Pay it forward

It appeared as if there was no stopping; it rained continuously the whole night.

My sister entered my room at five am, waking me up and telling me that she'd borrow my umbrella. Not wanting my sleep to be interrupted, I immediately told her, "Ok" and went back to sleep. The sound of the rain pelting on concrete and the cool weather lulled me to a longer sleep. Thus, I woke later than my usual time.

I couldn't be late and absent. I would sense that someone or a few might have called in sick in light of the endless pouring of rain. I should go to work.

Surprisingly I did not have to wait for a long time to get a ride on rainy Friday. I was already contemplating the thought of taking a cab to work.

Halfway to his destination, a man gives a five-hundred-peso bill to the driver. "Walang panukli dito," said the driver. 

"Puedeng mag-gasolina," said the passenger.

"Puno ang gas ko. Pag-umaga barya dapat," was the driver's lecture.

I heard coins being searched."Ito, ma, trenta, sa Baclaran na lang po ako baba," said the passenger whose destination was Pedro Gil, around 10-15 kilometers from Baclaran. I quickly imagined a man drenched in rain as he wait for another vehicle to take him to Pedro Gil.

I felt I had to do something, but I did not. Just before reaching Baclaran, a woman beside me took out some coin from her purse and gave the driver the remaining fare the Pedro Gil passenger lacked to get him to his destination.

The Pedro Gil passenger was not aware of what was taking place, so the other passengers informed him of his luck. I did not hear a 'thank you,' however.

No one got off at Baclaran, but the kind lady got off with me in front of  my building. I had to say to the stranger, "it was nice of you what you did."

"Someone did the same to me, " and we entered the building to together.