Neri, Sofia Renee E.

HUMSS 12-R

Mga Nakikita at Naririnig ng Isang Salot

“​Breaking news: pulis na nagbabantay sa LGBT Pride March, bumaluktot dahil sa-”​,
biglang tumawa si Noli De Castro, at sabay na pinatay ang telebisyon.

“Jusko na-broadcast na! Hindi mo ba na-receive ‘yung text ko?!” Pawis na pawis na sabi
ni Chief, namumula-mula.

“At bakit walang maka-radyo sa’yo?”

“Alam mo ba kung anong mangyayari satin ha?”
“Bakit ka ganyan?”
“Kailangan ka ‘bang ipadoktor?”
“Walang pulis na ganyan, brad!”
Pasok sa kanan, labas sa kaliwa.

Kailangan pa nilang sumigaw dahil sa mga humaharurot na sasakyan at nagsisigawan na

tao sa rally; pero naririnig ko pa rin ang bawat tibok ng puso ko sa aking tenga. Bawat linya,
isang suntok. Paliit na paliit.

Lahat nakatitig lang sakin, mga mata’y nila’y puno ng pagkasuklam at galit.

“Sino ako na hindi mong replyan? Niraradyo ka ni Quizon pero pati rin dun, walang
imik!”
“Wala pong service, Chief”, at ngumisngis lang siya.
“Huwag mong gamitin ang matalas mong labi sakin, iho.”

Tinungo ko nalang ulo ko. Nakikita ko na ang mga susunod na pangyayari sa tatlong
kulubot sa noo niya at sa pamumula ng kanyang pisngi.

“Alam ko kung ano ka. May kasunduan tayo diba?” Binuksan ulit ang telebisyon.

“​Ahh so “he swings both ways”? Pwede ba ‘yun?​”, sabay pagbunyag sa dalawang litrato,
ang dalawang magkaibang halik.

A Nomad’s Home
New York, Los Angeles, Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul, and London are the places people dream
to be in. To them, unknowingly being blinded by the stars in their eyes, it’s where ​everything is
happening. It’s the melting pot and fusion of cultures! Yes, exhilarating. But to me, it’s all but a
useless dream; because wherever you go, it’s all the same. Jetlags happening all the time, but
I’ve grown used to it. It’s my job.

Page 1 of 2
 Having lived in Manila for so long, I still find hard to adjust to these cultures. The
“I-don’t-care-I-have-to-go-to-work” attitude of the New Yorkers makes me furrow my brows
together and clack my tongue. Ignorant, ​burgis pricks. I wonder how my friends desensitize
themselves from their attitude, especially in the airplane.

I remember at some point in December, Times Square reminded me of the volume of

people rushing in and out of Quiapo. People behaving as if they were in a ​palengke - tightly
packed in sardine canisters. Funny, we find traces of home in places you least expect; like those
half-moon shaped lipstick marks in my coffee cup.

Finally, after days of travelling again, I am home. But, she has found home in another,
now adorned with different set of red lipstick marks.

A Man’s Imagination
With my pointer finger stretched out at the length of Roxas Boulevard, my arm starts to
get tired. It’s been 45 minutes of waiting, and at this point, I could feel each bead of sweat
continuously falling like waterfalls down my back and on my face. My skin burning like the
crispy pata being sold in the ​karinderia a few steps away. I grab my handkerchief from my back
pocket and as I looked to the right, I noticed I’m with her again. Her eyes scrutinizing every pass
of a UV hoping there’s still seats available; and I hope with her.

We’re both wearing our respective uniforms, her yellow contrasting my green. I’m
covered in dirt and sweat. My uniform already looking like I’m just about to go home from 10
hours of construction work; just like Mang Kanor from the other house. Not her though, she still
looks like one of those Sunsilk commercial models. Perfect hair, perfect face. Even on a day like
this, especially at a time like this.

“Excuse! Excuse!”
“Sksksksk oh Lawton, Lawton! Apat pa! Dalawa sa gitna, dalawa sa likod!”
“Dali takbo!”
“Jusko, teka lang!”
“HOY!”
“Sorry, nauna kami!”, at kinalabog ko ang pinto.

Finally, I got a ride but unfortunately, I’m currently being broiled inside this UV. My
breath coming out in pants like I just ran in the Olympics trying to catch up with Usain Bolt. And
then I notice. We’re now both seated at the back, facing each other.

She took out something and her fan from the front pocket of her Jansport. Then,
somewhere in the car, I could hear the distant sound of someone’s ringtone: iKON’s Love
Scenario.

“Hay, buti nalang nakasakay na ako! Grabe ang daming tao dito waiting for a UV, babe.”
Oo nga eh. Sinwerte tayo; sinwerte ako sa’yo.

Page 2 of 2
“Ay weh! Seryoso ka ba? Buti nakasakay ka na”, sabay tawa.

“Bayad ho!”, she called out

Dalawa, isa sa Vito Cruz at isa Lawton, I continued.

After a ride of conversations with her, I didn’t notice I’m here at my stop - Vito Cruz.

“Sige sige ingat ka sa biyahe, mahal. Bye! See you when I see you!”, she laughed.
Sana naman. See you?
She dropped the call and I’m snapped back to reality.

Page 3 of 2