Conversations

"Hi"

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Wala ka bang payong, Miss?"

"Wala eh. Nakalimutan ko magdala."

"Halika, sabay ka na sa akin. Malaki naman yung payong ko."

"Sure ka? Baka mabasa ka."

"Hindi, okay lang talaga. Tara?"

"Tara."

"Whew, lakas talaga. Uuwi ka na ba?"

"Oo sana eh. Kaso baka magpatila muna ko sa McDo. Di ko kakayanin magmaneho pauwi sa amin sa Bulacan."

"You want some company?"

"Uh...no it's okay. I'll be okay."

"You sure? Lapit lang naman ako dito. Walking distance lang so I can stay and keep you company until the rain stops."

"Sige, it's up to you."

"Mind if I sit here?"

"It's a free country."

"Heh. Funny. So..."

"So..."

"Hi."

"Hi."

"What are you doing here at this hour? It's nearly 2am and you're so far away from home."

"Nagsusulat."

"Nagsusulat?"

"Yes. I'm a writer kasi."

"Oh really? Wow."

"You look so surprised."

"Hindi naman. Amazed actually. Do you do this for a living?"

"Sort of."

"Side line?"

"More like a hobby."

"Oh."

"Yup. Med student ako actually."

"Talaga? What year?"

"2nd pa lang."

"So I assume you're 22 years old?"

"Heh. Yes. Just last March."

"March—"

"3."

"Oh, ako naman I turned 25 last January."

"Cool."

"Coffee?"

"No, thanks. I don't like coffee."

"What?!"

"Huy! Kalma!"

"Who doesn't like coffee? Everyone likes coffee. You of all people should like cofffee. Med student ka na, writer pa."

"I don't know. Di ko type yung mapait na lasa eh."

"But its bitterness is what makes it good."

"Ewan ko ba. I'd rather have ice cream na lang."

"Okay, I'll get you a sundae."

"Thank you."

"Ang lamig pero trip mo mag-ice cream?"

"Sarap."

"Mukha nga. Ninanamnam mo eh."

"Heh."

"Anong mga sinusulat mo?"

"Hmm...mostly romance."

"Really?"

"Hopeless romantic ako eh. I like happy endings."

"Me too."

"Nice."

"Have you published?"

"I'm working on it. Natatakot kasi ako."

"Bakit naman?"

"I don't know. Takot lang siguro akong walang magbasa ng libro ko. I'm not confident with what I write."

"Ilang years ka na ba nagsusulat?"

"Since I entered Med school. Outlet ko 'to eh. Pag na-stress ako nagsusulat ako."

"Two years mo na sinusulat yung plan mo ipublish na story?"

"Yes. Nakailang palit na ako pero ngayon lang ako naging sure sa gusto kong isulat."

"But I bet your story is really good."

"Thank you. Anyway, enough about me. Ikaw, what do you do?"

"Same sa'yo. Med student din."

"You're a Med student din?!"

"Surprised?"

"Heh. Di naman. Para kasing you look too "chill" to be a Med student."

"Wow that's kinda judgemental."

"Uy, did I offend you? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I—"

"No, it's okay. Other people say that to me all the time."

"Really?"

"Yes. Madali daw kasi akong basahin, sabi nila."

"Mukha nga."

"Sige nga, ano sa tingin mo personality ko based on my appearance?"

"Hmm... I guess, super laid back? Parang go with the flow kind of person. Madali at enjoy kasama kasi pwedeng kaladkarin kung saan saan. Friendly with everyone, saka you seem like someone who would go out of their way to help others."

"Wow. Talagang nabasa mo yun just by looking at me?"

"Heh. Tama ba ako?"

"Hmm...medyo? I guess. Mga 20% lang siguro yun ng personality ko."

"Really? There's more to you than meets the eye pala."

"Yes, so much more."

"Uy, tumigil na yung ulan."

"Oo nga."

"Paano ba yan, I'll go ahead?"

"Okay. Me too. I'll just walk."

"It was nice meeting you, um—"

"Jay."

"Oh. Jay. Again it was nice meeting you. Thank you sa pasilong kanina and for keeping me company."

"You're welcome—"

"Dei."

"Nice. You're welcome, Dei."

"Sige, uwi na ako. Bye!"

"Dei, wait!"

"Yes, Jay?"

"You still have 80%."

"Huh?"

"There's still 80% of me you don't know. Baka gusto mo lang mas makilala ako kasi ako gusto kong mas makilala pa kita, Dei."

"Hmm..."

"But I mean if you don't want to—"

"Sure. Here's my number. Call me."

"I will."

"Bye, Jay."

"Bye, Dei."