Kidnapped (A Romance Story for Filipino Wattpadders)

35: Bayad Po

Amber

Whew. First time kong sumakay sa jeepney. Sana di naman ‘to kagaya nung bus na sinakyan namin dati ni Casper na sobrang hangin at sobrang thrilling. I looked at the foreigner seated beside me. Ang awkward nga ng atmosphere sa jeepney e. All of the girls are looking at Mr. Foreigner and all of the guys are looking at me. Iba na talaga pag maganda at gwapo...

Bigla na lang akong nagulat when foreigner guy held my hand.

“What the heck are you doing?” I whispered in his ear urgently while yanking my hand away.

“Just play along. Gusto mo naman siguro na tumigil yung mga tao sa kakatingin sa ‘tin, right?” He answered.

“I love attention kaya wala kong problema don no.” Although it’s true that I do love attention, I don’t like receiving it sa sobrang cramped na jeepney...

“Well, I don’t, so cooperate...” Binulong niya sa ‘kin then hinawakan niya yung gilid ng ulo ko and pulled it towards his so napasandal ako sa balikat niya.

“Ayoko nga...” I said habang nilalayo yung ulo ko.

“Wag kang maarte...” He hissed with a fake smile at binalik yung ulo ko sa pagkakasandal.

I looked at the people in the jeepney. Wow... Effective nga.

May mga ilang guys na awkwardly chineck yung phone nila to cover up the fact that they’ve been staring at me at yung mga girls naman, parang binagsakan ng langit yung mga mukha sa sobrang disappointed. Malamang inakala nilang taken na si foreigner guy.

“Bayad po.” A girl told me habang nag-aabot sa ‘kin ng pera.

What? What am I suppose to do? I looked at the girl. “Ummm... Ate, hindi ho ako yung driver.” Sabi ko sa kanya.

Tumawa si Foreigner guy. Asus, ano na naman ba?

“Ako na, pretty lady.” Sabi ni Mr. Foreigner. Binitawan niya yung kamay ko at kinuha yung inaabot na pera sabay kindat dun sa girl. Kinilig naman yung babae na parang pinaghalong nauutot, naiihi at inaatake ng epilepsy yung hitsura. Inabot ni Mr. F yung pera sa ibang tao while saying, “Bayad daw po.”

Ah ganun pala yun. Gets ko na. Wala palang kumukuha ng bayad sa jeep at nagbibigay ng ticket. Yung ano... Yung konduktor! Ayun, naaalala ko na. Masyado kasing maliit yung jeepney para makatayo ang isang tao. Kaya pala inaabot lang yung bayad.

“Ako rin.” I said with an excited grin. “Bayad po.” I took a bill from my pocket and did what the other passengers are doing.

“Ano ka ba? Filipino ka ba talaga?” Mr. F asked. What’s his problem?

“Ano bang problema mong Kano ka?” I snapped.

“Just so you know, I’m not from the US. I’m fromCanada.” Paliwanag niya.

“Talaga? Galing ka pala sa Canada akala ko kasi galing ka sa ibang planeta e.” Inirapan ko siya.“At nasa iisang kontinente lang naman ang USA and Canada. Parehas lang yung nasa North America kaya ikaw, American pa ri—” I tried to explain but he did not let me.

“Masyadong malaki yang pera mo.” He snatched away the bill that I was holding. “Come on, a five hundred peso bill, ibabayad mo sa jeep? Ako nga, one year pa lang dito sa Philippines but I know these things already. You’ve lived here all your life and I’m the one who’s teaching you Filipino ways. It seems like you have never boarded a jeepney.” He said, matter-of-factly.

“Just so you know... Yes, I haven’t boarded a jeepney before. This is my first time. Malay ko bang wala silang change for five hundred peso bills. Wala naman kasi silang sinasabi.”