Bump Car

We’ve probably had a gazillion jeepney rides in the years we’ve been together. You know I hate riding taxis, and I’m thankful you’ve never forced me to ride one for your comfort and convenience.

I remember back in high school when you’d walk with me from school to Abanao street, carrying my heavy school luggage. How you’d stay with me waiting in the long line for the San Luis jeepney headed for home. How you’d stay longer and wait for the jeepney to depart before finally waving goodbye.

Fast-forwarding to college, it was you who always rode the jeepney for our weekly dates. It was unfair because you had to travel through the sweat and the traffic for almost an hour to get to Robinson’s while I simply had to walk for less than ten minutes. But you never complained. I sometimes wonder how you managed to commute and carry a big boquet of flowers, a cake, or a heavy camera  during our dates. I also wonder how you manage to dress and look your best despite your diaphoretic state (insert sinister but fond grin here).

There have been numerous times during our jeepney rides together when I’d tease you about getting your own car. After all, many people our age already have their own— even long before graduating college! But we both know that a car conversation between us revolves around a hypothetical dead-end because you didn’t care much about cars, and I have a phobia for driving.

Riding public transportation to and from places over the years hasn’t been bad at all. Sure, there were times when we’d get frustrated because a certain restaurant we’ve been eyeing isn’t reachable by jeep or by LRT. There were even times when we’ve experienced criminal situations during the rides. But the commute to and from home has given us a unique bonding experience that no car ride could have ever brought about.

I love how we’d kill time when stuck in traffic with our senseless and meaningful stories. I love how we’d have boisterous conversations inside the FX, and how people would stare at us when we laugh out too loud. I love how you’d offer your shoulder when I get too dizzy or sleepy during the ride. And how you’d protectively wrap your arms around my knees whenever I forget I was wearing a skirt. I love how I can trust that you know where we’re going even if I don’t have the slightest idea where we are.

It will still probably be years before we get promoted from driving a bump car to a real car. But I realize today that the 16-peso (or so) jeepney and FX rides have taken me to more places besides our original destinations. With you around, every jeepney ride is an adventure… and could prove to be the best part of the day. 🙂

End Note: This post was originally from my Tumblr account, which I’m planning to delete soon. Thus, the transferring of posts. Haha. 

Awkward.

Sachi.