Menthol-Guy

_{4:09 P.M.}
arrived at Olivarez Mall
waited for a Cubao-bound bus

_{4:42 P.M.}
met Kat, a blockmate, at the bus stop
told her I’ve been waiting for nearly an hour
had warned her first of the impending scarcity of buses
advised myself to take the less-flocked Vito Cruz-bound bus
but Vito Cruz is uncharted for me
and the LRT1 too
and I hate seeing Blumentritt and Carriedo
so maybe it would be best to arrive at Magallanes
these thoughts were wrestling in my mind
fighting for space and rationality

note: have seen flocks of homesick freshmen at the bus stop
probably a sufficient explanation as to why today’s 4 o-clock buses were filled to capacity

note: Paulo again, Paulo at CRSC2, Paulo at Math, always him

note: have seen JJ, that BS Forestry student

_{4:58 P.M.}
some barker campaigned for passengers
he said his FX was bound to LRT
it was the first time I’ve seen one
it seemed distrusting
maybe it was a kidnapping stunt

_{5:03 P.M.}
heavy gray clouds
it might rain
some chick trying hard to bear smoking Reds
soft-looking chick, by the way
with a lesbo-looking chick
posers wanting to look tough

_{5:04 P.M.}
LRT-bound bus arrived
bid farewell to Kat
bought a Magallanes ticket

_{6:13 P.M.}
my neck hurts
the feeling was sickening and nauseating
still stuck at SLEX
the reconstruction was taking forever
and the inconvenience it brings was becoming unbearable
fought myself to go back to sleep

_{6:47 P.M.}
felt the bus isn’t really moving
thought of walking as a faster means of transportation
grown impatient with the reconstruction
fuck SLEX
NLEX is way better since it’s private
and not subsidized by the corrupt government
who would pour cement and asphalt that would last for three months

_{7:22 P.M.}
bus reached Alabang

_{7:29 P.M.}
busboy asked Magallanes-bound passengers (like me)
if it would be okay to go Skyway
and skip Magallanes and instead unload us somewhere in Dela Rosa
had no idea where Dela Rosa is
probably have to take the taxi, then
though at first I thought the Skyway ends at the foot of Magallanes
and that it was impossible to skip Magallanes in the itinerary
but whatever, let them decide
for all I care I’ll take the taxi anyway

_{7:48 P.M.}
arrived, at last, at Magallanes
at the foot of Piolo Pascual’s piss-gigantic billboard

_{7:58 P.M.}
good thing I have coins for the exact fare line

_{8:01 P.M.}
missed the first train since it’s jam-packed

_{8:04 P.M.}
the second train skipped us,
got no passengers (then that’s for what?)

_{8:07 P.M.}
got on the third train
have seen Nokia advertisements
“it’s not just a mobile, it’s you”
nice concept but not really that interested on mobile phones anyway

_{8:41 P.M.}
arrived at Trinoma
searched for Brother’s Burger
it’s not in the ground floor
went for the escalator
ordered two gourmet-style grilled chicken sandwiches
and a large iced tea
“360 pesos, sir,” the cashier said
oh yeah, I’m hungry
“your name, sir?”
Kevin
“coming in fifteen minutes”
told her if I could come back and leave the goddamn place first
“didn’t have all the time in the world,” I almost said
as if I’m going somewhere
as if I’m with someone but who cares anyway
“sure sir,” she said

_{8:46 P.M.}
slapped myself
and handcuffed both hands just to force myself
not to buy a David and Goliath shirt
995 pesos
no, no, no, it’s beyond my financial savings–
but really, it isn’t
tempting, though
spending a thousand for a single night
for a burger, iced tea and a shirt?
something held me back
thought of hollering Dad this coming Sunday to buy me the shirt instead
should be financially dependent on Dad
deposit the cash at the bank
let it pile for a while

_{8:53 P.M.}
skip Celio, go to Zara Man
or Gap and buy that 2000+ pair of shoes I wanted since birth
that one which looks the same with Dad’s Keen
will be buying that pair of sneakers this Monday, swear
or the Go Fuck Yourself shirt at D&G first?
no, no, I’m confused
should skip shopping
maybe next time, better with someone
better with Dad

_{8:55 P.M.}
headed back to Brother’s Burger
half-wished I’m with someone
half-wished I accidentally shoulder someone I know
or bump them at the escalator or somewhere else

_{8:59 P.M.}
hid the burger in my Nike duffel bag
sipped the iced tea
went to the bus stop
some stray street kid asked for my iced tea
“no way,” I thought
“I’ve been through hell today, I think I deserve my iced tea”
ate at the bench of the waiting shed
“today’s a long day,” I thought, exhausted

_{10:32 P.M.}
got home
emptied a carton of milk, dunked some Oreo
Dad’s nowhere, at work
left the Brother’s Burger at the dining table

_{11:39 P.M.}
can’t sleep
have to make a post about today’s misadventures

_{12:20 P.M.}
finished