2103: Martial Law (Love in Dark Times)

She is compassionate

"Maling, was that one of your favorite songs?" She asked me. 

"Huh? Ano?" 

"Lights down low by MAX, that was what you played kanina diba?" She asked me. 

"Yeah it is. Ang ganda kasi nung lyrics and melody." I smiled at her. 

"So one more thing in common sa ating dalawa. I love that song, it's my favorite love song actually." She said smiling.

"Nice. One more common thing." I echoed her.

She smiled at me as we both silently made our way to Vinzons Hill. Nang makarating na kami doon, andun na ang mga outgoing officers ng grupo naming Kabataan Laban sa Diktaturya o KLD, Denise had one more year of law school while I was in my last year of Masteral in Filipino Folk Music.

Gayon pa man, hindi kami natatakot na labanan ang sino mang nagbabanta na nakawin ang kalayaang aming tinatamasa sa kasalukuyan. Hindi na namin hahayaang magkaroon ng Martial Law II.

Nagsimula na ang pagpupulong. Inassign ako ng aming leader upang pamahalaan ang Music and Production na gagawin namin sa darating na mobilization. Habang si Denise ay naatasang magbigay ng talumpati niya para sa mga desaparecidos. Ang darating na mobilization ay may temang nagfofocus para sa 1,838 na kaso ng mga sapilitang nawala nung unang Martial Law. Kabilang na ang kapatid ng kanyang Ama si Edwardo Jopson.

After ng meeting namin, nagdinner muna kami ni Denise. Gaya ng nakagawian namin, sa Maginhawa kami nagdinner. Sa isang restaurant dito na ang pangalan ay Molcajete Mexican Cantina. We ordered our usual Nachos and Burrito Rice Plate and Cucumber Lemonade. We sat at one of the seats sa gitna ng Food Park. Wala masyadong tao today, dahil sa Tuesday pa lang. We enjoyed discovering new places to eat at or have coffee. This was one of the recent restaurants we have tried. 

"I love Mexican food." I smiled at her.

"You'll love this new Restaurant I discovered then." Denise smiled at me.

"Wow, talaga ba? When are you bringing me there?" 

"We can go tomorrow, I mean kung hindi ka naman busy and all." She said. 

"Hindi naman, wala naman akong klase bukas eh. Tsaka sisimulan ko na yung production numbers para sa mobilization." I answered her. 

"Great. Let's meet up tomorrow." She smiled at me.

"Okay." I smiled at her.

"Sa kanto ng Mahabagin Street. Mga 4pm. Para sakto for early dinner at opening nila." She smiled.

Once we finished dinner, may left overs pa kami pareho, pinabalot ito ni Denise. We barely touched our nachos and still had 1/4 of our burrito plates. Siguro dala na din ng pagod sa maghapon kaya hindi na namin natapos ang mga pagkain na inorder namin. We walked towards a little store at the end of the street, dito kami naupo para magyosi.

"Hassle no? Kailangan nasa bakuran pa tayo ng tindahan para makapag-yosi." I said to Denise. 

"In fairness naman, Maling. Medyo maaliwalas naman talaga yung mga kalye simula ng pinatupad nya yung anti-smoking sa public place. Kaso, tama ka hassle nga. Kasi diba? Paano kung ayaw nung may ari ng tindahan na magpasmoke sa bakuran nila? Nadinig ko from a friend of mine, sa BGC daw may bayad yung smoking area nila malapit sa office nila." 

"Aw Shit, hassle yun." I responded to her as I took a drag out of my lit cigarette. 

"Yeah and worst is pag call center ka, you tend to go on a binge yosi break on lunch and ang lunch nila minsan 12 am - 2am, sarado na yung smoking area nila ng ganung time." She says as she takes a drag out of her cigarette.