South Cebu, 10 mins late

I know, I know. This happened like almost 2 months ago and as usual, busy bee me had no time to write about our very "memorable" trip in South Cebu. I think only a few of our friends knew about all the drama (yet fun, in a weird way) that Mitor and I went through just to get to that place. Curious? Well, here's my tell-all for y'all. (Disclaimer: this is a long read!)

Our flight to Cebu was scheduled 04:50 AM via Cebu Pacific. We bought our tickets 5 months prior to the trip so we were really excited when the day finally arrived. So the night before, Mitor picked me up from work which was around 7:30PM and I asked if we can drop by this pedicure place nearby because my toenails were in dire need of attention. Knowing that it won't take long, as in 30mins max, he was ok with it. But, the 30mins became an hour and a half, because the lady also gave me a footspa (which I just inquired about but I didn't say I wanted one). I thought it was just part of the pedicure process but footspa na pala! So anyway, by the time I was done I knew Mitor was starting to get pissed because of the ff:

#1 He hasn't packed yet
#2 I haven't packed yet
#3 We were pressed for time because we have to attend a wake that night
#4 He needs to email proposals to his client before we leave for the airport
THEREFORE
#5 Pedicure just ruined our whole schedule

Hahaha! I guess it's just one of the girly things that men don't understand. I can't risk my toenails getting jammed into corals or anything solid again. My dead toe just came back to life after almost a year of waiting and hiding under nail polish so my pedicure request was really necessary. Not that I'm being defensive or anything... hehehe.

So anyway, after the pedicure we rushed to his place, so he can pack and freshen up. By the time he finished it was around 10PM. And now, the plot thickens.

Next to the itenerary was the wake of Hadrian's dad. But before going there, we decided to pass by an ATM first to get some cash. And because he was in a rush, he dashed from his car straight to the bank and was unaware that the entrance was a glass wall.. and NOT a glass door! So go figure what happened. He banged his head so hard that he fell lying on the ground! OMG!

I was horrified! I saw how the whole thing happened and it wasn't a bit funny at all. I went out of the car, rushed to his side, helped him up, and 2 good samaritans came to us to check if he was ok or if we needed to take him to the ER or something. Good thing nothing major happened... except for a black-eye and a bukol on his eyebrow.

My black-eyed baby

We sat on the car for like a minute and then suddenly he drove away from the place like crazy! I was like "dahan-dahan lang baka mabangga naman tayo" and he was like "nakakainis yang bank na yan, 'yan tuloy ang laki ng bukol ang panget ko na sa mga picture!"

AHAHAHAHA. O diba, vain din pala siya. But to his defense, that bank should put posters on that glass wall just so people will not mistake it for anything else. It was super clean and transparent, and can definitely invite more accidents in the future.

So we reached the wake around 11PM. We weren't supposed to stay long but my friends Aylin and Jeanie wanted us to wait for them since they were on their way already. By the time they arrived and our chickahan ended, it was around 12:30AM. Take note, we only have about 3 hours left before airport check-in time. But we got hungry, so...

We invited my friends to join us for a quick midnight snack at McDo. We ended around 1AM and since they were not in a rush to go home anyway, I asked if they can keep me company so Mitor can take a nap in my room while I'm packing. So off we go to my room and it took me an hour and a half to finish. It was 2:30AM when we left my place to go to his so he can do his last minute print/scan/email thing for his client, and to print our tickets before leaving for the airport.

By the time we were done, it was 3:45AM. 30 minutes left before the check-in counter closes. Thinking Cebu Pacific is known for being late anyway, we kept our cool. His mom drove us to the airport (another fast and the furious moment) and we arrived around 4:10AM. The whole bag x-ray thing took another 10 minutes so we reached the counter by 4:20AM. We were so giddy that we finally made it! But the happiness was not for long. We gave our tickets to the counter and I heard one of the most dreaded phrases ever--"Sorry but check-in for this flight is already closed". F*CK!

