Into the Night - a Macolet au

Chapter 1

Colet

"Should've brought an umbrella," I whispered to myself pagbaba ng bus. Maulan talaga dito sa probinsya namin, and I haven't been home for the past 5 years, baka kaya nakalimutan ko. Although, my mom did remind me at least a dozen times before heading home yesterday.

Nagpapa-balik na yung bus nang unti unting nagsimulang umambon. Dito na kasi yung last stop, itong bayan namin ang pinakadulong parte ng probinsiya. I almost forgot how quiet it is here. Mukhang patak lang ng ulan at tunog ng kuliglig ang makakasama ko sa paglalakad pauwi.

I was busy getting my cap from my backpack when something, or rather someone, caught my eye. Onti na lang kaming nandito sa bus stop. May ibang nagsimula nang maglakad sa direksyon ng kani-kanilang bahay habang ang iba naman ay sumakay na sa mga nagaabang nilang sundo.

She was looking for something in her bag, when suddenly another person bumped into her—causing her bag's contents to spill on the floor.

She cursed silently and started to pick up her things. Nagmamadali siguro yung lalake, mukhang papalakas na kasi yung ulan.

He distractingly looked back and apologized. He poised to pick up her things when she suddenly looked panicked and stopped him from doing so. The guy looked confused pero hinayaan na lang din niya, he again apologized and rushed into the night.

Curious, lumapit ako and asked, "Miss, okay ka lang?" She glanced and started to reply, "Okay lang, I'm just having the worst day ev—".

She stopped, unable to complete her sentence, as I stared at the deep hazels in her eyes. I didn't realize I approached her too close. I backed up a bit, smiled awkwardly and pointed, "Need mo ng help?"

"Uhm, okay na ko, I think" as she gathered the last of her things. Holding her sopping notebook up, she sighed "Well except for this." I scrunched my nose, "I hope its nothing too important". "Notes on my research", she shrugged, defeated.

I tilted my head as looked at her, busy fixing her bag. I don't think she's from around here. She looks more like a city girl. I could tell from her shoes, which are not sensible enough if you're going to walk around here. She's wearing flats, but rubber shoes would've been the more comfortable choice.

We both stood up, both distracted in our own worlds. I straightened up and looked at the darkened sky, wondering when the rain will let up. She was alternately looking at her phone then around, seemingly lost.

"Saan ka papunta?" I asked her while checking my phone for the time, trying to dispel the weird tension in the atmosphere. I was about to text my Mom that I was at the bus stop and will be home in a bit, when I noticed the "no service" listed at the top of my phone. Its the one thing I never missed dito sa province.

"Sa airbnb?" she replied, quite unsure, then quickly explained "I booked a transient house but I'm not sure paano pumuntang bayan ng San Roque?"

"I'm headed there actually," I said. I'm not usually this trusting on people but being a local in the area sorta made me have a sense of responsibility to this stranger. "Or at least I'll pass by it, our house is just outside of San Roque. Bukana lang ng San Pablo." I said, then added "We could walk together."

I mean its gonna take longer than my usual route, but I'm not gonna let this woman walk alone in unfamiliar and darkened roads. She beamed, relief evident in her eyes, "Really? Thank you, you're a life saver!"

"There is a problem though, wala akong payong so I think we have to wait a little bit," I said looking up once again at the sky. "Oh, its okay! We can share mine," she said quickly looting for an umbrella in her bag. "Uhm okay, if you're sure," I replied and gave her a reassuring smile.

We started walking side by side when she suddenly turned to me and seems to remembered something. "I'm Maloi, nga pala. Seems inappropriate to not introduce myself," she chuckled nervously.

I nodded and smiled right back at her, "Colet".