A drop of sweat ran down my face as my eyes blinked in frustration. The sun's rays hit me so hard that I felt it like small needle-like arrows pinching me.
As the wind blowed some strands of my hair against my face, I slowly tucked it behind my ears, still feeling the sun's harsh heat penetrating my only-Safeguard-touches-me skin. Funny how I roll my eyes to the sad fact that Safeguard isn't guarding me at all. Tsk.
Every where I turn my head to, it seemed like no one dares to come near me. Standing in the middle of nowhere, I kept my eyes open, trying to deepen my understanding of why on earth do people come and go, just passing by.
Why does life treat me harshly? Now, I couldn't figure out things and treat life the same way as how it came up to me, but I guess, this time I'll have to face this first, with the belief that Safeguard will eventually work this time. Just one time. Please.
Still standing in the middle of a dessert-like place, I wonder why people still tag the country as tropical when I actually feel like toasted. I couldn't think of any way to get out of here when all that bothers me is this Global Warming when I realized it's me to blame because of my hotness. Kidding. Well, random thoughts of encouragement as I wait for the Safeguard's shield to protect me from the cancer-causing heat of that burning star which totally confuses me why call it a star when I don't see it at night. Why can't sun remain as sun than sun as a star? Hmm.
"Robinson's Kuya," I said as I flashed my most alluring smile like that of a toothpaste advertisement.
"Ayy. Iikot pa tayo."
I didn't bother to answer him back but my eyes never departed his. I'm slowly feeling disappointment and tiredness.
To tell you Kuya, sometimes there's no other way but take the road you are avoiding when it's all that's left to go through. I wanted to tell him that.
Sometimes, you'll have to risk even if the way going to your desired destination already gives you the idea that it will definitely not be a fun, enjoyable one, but believing that once you arrive there will get you achieved and fulfilled, then it's all worth the sweat and dust.
Shortcuts end easily, but the long way gets you going.
I saw how the driver roared the engine and how the pipe effortlessly spitted out a black smoke, caressing my Safeguard-skin. Okay bye Kuya. Hope you find your own road then Robert Frost would be glad to say, "Congratulations! You took the one less travelled by."
I sighed in frustration. Tell me. This is all a big joke. I've been burning up under the star or I mean the sun's heat for 10minutes already and I only have 30 minutes left to buy that needed requirement. That thing, surely, is making fun of me when it's obviously enjoying the cool air of the mall while I'm here soaked in my own sweat. Tsk. I can't help but think again why Safeguard isn't true to its words and why the sun is a star when I don't see it at night. Tsk. I feel sorry for all my Science teachers.
I was fanning myself with my hand, still patient for good samaritans to pick me up and give a ride.
"Sige babe pero di ako magtatagal ha?" I heard a man say, riding on a tricycle with his phone on his right ear, while talking to someone on the other line, probably his girlfriend. They passed me by so swiftly that I haven't heard more of his words.
"Just passing by," I whispered.
Just passing by? But why, young man? When you can atleast spend a few moments with someone you know you'll be happy to be with? Then, you can proudly say to her, "A minute without you is like dying in fright but a second with you would mean forever by your side."
That's the most you can do in a short time with someone you long to be with - to express every little thing in the most extravagant words you can think of. You just want to pour out all the emotions you have.
But if passing by will be the only chance to spend the most with someone in a given time, then it would be the most bitter-sweet of all. It's like filling a water in a bucket with a hole. You pour more when you know it won't be kept that long because it will eventually spill out. But you hope for that moment to get a bit longer, just like trying to cover the hole in the bucket, atleast, lengthening the precious time a bit more. Hayy. Love.
I fanned my face a bit faster after some tricycles didn't bother to stop and offer a ride. Everyone seems to avoid me today. Why is that? I need your brilliant ideas.
I almost jumped out of my place when I heard a siren from an ambulance rushing down the highway. I breathed heavily seeing how fast the ambulance went. I wonder how tensed the driver could be while stepping on the gas, trying to help save the life the patient is fighting for - a life that is temporary.
It made me think again. We live in a temporary world with a temporary life which makes this life we have pass by without us knowing exactly when and how. You only live once as most of the people say. But as I come to think of it under the heat of the burning star for already 20minutes, I say, You only die once and you live everyday. I would rather spend the few minutes left before I leave and pass by another chapter than wait for another moment to leave and regret the wasted time.
I guess, we all pass by a life full of questions, doubts, hesitations, but are responded with challenges, experiences, lessons that will surely give us the hint to how life must be. Passing by a temporary life, after all, isn't a rush nor a slow-down. It's seizing every moment with great people at a great place in a great time spending great memories.
I inhaled a bag of air for my hardworking lungs and exhaled heavily just as I placed my palm on my chest.
"You've worked hard for the last 19years."
I felt another droplet of sweat run along my nose, and just made me remember I used to hate the burning star and Safeguard just a while ago.
Maybe the sun is a star that just passes by for a day to give other burning stars their chance to glow even in their most limited light. Together with other burning stars, they make up the light that brightens up the night that shows the beauty of things in their minor qualities become major impact to many.
Maybe Safeguard didn't really had so much power to guard my skin from the sun's heat but at least, it never left me tanned even if I stood there for almost 20minutes.
Maybe all of us pass by each other's lives for a reason even if our contribution wasn't recognized that much. There will come a time when our presence or even the short memories we shared with people will get them somewhere and, by then, we will be remembered. But even if we don't get their attention and appreciation so much, having to know that we have made most of the time as we passed by their lives is never a least thing to keep and treasure.
I paused myself from thinking about these wisdom I get about life when my phone rang, just telling me someone badly needs to hear ny voice. Awww. I slid my hand inside my pocket and heard a voice.
"Hello friend? Saan ka na?"
Naghihintay pa ng tricycle papuntang Rob para bumili nung requirement natin," I answered as I scratched my scalp. I think I can cook a scrambled egg on my head because of too much heat I'm getting.
"Huh? Okay na! Nakabili na ako. Balik ka na dito. Kanina pa kita tinatawagan."
Her statement left me blank and unable to speak but slowly painted a smile on my face. Seriously? I stood here for nothing? Now I know what the drivers' rejections were for.
"Miss sakay ka?"
I looked to where the words came from and I saw a tricycle stop in front of me. It made me chuckle how some people come up to you when you already got over their rejections and moved on with what they've done.
"No. Thanks, Kuya."
Well, thank you Kuya for, at least, passing by.
