In Every Bus Stops

Chapter 2: Again

CYZIE

With stars twinkling in the night sky, cold wind thrusting in my skin and the sound of the calming river lingering in my ears; here I am, creating my own universe using every words brought by anxiety.

Napakurap ako nang biglang may tumigil na bus sa harap ko, pulling me back to reality and also making me realize that I should swim away from the drowning words waving in my head.

I bit my lower lip and looked straight ahead. I need to compose my self. I'm losing my shits again. And it's no good for me.

I looked down and sighed. Maybe going to a fun place for this night is what I need.

Right, that's what I need.

Nang tingnan ko ang bus kung naka-alis na ba ay laking ginhawa ko nang makitang hindi pa umaandar ang bus. There are still passengers hopping out of the vehicle. And that's my chance to take a look on the bus no. to memorize it immediately.

When the passengers stopped from going out, I carefully walk inside. I roamed my eyes in the whole bus to find a good seat. And when I finally found it, I cautiously sit on it.

Nang maka-upo ay tsaka ko ulit ginala ang mata ko sa mga taong naka-upo malapit sa'kin.

Inuna ko na ang katabi ko, remembering the last time I rode on the bus and sat beside a guy who's— I don't know if just weird or just unique.  Going back, I looked at the guy beside me.

Napakurap ako. Dalawang beses. Tatlong beses hanggang sa magmistulang Christmas lights ang mata ko... na naman.

Hala ka...

Hindi ko alam kung nananadya ba ang pagkakataon para makita ko ulit siya o sadyang assuming lang ako? But damn, the guy...

The guy whom I sat beside with 3 days ago, the guy who had a weird get up, a guy whom I assumed a bad boy or some tricksters out there because of his all black outfit, and the guy who made me feel guilty for entertaining wrong assumptions about him, when in fact, he's a cool and a great guy, is the guy sitting beside me right this very moment. For the second time, we saw each other and..  it's in the bus, again.

I just stared at him, no words coming out from my half-open mouth. I don't know why I'm just staring at him with shock expression but I felt no nerves want to move a single.

He's wearing a round eyeglasses and behind those specs were eyes, also looking at me. His face has this amused expression.

I looked at his outfit, and should I thank God that he's not wearing an all black outfit? He's wearing a mustard shirt with a word 'still beating' printed on it.  When I looked at his pants, he's wearing a caramel pants. And that outfit of his really suits him well.

Ghad! Why do he need to be like that in my eyes?

"Kung kasalanan lang ang tumitig, masyado ka nang makasalanan,"  he said and averted his eyes away from mine. I saw him stifling a smile on his lips.

A-Ano raw?

Napakurap-kurap na naman ako. Hindi ko naintindihan ang sinabi niya dahil nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. And by nakatingin, hindi kasalanan 'yon, ha? That's not a sin. I just cleared my throat and sat properly on the seat.

Sa ngayon, kampante na akong hindi magnanakaw o mamamatay tao ang katabi ko sa bus. That puts me to a great relief.

Just like what I'm always doing, I checked on the other passengers around me at mukhang wala naman sa kanila ang gagawa ng kalokohan.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

" 'Ne.."

Agad akong napalingon sa konduktor na lumapit sa 'kin at hindi ko maiwasang magulat nang makita ito.