Echoes of the Infinite (Short Story Series)

Eleven: Terminal Sweethearts

I have this crush in sixth grade named Alexa. I actually gave her a book. It was a prayer book, silly me.

Earlier, I met a woman which I didn't know exactly. A pure stranger. I didn't dare to ask her name. Her height is average for a typical Filipina. But what I like her the most is her skin - Morena.

Our path crossed at a jeepney terminal going home.

She's new to Manila. Just came from Naga. Sinabayan ko siya sa paglalakad papuntang trike terminal.

"Saan ka, 'te?" I asked.

"Pauwi na." She answered. I noticed that she started to include me inside her umbrella that she was holding.

"Pa-Tipas ako eh." I said. Tipas is a small suburban area in Taguig.

"Oh. Sa Sta. Ana ako. Ilang beses na nga akong lumagpas eh. Nung isang beses, nakarating na ako ng Tenement eh. Buti nalang mabait yung driver na binalik ako dito sa Heritage." She explained. I didn't know why she's so comfortable talking to a stranger like that. But I couldn't deny that she's a kind of cute.

"Ah. Doon din ang daan ko eh. Kaya mukhang magsasabay pa tayo sa trike."

As we walked to a crosswalk, we both noticed that the traffic lights weren't followed.

"Hindi rin naman pala sinusunod ng mga traffic enforcer yan eh." She said. Medyo madaldal siya. Ewan ko kung bakit ganun siya kadaldal eh hindi naman niya halos kilala yung tabi niya.

"Call center ka?" I asked. She answered indistinctly. I couldn't hear her voice enough because of the car horns banging on the road.

I continued to walk with her. Mainit. Kaya hindi pa din ako umaalis sa loob ng payong niya. She took a glance at her red wrist watch. It was two 'o clock.

"So bago ka lang sa Manila?" I asked. I tried to deduced. People nowadays won't be that nice to a stranger. Unless you are new to the environment.

"Ah, oo. Nagtatrabaho ka din sa Solaire?" She said.

"Hindi. Actually nag-try lang ako kanina sa IBEX. Hindi naman ako nakapasok. Hindi na daw kase sila nakuha ng mga part-time na working students eh."

"Ah, oo. Nag-aaral ka pa?"

"Oo. College."

"Anong year mo na?"

"First year." I answered.

"Bata ka pa." Makabata naman. Grabe.
"So anong course mo?"

"Educ."

We arrived at the trike terminal. We are still chitchatting. I let her seat first. Gentleman tayo syempre.

"Kakagaling ko lang ng Bicol." Nagulat ako na bigla nalang siya nagsalita.

"Naga?" Tanong ko naman.

"Yes. Taga-Bicol ka din?"

"Hindi."

"Ah. Naririnig-rinig mo lang." She considered my silence as a yes. Then the conversation stop in the road. Nang makababa na kami, babayaran ko sana siya. Kaso kulang na ako ng pamasahe eh. Kahiya.

Siya tuloy nagbayad ng kanya.

"May balak ka pang magtuloy ng college?" I asked. Di ko na nga sana itatanong eh. Kasi medyo sensitive na yun. Fortunately, she answered.

"Yes. Siguro kapag nakaipon na."

"Breadwinner ka 'no?"

"Oo. Ilang taon kana ba?"

"Twenty."

"Bata ka pa nga."

"Ikaw ba?"

"Twenty-five."

Natanong ko siya kung sino ang inuuwian niya sa Taguig. "Partner ko."

Ouchie. Tatanungin ko na sana kung anong name sa Facebook eh. Nagbago isip ko. Wag na pala.

"Wala ka pang anak?" Segway ko nang tanong.

"Wala pa. Mahal ng bilihin ngayon eh. Magulang ko palang sinusuportahan ko ngayon, mahirap na eh."

"Mabuti yan. Para makapagpatuloy ka pa ng pag-aaral. Sayang kase."

"Oo. Iba din talaga ang may tinapos." Sagot nito.

Nagpatuloy kaming mag-usap hanggang makasakay sa jeep. While she was talking, I realized something. Sometimes right person comes but wrong timing doesn't mean God was wrong. It means you were there at the the right time to fulfill something else.

Di lahat ng nami-meet nating tao ay para sa'tin. Just keep on observing. Darating din ang tamang tao para sayo. And that right person will change everything you ever thought was true.

Wag mapagod magmahal.
Dahil yun ang simula at huli nating lahat.