We (Klaren, Ellaine and I) headed to KFC (E. Rodriguez) to have our lunch. I had a generous serving of Schezuan Rice Bowl. We chatted in between stuffing our mouths with spoonful of KFC goodies. They decided to leave for Ela's house after thirty minutes. I promised to follow after my scheduled test.
I decided to hang around the fast food chain a little longer. Searching for the page where I’ve left off that morning, I resumed studying.
Five minutes into Andres Bonifacio’s heart wrenching life story I could feel manong guard’s glare boring into my back. I had to admit it was really silly and awkward for me to sit inside KFC with not much of a chicken burger to chomp on. (Our table was already cleared of bowls and tableware earlier so I had no evidence that I was a source of the store’s income for that day. Come to think of it, I could’ve shown them my receipt. Oh well.) I could imagine manong guard itching to tell me – ‘Iha, bawal dito ang tambay/malimos.’ – or worse – ‘Iha, bawal dito ang pick-up.’ (Ahahaha!! Sorry just couldn’t resist writing that line. As if naman noh!). I shrugged my shoulders anyway and moved on to Apolinario Mabini.
Ang Dakilang Lumpo.
‘Miss, is this seat taken?’ – A man in a gray shirt, maong pants and combat boots approached me.
‘No.’ I smiled. I glanced at his backpack.
‘May I sit beside you?’ He inquired.
‘Sure.’ I took note of his graying hair and his fair skin.
Silence. He carried on with his lunch. I turned back to Apolinario Mabini.
‘[I see] you’re studying.’ Duh.
‘Yup. I have a quiz later.’ I smirked at him.
‘From what school are you again?’
‘Trinity College.’
‘I’m sorry.’ He didn’t catch the school’s name.
‘Trinity College. Near St. Luke’s.’ I just had to drop the name of that hospital.
‘Oh.’
And the interrogation continues…
‘What course are you taking up?’
‘Nursing.’
Silence. He was halfway through his 2-piece chicken meal. I got nowhere.
‘Do you want anything?’ Good gracious! Any other time I would’ve taken on his offer but…
‘No thanks.’ I just gobbled up a bowl of rice man.
‘You sure?’
‘Uh-huh.’
Silence. My eyes were now aimed at Emilio Jacinto. He continued chewing.
‘Are you sure you don’t want anything?’ He took another shot at being courteous. Gaaad. Are you Santa?! I would’ve given him my wish list right then and there. Fortunately, I’ve resisted the urge to do so.
‘No thanks, I just ate.’ Then again, I refused.
‘How about drinks?’ When will he ever give up?!
‘I’m fine.’ Puh-leaase. A few more paragraphs and I’m done with Emilio.
He finally laid down his spoon and fork, chicken bones left on his plate. The gravy gone and the rice disappeared.
In the corner of my eye, I’ve waited for his next move. I slowly directed my head towards him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. I quickly turned my head away. I’m not about to be nosy and peek at its contents. Moreover, I wasn’t that eager to see green bucks you know.
I warily watched his fingers count his money. May be he was checking how much he had left? I silently prayed for nothing in particular. I just went on praying. I tried to concentrate, tried to
And then…
‘You go get yourself something to drink. Thanks for the seat.’
‘No pro-…’ I halted. Joe just gave me A HUNDRED BUCKS!
‘Wait! You don’t have to…’ I attempted to run after him and hand him back the money but he thanked the guard and was out of the door in no time. I didn’t catch him. Sh**!
Blink. Blink. I glanced at the ube-colored paper in my hands. (And you thought he gave me a hundred dollars. Tsk tsk.) I glimpsed at Andres’ picture. I watched the Caucasian’s retreating back. A good 25ft. or so, he turned left and was out of my sight. What the hell….?!
I sank down in my seat out of shock. What was he thinking?!
Blink. Blink. Stare.
One thing crossed my mind – ‘Mukha ba ‘kong pulubi???’ I was offended, of course. He already knows that I just ate. So he doesn’t really need to hand me THAT amount of money. I was just fine.
My brain was trying to process what just happened. And so I ogled a little more at Manuel Roxas.
May be he’d mistaken me for a beggar. Or a fraud member of a charity group that hands out envelopes asking for donation (Who usually sneak inside restaurants and slither up to people whenever the crew had their hands full.).
May be he was just generous and kind-hearted and charitable blah blah blah…
Or may be he was Jesus who came in the flesh to answer my prayer by giving me money. An angel, perhaps?
Or may be, just may be… I’m simply a Filipina with little money to my name hoping for some miracle to happen by itself. A Pinoy who consoles oneself that some things are meant to be and some are not.
May be I’m just happy to receive a hundred pesos without having to sweat for it.
I replaced the cap of my yellow, orange and pink highlighters, stuffed them in my bag and walked past manong guard who had a huge grin plastered on his face.
Hundred bucks or not, I still had to take my quiz as was the case. I rode a jeepney back to the campus still in a daze over what happened to me.
Sometimes talking to strangers can be good thing.
~*~
My Filipino teacher took a rain check. I took the test weeks later and I aced it. Ü
I relayed the story to Ela and Klaren that afternoon. They planned on hanging out at KFC Erod the next day in hopes that Joe would come back. Still got no news about that escapade.
