It was an afternoon in the early days of June 2012. I was rushing out of the office to meet up with my sister. We were to see a man who deals with those table top coffee dispensing machines that we would like to set up at Thinkers' Hub, the Internet cafe that we've struggled to keep up-float.
I was running down the stairs at the office, "texting" her that I'm on my way. Putting my cellphone in bag, a thought flashed my mind, "what if I lose the cellphone now." Since it was more of a flash than an actual thought, I continue hurriedly on to wait for a "jeepney". It was rush hour and not only a few people waited at the "jeepney" stop near the office. Anxious not to be late, and since I am the one in constant communication with the dealer, I decided to walk towards the next "jeepney" stop.
At the jeepney stop, there were also a lot of people there waiting for a ride. I was already standing there willing for one vacant jeep that I can ride in when a thought crossed my mind to call one of our vendors to remind him of a contract we are working on. I got the cellphone from my bag and tried calling him but when there's no immediate answer I just turn the phone off. I was about to open my bag and put it there again when a vacant jeepney made a u-turn in front. Fearing not to get a ride in that one jeep that is not overloaded with passengers, I put the phone in my pocket at the last minute and join the queue of eager passengers. I stand there in front of the jeepney steps for quite a while not sure why it took me that long to board the jeep at that time.
As far as I can remember, there was a man with a black shirt holding the bar of the jeep's entrance effectively blocking my way. Then there's another man at my right doing the same thing while allowing other passengers to pass through. When the jeep was quite full, a man in a white shirt stands up and said he will just stand at the jeep's entrance. Once that man in the white shirt got out and stand on the right side of the jeep, there appears to be a wide enough space for me to get through and board the jeep.
Steeping up inside the jeep, I felt something was taken out from me but not knowing what is it i just get on to inner part of the jeep and sat down. A moment later, a man in a white shirt set beside me and saw him holding a cellphone in his lap. Seeing the edge of the phone in his lap give quite a jolt. Then and there I searched my pocket and my bag for my phone. Knowing instinctively that I could not find it anywhere with me.
However, I keep searching my bag for about 5 to 10 minutes when some man sitting near the entrance of the jeep said "epektibo jud?" and the man beside me said "epektib kaayu."
Somehow, deep within me I know its them. But even, after that I keep rummaging through my bag and my pockets hoping that I can still find my cellphone.
When I get off the jeep, I was drenched in the rain, I don't where my sister was and the man we are supposed to met. Not finding my sister in the meeting place, I went home and hoped she made contact with the vendo man all the while worrying what will my boss with me losing the phone that is entrusted to me by the company.
When I get home, I asked my other sister to text our eldest sister that I lost my phone.
I wanted to cry but the tears barely shed from my eyes because I was angry. I wanted to cry because that time, I don't have money to buy a new phone. And I am seriously worried about losing the trust of the people who entrusted me to use and care for that important business tool.
I was also angry...
Angry at the those people, angry of being victimize. Angry that i can't do anything even if i was quite certain who among those inside the jeepney took my phone.
I was a victim. The victim. Where before I only read and hear news of shoplifting... now I experienced it first hand. Hearing news and stories about similar incidents I can't think of any reason that would justify thievery. Now, being a victim and having a glimpse of the evil personified... the usual alibi of poverty and hunger will no longer hold true. At least to my mind... for the people who had my phone is as well-heeled as the next guy on the street.
GRRRRRRRR!
