There was a uniform look on almost all the faces we encountered as we waddled through a sea of humanity away from the event area: the mask of sheer disappointment. As the saying goes, all dressed up and nowhere to go fitted the evening scene to a T.
A pantomime of several pointy fingers, as to which direction to proceed next, was clearly discernible, while thousands slowly walked away from the clogged gate that led to the coastal road. The intent was obvious. Should we head back home? Walk to McDonald’s? Select or wherever? Clearly, the choice meant anywhere, just away from here. So, even as hundreds could still be seen trudging towards the gates, an equal number had slowly spread out in many different directions.
As for my partner and I, we had already half-expected a big letdown. For sure, crowds were sure to come a-calling, there was no rocket science to it. Since the floodgates opened to mark the end of Covid restrictions, everything was a party from then on. It was open season for any crowded event, so to speak.
From a kilometer away, already pockets of people were steadily headed the same way we were as though on a pilgrimage. Because of that, we agreed on a plan B and it was simple: If all didn’t push through, we’ll just go get dinner instead, then get home safe, ‘away from the madding crowd’. In the end, while it may have been cool of us to have thought and done what we did, I was actually distracted, though I didn’t really show it.
Come Monday, which also happens to be my birthday, I was leaving the house early for an additional medical checkup and at the same time getting the results of previously-done tests. As I figured, this weighed more heavily, even if compared to the thousand atoms of disappointments spread throughout the tiny length of highway that evening. I had then thought, what a way to spend a birthday, lying on a table in a clinic somewhere and worrying if they’ll ultra-sound an alien hiding in my tummy.
However, we actually did accomplish our Plan B. Despite the crowd inside a nearby Select diner, we enjoyed our rice meals and right after, hailed a cab for home. And then, as we neared the basketball gym inside our subdivision, the lights of a Ferris wheel shining from way above the trees, as if on cue, presented us with our Plan C.
After briefly setting our things at home, we hurriedly headed to the Perya and right away sampled out the games it had for the locals. On my first try at target shooting, I hit the bull’s eye and was promptly awarded with…a lapad of Tanduay rum. Though we didn’t have much luck in the other games, that plus five packs of popcorn for our bring-home were more than enough to make us forget the early part of the evening. Who would have thought that two hours ago, we were miles away, paddling from waves of collective disappointment, and now only to discover fun was just at our very doorstep?
