Kwentong Kolehiyo

Samson

Pero aside from that I would like to share my own feels. It's not that different, it's just that it made me feel... awful.

Every morning I would arrive in UST around almost six something in the morning and I would usually be dropped off near the hospital right in front of the carpark. Every morning when I would hang around McDo I would see this guy who was obviously a cancer patient(I had relatives who had cancer too) . He would wear different university hoodies with the hood on his head (no matter how hot the morning is). He would always go alone, hands in his pocket, heads down fixing his face mask on. I smiled at him like I would do to everyone else (Seriously though try smiling at everyone in the morning, it brightens their day up instantly. Amazeballs right? haha) Whenever I would smile at him I would never know if he smiled back since his face mask was obviously covering half of his face, but you know yolo am i right?

This continued for some time until one morning I was a little late so I had to take out my order and it just so happens he was on the other counter beside me. There was the familiar eye contact and it was the first time I saw his eyes crinkle back (which was an indication that he is smiling back) silent pleasantries passed and I was back to focusing what to digest next. Not too long after there were three guys that came in, of course they were noisy and stuff but what they said next bothered me.

(Every morning din kase ang daming nag jo-jogging so normal lang din yung mga naka suot ng hoodies )

"ano ba yan ang init na nga nakataas pa ang hood"
"pre pauso?"
"wag ka ganyan la salle oh"

of course the guy heard them... and what happened next was kinda unexpected. He pulled the hood down and the mask off. He was pale, his eyes weary and tired... I looked at him and it was the first time I saw his smile. It was as if he was telling me "dont worry, sanay na ako"
I wanted to say something to him but I didnt... and I dont know why. I felt awful not because he has cancer I felt bad because he was used to being ridiculed like that... I felt like crying, alam ko ang babaw but he was almost like a friend, I would silently greet him in the morning and sit in the comfortable silence. I never knew his name, he never knew mine but it just felt wrong letting the other guys tell him that.

the next few weeks I still kept seeing him around McDo, I would smile at him more warmly than the others. And another few weeks passed and he stopped going. I was secretly hoping he was alright or at least he moved to a better hospital... I just hope it wasnt what I first thought it was...

I'll call you Samson. I hope you're alright.

Regina Spekter
20130
Conservatory of Music