IT MIGHT BE YOU

IMBY- 2

My wristwatch says it's 1:30 in the afternoon already when we reached our town house which I haven't seen in like almost 20 years. The house, from its renaissance style a few years back changed into a modern one. Dad had it renovated before. Dahil na rin nagr-reklamo ang mga caretakers na marami nang sira ang bahay.

Meanwhile, this annoying tricycle driver fortunately volunteered to put my stuff in front of the door of the house. I was surprised when he shouted, "Inang Sally! Atin kayu pung bisita!"

(Inang Sally! May bisita po kayo!)

I searched for my wallet inside my bag para ibigay ang pamasahe ko. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung magkano ang dapat kong ibigay sa kanya. Wala akong idea kung magkano ba dapat since I didn't see a fare matrix inside his tricycle earlier. Kita mo nga naman, sira na nga ang tricycle, wala pang fare matrix.

"Ay, Ma'am Lea?" an old woman, who resembles Manang Yoleng's features approached me with a smile on her face, "Ma'am Lea, kayo na ho ba 'yan?"

I smiled back at her. Saan kaya ipinaglihi sina Manang Yoleng at bakit ganito sila ka-approachable?I suddenly missed her. She looks almost exactly like her! "Hello po."

"Aba'y pagka-gandang bata! Sa litrato lang kita nakikita, eh!"

I softly chuckled at her, "Kayo ho si Manang Sally?"

"Opo!"

"Manang," I uttered, "Huwag niyo na po akong i-po. Kayo naman."

Ngumiti nang manipis ang matanda sa akin saka kinuha ang bag na bitbit ko, "Osiya, sige, tara sa loob. Naghanda ako ng merienda. O baka gusto mo ng tanghalian?"

"Merienda na lang po, manang."

"O-"

"Manang," I whispered, "Magkano po ba 'yong ibibigay kong pamasahe? Hindi ko po kasi alam."

Napatingin siya sa driver na ngayon ay pabalik na sa tricycle matapos ibaba lahat ng gamit ko, "Aga, pinatatanong nitong alaga ko kung magkano ang bayad? Bumiyahe ka na naman!"

Aga? Such a weird name he has!

He sheepishly smiled at Manang and only now that I was fully able to see his whole face as well as the deep dimples carved in his cheeks. If not for his attitude, I would've had a crush on him. But no, thanks.

"Ala naku mang gagawan, Inang. Tsaka hinatad ke I Michael bayan. Hinarang naku mung Mang Meo nanding pauli ku."

(Wala naman akong ginagawa, Inang. Tsaka hinatid ko si Michael sa bayan. Hinarang lang ako ni Mang Meo kaninang pauwi ako."

Tumango ang matanda at saka nagtanong muli, "O siya, eh, magkano ngang ibabayad ng alaga ko?"

"Huwag na," he looked at me, "Ayos lang. Hassle rin naman."

"No. I insist," I replied and handed over a hundred peso bill, "Here. Thanks."

"Huwag na."

"Kunin mo na," I insisted as I arched my left eyebrow. Mainit sa labas. I don't want to argue with him anymore. My head aches and I am quite tired from the trip, "I won't tell it thrice."