Chapter Text
The cold airport lighting loomed above Sophia. The scent of her mother remained on her jumper, the last she would get of it for a year. That last hug had broken something in her. The realisation only set in a mere hour ago that she would be gone. A year in Atlanta, Georgia, away from the Philippines. Her home. Her country. Her safe space.
She shuddered. It was only a couple months ago that she got the email that flipped her whole life. Her mother’s reaction replayed through her mind, a dream that she couldn’t forget.
Her phone shook nervously in her hand as she pulled up the mail app to reread it for what felt like the thousandth time. Her right thumb scrolled through her emails, muscle memory taking her to the one she knew off by heart.
“Dear Miss Sophia Laforteza,
Congratulations! Timelapse Exchange Program is proud to announce that you have been chosen to go on a one-in-a-lifetime trip, a year studying abroad in the United States of America. Please read below for the itinerary, trip rules and exchange family details.
ITINERARY
September 1st: Flight PH408 from Manila - Singapore at 9:15am
September 1st: Flight SI312 from Singapore - Atlanta at 2:05pm
September 2nd: Arrive in Atlanta at 6pm local time
TRIP RULES
1. No smoking, vaping or any form of drugs are permitted.
2. No dating or personal relationships.
3. Any failing grades will result in a warning.
4. If any of these rules are broken, you will be sent directly home.
EXCHANGE FAMILY DETAILS
We have placed you in a family home with mother named Sylvia Lee, father named William Skiendiel and a daughter named Megan Skiendiel. Megan is going into her senior year at Oakwood High School.
We can’t wait for your trip! Please RSVP as soon as possible and we will be in touch.
Thank you,
Timelapse Exchange Program.”
She was halfway through rereading the email when an announcement came over the speakers.
“Passenger Sophia Laforteza, please come immediately to gate 42. Flight PH408 on Philippine Airways is about to depart. I repeat, passenger Sophia Laforteza, please come immediately to gate 42.” The announcement boomed over the speaker system. The sickly sweet voice nearly made Sophia throw up - she could smell her vanilla scented perfume from duty free.
Sophia ran through the gates, her life being held in 2 bags and a suitcase. Beads of sweat dripped from her forehead. Years of track training had prepared her for this moment, the last minute dash through the airport.
She planted her feet at the desk and hummed softly. As a flight attendant walked past slowly, she quietly asked for help.
“Hi, I’m Sophia Laforteza, I think my flight is about to leave?”
The flight attendant looked up at her and her eyes widened. She rushed her onboard, and closed the door swiftly behind her.
Great, the first part of my exchange and I’ve already fucked up. What could be worse?, she thought, but Sophia didn’t know what was coming. Not yet.
***
Sophia buckled her seatbelt and hummed softly. She opened her phone and plugged in 2 AirPods, drowning out the hustle and snags of seatbelts coming from behind her. The engines roared to a start as the plane began to taxi. 9:10am. Perfect. Sophia could count how many times she was late on one hand. She grimaced as she added another finger, her brain reminding her of this morning’s incident.
As the plane took off and went airborne, she opened up the video her new host sister, Megan, had sent her a couple days ago. She had vibrant pink bangs, the kind that slapped you in the face with what kind of person Megan is. Her smile was wide, teeth showing and daring, and her lips were coated with overwhelming layers of lip gloss. Dazzling earrings took her attention away and sparkled. There was no other word to describe Megan - sparkling. Electric. Vivacious.
“Hi Sophia!” - She greeted with a big wave - “I’m Megan, if you didn’t know, and we are so excited to have you with us for a year! I can’t wait to get to know you better.” The video drifted more to a house tour and homely routines, but Sophia couldn’t help but stare at Megan. Her bangs, her lips, her eyes. Just her.
She shut down her phone and let the generic pop song ring in her head. Her eyes slowly drifted asleep. A 3am wake up wasn’t for the weak - she decided - and she let her body rest.
