DORM No.4F (Strange Encounters)

I - 7: Loop

Babaylan: 
mystical women; a healer, a shaman, a seer, a miracle-worker, or combination of these.

***

'Magsilbing gabay ang tunog ng panawag sa espiritong hindi matahimik.'

I opened my eyes to a bright day. Lumalagos ang maliwanag na sikat ng pang-umagang araw sa manipis na kurtina ko sa kuwarto. Itinakip ko sandali ang palad ko sa mukha ko bago kapkapin sa higaan ang cell phone ko. I checked the time: 7:38. May unread message na agad ako.

Arthur:
Good morning, love.
I'm up early. See you in a while.
I love you.

5:41 pa 'yong text niya. I bit my lip and hugged my phone. What did he prepare for me this time? Is he going to give me something? I'm sure he's going to give me something. He's like this kapag may surprise.

Magaan ang katawan na bumangon ako sa higaan ko at nagtuloy sa banyo.

It was almost nine in the morning when I finished dressing up. I wore an above the knee dress. It was exaggeratedly yellow so Arthur would have no problem in spotting me from a mile away. I paired it with a 2-inch Mary Jane shoes. I curled the ends of my hair. I had a light make-up on. And I was hugging a white shoulder bag.

Me: 
I'm leaving the house. See you, love.
I love you. ♥♥♥

Arthur:
I'm already here, love.

He's really up to something. I went out of my room and told Mom I was going to see Arthur.

*

I was almost to our favorite coffee shop, but the taxi driver was making me feel uncomfortable. Nasa fifties na yata ang edad niya at malalim ang mga mata. He had a nervous smile. Ilang ulit ko siyang nahuling nakatingin sa 'kin sa mirror niya bago iiwas. When I asked if he has something to ask me, he told me I was pretty. It was awkward. Nginitian ko na lang after mag-thank you.

Nahinto ang taxi namin sa pagpasok sa isang intersection. May nakaharang na malaking trak doon. Pinalilibutan ng ilang mga trabahante at ilang unipormado. Isa sa mga patrol na nakauniporme ang lumapit sa amin. Ibinaba ni Manong ang bintana niya.

"Hindi po makakadaan dito," sabi ng patrol. "Tumirik 'yong trak at mamaya pa maiaalis. Ikot na lang kayo kung sa Romulo ang sadya ninyo."

"Naku, malapit na sana itong pasahero ko," sabi ni Manong.

Napakamot sa ulo ang patrol. "Mamaya pa talaga maiaalis iyang trak."

Tumango na lang si Manong. Bumalik naman ang patrol sa kinaroroonan ng trak. It's true. Malapit na talaga 'ko sa coffee shop kaya...

"Dito na lang po ako bababa, Manong. Lakarin ko na lang po kaysa umikot tayo," sabi ko sa kanya. I smiled so he wouldn't feel so bad.

Matagal siyang tumingin sa 'kin. The awkwardness nestled again. Kumurap ako.

"Sige. Mag-iingat ka," sabi niya.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag. He might be seeing someone in me. Baka anak niya or something.

Nagbayad na 'ko at pababa na nang...

"Mag-ingat ka, anak. Mag-ingat ka."

Tumango ako at pilit na ngumiti.

He's weird.

Binagtas ko ang kalye na papunta sa Romulo. Dalawang block at isang pakaliwa pa, bago ko marating ang coffee shop kung saan kami magkikita ni Arthur. Sira ang traffic light sa isa mga tawiran. I waited for the lights to change but nothing. Wala akong kasabay. Wala rin namang mga sasakyan. Patawid na 'ko nang mag-ring ang cell phone ko. I picked it up and answered it while crossing the road.