STREET LIGHT
It was a bright and sunny afternoon in the 14th day of June. Many students are walking back and forth of the main gate of the school where I’ve just transferred for the year. My mother and older brother together with me just moved at this small place around Manila because of mother’s job for this well-known company. Since my family came from such small province and this is my first time in Manila, I really don’t know a lot about it. I don’t even know a single person here. I walk through the gate and try to see where I should place myself for a ride when I notice this group of male and female students near the mini convenience store. Most of them are smoking, wearing stern look on their faces and they look kinda dangerous. By the way they expose themselves at the corner; it seems that they are looking for some trouble. As if feeling my gaze, a male student look up at me and I quickly left his eyes. I walk further and further away from them but I noticed that two male and one female from that group followed me. I started to feel anxious and scared about it that I can’t even look back at them while waling rapidly. My mind and heart are racing, giving me hints on what will happen to me. Until I felt desperate about escaping from the situation, I face the street and was about to cross to the other side when a hand grab my left arm. I quickly jerked away but didn’t look back. “Don’t cross yet.”, said of a voice. From that point, I glance up to see who owns that voice. It seems to calm me and my racing heartbeats though the hard breathing didn’t diminish. When I look at him, I realized he wasn’t one of those who are after me. “What is it?”, the voice came again, frowning. That’s when I realized that I am frowning as well.
“T-they’re… following me.”, I manage to say with my face on the ground and fist on my chest, as if calming my heart through breathing hard.
“Who?”, he asked then look at the way where I came from. “They’re gone.”, he said.
“Y-yeah… I guess so.”, I said.
“Are you okay?”, he asked again. I look up and got the chance to study him. The guy is tan-skinned and tall, about 5’8, I guess. He’s wearing a white shirt that is a little over-sized though his body is well-built and black pants. His hair was clean cut and I should say he is good-looking. But there is something notable about him— his slit-like scar on his forehead.
“Yes.”, I said as I straighten myself. I felt safe now that I am not alone and those people are gone.
“Anyway, you can go now. The light turned red.”, he said pointing at the street light not far away. I nod and without anymore word, I move to the other side of the street. When I get there and look back at where I left him, he is gone. He walked fast, I thought.
The next day after school, I went to that same spot again. Thinking that it was the right place to get a ride and at the same time, hoping to see that guy again. I wasn’t able to thank him yesterday for warning me not to go yet. If he did not do that then I don’t know. I might be in the hospital today or worst in a coffin. And to my surprise, he is there! He is actually looking at my direction as if he knew someone will come. He smile warmly at me which makes me confused but I just smile back. “I didn’t expect to see you again here.”, I said starting the conversation when I got close enough to be heard. His smile turned into a wide grin that makes him look more attractive.
“But I expect to see you here.”, he said. Those words gave chill to my body but thinking that it is some sort of joke, I laugh shyly.
“Anyway, thank you for yesterday.”, I said. The confusion in his face cannot be hidden so I added: “If you didn’t stop me from moving then, I don’t know what could have happened to me.”
“Oh,” he said then looks away. “I guess that is what I’m meant for.”, he added in a dry smile. All the while, a cold wind from somewhere blew and I don’t know if I’m just imagining but the guy seemed to blur from my sight. I blink twice and he’s there, standing steadily.
“What do you mean?”, I asked washing away the thought. He looks back on me then in a quick jolt of whatever, he is back with a bright smile.
“Nothing. I’m Jade, by the way.”, he said as he stretch out his hand, offering a hand shake. I accept it and answer:
“Trinity.”, I said.
“Hmm… so are you studying at that near school?”, he asked after a while. I nod.
“How about you?”, I asked also as I look at his clothes. It has an emblem of some university that I’m sure I’ve seen somewhere.
“I used to… but something happened.”, he answered. The dry and forced smile came again together with the cold and shivering wind, but only lasted for a few seconds before he fired another question. Since then we often see and talk to each other on that same spot. We talked about school, friends, family and even street happenings that we’ve witnessed. Jade also serves as my ‘alarm clock’ if it’s time to cross the street when the light turns red. But I noticed that everytime I would reach the other side and would check on him, he wasn’t there anymore. Then a quick nine days of talking and seeing each other passed until something revealed.
It was the 24th of June. The rain is pouring heavily as if someone up high is weeping tremendously. As per usual, I together with my umbrella, walked to the place where I always meet up with Jade to trade stories but I was surprised as well as mystified that he isn’t there. Instead, a man of about forty years old is standing there. He is wearing a blue uniform with white cap, which states that he is traffic enforcer. And it is noticeably crowded and noisy on that spot. There are grade school students wearing their coats walking here and there while some are lined-up to cross the street while talking animatedly at each other. I stood next to this school girl with big pig tails as I peek on the sides, trying to see if Jade is somewhere. “Are you looking for a certain student?”, asked the traffic enforcer. I shook my head,
“No, sir. But I’m wondering if you’ve noticed a guy who is about 5’8 tall and he is white. Um, he’s got a slit-like scar on the left part of his forehead.”, I said politely.
“Ah, you must be talking about Jade.”, he sad as his face brighten up but fades away quickly and turned gloomy just like the weather. “Are you his friend? Didn’t you come to his burial?”, he asked.
“B-burial?”, I asked choking. He must be talking about someone else, I thought. But then the description I said to him makes him recognize who I’m asking.
“Yes. That Jade boy.”, he said. “He is such a big help here in the street everytime. But then he died after saving a grade school student who crosses the street while many vehicles are passing by in such speed.”, he continued. My palms are now sweating though it is really cold and my body’s shaking.
“H-he… is dead?”, I asked in disbelief.
“Yes. Just last Monday, 14th of June.”, he said. I felt like my head wouldn’t mind exploding anytime because of what I’ve heard. How could that be possible?! Fourteenth of June is the exact first day that I met him and even talked to him! I look around and my eyes accidentally caught the street light. It turned red and the moving cars stops. People started crossing but I was left there, still thinking… was it really Jade?
