Stranger, ‘Til We Meet Again
I was busy texting when he approached me. He said
‘Hi,’ I looked over at the wrong direction, and there he was, smiling at me. I
was about to go home but I started to feel comfortable having a conversation
with him, so I stayed until 9 pm. We talked about random things; what he does,
where he graduated and what I have been doing during my stay in Roxas City. He
was really nice. Even though I had difficulty conversing in Ilonggo, I tried
harder, and he said I was good at it, too. Then the others left the stadium,
and we decided to go home, too. He brought with him his motorcycle and offered
me a ride, but unfortunately, I went there on a bike, so I just went home in it.
After four visits to Roxas City in the past two years, I finally gained a
friend. Sadly, I was about to go back to
Davao City.
When I reached home I still remembered I was singing
in the kitchen and waiting for his text feeling like he was someone I’ve
already known for a long time. I was hoping we could get together some time,
even on the last day of my stay. Even though he was a stranger I had just met,
I had no feeling of fear or suspicion around him.
The afternoon of May 25th came; my aunt and
I went out to buy some pasalubong and he texted me at around four. I was
thinking of going to West Bar before I coming back to Davao and I was hoping
he’d ask if he could join me. My plan: Go out alone and come home early, or go
out, and I'll be happier if he joins me. Then, plan B worked! I said that I'll
be going out in the evening, at the West Bar, alone, and he asked if he could
join me and I said yes. I started to feel excited about it, looking forward to
hanging out with a stranger.
It was about nine-thirty in the evening. I waited for
him outside the Red Sun Restaurant compound near BPI. He even asked if I were
wearing slippers so he could wear slippers too. West Bar had no vacant seats
that time, so we waited outside, chatted a bit. And I felt like I was in a
“Hayahay” mode, because he did everything. Upon entering West Bar, he offered
me a seat and he sat next to me. I was a bit shy that time. I felt a special
treatment that night that even my boyfriend hadn’t done for me. I imagined it
was a date. He ordered some drinks, continued
chatting, and criticizing the customers who were singing. He asked me if I
could sing and told him that I can, but I won’t sing unless he sang first.
He asked me if I want to leave the place and roam
around with him, or have the so called ‘joy ride.’ And I said yes without
second thoughts. First, we went to Baybay. Just strolled around the park, and
talked, and made jokes around. There were fishermen on the shore at around
eleven in the evening, busy pulling the large fishing nets. It was such a sight.
After that, he became my Roxas City tour guide, showed me the places I’ve never
been before. Stopped at McGenie's to buy some Cornetto ice cream, he got me a
hazelnut, and he ate the vanilla one. Then we drove around Lawaan and drove
inside Malipayon village. The night sky was filled with stars, and luckily, we
stared at the same shooting star, the first shooting star I ever saw in Roxas
City (which makes it a magical night, for me). I was back-riding and all I
could ever think of is this night to never end. I felt peace with the splash of
the wind and I willingly hoped to extend my stay, which I think will not
happen.
During the ride, I felt peaceful at most. I wasn’t
worried about anything. I could still remember I was fixing my hair every time
we came to a stop, worried if I might look horrible with those wind-struck hair.
I did enjoy every part of the ride. When we were passing by empty streets, I
always take a look around and see how simple yet inviting this city really is.
I also remembered I was gazing above and how those thousands of stars made the
night so bright yet romantic. It was as if I was freed at this moment; free of
imagining how things could be if I went to a different track. I thought of no
consequences, I just thought happiness for myself. I realized that even the
simplest things could bring joy to my heart. I realized that at this moment, I
was thinking of my happiness, and not of others.
We went back to Baybay to have a rest. We just sat,
and talked about everything. He always mentioned that he should have approached
me weeks earlier so we could have more time to spend together. I wished that
night would never end, and thinking that these moments only happen in a movie,
and never thinking this could happen to me.
The streets were empty but the city lights were still
up and merry. It was almost two o’clock in the morning when we decided to
leave. He drove me home and I still couldn’t forget the smile on his face when
I was waiting for my cousin to open the gate. He was staring at me as he sat on
his motorcycle. It was a sincere smile, a smile that could turn my world
upside-down. Then I thanked him, tapped him on his left shoulder and bid
goodbye. I waved my hand, he drove away, and I looked at the stars above.
