This specific day was the unluckiest of all days.
I woke up 30 minutes later than usual, I skipped breakfast, and I lost my car keys. To top it all off, it was the last day of exams. All my majors decided to bulldoze through and schedule themselves continuously.
Long story short - I was fucked.
I was about to hail a cab, so I frisked through my jeans and scrambled through the contents my bag to take out my wallet and see if I could afford it. But of course, fate was playing its tricks on me and I apparently lost it, too.
I heaved a sigh, eventually deciding to give myself a break and head home. Maybe I'll get away by forging an excuse letter. Maybe I won't and I'll get failing marks. At this point, I honestly didn't give a single fuck about what repercussions I'll face. I just want to get home and drown myself in some video games and junk food.
Absorbed in my own depressing bubble, someone nudged my shoulder with a finger.
"Hello? Excuse me, toto. Imo na wallet ho?"
My eyebrows voluntarily scrunched together at what she said. Was she singing? Her accent sounded like it. All I got was the "excuse me" and "wallet" parts.
Her eyes widened and slapped her forehead. "Huo gali, hindi ka ka-intsindi sa akon. Ka-mango man sa akon man," I heard her murmur, talking to no one in particular. She crouched down and picked something up from the ground close to where I was standing.
"I was asking if this wallet is yours," she said.
Finally, she sounded declarative.
And finally, I found my wallet.
I nod in excitement. "Yes! Thank you," I exclaimed. She handed over the wallet to me. I observed how she looked - carrying a bag too big for her body, hair tied up messily into a bun. I was getting later each second I spent looking, but I couldn't help but be curious.
I remembered to look for a cab. "Nakakaintindi ka ba ng Tagalog?" I asked, my eyes moving from her towards the road.
"Oo, but I speak better in English." She spoke the truth, she did have great diction and control over English words. What confused me was the dialect she used a while ago... Probably from Visayas? I have absolutely no idea.
Finally, a cab was in sight. I waved from afar for it to notice me. As it slowed down, I searched for a pen and looked at her. "Listen. I'm going to be late, pero if there's a way for me to express my thanks, tawagan mo 'ko." I grabbed her hand and sketched my number and name across her palm.
After all the hurdles I had to pass through all in a day's work, I finally got to my uni and was allowed to take the exams. I knew they only favored and believed me because I was never the type to skip. Responsible, they say.
Responsible, my ass.
To clear my mind off things, I decided to walk until my I couldn't feel it anymore.
Well, at least that was the plan before my phone rang with an unfamiliar number.
I slid the green icon on the phone to accept the call. Before I could even greet a "hello" or ask a "who are you", the caller beat me to it.
"Hello? Si Sharlene ni gali," the voice seemed both new and unfamiliar to me. Then it hit me, the girl who returned my wallet had the same sing-song accent.
I didn't notice I fell silent until she spoke again. "Ay! Ga-guwa pagka-Ilonggo ko sini ah... This is Sharlene, the girl who gave your wallet?" She asked
I cleared my throat before I answered. "Yeah, natatandaan kita. What's up?" I asked. As much as I want to deny it, I was excited - she was like a breath of fresh air in comparison to all the shit I've been through today.
She hummed. "I would just like to ask if I can exchange your 'thanks' for a favor?"
"Um... What favor, exactly?" I asked, wary because I am being asked by a stranger to do a favor. This is where hostage movies start.
"I'm new to this city. Can I please sleep at your house tonight? I promise to look for some place to stay tomorrow," her words were rapid, shyness and modesty peeking though it.
Because of either divine providence or witchcraft, or just plain destiny - I said yes.
This is where I say hello.
