Departure and Arrival

Dec. 18, 1:00pm / NAIA 2

“All passengers of PAL flight 177 bound for Tagbilaran, your gate is at 3A.”

Since we still had about an hour before boarding, I decided to scope out my fellow passengers, the ones who rushed to the 3A area as if being the closest would guarantee them better seats. Hello, we have assigned seating! I guess it’s that “Me first!” attitude of most people. So I’m checking out the other passengers and oh my gosh are there no cute guys going to Bohol?! Lahat ba ng mga papuntang Bohol, mga pangit?! My gosh, no wonder I’m still single.

The flight was uneventful. The flight steward was, ahem, one of us. Discreet, yes, but still—my gaydar knew. A slight swish of the wrist, a tilt of the head, a discreet pout—hey sister, go sister go! Because it’s PAL, there were no in-flight games, thank gawd.

* * * * *

Touchdown in Bohol was at 4:25pm. By the time we were picked up by my uncle (my mom’s younger brother) and brought to their house for some refreshments, it was already quarter to six. A quick trip to the local mall—more about the mall later—and we were on our 45-minute trip to our hometown of Bilar, Bohol. Bilar is located close to the middle of the island. Most of my friends assume we live near the beach—far from it. Literally. Because we don’t have our own means of transportation available when we’re in Bohol, going to the beach becomes a tediously full-blown production number. But at least my mom already told my uncle we planned to go to Balicasag and Pamilacan islands. The beach beckons!

* * * * *

We arrived at 7:30pm to a house with no electricity, no water (yaaaaak!), and dust galore. Thank god for my cousin who knew where the main electrical switch was (yehey!) and who brought the plumber over to fix a leak and a plugged pipe (yehey!).

And after about an hour of fixing up, we had comfy, clean beds. By 9pm the lights in most of the houses around Bilar were off. Talk about bucolic!

My gosh, this is gonna be one heck of a real vacation for me! Rest, read, write now and then, then rest again.

And no sex for two weeks!

(Gulp.)

Game na ba ako? Game na!