She jolted up when the plane descended to the runway. The whir of the engines came to a close, and flight attendants started opening up doors, allowing passengers off the plane, and began to clean up. Sophia stood up, wincing at her right leg. It had fallen asleep in the span of an hour and a half nap. She scurried off to her gate, eager and intrigued to board her next flight. A wave of longing came about her. To her new home, new life, new family. To Megan.
***
Her second plane of the day touched down, after 18 hours airborne in a cramped economy seat. She looked out the window as the plane was taxing into the gate, a glimpse of pink catching her eye.
She knew immediately it was Megan.
Happiness bloomed in her chest. A garden of roses grew out of her heart. The click of her seatbelt unbuckling unlocked a new emotion of her heart. She was free. That click was the sense of freedom, new beginnings.
She walked off the jet bridge and immediately was embraced in a tangle of love.
“Oh. My. God. Sophia! You’ve finally arrived!” Megan screamed. Sophia smiled. Megan reached out an arm and Sophia gently accepted. Megan enveloped her into her arms.
She smelt like something familiar. Roses, vanilla, a tang of citrus. She smelt like home.
Megan let her go and rolled out a huge Philippines flag. A smile crept up on Sophia’s face. Megan’s smile was impossible to not catch. It was the most contagious disease. Her laugh was infectious, too dangerous.
“Hey,” Sophia said softly. “It’s really nice to meet you.” She meant that sincerely. Extremely.
Megan stared at her and smiled. “C’mon, Soph. Let’s get in the car. You must be exhausted.”
Soph? No one calls me that, she thought. The nickname rolled off the tongue easier than saying hello. She hummed softly. Maybe she liked it.
“Oh.” Megan realised the consequences of her own actions. Sophia looked up at her, confused. “Is Soph, you know, okay? Sorry, I didn’t even think about it.” Sophia laughed at her nervousness. She grabbed her hand in reassurance.
“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” She said. It wasn’t a lie. Not at all. Megan did that contagious smile again. Sophia had to look away. They continued to hold hands all the way until the car park.
“Left or right?” Said Megan. Sophia tilted her head in confusion and looked at her. Megan pointed at the car seats and Sophia let out an understanding sound.
“Right is fine,” said Sophia. Megan nodded and climbed in on the left. Sophia reached out her hand, holding a single AirPod. Megan accepted it gracefully.
“Oh my God, Sophia, you know Olivia Rodrigo?” Said Megan.
“Of course I do!” She replied, giggling. They both began to sing along, extremely off key. Megan’s parents winced in hearing the girls attempt at harmonisation.
“Thank God neither of us are singers,” giggled Megan. They both giggled, but the moment fizzled away as Sophia closed her eyes and drifted to sleep, gently placing her head on Megan’s shoulder.
Megan didn’t mind. Not one bit.
The last stretch into the driveway jolted her awake. Megan’s mom’s warm voice spilled into the car. It sounded sweet like honey and invited her in to listen.
“Girls, we’ve made it to the house,” She said, aimed at both of them. She narrowed her vision towards Megan. “Megan, make her feel welcome. Tell her our house rules, ask if she needs anything, then show her to your room. The spare bed in there is for you.”
Sophia’s mouth opened. Not a lot, but enough that someone paying attention would notice. A shared room? With someone she had barely known for an hour? Her eyes dropped down and she hollowly stared while nodding diligently. She couldn’t mess up her relationship with her new family over their living arrangements. She couldn’t mess up her relationship with her new family over.. well, anything really. She had to be on best behaviour. She had to be perfect.
Megan got out of the car first, opening up the trunk revealing Sophia’s baggage. 2 pristine suitcases sat stacked on top of each other, along with a backpack. That was it. That was her life. Megan grabbed out the first one, but that single action made Sophia’s mind spin. The strength that girl possessed was weirdly.. attractive. She brushed it off and pulled out the second suitcase. It felt heavier than it did when she packed it. The exhaustion from her flights were hitting her. She blinked and moved on.
Before she even stepped a foot inside the house, Megan was already barking rules at her.
“Ah! Sophia! Go outside. Shoes off.”
