Riddle of the Dots

TWO

5:00 pm

The only trip open for a 7pm Cagayan bound bus was a super deluxe sleeper bus, as all other trips were already booked mostly by students and province bound individuals. Had she known earlier that she needed to go home to their province she would have booked her trip ahead, as semestral breaks and Undas approaching would mean fully booked trips and fare surge. Having left with no choice, Issa booked the costly Florida Sleeper Bus in desperate need to go home the soonest. This ate up much of her first semester savings (she needed to book a return trip soon as she arrives at the Tuguegarao terminal) and the only thing that consoles her is the fact that, well, this is a sleeper bus and a deluxe ride, nothing to worry about restrooms or food or sleeping - everything is practically paid. For a 12 hour ride this might not be bad at all, Issa thought.

It was rather early to be at the terminal although the ticker sellers said that the bus will start letting in their passengers by 6pm. Issa sneaked out for a nearby fast-food chain for some snacks just in case the food in the bus will not be that appetizing. She bought a Chao fan and dumplings box, chocolate siopao and some buchi bread. She packed everything in her thermal lunch bag and bought 2 bottles of 1 liter distilled water - she has sensitive stomach with unknown sources of water and she would not want to be visiting the bus toilet the entire trip.

As she returned to the terminal, Issa occupied two seats on the gang chairs to wait for her bus. The terminal was slowly being filled by passengers arriving mostly via taxis, carrying with them boxes and biscuit cans, heavy travel bags, some with one or two kids along with them.

" Tugue!"

One of the buses parked on the terminal has opened its doors, the conductor's voice echoing all over the place.

"Yung mga may ticket muna," shouted the conductor. In a matter of seconds passengers started to enter the bus, most of whom need to secure some of their baggage in the underbody storage of the bus.

"Wag ho muna sasakay yung mga wala pang ticket antay lang go tayo".

"Mga anong oras ho pwede? Baka naman hindi na dumating yung iba?"

"Basta antay lang ho pag wala pa sila ng alas sais pwede na po umalis pag may bakante sasakay po kayo"

Chance passengers are very common especially on a holiday rush. While a number of passengers can book in advance, some would need until today to pay for their tickets-- after their weekly salary. Going home to a province as Cagayan is like going to a luxury trip at least in terms of expenses. But it's home, and no matter the cost, one would do everything to get there.

It's beginning to get dark in the terminal. People coming in, queuing in ticket booths or seated on the gang chairs. Taking early dinners - smell of cooked adobo or fried chicken, which is the most ideal meal especially on a long travel as it doesn't spoil easily. Coffee. Cigarette smoke. Chips. Whiteflower inhaler. Vaporubs. Mix of small hardly audible conversations, laughter, children's tantrums, sellers of chips and nuts, conductor yelling ---

"Super deluxe, Tugue, pang alas siete!"

Finally. Issa grabbed her things and walked towards the bus. Unlike the other buses, this one has very few passengers perhaps because among all bus types this one is the priciest. A sleeper bus that has no chair, one of the few sophisticated models fit for long travel. Issa was used to riding a regular seater bus, and long hours of travel brings her leg cramps and nausea. Hoping somehow that sleeper bus would not give her so much trouble.

"---you really do not want to travel by air, Alyssa?," she recalled her mom's phone call this morning.

"Mommy you know very well that I only travel by air if I am with your, or Daddy, or Yna. What if I palpitate on travel again?"

"They have a nurse, my dear. Besides it will cut your travel time by almost 80%. You will arrive early and won't have any leg cramps" her mom reassured her.

"I'm OK with this Mommy, sleeper bus will be fine. Besides long travel helps me gather my thoughts"

"Very much like your Dad," her mom chuckled. "Very well, I'll be calling you from time to time to check on you. Make sure your battery is full. And don't forget your anti vertigo chewable"

"Yes Mommy"

Issa stepped into the bus and was surprised with the look of the bus interior. It looked like a barracks on wheels. Literally no chairs, but long narrow beds, three parallel beds on each row - one each on the window pane, and one in the middle. Hers was a lower deck on the side of the window (thank goodness). Each deck has a small TV screen which was on series connection with the Main TV near the driver seat. There is also a pull-out table which they can use for their meals, or to work on a laptop or to read books.

Issa tucked her baggage under the deck as refused to place it in the bus storage - - she didn't want these to get damaged. She first shook off the bed for any dirt (although the sheets were cleaned). Settling in with her knapsack, she unpacked a neck pillow and sarong. She removed her shoes and slid these under the deck. The smell of newly washed curtains and bed covers somehow made the expensive fare a little worth it, to add that foods are also offered inside the bus. It just feels weird for Issa to actually be sleeping in this place where her sleeper is less than a meter away from the sleepers of strangers. Basta I can get home, Issa convincing herself that this will be fine.

"Naimbag nga rabii.. Madam, ayos lang ho ba kayo dyan?", asked the bus conductor as he checked the bus passengers one by one.

Issa smiled and nodded. "Wen manong."

"Sabihan nyo lang po ako kung may kailangan kayo"

"Okay," Issa smiled weakly. She felt too tired to converse, the sudden need to go home, to pack her things and rush all her supposed weekend chores - all in the morning - made her dog-tired. Her deck is calling her off to sleep, her eyes beginning to grow heavy as she leaned her back to the "headboard" of her bed. She slightly moved the curtain to take a look outside. The terminal was still packed with people although buses are now coming in.

Before letting herself off to sleep, she took out her Chao fan and dumpling to eat before the bus takes off. She turned the TV screen on, the driver has tuned in to the early evening news. Munching on her dinner, she was surprised to see the co-anchor for tonight, it was so rare for the anchor to be seen in the studio for an evening news. She realized how much she misses her, it has been six months since they last saw each other.

Mommy.

Though she had just called this morning, she still wants to personally connect with her mom, with her family. She folded her dinner box and placed it inside her garbage bag, to be collected later by the bus conductor. She took her anti vertigo, and watched the rest of the news. She did not know which part of the rest of the TV shows she fell asleep to. Her tiredness and full stomach altogether put her to deep slumber quickly.

10 missed calls. Issa's head suddenly felt dizzy. This familiar sensation of a wobbling head, even with eyes closed. Guessing they might already be on the Santa Fe mountains, Issa tried to position herself to where she will be most comfortable with the least nauseated feeling she could get. Her phone is ringing but she could not pick it up nor move, she regretted that she had a full meal just before the bus took off. Any big movement and she might spill out a puke. This call can wait. She breathed deep, slow and still with eyes closed, she grasped for a whiteflower inhaler and tossed it near her nose. She felt better, after a few small drops beneath her nose. How has she survived each summer and holiday breaks travelling to Cagayan in her childhood, but still get nauseous now?

Still weak and recuperating, Issa picked up the call.

"Mommy, sorry I was on the verge of collapsing, we were at Santa Fe"