They Call Me - Ernest

It was already past 8pm.

I walked and walked a long the road of EDSA, when suddenly a cold wind blew and rains began to fall. Soon I was chilled to the bone by a stinging rain and wind as rains get stronger and stronger and lightning appears with anger and might in the darkness.

I found myself standing in the intersections of EDSA and Makati Avenue after another 30 minutes walking and running in the rain. Rain water is dripping from my hair, nose, and ears. My white cotton shirt and dark pants and also my shoes and shocks were completely saturated.

A few steps away to my right from where I had stopped. I saw a number of people in the waiting shed avoiding to get wet by the rain and somehow waiting for their bus to arrive. I ran towards them and stay behind. They looked at me and one of the guy wearing black shirt, blue denim pants, and converse shoes, smiled and talked to me.

“Pare, basang basa ka na”, I just smiled and say.” Oo, nga eh, inabutan ako ng ulan doon sa kanto”.

Ah, ganun ba”, He nodded, attempted a weak smile and motioned to his wet hair.

Silence came. “Keep cool. I told myself, just keep cool”.

Whew! Now I’m going to spent miserable night here. If I only have 5 pesos money, probably I’m home right now and taking my dinner… Uh! Dinner! I feel like an exhausted old man, tired, and starving. I looked at this guy. I hesitate and wonder,” is this person will lend a hand on me? Is it time to speak?... But who will believe to a stranger wearing semi-fit Bench white shirt, black Levis jeans, and brown leather shoes, that he just only need 5 pesos to buy a single journey ticket at MRT to get home. I’m completely stranger.

It all started when I submit my resignation letter in our office at PSRC based in Mandaluyong City today at 1pm. And after that, I headed to my favorite internet café, just below the MRT Shaw Blvd., to play game GE (Granado Espada).

After 3 hours playing, leveling up my characters (squad team) while listening to comely background music, I’m satisfied…

It’s about 5pm. I got out of the Internet Café and climb a stated height of ladder going to MRT Shaw Blvd. station. Numbers of people are in hurry and going at different direction up here (rush hour). I feel a sensation of dryness in my mouth after that series of ascending stages, so I decided to buy a bottle of refreshing Iced Tea. I get 20 pesos in my pocket and it charged me 18 pesos.

After 3 swallows of iced tea, I breathed deeply and get my pouch on my left pocket… I was astonished and horrified to find out what’s inside my pouch.

OMG! This is no money! It’s only a receipt! Where’s my money!?

I checked my pockets – not any. My secret pocket – got 5 pesos. Now, I only have 7 pesos but it’s not enough for a single journey ride that cost 12 pesos from here in Shaw to Taft Ave. Metro point Pasay. I double checked my pouch but found nothing.

“Whew! Stupid receipt! Stupid me!.”

I looked around hoping for some familiar face. I waited for a moment, waited to be seen but no one was there. Cellular phone? Uh! Just ran out of load… I squeezed my shoulder, think of going back to office.

“Uh, forget it, there’s probably no one there right now.”

Sweats dripping from my nose and my cotton shirt were soaked. I slowly walked near the phone boot. I wiped my forehead with my sweaty forearm and headed to the ladder and go down. I watched the time in my celphone. It was 5:30pm almost dark.

“Alright, that bottled of iced tea just revived me, I’ll just walk then, and I have no office tomorrow, so why worry. And walking?... hmm, sounds like fun. So go, go, and go!

And now, finally I made it here in Makati. I could not define the distance – Shaw blvd, Boni Av, and Buendia, that I’ve walked. I glanced around in all directions and stared for a moment longer at SM Rustans Mall, when suddenly I heard voice.

“Sa wakas ditto na rin ‘ung bus”, one of the guy said.

Their bus is here. I just stand in silence until the bus was out of sight. Now, I’m here all alone, out here in deserted streets were lightning tend to roll in and out of nowhere. And it seems, the rain won’t stop tonight as it grew thicker.

On my right is the Manila Penensula Hotel. I remember the underpass, going to the other side of the street. It’s just three blocks away.

“It’s time to stop standing around here and start running again”. Count is 3, I ran in the rain as fast as I could. I have no plans to slow down…not now. (read it in manga).

I reached the entrance. Breathing heavy now and totally soaked. I wiped my forehead with my sleeve, breathed deeply, and go down stairs. I saw one security guard, wearing rain coat as he loitered in the lobby. He glanced at me and I pretended I’m damn alright… Walking rapidly now. I go left, and then took the escalator going up and out.

My mouth was dry and my knees were weak. A few more steps then I’ll be at the Rustans’ Mall.

I noticed no one in particular but a bunched of shoppers, office workers, and a half dozen business men outside the mall, waiting for the rain to stop. I continue to walk, some glanced at me but I just ignore it, play cool, and confident. I reached SM and headed to the sidewalk at the back of the mall that intersect along EDSA Street. I paused at the corner for a second under the street light and gazed at the sidewalk going to Magallanes. Two more stations and I’ll be home.

My eyes darted around the streets. Busses roar like they owned the highway. I think of my sister. She’s probably worrying right now.

The rain grew thicker and thicker. I guess, there’s no backing down right now, because losing sucks! (read it in manga too). I bit my lips and kept moving along the sidewalk. I feel safe at first because there’s a fence on it – but as I go further and further, on the dark narrow streets, it’s not a good place to be. In short, I’m not happy.

Buses ran at my left side for a 100kph and on my right a wall loomed like mountain. One false move of a bus driver then I’ll be squeezed like pie… I pray at every step that I made… then out of the blue, I thought of my squad at GE (Granado Espada), that I just recently played. They fight monster as they ran along their way… Rain keeps blinding my sight but it keeps on sinking on my thought.

“Bring it on!”

That’s one of my favorite roars of my character – fighter class, as he lure monster… As I imagined it, the corners of my mouth formed an upward curving. I felt joy!

“Yeah, bring it on!”

It drives me to continue walking as if they were with me – guiding and protecting my way.

I reached Magallanes. I caught my breath, wiped my face, and took a dyip going to Taft station using my last money as planned. And continue walking again after reaching Taft Metro Point. Three blocks away…finally my sister’s house where I lived.

My sister opened the door; it was 15 minutes before 11pm. She asked me what happen and I told her… “It’s a long story.”

-end -