a glimpse 🙂

Kao

"KAOOOOO!" I flinched as I took the phone away from my ringing ear as I tried not to fall off the stairs as I made my way down to the lobby from my office.

"Saddie!!! Can I please not be deaf at least till your wedding?"

I chided my best friend as I made my way out of the university where I teach and into the waiting lounge.

"Oops! Sorry, my bad. I'm just really excited. Finally we'll be able to see each other again."

I rolled my eyes.

"You were just here a week ago and you kidnapped me into helping you shop for your wedding give away."

That familiar snicker echoed on the background.

"It's different silly. I mean, yes, even though you're on the other side of the country we still do see each other from time to time. But this is different. For one, I'm getting married, I mean, can you believe it!?! Me!?! Married!?! Huh! Anyways, second, a lot of our old friends are coming and for the first time in like forever, you're finally coming back to the land of your birth my friend. So yes, excuse me for trying to tear your ears off!"

I rolled my eyes and snickered as I returned the greetings of the student passing by me as I stood their with my different bag waiting for the ride Saddie promised me.

"Alright. Alright. Whatever, there's no way I'm ever gonna win over you anyway. So, where's my ride? I've been standing here by myself awkwardly for some time now the students might think I'm trying to smuggle a dead body with my duffle bag."

I had a last minute meeting at work so instead of going back to my apartment which is only a block away from the university where I teach English literature since graduating college, I decided to just bring my stuff so I could go straight to my one week paid vacation leave right after the meeting.

"Oh, yes! I was just texting him, he's almost there."

Saddie informed me.

"You told him to meet me in front of the university, right?"

I asked as I scanned for the possible ride my best friend promised me.

It will be about five to six hour drive—depending on the traffic to the southern province where I once lived with my best friend and where the mighty Cassandra Lin decided to finally tie the knot.

I fondly shook my head with the thought.

Saddie and I are best friends since high school. And even after I moved to the city to be with my family and for university right after graduation, our bond never ceased to wane.

And now that she's finally getting married, I cannot not be with her in her special day. That's why she didn't have to convince me to take a week off from work and join her one week pre marital activities.

I also thought it would be a good opportunity for me to go back and visit my roots.

It's been too long since I was back in the province. Since leaving, I might have only been there once or twice. And I didn't even stay longer than a day.

If only not for Saddie and her family, I wouldn't even remember to go back.

Everyone in my family and close relatives are already living in the city so aside from Saddie and some friends, there's really nothing much for me there—also, that place—it holds too many memories I wanted to forget.

"Kao!?! Kao!?! Kao Roberto!?! Are you listening!?!"

I cleared my throat.

"Yeah. Yes. Yes. Uhm, I just, I just saw some students—yeah."

I lied as I tried to compose myself.

Too much for reminiscing.

"Alright. Okay, so he's in a silver hi-lux, plate number TNPXXX. Anyway, don't worry, he knows you and you know him so you won't miss each other."

I furrowed my brows with the giggle that escaped Saddie by the end of her statement.

Why did it sound so ominous!?!

"This guy, I'll be car pooling, you said I know him, right?"

My best friend hummed her response.

"Why won't you just tell me who he is!?!"

My initial plan was to drive to the province tomorrow myself so it wouldn't be too much of a hassle driving today since it's Friday and I know the traffic congestion is going to be heavy. But then Saddie suggested for me to leave after lunch and just ride along with an old friend from the capital who's also attending her wedding.

I didn't like the idea at first, because I prefer traveling alone but Saddie guilt trip me into agreeing by telling me how 'our old friend' wanted to drive but is not confident with the road since like me, he had stayed in the capital for years now.

"I am also away for years now how sure are you that I know the way for you to ask me to lead him!?!"

I told her over FaceTime.

"It's not like you live in a different province you drama queen! Besides, you've been here twice since you left whereas this will be his first time in almost a decade can you be a little sympathetic!?!"

I rolled my eyes and groaned in defeat.

Trust Saddie to always have her way.

And so she did.

"Just tell me who he is so we wouldn't really miss each other."

I'm not sure I'd instantly remember an old friend of Saddie and I the moment I see that person since it's been years but it's worth a try.

"But where's the fun in that!?!"

I blew raspberry.

"The fun is I will be at ease knowing I know who I'm waiting for."

I glared at my phone as if my best friend can see me.

"Okay, is it Nate?"

I was referring to our high school batch president who once courted and got turned down by Saddie back then.

"Are you for real!?! You thing he'd come? He hates me!"

I figured.

"Jan!?!"

The batch's soccer heartthrob.

"He's injured. He just canceled. Besides, he's in Singapore remember!?!"

I don't know that.

Actually, there's a lot of things and people— I could barely remember in high school, I'm just really throwing random names here.

"How about Jey!?! Yes! Last time I remember Jey has a business in the capital. So it's him, right!?!"

I can't even remember what Jey is in our batch.

"He's also getting married two days after me you think he'll prioritize his attendance to my wedding!?! Kao, are you even paying attention to all of our friends sns posts!?!"

I made a face and narrowed my eyes at an incoming car. It looked like the one Saddie described earlier.

"I only have my company email remember!?!"

I said as I saw the car took the runabout towards our university lane.

"Oh, right, sorry for always forgetting how boring you are you big troglodyte of a person!"

I chuckled.

It's not my fault that I'm too busy for those kind of stuff really.

"Is it Mackey?"

I guessed again.

Truth be told, I'm kind of curious and a little excited of who this person I'll be with on a joyride.

"Already here."

"Sam?"

"Yet till the day before the wedding."

"King?"

I said a little loudly as I saw the car approaching and my heart started to beat erratically.

What the hell!

"Can you just wait till he finally arrives!?! It wouldn't be too long now."

I swallowed dryly as I looked at the car passed by me and my erratic heart beat I didn't know why I haven't even had coffee today.

Right—Saddie said it's a silver hi-lux that's gonna come and get me. The one that just passed by me was black.

"Wait—Kao, change of info. The car is black. I repeat, the car is black and the plate number is PTNXX."

I looked to where the car headed earlier after I heard what Saddie said and just when I landed my eyes on the plate my best friend just recited, I saw the car reversed to where I was.

I gaped at the car as I heard it honked and stopped in front of me.

"Also, I'm finally telling you who's gonna be traveling with you today..."

I faintly heard Saddie on the other line as I saw how the window to my side slowly rolled down and my heart getting crazier by the minute.

"It's..."

I blinked at the person smiling at me.

Waving as if he didn't tear my heart in pieces and crushed me ten years ago.

Damn!

No wonder I was feeling this way.

"Kao... you'll be traveling with..."

This isn't real.

I told myself before Saddie and I said in unison.

"Pete..."