December 26th, 2024.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Terminal 3 Arrivals.
Timothy sat on one of the metal benches inside the arrivals hall, scrolling absently on his phone while passengers and families bustled past. The air smelled faintly of coffee and fried food from the nearby kiosks. He checked the time. Her flight should have landed by now.
He opened Messenger and typed quickly:
Timothy: Are you on your way out?
The dots appeared almost instantly.
Hana: Yes, walking now. Just a few more minutes.
He leaned back, pocketing his phone, and scanned the flow of people coming from the sliding doors. Businessmen in suits wheeling carry-ons, families dragging boxes of pasalubong, students with backpacks.
And then he saw her.
