The Yellow Bus
No really the rain reminds me of my days in Butuan. I remember I was like around 24 then, best years of my life. Well, that’s what I thought then. I Have stayed at home for quite long enough, being just graduated off college and no luck in landing a job. No such pressure comparable then, that I’ve felt at that time. But I was as easy as the wind and was in no hurry to be employed. I do not see the merits in it. Up until now I still feel that way and yes, unemployed too. After browsing online and applying for a job, a week later I got an interview. I have no idea what the job will be except for it said, tour aid. I jumped into it. I do have the skills required, having graduated in tour guiding.
“This shit is such a drag” I said to myself as I sat there waiting for the interviewer. I was sitting in a cold metal bench with the AC blasting away. People passing by me like I am just part of the cold metal bench.
That went on for two hours, by the way.
I was about to blow up in waiting in vain, thinking I should storm out and make a little scene. I really have no idea how to but I feel like I have to make one for they have made me wait for almost three hours! I know, my mind is so brave but acting it out, I am as coward as everybody else.
“Wow, you’re still here?” this bald guy said to me.
I was surprised as he was, I forced a sarcastic smile and I said, “Hello, Sir…”
He was looking like he was waiting for me to say more. His eagerness is contagious but I dare not say more and just stared at him. Five, six seconds he told me to go upstairs to his office.
“The first door on the left.” He is still smiling and I am not.
In his office, I sat on a comfy chair and still the AC is blasting away. It’s even way colder and then sadder. Before I make my storming out plans real, he appeared and started the interview.
After that I become the biggest liar. Only in interviews where I can suddenly do and know everything with a smile. I’ll die with the lie.
“I nailed the interview. I got the job.” I said to my mother.
“What was the job about?” she asked again.
Well, I don’t really get what was the job about for the bald guy only said, “You’ll have above minimum wage salary, eight hours a day work day, benefits and many more.” He kept on repeating all that, that I forgot to ask what is the job really about. All I know is we get to travel and see places. But who cares, I got the job.
First day of training and I feel so uneasy. We are all women and we just talk all morning for the bald guy was late, again. I made a few friends one of them is… no I have not really. I am too stupid to open up and be vulnerable. I was just casual and treat them like acquaintances.
The day of truth came, we are told to go to Butuan. Me and my acquaintances gathered up in the bus terminal. They were all carrying big luggage and me I just got a backpack worth of stuffs and clothing. Oh boy. Some of them brought a pillow, I laugh when I saw it. I find it funny too.
We got into the bus and to my surprise sir bald guy was there with a big grin on his face. He let us choose our seats. I chose a window seat at the back of the driver.
The place where we will do our actual training, it is around 4 to 6 hours by bus. And we are granted free ride which made us all trainees so very happy and some are not, I will tell you later who.
So there I was sitting, waiting for the bus to go. I thought this journey will not be so bad. I have been on a bus ride and as far as 4 hours and back. Maramag it was. I lied to myself that I will be perfectly fine.
A lie often repeated becomes true. The many times I kept on saying that, I forgot who said it originally.
…to be continued.