Sophia knew she was just teasing and acting strict, but she honestly didn’t have the energy for it. She just wanted to collapse into her bed and let it swallow her up. Her right heel pushed up her sneaker and she kicked it to the side. She dragged her suitcase inside, not long before pausing in the hallway. Admiration took hold of her. Decorations filled the room, photos of Megan, pristine vases, you name it. It was lived in, and felt just like home. Sophia slotted right into place, like the final puzzle piece that revealed a beautiful picture.
Megan’s voice cut through her thoughts, a knife to her flow of thinking.
“Sophia, follow me to our room,” She said softly. Megan didn’t seem any more excited than Sophia over the concept of a shared room. With a tug of her arm, Sophia followed Megan closely.
“Welcome…” Megan fumbled with the door handle before opening it dramatically, “To our room!” She announced.
Sophia’s eyes widened as she stared at the space. It was honestly.. better than she expected. 2 loft beds sat next to each other with desks cluttered with school supplies. A closet with sliding doors took up the whole right wall, and posters filled the empty space. Sophia leaned against her suitcase and took it all in.
“I can live with this,” She said. Megan laughed.
“You don’t sound too impressed,” Megan joked. Sophia lifted an eyebrow.
“Are you sure about that?” Sophia grabbed her pillow and promptly threw it at Megan. It landed softly on the floor after ricocheting off of her leg. A grin crept up on Megan’s face.
“Oh, it’s ON Sophia! You don’t even know what you’ve started.”
Pillows went flying, pens and pencils turned into missiles. War had broken out. Sophia found refuge underneath the desk, before Megan began slapping her back with a book. Sophia pushed her to the ground and held her stomach down.
For a split second, her and Megan’s eyes drifted to each other. The fire in Megan’s eyes had enlightened. A new glint caught Sophia’s attention. But the moment passed. It fizzled. And it ended.
“Hey, Soph, I’ll be right back. I’m just gonna go and brush my teeth,” said Megan casually. Sophia jumped up from the bed and followed her out.
“Mind if I come with you? I feel disgusting.” Sophia didn’t wait for an answer. Megan hummed as they walked through the hallway.
“So, how are you enjoying your first night?,” Asked Megan through bubbled up toothpaste.
Sophia nodded, waiting until she spat out the minty mess.
“It’s been good. I’m happy that I got you in my exchange family. You seen.. you seen really nice. And I like that.” Sophia closed her mouth. Megan smiled and looked at her.
“On a different note, do you know anyone joining the track team?” Sophia asked politely, not expecting an answer. But when Megan’s eyes lit up, she knew that she would have at least one friend on the team.
“No way! My best friend at school, Daniela, does track! You guys will get along fine. I promise,” Megan said. Sophia sighed in relief.
“Thank God. I’ve been running my whole life and would’ve died if I didn’t have a friend on the team.” Sophia’s eyes sparkled as she talked about running. It was her life.
Megan wiped off her face and grinned. They walked back to the bedroom in unison. Sophia rubbed her eyes and Megan flicked off the light.
“Goodnight Soph,” Megan said softly with a yawn.
“Night, Megan.”
A couple hours later, Sophia was still tossing and turning. The unfamiliar mattress plus jet lag made her anxious, homesick and just tired. The hum of the fan felt louder than normal. Megan’s usual scent of roses, vanilla and citrus reminded her that she wasn’t at home. A part of her wanted to sleep, needed it, craved it, but she just couldn’t. The rules in the email kept flashing through her mind, a bad dream on constant repeat.
1. No smoking, vaping or any form of drugs are permitted.
2. No dating or personal relationships.
3. Any failing grades will result in a warning.
4. If any of these rules are broken, you will be sent directly home.
Hot tears formed behind her eyes. She blinked but released them into her pillow. Perfectionism was something Sophia had mastered over the years, but what if she couldn’t keep up the act? The thought lingered in the air around her. She pulled up her blanket to try and block it out, but it just remained stagnant.
She ignored it and closed her eyes.