Frolicking in the Rain and Humanity

Funny the generalizations you make in your mind.

After studying in starbucks last night. I decided to walk home - I needed the exercise and the night seemed relatively young.

I had just entered the gate when a little drizzle started to fall. I casually walked to the guard house. "Ma'am mababasa po kayo, pa pick up nalang po kayo dito." said familiar-looking guard. I laughed, knowing he was teasing me because he knew I didn't have a ride. A serious-unfamiliar-looking guard was getting on his motorcycle. He was ready to go but for awhile he was froze in an akward position. He looked like he wanted to offer me a ride but didn't know how. I wanted a ride. but I didn't know how to say it either. Drizzle subsided. The decision was made for the both of us, he sped away and I said goodbye to familiar-guard and kept walking.

A few minutes (about 50 leisurely steps away) later, and the rain dropped, nay, poured. This time there was no nearby guardhouse. There were a lot of houses, but I couldn't just doorbell and ask for shelter now can I? I couldn't exactly run either because I had a huge heavy bag with me. So I said to myself, "It's just water, pretend you are in a movie set, walking away from the man you love and the rain falls, like the world is telling you you've just made a mistake."

I passed by one of the prettiest houses in the village (one that i've always wondered what it was like to live in, you know those 3-story glass houses with videocam security) and there was a man -- he looked like a papa -- looking out the window. I don't know how long he'd been looking but I'm sure he saw me walking with my venti iced earl gray tea and big bag and panicking when the rain poured. He had relatively nice-looking non-DOM features, and he seemed like he wanted to offer shelter to the soaking stranger, but he didn't know how to offer, and I didnt know how to beg for shelter. So I walked on.

I was brisk-walking towards the VV5 clubhouse, the only public shelter between my house and the guardhouse. It was still relatively far away. The rain was stronger now, and my feet were a little stronger so I was semi-jogging. I was a little relieved that no-one witnessed this funny sight. Before I could finish that thought however, I noticed headlights shining on me. I walked a little faster because I was a little embarrassed to be seen frolicking in the rain. Then I walked a little slower when I realized I couldn't exactly out-walk a vehicle. For a bit the car just slowed down behind me following my change in pace. I casually turned around and saw the guy in the car. A boy about my age. He looked like he wanted to offer me a ride, but he just didn't know how. I wanted a ride, but I couldn't exactly just get into some strangers car -- even if he had an Ateneo sticker on his windshield. The rain became a drizzle and the supposed-good-Samaritan drove off.

I finally got to the VV clubhouse when the drizzle became a huge downpour. Oh nature, you can be really mischievous when you want to be. By this time I was soaking wet and extremely cold and still holding on to that iced tea. I sat near the basketball court because I'm afraid of the dark church and was hoping by some weird turn-of-fate, I'd recognize anyone there. I didn't. Instead a group of guys had just finished a game and was preparing to head home. I put on my earphones and decided to sit by the steps and wait for the rain to subside before I run the last few meters back home. Before I could play music, I overhear the group of guys. "Bigay mo nalang kaya payong mo." said Boy 1. Boy 2 replies "Oo nga eh, pero baka she'll be afraid of us." (wtf) Boy 3 "We can give her a ride." Boy 2 answers for me "Maybe she's waiting for her ride." Newcomer boy "Dude, she can hear you." "No, She has her ipod on." said my representative, Boy 2. They ended their conversation with "I don't know how to offer, besides she's probably waiting for someone." And they left.

That gave me an idea, I called my yaya to come pick me up.

Funny how often this actually happens. No, not the frolicking in the rain bit. The wanting-to-do-the-right-thing-but-hindered-by-our-social-misinterpretations bit. My untimely bath could have been avoided by any one of those people getting over their perception of what is socially right. Then again, I could have as well, and actually ask for their help. But they didn't. I didn't.

I'd like to believe people are generally altruistic. And in general, what one person needs, another person might have and is actually willing to offer but somehow the difficulty lies in the actual partnership of the two different people. It's a little sad. But I think I'll choose to see it positively, that people still want to help others. hahaha did that make sense?

Basically, last night I was drenched. After four people could've done something about it, I still got wet. And that's sad. But the thing is, four people still wanted to help. And thats hope right there. Humanity is NOT bad.

Hihihihi When you walk in the rain, you make funny generalizations in your mind. This was mine.