Ang Pagmamahal ni Ricardo sa Babaeng Walang Bugaw.
Monday, March 8, 2010 14:09(Alternatively titled “Ricardo’s Love for the Woman Without a Pimp.”)
Ricardo was a man half-mad in love with a stranger: Eliza, who packs her bag everyday with the most unusual things women would bring with them to work, who passes by the love-struck man’s post every single day on her way to her own confinement.
Yesterday, she brought with her a can of tuna flakes for lunch. They had a can opener in the office and she figured it was a cheap way to regain the energy halfway through the afternoon when everyone at work felt like watching the clock tick away to five o’clock, when they would all rush out of the building and unbind themselves from lousy Mondays. Specifically, she brought a certain flavor of tuna flakes with her: menudo, because her boss liked it. Her boss, she liked.
And yesterday was the day Ricardo decided to approach this lady in red – red in love and madder than his madness for her, for her love’s purpose was both for business and pleasure and whatever else comes with those – and tell her about his appreciation for every breath she steals from him every day he sees her from his post. He was to tell her, “Gusto kitang makilala (I want to know you),” to which she would probably respond by telling him, “Hindi ako nagpapakilala sa mga taong basta-basta lang (I don’t introduce myself to just anyone).” But he would go on and do it anyway, for at least it would be a good enough end to this madness: her voice telling him to fuck off and leave her alone.
“Gusto kitang makilala,” Ricardo told her, as soon as she appeared from the corner she always appears from everyday. He waited for her all morning in case she showed up earlier than usual, but she was on time, as she always is.
“Ako ba ang kausap mo (Are you talking to me)?” Eliza asked. She was in a good mood: earlier, she told herself that she would not be grouchy the whole day, so as not to spoil her preparations for her beloved boss. Happy thoughts all day through.
“Oo (Yes),” he replied. “Pasensya na, araw-araw ka kasing dumadaan dito. Lagi kitang nakikita. Pakiramdam ko tuloy, kilalang-kilala na kita. Pero hindi. Kaya gusto kitang makilala. (Sorry, it’s because you pass this way everyday. I always see you. So, I feel like I know much about you. But no. That’s why I want to know you.)”
“Pasensya na (Sorry),” she apologized. “Wala po akong maibibigay. Ito nalang. (I have nothing to give. Just this.)” She handed him the can of tuna flakes, bowed her head, and walked away. Wala po akong maibibigay, pagpasensyahan na po ninyo ako, sakto lang ang pamasahe ko. (I have nothing to give, my apologies, but I only brought enough for my fare.)
Ricardo took the can with him back to his post and had three things running through his mind simultaneously: that first, she did not find him weird; that second, whether he looked or sounded like the beggar she figured him to be; and that third, at least he received something for all of the stupid ogling he did for months.
Eliza would later visit a store during her lunch break and buy another can of tuna flakes of the same flavor to replace the one she gave Ricardo. She would later enjoy it with her boss, who would take her to a place of pleasure: a place familiar to Eliza, as the man guarding the entrance of the building was an insignificant person who earlier snacked on tuna flakes as well.
“Anak ng menudo!” Ricardo exclaimed in a excited hush. “Hindi ko ginustong malaman mong nagta-trabaho ako sa shortayman. Pero dahil narito ka na at mukhang ginagawa mo na ‘yung gusto kong ipagawa sa iyo, gusto mo ba akong maging bugaw mo? (I did not want you to figure out that I work at a short-time motel. But since you are already here and presumably already doing what I want you to do, would you like me to be your pimp?)”
(Originally posted on StaticRiot.)





























