And we all ran! It was like a 100 meter dash event during an athletic competition. Ma’am Ardy was on the lead. She was followed very closely by Ruth. I was at the tail end. I saw Randy, the driver, maneuvering the van towards our direction.
“Ibilin ng imong HAPAS kay kana dimalas,” I could still remember this instruction strongly imposed by Ma’am Ardy a while ago.
I had no choice but to leave my hapas behind and follow Ma’am Ardy and Ruth to where they were going. I can’t see much but I tried to keep pace with them. As I ran, I was really perplexed as to the reason for Ma’am Ardy’s “vehemence” against my hapas.
“Whatever,” I told myself!
“Where were we heading?” I asked myself as I became more bewildered about the turn of events.
I can’t seem to grasp what was happening. I was huffing and puffing and trying to keep pace with both Ma’am Ardy and Ruth. I realized at that moment that women run faster than men – and senior citizens could be speedier than “junior citizens”.
“Wow, her speed reminds me of Mona Solaiman,” I talked to myself. And I meant the speed of Ma’am Ardy. Buyag buaw. Hi hi hi hi.
I was nearing both of them. There was now a third character involved in their conversation. I waited for Ma’am Ardy’s voice to be raised. But, I heard her pleading and entreating. She was talking to a young girl – between 18 and 20 years old. Simple. Derecho ug tinan-awan. Isogon. Basta, murag isog gyud. This girl sounded very sure of her answers. I noticed one of those rare moments when Ma’am Ardy was begging. Yes, it was a rare moment I experienced.
“Malooy pud ka dai. Layo intawn mi ug byahe, Moplete pa mi. Ayaw lang pud ug palabihi,” Ma’am Ardy was pleading.
“Dili lagi. Mao ra gyud na. Dili man gud mo moplete ba. Naa may inyong sakyanan – kanang putting ‘ban’. Naa gasunod ninyo. Inyo man na ba.”
It was only then that I realized that Randy, the driver, was already parked behind us.
“Ah, kanang van?” Ma’am Ardy asked. “Dili man na amo. Hinuwaman man na namo sa Ashira Properties Dev’t Corporation,” Ma’am Ardy continued.
“Basta, dili lagi ko mosugot. Layo ko ug gilakwan. Gabaktas pa jud ko,” the young girl insisted.
“Okay. Hutdon naho ug palit nang tanan nimong orchids sa bukag. Pahangyua lang ko ug tag 25 centavos matag punuan,” I heard Ma’am Ardy say.
“Ah dili lagi mam kay inangkat ra pud naho ni. Adto na ni naho ihatud sa ahong suki kay hutdon man pud ni nija. Mahal na gud ni inig abot sa Tagbilaran,” the young girl said simultaneous with her lifting the “bukag” that cradled all her ornamental plants for sale. Ang the young girl left nga walay panamilit. Ug didtong tungora usab natapos ang damgo ni Ma’am Ardy nga makapalit ug daghang orchids.
“Ha ha ha ha ha laina man tu sija no. Di ba Ruth? Mikalit man lang ug lakaw nga walay pupanamilit. Ha ha ha ha,” Ma’am Ardy released her feelings with her signature laughter.
And we all laughed. Ruth laughed in support to her boss. Randy laughed because he did not understand what was going on. I laughed because my prayers were heard that Ma’am Ardy’s mood would change. It did.
“Tana, balik na ta sa van!” Ma’am Ardy said.
“Aguuyyyyy, musakay na pud mi ug balik. Siya pa gihapon ang mo drive?” I asked myself.
I really looked at her go to the direction where the van was parked. I focused on her steps: Will she be behind the wheels? Will she be on the back seat?
“Abrihi palihug, Ruth,” Ma’am Ardy requested Ruth as she wanted the van’s door to be opened – the door at the back seat.
“Haayyyyy salamat kay nausob iyang hunahuna nga dili na siya ang mo drive,” I whispered to myself. It was really getting late in the afternoon.
“Oy, ako man diay ang mo drive no. Time pa Ruth, paagi-a sa ko beh, kay mobalhin ko,” Ma’am Ardy suddently said.
“Ha? Na pud?” I loudly reacted.
“Dimalas gyud ning ahong HAPAS,” I silently said.
(To be continued)
