Drop your weapon?

It was the usual hectic Monday morning, where despite your noble efforts to wake up early to get on the MRT early, everybody else had thought the exact same thing, so you end up getting people-squished anyway as you wait for the train.

As a result of said people-squishing, this tall, tough-looking mid-40's guy next to me spilled the contents of his handbag through the gap between the train and the platform. Seems he forgot to close the zipper on the bag.

And so he called the nearby guard and said, "Boss, nahulog 'yung gamit ko sa baba!".

As the train was leaving, the guard shouted back, "Sandali, wag ka bababa, kelangan muna natin ng clearance bago ma-recover yang gamit mo!"

"Kakalawangin yan!", complained Mr. Tough Guy.  Then the guard's eyes almost popped out when he saw the "gamit" that Mr. Tough Guy was referring to -- a serious-looking gun and a handful of serious-looking bullets.  So once more he told Mr. Tough Guy to wait and bolted to get said "clearance."

But Mr. Tough Guy, being the tough guy that he is, did not wait and promptly jumped down to the rain-flooded tracks, picked up his gun and bullets, and climbed back onto the platform well before the next train came.  When the guard came back, he didn't bother to reprimand Mr. Tough Guy when he saw that he went ahead without the clearance. Besides, who'd argue with a tough-looking guy with a gun, even if it's wet?

Afterthought: In LRT 2, there's a 50,000 PHP fine for going down on the tracks. Hmmm..

ouch

Two days ago I started feeling pain whenever I swallow. At first I thought it was just the onset of a cold, so I just took Strepsils to ease the irritation. But then when I woke up this morning, the pain was close to unbearable.

Good thing I had work today, since there's a Grepalife clinic practically next door to the office. The line was excruciatingly long because it's that time of the year for annual medical exams, but it was worth the wait.

The doctor was pleasant, as all good doctor are -- their mere presence and their concern for your well-being seem to make you feel better already. She asked some standard questions, and did some routine checkups -- nothing seemed to be amiss. But then when she asked me to "say 'aah' " and took a peek inside my throat, she half-winced and said, "ouch."

I ended up getting prescribed medicine that cost 300 PHP per tablet. Good thing I'll only have to take 'em once a day for three days. (And YEY for reimbursements!)

Eight hours after taking the first tablet, I already feel a bit better, though there's still pain when I swallow. And oh yeah, the doctor said I have to get some good bed rest. Must sleep now. zzzz.

an encounter with a stranger

Earlier this evening I was waiting for a jeepney right outside the RCBC Plaza, thinking about whether I'd make it to the MRT or not. I was standing on the island where Geronimo street met Buendia avenue, so that I was facing RCBC, when a young woman casually passed by my left, oblivious to the speeding bicycle that's about to hit her if she didn't look to her right. The bike wasn't slowing down.

Without even thinking about it, I reached out and touched her elbow. She paused and gave a confused look, and just then noticed the bike zoom by a step ahead of her. Realizing she just avoided getting hit, she gave me a big smile.

Only then did I realize, I don't even know this person. O_O

Now, I'm not really keen on encounters with strangers.  Being an introvert by nature, I'd prefer to avoid such encounters as much as possible.  Luckily my jeepney had arrived, thus saving me from the awkward moment I had inadvertently put myself into.