We pleaded Ms. Cebu Pacific to take us in, oh yes we really did. But rules are rules (accdg to the ticket, check-in time is 40mins before the flight) and we were 10 minutes late. Only 10 f*cking minutes. We were both in the verge of tears, especially Mitor who was so frustrated about everything. Who wouldn't be, right?

So we went to the rebooking station to ask how much it will cost us, if we can afford it. You see, both of us don't have credit cards (by choice) so we only have our pocket money to get by. And guess how much Cebu Pac's rebooking fee was? PHP 5,600 each! WTF!?!!

By then we were totally devastated. Obviously, we can't afford that. This was a budget trip for us to begin with, something we really saved money for. Not to mention, we were left behind by our Travel Factor (TF) group, which meant we needed additional money pa for the land transpo to get to Moalboal. We were both sooo frustrated that we just sat on the floor in the middle of NAIA 3. We just can't believe what had happened. For a moment we were speechless, no idea what to do next.

I knew that it was totally my fault. And I knew that Mitor was soo mad at me. As tears started running down my face, I looked at him, and told him how sorry I was. I never felt that vulnerable my entire life. I was expecting him to nag me, to blame me for everything--the stupid pedicure, the wake, my slow packing. I deserve the harsh words. But you know what he did? He just hugged me tight and told me he loved me. And we both cried.

Not naman the hagulgol type of crying ha. Just making sure you're picturing it right. Hehehe.

After a while, we were both calm and collected. Then we started to discuss what to do next. Without a doubt I wanted to push our trip, even if its not in Cebu anymore. Mitor, on the other hand, was thinking of going back home since we've only got Php 6,000 and that won't even be enough for transpo and accomodations to Batangas (the nearest beach we can think of). And what will our parents think if they found out that we didn't go to Cebu with the group and went on to a different place with just the two of us? Tsk tsk. Definitely, not a good idea. But still, sayang naman if we just go back home, right?

So we were back to square one. Dumbfounded. Staring at the floor. Had no clue what to do next.

Then out of the blue a lady who works at the terminal approached us and asked if we're ok, since we've been seating on the floor for like an hour already. I was like "ate, naiwan po kami ng eroplano at wala na po kaming pambili ng ticket." Yes, I sounded like a baby about to burst into tears again. Hahaha! Then she said "Na-check niyo na po ba sa PAL kung magkano? Baka mas mura po doon." And then Mitor and I both had a lightbulb moment. He ran to the PAL counter (good thing there were no glass walls there, can't afford another accident-due-to-running moment) and voila! Their one way ticket to Cebu costs only P2,653 each! SAKTO!

PAL saved the day! This is, by far, the most expensive 10 minutes ever!--Php5,306 to be exact!
(but its waaayyy cheaper than Cebu Pac so that was a total relief!)

We had to wait for a couple of hours for our flight though, but it didn't matter! As long as it would take us to Cebu, we were fiiine. As soon as we had our tickets, we looked for the lady who gave us the PAL tip to thank her. But we weren't able to find her though. I would like to believe that she was an angel sent from up above whose main mission is to help the two depressed and clueless lovers seated on the floor in the middle of the busy airport. Hehehe. :)

The adventure didn't stop there though. When we arrived Cebu, we we're like on Amazing Race with our backpacks running around and asking for directions. After a cab ride, a long walk, a 2-hour van ride (na super siksikan) and a tricycle ride.. we FINALLY arrived at the pitstop.

The dining area at Club Serena Resort

We were just so happy we made it. After all the hassles and drama we went through, just seeing the place and the people we're spending our vacay with just made everything worth it.

In conclusion, I have learned that...

#1 Cebu Pac happens to be on time when it comes to check-in cut-offs
#2 PAL tickets are relatively cheap
#3 Pedicures must be done at least a day prior to the trip
AND MOST OF ALL
#4 Mitor is the most patient man on earth.
I love him to death and he is definitely the man I'm gonna marry.