One day at Jollibee
Today I hung out at Jollibee Cainta. I chose a discreet corner against the wall with a perfect view of the street and the busy passers by. I could see jeepneys leaving and taking passengers, motorcycles inching their way through the busy road and mothers leading their kids to the fast food chain’s entrance. I couldn’t remember anymore the last time I absorbed the mundane life of Cainta, its Indian - looking folks that were said to be descendants of Sepoy, its narrow roads that lead to places I’ve never been to even though I’ve lived here my whole young life, and its simple and laid - back atmosphere that seemed to make time stand still. It was a welcome hiatus to sit on that discreet corner and watch life unfold in the street of Cainta.
A G-liner bus broke my fixed gaze at the street when it stopped in front of Jollibee. There was a tinge of sadness in my heart as I watched people alight, each person bringing me memories of nights spent playing around the 2 piso tree, eagerly waiting for mom to alight from a G-liner bus. It’s almost 5PM. People started to fill the tables around me. I’ve never felt so alone as I did when that bus left and I didn’t see a familiar face alight.
My eyes wandered to the stores and stalls from the opposite side of the street. I noticed Apo ni Aling Banang’s carinderia proudly enticing prospective customers with their gigantic billboard of a halo-halo. I almost took my bags and headed towards the gigantic halo-halo, but my attention was quickly grabbed by the group of deaf mutes occupying the table at the far end of Jollibee. They chatted using sign language and conveyed their thoughts and emotions through gestures. I was both amused and amazed. I’ve never seen before a conversation carried out in silence. I smiled and watched. I wanted to learn sign language, if I knew how to sign I will easily choose that over words. Words cause too many misunderstandings… but don’t actions as well? I wondered and I pondered.
I realized I’ve been sitting in that corner for an awfully long while and I thought I better order something before a crew kicked me out. So I squinted and tried to reach with my myopic eyes the menu displayed at the counter. Prices have gone high, a meal of spaghetti and chicken would cost a hundred pesos nowadays. I remember ten years ago I didn’t have money for Jollibee. I used to wave goodbye to my classmates who were heading off for a burger, while I would head straight to my aunt’s house and wait for dad to come fetch me. I had a few coins as baon (because mom packed lunch for us) and I would save that for other important things. I checked my wallet and decided I would wait for my bestfriend before I ordered.
Half past 5PM, I saw Joys enter the door. I smiled as I greeted her.
Cainta will always be that place I call home.
