A lot had been said about Ondoy. We knew what happened. For days, we watched our houses drown, our cars swim and experienced the pain of losing everything. It was a dream everyone wants to wake up from. Ondoy was Freddie Kruger feeding our brains.
I lost my books, some clothes and documents to the flood. Adding up to the loss was the guy I was hoping to be with someday disappeared without any hint or trace. I had questions, but there were no answers. Then came acceptance that another relationship just went down the drain.
Bloody was right. Don’t bother finding answers to questions that were meant to be left unanswered. Life has to go on, he said winking at me.
It was just a week after the flood and everything, like the traffic, went back to normal. That particular morning was the first time Bloody and I saw each other after the unusual rainy Friday night that marked the coming of Ondoy. He entertained me with horrifying tales of the flood from his place, and how he managed to save his van by parking it on the church grounds. His house, however, was not spared from the floodwaters that carried away his sofa to the gate.
“But the kids had fun using the inflated rubber peddle boat. It was like beach to them.” I remembered those two boys who looked and acted exactly like him. That wasn’t so hard to imagine. I had a pretty accurate guess of Bloody growing up as a wild kid.
There were no longer passengers by the time we reached the terminal. I was about to step out of the van when he offered me a ride to the building where I held office. Our office was just a 5-minute walk from the terminal.
“I don’t want you to walk under the sun like a crazed lunatic. Look at you – you’re like someone who just got gang-raped.” I was surprised at his expression of concern. Very fatherly. Except for the last line.
He reached for the dashboard and offered me his shades. I wore it almost absent-mindedly.
“I just wish I had that “privilege”…you know.” He chuckled.
“You wish.” I quipped while enjoying the sight from the polarized shades. I knew what he meant by that signature pick-up line – the “flower farm”.
“Of course I do,” he said lowering his voice, like a snake.
“You’re sweet.” I said that without any hint of sarcasm. That sounded unnaturally weird.
“Really?” He glanced at me and I saw that menacing glint in his eyes.
“I never thought you were capable of showing kindness to wretched beings you’ve been wanting to, um, you know, put to bed.”
“We’re friends,” Bloody answered quietly, not to raise an alarm.
“I know.” I smiled gingerly.
Bloody pulled over in front of the building. I handed him back his shades and thanked him for the ride. He held my hand a little longer than the usual, pressing my palm. His face was just a few inches from mine. I could smell mint from his breath.
“So where’s the kiss?” He was irresistible. I couldn’t tell if that was my mind playing tricks on me or the effect of too much sunshine.
I took off before I change my mind.
