Street Lovers

The N. Domingo St.

Been driving for almost an hour and get pissed off by my Grab driver's app for not properly working due to the heavy rain in the area when my phone rings:

"Hello?"
"Where are you babe? Have passenger now?"
"Drinking coffee here in San Juan. It's too hard to get passenger now, my app is not properly working. Why?"
"I need dishwashing later, buy me one when you get home."
"Okay."
"Will you wait for the rain to stop, won't you come home first?"
"No, I'll restart my phone now, hope it will work now. I need to earn enough for this car's boundary."
"Okay. Iloveyou take care."

I restarted my phone while finishing a cup of capuchino coffee blend I bought from the nearby 7/11. It was a rainy Thursday afternoon in the busy Commercial Business District of the country.

After a couple of minutes, thank God my app's back to normal, praying for a good travel booking. It's almost 6 O'clock in the afternoon now and rush hour hits the streets of Mega Manila. I switched on the audio of the Adventure to keeps the stamina alive.

🎶God gave me you to show me what's real...🎶

Suddenly, I get notified for a travel booking. "Yes! Thanks."

The pick-up point is from a bank along N. Domingo St., 3 minutes from my location and the drop off is a Mall only 20mins travel. So I did accept it. I need to meet the boundary as well as the incentives so I don't have to be picky with bookings now. I should maintain a good ratings anyway.

I arrived at the pick up point seeing a tall young looking man wearing an office barong tagalog and a black pants holding an umbrella while looking at his phone. He approached my car and gets inside through the back passenger side, upon receiving a notification from my app.

"Good evening, Sir Yeon?"
"Yes sir. Dropped me to the mall please."
"Okay sir."

And we go. While on our way to the drop off point, my passenger puts in his earpod. Our almost 20mins travel turned into 35mins due to the traffic in the area. I stopped for a while in the main entrance of the mall.

"Here is my fare sir. Thank you."
"Thank you sir."

I have to drive along the mall's service road to get out of the premises. It would be to my advantage while waiting for the next booking. Unfortunately because it's rush our, i get stuck for almost 8mins before finally reaching the passengers pick-up area for Grab.

I get my next booking before reaching the exit area of the mall. It was a better one for its already under a surge fare but I have to deal with the unsolved traffic situation on our way to the dropp off, nevertheless, the fare is quite okay for me.

The passenger approached my car and gets inside.

"Sir Ron?"
"Yes. MRT Cubao please."
"Okay sir."

I then started driving. We were entering N. Domingo Street when my passenger gets a phone call. I took a look in him through the mirror in the drivers area, to see if he's okay after his call for he had a right on the other line. I was shocked to have the same passenger I dropped off to the mall. He suddenly look at the mirror and notice me.

"Oh it's you again!"
"Yes sir." on a shocked voice.
"My friend booked me."
"Are you okay sir?"
"Yes. Nevermind it. How long have you been driving?"
"Since 18 years old sir. But I only started Grab a few months ago."
"Is this car yours?"
"No sir, I paid for the daily boundary of 1,000Php."
"And how's it? Do you get enough to earn from a boundary basis?"
"For now sir, the incentives is a big help for us, drivers."

We continue talking about how it works to be a Grab Driver. Gets interested with it, he invited me for a dinner when we're near the drop off.

Shy of saying no, I parked the car in front of the fast-food near the train station.

"Let's go, have some dinner sir." He asked me.
"It's my first time to encounter a passenger this good sir. I am so shy."
"Don't be, I am interested to have my car and be a Grab peer too."
"Okay sir."

While seating and waiting for the food, I started observing this man. He is white skinned with an iPhone and a leather wallet. He uses a titanium-braved eye glasses. At the back of my mind, he is a boss at work or maybe one of the rich kids.

"Oh you look younger here. How old are you sir?" He asked me.
"I'm 27 sir, what about you sir?"
"I'm older, I will.be turning 30 this year."
"But you look younger than me I think."

It was a good conversation. After the dinner, he told me to just drop him back to San Juan.

"I can't sir for I have to go online now, my operator is asking where I am."
"Then I'll just booked you?"
"I don't think that would be possible in this area sir."
"I will just pay you twice the rate, just bring me back home."

Because of the offer, I didn't have a second thought knowing it would be a great help and his place in San Juan is less than 10minutes my our current location. I then agree with him.

He left me his calling card saying he's going to save my mobile number. He will reach me out when he already have his car.

After dropping him in San Juan City, I had 8 passengers more before deciding to go home. It was still a productive Thursday for me.

#November05/2020