Belinda didnxt faint, as she had expected.. Insteaf, she stood there mute and bewildered. She just stared at the man. He smirked and turned away from her. "I was told you would be coming soon. I have waited a long time for you, you know?" the mystery man said. Now Belinda was growing agitated as well as confused.
'I do NOT know," Belinda said crossing her arms across herself. "What ARE you talking about!?"
He chuckled and grinned. Rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and sighed. "Great! You were not ever told...I see that now. No wonder I had to send my w.. people out to find you. Just terrific!" he said sarcastically. "Your father..." he started. "What about my father?" she interrupted. She never knew her father. Her mother had said he died when she was less than 6 months old 9n the island of Mindanao doing some research on something her mother claimed she never knew on what.
Now she was standing in a small shop nearly 10,000 miles from home with a man who claims she is his "mate," whatever that means! Ugh!
"Excuse me, I do mean to be rude, but I do not know you nor do I understand what you mean. I am not your 'mate' or whatever and I am leaving. Bye."
"Wait," the mysterious man said. Belinda paused...she wasn't sure why but she did. He grabbed her forearm and those same sparks shot up her arm. She pulled away but his grip was right. "Wait. Let me.try to explain."
"No!" Belinda could.feel.the panic rising in her. She jerked hard and was able to escape his grip. She took off running back to the Hostel. She charged up the Hostel.steps to her room, managed to unlock the room, threw herself into her room, slammed the door shut, locked it and sat in her bed panting and crying.
Belinda hadn't cried in forever. She refused to be weak but this sent waves of fear through her and she cried. She cried for a long time and eventually cried herself into sleep.
Morning came way too soon for Belinda. She looked at her watch. It was 6:45 am. She had about 3 hours before she had to get to the airport for her flight to Cebu. Belinda checked her tickets to double check the times. Packed up her things and secured her suitcase and backpack. She walked downstairs and checked out. Belinda walked out of the hostel and looked both ways. She was nervous that man would try to grab her again. She darted to the curb and grabbed a jeepney to the airport departure building.
once she checked her baggage and was at the gate waiting for boarding she sighed. Her shoulders relaxed and she took a deep breath. Soon she would be far from this crazy metropolitan area and that crazy man. She shook her head as if to clear her mind. But somethings confused her. The man looked like the man in her dream. And he spoke of her father...and mates...and ...
Just then her boarding call came. She rose and walked to the gate, handed her ticket to the steward and got on the plane. She sat down in her assigned seat: 12 B. She decided to keep her backpack with her, just in front of her feet. Laid her head against the window and closed her eyes. The flight to Cebu was short. She was there before she knew it. Belinda grabbed her pack and made her way to get her suitcase. She saw her suitcase already there. "Good," she thought. "No waiting." She smiled, "Maybe things are turning around for me."
Belinda stepped out of the small airport and looked at the address Mr. Smith had given her. Her host family should have received a cable saying she would arrive today. As she looking for a jeepney she heard her name, "Belinda! Belinda?" It was a middle-aged woman's voice. "Yes. I am Belinda." "Oh excellent! I am Ms. Chaves. I am your host mom and I am teacher of English at the local high school here." "Hi. it's nice to meet you." Belinda said.
Ms. Chaves smiled. "Let us go home."
Belinda was relieved. "Yes. I have much to learn and not much time to learn it."
"My dear, you won't learn if you stress yourself to learn. Kasabot ka?" "Huh?" "Oh, sorry, kasabot ka" ...ummm.. 'do you understand?' " "Got it!" Both smiled then laughed.