Cebu to Manila, Part 1
Dad and I have never had a major Father-son bonding moment, not even during our Kab Scout camping trip back in grade school, when Dad did all the work and I played with my friends. Our relationship has been awkward at best and strained at worst. After coming out though, for some reason I began to grow more comfortable around him, and living away from home for long periods of time has made me appreciate him more and more.
When Dad suggested that he will pick me up at Leyte, and we would drive home together via the inter-island highway, I jumped at the opportunity. It sounded exciting to go island-hopping and explorer the Eastern half of the Philippines in one swoop.
Dad was supposed to drive his pick-up to Cebu and we'd do a little sightseeing before leaving, but we found it's too expensive the ferry the pick-up from Leyte to Cebu. Also, Dad had a project in Leyte he's supervising for Tito Angel, so he might as well stay there. So I booked my seat on the SuperCat, a high-speed catamaran.
On the day I left, all my friends were at their classes. I cleaned up Jerome's apartment, and said goodbye to it, very sad, but also excited to see Dad. I dropped by Bigfoot real quick to say goodbye to everyone, then commuted to the pier downtown.
I almost did not make it for the last trip, but I was very fortunate. I think I rushed into the building as soon as possible. Inside the SuperCat, it's almost like an airport, but very wide and less cramped. I took a window seat up front. I was impressed; they even had stewardesses and all. I ordered an overpriced meal since I hadn't eaten anything for the afternoon yet.
I said goodbye to Cebu, and Mactan Island. It felt painful looking at it get smaller and smaller. This had been my home for more than a year! Soon the islands gave way to crystal clear waters. As the sun started setting, I looked at the waters and saw flying fishes glide over the sea more than once. I think I saw a couple of dolphins at some point as well, but they were too far away.
I finally saw Dad with Kuya Raymond waiting for me at the Ormoc pier. We ordered take-out from Jollibee and proceeded to drive to Dad's friend's house where we would be sleeping. It was a perfectly rural house in the outskirts of Ormoc, and I had some trouble sleeping, but eventually my tiredness got to me and I crashed.