Stuck in Traffic

Photo not mine

At some point in our lives, we all have what ifs. And it happened to me few years ago on one rainy night in Makati.

Coming from Cebu, I had only been in Makati for few weeks, I was finding my way around. While waiting to get a massage at a spa, a young bloke smiled at me. We exchanged hellos but before we got to know each other, I was called for my massage.

After my massage, I was surprised. He was waiting for me with a grinning face. We chatted and he was easy to talk to. Feeling hungry, I told him I had to go. He was a bit disappointed. I left hurriedly the spa but had to retrace my steps. It was raining really hard.

When I came back a little bit wet, I saw his face lit up. It meant that we could chat a bit longer. Thirty minutes later of random conversations, the rain hadn’t stopped and was already waist deep. (They were really not kidding when they said that when it rains in Manila, it pours).

He invited me to join him instead. I hesitated. What was I thinking? (Letting a stranger driving me home?) He was very persuasive that after a while, I decided to take his offer.

So we drove from Osmena Highway to Buendia for about an hour (For a 2km distance, it was an extremely a long ride). There was silence initially but once I was comfortable with him, we started talking. I got to know him. He works in China Bank, studied in La Salle, his parents are in the US and recently got his heart broken two days ago with his girlfriend of two years. They broke up over money due to his girlfriend’s spending habits.

I stole a glance at him. He seemed lost, lonely, and so heartbroken. (This was the time before the movie Tadhana was released.)

We were both hungry after being stuck in traffic. We passed by KFC and decided to have dinner there.

It was the first time I saw him in bright lights. He was slim, moreno and had well-chiseled nose and piercing eyes. I was thinking that even a good-looking man like him, can get heartbroken, too.

I was caught up in a daze and then I noticed, he looked back at me. *Electrution.

It was almost midnight and the heavy rain stopped that I decided, we should be going home. We were living in opposite directions, him to Las Pinas and I in Makati.

We drove me home in silence this time. When we arrived at the corner of my boarding house, he asked for my number. I didn’t know what I was thinking but I didn’t give him my number. (Actually, I really know what I was thinking. I was inspired by the movie Serendipity that if it’s meant to be, fate will find a way. I tell you, folks, fate hasn’t!)

I left his car with a quick kiss and said our goodbyes. That was the last time I saw him.

Looking back now, I can no longer remember his face, nor his name, just the feeling of having a connection with a random stranger. Six years have gone by, I wonder what if. What if I gave him my number? What if I accepted his invitation for coffee? Where would it lead to? Do I still cross his mind? Does he ever think about that one night where we got stuck in traffic?

What if...