintana sa maunti ang tao. I get my phone and start scrolling when someone sit in front of me. 

“I-is this seat t-taken?” the woman asked. I stared at her. Mid-length hair woman and her cheeks are red. Is she drunk? In this ing hour? She didn’t wait for my response at sinandal ang ulo sa railings. Hindi ko na lang ito pinansin at bumalik sa ginagawa ko. 

“Nasusuka ako” I’m shocked that she’s a ing Filipino. Tumayo siya siguro para magbanyo pero natumba rin siya dahil siguro sa pag-andar ng tren at pagkahilo niya. 

Argh! You don’t have friends??

Tumayo ako agad para tulungan siya dahil nakatakip na ang kamay niya sa bibig niya na parang nasusuka na talaga. Inalalayan ko siya na pumasok sa banyo at inantay na makalabas. Pagkatapos ay inalalayan ko siya pabalik sa upuan and let her seat beside me. Sinandal niya ang ulo niya sa balikat ko at no choice naman ako kundi pasandalin ito.