We finally had Kikay back.
As you may know, our beautiful 10-year old ruby red Honda
City was hit by a Ford Escape last June 21, just a few streets from ours. It
was a good thing that no one was hurt when it happened. Everything was taken
care of the Escape’s owner (a multinational company whose insurance provider made
it possible for the repair shop to pick up Kikay from our house). Except for
the trip to the police station on that fateful afternoon, and Alex picking it
up last July 12 from Sta. Rosa, we did not lift a finger – thank God.
It left us carless for three weeks, though. Going home, I
don’t really care much about commuting because I am used to it. But going to
the office in the morning, it’s really an effort on my part. It takes 45
minutes vs my usual 15 minutes as I have to take 2 rides - tricycle and van. Plus waiting
time until the van is full. Plus traffic along Canlalay (Biñan) going to SLEX. Plus smoke
(and gasoline smell) getting in my hair and on my skin. Plus having to pack my heeled
shoes along, and just wear flats on my way to the office.
Someone thought it might be a good source for new adventures
for the TheGoodGirl. On my first few days, though, everyone in the van seemed to be
asleep, and I was the only one who was up and restless. If this is the way
things would go, I don’t have a tale to tell, I thought. But it seems that I am
really a “story magnet”. There were stories and adventures to share, after all.
Usually, I would catch the 630-645am trip, and more often than not, it would
have the same set of passengers. Including two officemates. There’s this girl with her yaya (although the latter looks
like an aunt) who at first would pay for fare for two, but later on, when it
increased from Php45 to Php50, kandong na lang. I was beside them one time and
the girl was kind of “malikot”. Her feet were up the whole time and I was
afraid her rubber shoes would smear my light-colored dress. Moral: Don’t wear
dumihin dresses when commuting. Para walang sisihan.
And there’s this man beside me who was paying for his fare, and
he said he’s a senior citizen. The driver said, “Ows, di nga?”
Pinatulan naman niya
ang driver.
“Oo, 60 na ako.”
The driver replied, “Parang hindi naman halata.
Parang 59 lang.”
Tuwang-tuwa naman si Mr. Senior Citizen.
LOL I was like, pati
pala guys share this age joke among themselves.
The same driver said, “Magtataas
na po kami sa July 7 ha.”
Mr. Senior Citizen asked me, “Kailan daw?”
“Sa July 7
daw po,” I replied. “Sa Monday.”
After a while, he asked for the time. “May
7(am) na ba?”
I said, “Wala pa po, quarter to seven pa lang.”
Then he laughed.
I was puzzled, may nakakatawa kaya sa sinabi ko? O natural comedienne lang
talaga ako? Hindi po ako si Gina, si Karen po.
Meanwhile...During our tricycle ride one morning, after dropping off
Alex in the nearest shuttle station, I was surprised because the driver
recognized me.
“Ma’am, kumusta na po kotse ninyo?” He said he was there when
the accident happened. So for the next 5 minutes, we were having a conversation,
and I kind of enjoyed it.
Then, another morning, the tricycle driver was talking to
the girl at the back ride.
"College ka na ba?” he asked.
I think the girl replied that she was going to
Malayan Colleges (Cabuyao, Laguna).
For the next ten minutes or so, I was listening
to his “words of wisdom”.
“Pano ang schedule mo? “Anong oras ka na nakakauwi?”
Don’t worry about his questions. I didn’t think he’s a bad guy. Parang
father-like lang.
“Magkano tuition nyo?” “Magkano baon mo?” "Tapos, pagkain pa.”
I couldn’t hear the girl’s reply over the vroom-vroom sounds.
Then he said, “Ah
ganun? Tapos wawalanghiyain lang ng iba ang magulang (nila).”
He advised the
girl to study hard and finish her schooling. “Mahirap (ang) hindi nagtapos ng
pag-aaral.”
See, so you believe me now?
See, so you believe me now?
Jo, you were right. There was so much to write about and share. All you have to do is listen. I can’t say I’m
missing my morning commuting days, but it was fun, too, while it lasted. Here’s
to more tales and adventures of TheGoodGirl! Cheers to the commuting public!
~TheGoodGirl
~TheGoodGirl
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