naman si manong e!

hay... it was an almost perfect day. riding on a bus; on my way home from my lunch date with nanay, daddy, ivan, ate berna, cedie, and justin. i was really excited to go home 'cause i have this blueberry cheesecake vday pasalubong for the gang at home. even bought a few chocolates for some friends to, ya know, keep the valentine spirit flaming. yahoo! i was almost smiling as i stared out the bus window.

all of a sudden, a manong sat beside me. uy si manong, ang perfume matapang; kaamoy ng air freshener na korteng christmas tree. lamo yun? uy si manong pawis, unusually sobrang makadikit ng braso sa braso ko... slightly alarmed, i tried my best to protect whatever has to be protected. i had an urge to blog the event. i was about to get my phone when manong blurted...

manong: miss, pwede magtanong?
(uy si manong malagkit ang tingin malagkit din ang ngiti... now i'm scared.)
caths: ano po yun?
(i thought if i ignored him, baka lalo ako bastusin.)
manong: san ka bababa?
caths: sa MIA po.
(i was not making eye contact. at may i mega turn my head away ako! silence... after a few minutes,)
manong: pwede makipagkilala?
caths: ay mahiyain po ako.
(naman si manong e! masyadong nagpapaapekto sa pressure ng vday! at the corner of my eye, i could see him staring at my arms... naman manong! anong meron sa braso ko?!? hmm... sa braso ba yun o sa? naman manong! payat ako e!)
manong: pangalan lang naman.
caths: michelle po.
(now i'm reaaaalllyyyy scared, seat, please eat me. please?!?)
manong: ilang taon ka na?
caths: 18 po.
(i figured if i portrayed the role of a kid, he'll stop bothering me.)
manong: pwede mahingi ang number mo?
caths: ay wala po akong cell phone.
(sabay dasal nang, phone, wag kang mag "me-meeeee" (my txt alert tone) or mag "ha-happyyyy" (my call alert tone). at nakisama ang phone. hush hush sya. salamat sa mga kaibigan kong hindi nag text ng mga oras na yun! hehe.)

at kung ano-ano pang pambobola ang ginawa ni manong... until finally, he ended up giving me his cp number, written on a piece of paper na sinuksok ko sa SM plastic bag na dala ko at naitapon ko na rin pagbaba nya. sabay hirit ng "i-text mo naman ako paminsan-minsan." at tingin ng kakaibang tingin. and he had to go, thank God! "happy valentine's day ha." mga 5 times nyang inulit-ulit yan... naman manong e!!! akala ko ba muka akong masungit?!?! waaaah! when he got off, i really couldn't help but roll my eyes in disgusto! si manong o nakakainis nakakapaningkit ng mata!!! nananakot! waaaah!