On The Other Side Of The Road

Standing on the other side of the road was a woman I know not by name but by familiarity. Palagi ko siyang nakikita na naghihintay ng masasakyan d'yan sa ilalim ng punong mangga.

Siguradong patungo siya sa trabaho base sa suot niyang damit na kung di kaya'y pencil skirt na may ternong blouse ,ay fitted slacks at blazer.

Maganda, matangkad, mukhang matalino at may maamong mukha. Una ko siyang nakita sa pwesto na yan na may kasamang isang lalaki na naka damit ng katulad ng palaging suot niya.Bagong lipat lamang ako sa lugar na iyon dahil sa aking trabaho.

A glance and I already knew that they are a couple. Magkahawak kamay silang nakatayo at nagtatawanan na para bang ang isa't isa lamang ang nakikita at sila ay nasa kanilang sariling mundo.Nang tumigil ang isang jeep, natigil sila sa pagtatawanan at nakangiting sumakay doon.

Simula sa araw na iyon ay palagi ko na silang nakikita na naghihintay doon habang patungo ako sa aking trabaho. Minsan nakikita ko silang naguusap,minsan nagtatawanan, at minsan nag aaway.

Isang araw nagulat ako dahil wala akong nakitang nakatayo sa pwesto nila. Ipinagwalang bahala ko na lamang iyon at nagpatuloy sa aking paglalakad patunggo sa trabaho.

Nang sumunod na linggo ay wala pa ring kahit anino nilang dalawa. Hanggang sa isang buwan na ang nakalipas. Inisip kong siguro nakabili na yung lalaki ng sarili niya sasakyan at maaaring doon na silang dalawa palagi sumasakay o di kaya'y nag iba na ang oras ng kanilan trabaho.

I was a bit disappointed because while observing them from the other side of the road, I can't help but to admire the woman from afar. Her genuine smile and her bright face with shining eyes is impossible to ignore. No wonder , the man really is besotted to her.

Now, I have seen her again. I was quite happy to see a welcoming sight after a month of their disappearance. Saglit akong nagtaka dahil hindi na sila magkasama ng lalaki.

Possible kayang naghiwalay na sila ng lalaking iyon? Medyo nakaramdam ako ng kaunting tuwa sa tanong na pumasok sa aking isipan.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad katapat ng babae sa kabilang side ng kalasada. Kung pagmamasdang mabuti, mapapansing halos gulo-gulo ang kanyang madalas na naka ayos na buhok at ang kanyang damit ay gusot-gusot din.

Nakatulala lang siya sa harap ko at alam kong hindi niya ako nakikita kahit na ang pagitan lang namin ay isang kalsada. Her usually bright face is now streaked with haggardness. Her, usually shining eyes now seemed like a looking glass reflecting nothing but darkness.

I was about to approach her, but I hesitate. I don't even know her name and, she seems uninterested on me.

Then the woman raise her head and our eyes meet, I can't fathom the look of sadness on it. Her face wear an unreadable expression.

My whole system were in chaos. At hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin. Nakatulala lang kami sa isa't isa.

My right hand ascend and started an awkward move, a wave. Ngunit hindi parin nagbago ang expresyon sa mukha niya. I don't even know if she actually notice me because her stance and demeanor didn't even change a bit.

Agad agad ko rin'g binawi ang kamay ko sa ere ng makitang walang tugon mula sa kanya. It was really awkward.

I was worried for her but I'm too shy to approach her. I am only a familiar face she has seen sometimes on the other side of the road. Familiar but stranger nonetheless.

It was a cloudy , the rain is threatening to pour anytime. Cold air passes through me and I force myself to stop shivering.

Thunderstorm struck and blow of heavy rains falls above from heavens. I automatically cover my head with my bag pack.

On the other side of the road I can barely see the woman. She's motionless, nakatayo lang at walang pake sa malakas na buhos ng ulan. Hindi ko alam kung umiiyak ba siya o baka dahil lang talaga sa malakas na buhos ng ulan.

