The Last on the List [completed]

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Tonight, magkikita-kita kami sa bus terminal sa Cubao going to Baguio. Call time was ten thirty. Prior that, nakapag-impake na ako't dumayo sa mga drugstore but still wala akong mapagbilhan ng antifibrinolytic. Hindi naman sa ina-anticipate kong masusugatan ako sa trail. But a lot could happen in a thirty three kilometer trail. Siyempre, outdoor 'yon, eh. If I'd be anywhere but the office cubicle, I wouldn't make a fuss about it.

May isa na lang ako rito. And it's good for tomorrow. Dito higit na lumalabas ang prevention is better than cure. That's why I needed to be careful with my steps. Baguhan pa man din ako.

I waited on the metallic chair on the side of the terminal. Thirty minutes early akong dumating, fearing I'd be bitched about kapag na-late. Fifteen minutes later, Regie and Cathy arrived, next sina Archie, Ben, at Roy. Dylan almost came sarado alas onse.

"Thank you for waiting!" sabi niya nang lumapit sa amin na may dalang donuts. I didn't care for the donuts though. Siya lang.

And then pumasok na kami sa bus. Naglagay ako ng Skittles sa bag, pero hindi kumot. Kasi noong nag-iimpake ako nakumbinsi ko ang sarili na hindi na siguro ito essential. After all, Mt. Ugo naman talaga sadya namin, eh, hindi Baguio. So I thought it was safe not to bring one. Pero ngayon pa nga lang nasa airconditioned bus, nangangatog na ako, eh.

May mga ibang pasahero na rin noon. Cathy and Regie luckily found vacant two-seaters, sina Archie, Ben at Roy, nakisiksik sa dulo. Kami ni Dylan, well, we have to share seats with strangers. Dylan helped me place my bag on the top compartment, after securing his on the opposite side. He was seated two rows from my back do'n sa kaliwa, narito ako sa kanan katabi ng probably nasa forties na lalaki. He looked unapproachable no'ng pasimple akong tumingin mula sa bintana papunta sa bilog na airconditioner. Nakatutok kasi sa'kin. That must be why he chose to sit near the window.

Ako 'yong tipo ng pasahero na hindi nangingialam ng mga gamit sa takot na may masira but I was chilling. Nangangatog kong tinaas ang kamay sa direksyon ng aircondition, hoping ma-adjust ko. But I couldn't. And not because wala akong lakas.

"Sira 'yan. Hindi na maikot," sabi ng katabi ko, without looking at me.

May hinihintay pang pasahero ang konductor. More than three hours ang biyahe. By then, I'd be as good as a frozen food. I rubbed my arms as fast as I could if only to keep me warm. Bahagya akong sumilip sa lugar ni Dylan. He wasn't seemed cold. Why would he, eh, ang saya ng exchange of conversation nila ng katabi niyang babae, that if I were some stranger at nakita ko silang ganyan, I'd probably assume mag-couple sila.

I faced front and continued rubbing my arms. Nahagip ko ang saglit na pagbaling ng katabi kong lalaki but I might be wrong. Nakayuko na kasi ako no'n. Pinikit ko mga mata ko't ifinocus ang attention sa paghinga. Hindi ko alam kung matutulungan din ako nito but I tried anyway.

Shortly, napabukas ako ng mata nang may dumamping palad sa balikat ko. When I looked up, it was Dylan. He also called the attention of the man on my side. "Uhm, excuse me, Sir. Magkasama po kami. I hope okay lang po sa inyo kung mag-switch tayong position. Dito po ako nakaupo, oh." Tinuro niya 'yong puwesto niya kanina. Then added, "Nilalamig na ho kasi siya."

Nilingon ng lalaki 'yong lugar and said, "Sige."

Iginilid ko ang katawan nang makaraan ang lalaki. Nilipat niya ang bag sa tapat ng bago niyang puwesto; gano'n din ang ginawa ni Dylan. Then, pinausog niya ako near the window. When he settled down, napasambit agad siya, "Shit, ang lamig nga dito."

He didn't admit na ginawa niya 'yon para sa'kin. Nonetheless, I appreciated the gesture. Napakasweet. And what better way to thank him than to offer him in return. "Puwede kang sumandal sa'kin. Hindi ka abot ng aircon dito."