Jeepney

It was a cold night. I just have finished a bottle of beer, It's time to go home. I'm still conscious, a liter of beer can't throw me up.

I arrived at the jeepney terminal and sat at the front seat, it's because I don't want anyone can smell the odor of the beer that my tongue still tasting. I'm not used to drink a lot but when I'm drunk, I know how to be responsible with my actions in any situation. As I were waiting, a woman approached me. "Can I sit beside you?" I can't clearly hear her next lines, I think it's the reason why she wanted to sit at the front seat, but I still moved to make have a space for her. I thought, maybe she's also drunk.

The engine started and the driver stepped on the gas. Hindi ako lasing pero inaantok ako, dagdag pa ang sakit ng ulo as we are traveling, I could hear hard cries. It's from the lady beside me. "Pagod na ako," paulit-ulit niyang sambit. I forced my self na hindi makatulog kasi baka masagi ko siya kapag nawala na ako sa ulirat. Hinayaan ko na lang siya habang umiiyak.

Few moments after, she suddenly moved backward and grabbed my arms. Gustuhin ko man ay nahihiya akong alisin ang kamay niya sa pagkakakapit. She dropped her head over my shoulders, pagod nga talaga siguro. For less than an hour, she was just right there, sleeping comfortably. I merely see her face kahit nasa harap ko na 'yong front mirror, nakaharang kasi 'yong buhok niya.

It was ten in the evening nang makarating kami sa barrio namin. Binitiwan niya ang braso ko at tuluyang nagising. Malapit na akong makarating sa entrance ng subdivision nang bigla niya akong hinalikan sa labi, a smack. I didn't felt romantic, I felt so embarrassed and insecure. Amoy alak bunganga ko and I have always the thought na it's a big turn-off sa mga babae. Natulala ako at hindi namalayang lumagpas na ako sa amin. Nakakahiya namang pabalikin si manong kaya pumara na lang ako. Bumaba siya para makadaan ako. Nagbayad ako ng singkwenta kay manong bago lumabaa ng jeep. I tried not to look at her kasi nararamdaman kong tinititigan niya ako. As I were about few metera away, naalala kong hindi ko nakukuha sukli ko. I turned around pero lumarga na ang jeep kaya hindi ko na lang hinabol but the woman took a glance to me and mimic the words "Thank you." I am shocked inside kaya di ko alam kung anong gagawin but I just gave her a smile and continue to walk home.

I immediately dropped myself at my bed, amoy alak at pagod. Hindi ko na inisip ang gagawin basta gusto na lang matulog but the girl bothers me. It was like a mystery that left me questions, I ended my night thinking about what happened.

In the morning, nahuli na ako ng gising. Eight o'clock ang pasok ko and it was passing seven thirty. Hindi na ako kumain, I took a bath at agad bumiyahe. Napansin kong pamilyar ang jeep na sinasakyan ko, ito 'yong parehong jeep kagabi. I'm am, again, at the front seat. I can't manage myself na tingnan si manong, gusto kong tanungin siya tungkol sa hindi ko nakuhang sukli pero nauna siyang magsalita. "Ikaw 'yong lasing kagabi, di ba?" tanong ni kuyang drayber. "Ahm, Opo," nahihiya kong tugon. "Oo nga pala manong, nakalimutan ko pala iyong sukli ko," dagdag ko. "Teka, resibo nga lang 'yong binigay mo sa akin, sobrang lasing mo siguro kaya hindi mo namalayan." Tinapik niya sa balikat ko habang tumatawa. "Hala, pasens'ya na po, babayaran ko na lang po." Dinukot ko ang wallet ko sa bag pero tinulak niya ang kamay ko. "Wag na iho, tiyaka libre na lang 'yon. Naririnig kasi kitang humihikbi kagabi at paulit-ulit na sinasabing pagod ka na kaya hinayaan na lang kita." Nagulat ako sa aking narinig, hindi kaya iyong babae ang tinutikoy ni manong? "Hindi po ako 'yon, iyong katabi ko po yatang babae ang narinig n'yo." Napatingin si manong sa akin habang unti-unting bumabagal ang andar namin hanggang sa huminti. Tinitigan niya lang ako ng ilang minuto at bigla siyang nagsalita, "Oo nga, parang boses babae iyong narinig ko. Pero iho, ikaw lang ang pasahero ko kagabi."