A public utility vehicle stop near over her, and she just sprint into it.
I was about to make an attempt to run towards, pero bigla na lang akong nagulat, ng sa may hindi kalayuan may malakas na tunog. It a was ten wheeler truck approaching at full speed, with an warning and irritating sound. The truck driver made it very clear, stay out its way, because somethings terribly wrong to his machine. I can estimate the speed of it. It's more or less than 100 kilometers per hour. And not to mention the truck is heavy loaded.

The world revolves slowly, and what happen next left me astounded. It's like I'm about to witness the most horrible thing in life, the matter of life and death.
The truck slam it's body to the PUV with a full acceleration and force. The noice they made was extremely deafening. I stumble and lose my balance. I align myself to a defensive manner with slightly late reaction. Kinapa ko ang sarili ko to search for wounds. I felt relieve and thankful to  see neither bruises nor injury.

Kasabay nag paghinto ng pangyayari ay siya ring paghinto ng malakas na buhos ng ulan. I can hear the screams of people nearby.

"Holyshit". I cursed as I watch it happens.

Agad agad akung tumayo. My adrenaline rush in just a second. Tatakbo na sana ako palapit sa pinangyarihan ng may pumigil sa aking dalawang braso. "Hey bro wag ka lumapit masyadong delikado". Sabi ng isang lalaking   naka uniform, isang college student.

Gusto kung tumakbo roon at tumulong ngunit tama yung lalaki masyadong delikado. Naglalabas kasi ng maitim ng usok yung truck.
Sinunod kung ang sinabi niya, at hindi nagpatinag sa mga emosyon ko.

5 minutes later, rescued arrive. The authority put the infamous tape with a signage "don't cross police line". I was there standing and still processing the horrible scene I've seen.

Maraming tao ang lumapit para tumigin at maki chismiss. Some of them saying "they're all dead".

Bigla akung nanlumo sa isiping iyon. My thoughts about this unknown girl became blur. I felt hopeless yet on the other side
praying she was still alive. Pero kung pagbabasehan yung impact. Chances are very low.

Apat na magkasunod sunod na katawan ang isinakay sa amublance. A tear suddenly fall coming from my eyes. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba iyon sa nangyari sa babae o dahil hindi ko man lang siya nakikilala o nakausap. Agad ko iyong pinunasan. Kahit sobrang liit man pagkakataon ng mabubuhay siya, pero naniniwala parin ako at umaasa.

My mga awtoridad na lumapit, at tinanong kung anong nangyari, I present my self and tell them what exactly happened. All witnesses were given chance to talk to a psychologist, to orient and run some test about traumatic experience. Luckily I passed them all, and got released as soon as it's done. Pinauwi naman kami agad.

Papalabas na ako ng biglang sumabay sa'kin yung lalaki naka uniform. "Life is always giving as reasons to live, live your life to the supremacy, enjoy and grab the chances right away." He tapped my shoulder and passes me. Bumuka ang bibig ko pero walang salitang lumabas. Napahinto ako sa paglalakad, at biglang naalala ang mukha ng babae. The moment she showed her beautiful smile, I knew it was  genuine. Hindi man ako ang naging dahilan ng mga ngiti niyang iyon, pero I'm so delighted that I've witnessed it.

I arrive at my apartment with loss of words. The words he said stuck in my mind. I fix myself and turn on the television. Iyong nangyaring aksidente nga ang bumungad sa'kin ka agad.

It was a news with a headline of the particular accident. Together with the names of the victims. I run my eyes to search her name and there it is, agad ko iyong nakita kasi siya lang ang babae sa lahat ng biktima. "Louisse Camarie Ty", 24 years old. Nagtratrabaho sa isang kilalang kompanya sa bansa. Her name was beautiful akin to her face.

The news was still vague, and haven't confirm the state of the victims. I turn of the television para hindi na magpabalik balik sa isipan ko yung nangyari kanina.

Nakahiga na ako sa aking kama ngunit hindi ako dinadalaw ng antok. My mind was haunted not because of the terrible scene happened, but by her face.

It was so unlucky of me that I didn't have chance to ask her name when she was still standing on the other side of the road.