FX Scene

Its 815 in the morning. Cubao-based Makati-bound people queue patiently for their oh-so-longed-for ride. When the FX entered the parking lot, the first 10 who were in line scrambled like ants welcoming the god-like manong driver who can save them from the misery of tardiness. They found their way in, and settled for the 30 to 45-minute ride to Makati. Some brought out their MP3s and marked their personal boundaries with their earpieces, others silently prayed with their rosaries, others plunged into the abyss of their own dreams, and others, like me, silently observed them. It’s an amusing scene indeed, watching these corporate beings, donned with powersuits, resisting the urge to drool and fall into deep slumber. They immitate the actions of stuffed toy dogs found in cars, constantly nodding while keeping their balance. Some get back to their senses with a sudden jolt caused by a hole on the road, others by the sound of their phones, while others just couldn’t be disturbed by anything.

And then I heard a song from the radio, and I had a duet with Peabo Bryson, but of course in silence. I was singing in my mind and looking blankly at the person in front of me, without any intention of infecting him with the melodious tone of the song. Suddenly, he woke up, raised his head, and sang in a gentle tone “we had a once in a lifetime, but I just couldn’t see, until it was gone… if ever you’re in my arms again, this time ill hold you much better, this time we’ll never end.” He looked at my direction, and in surprise, I looked away.