Cureless

…is an MRT ride.

Just when I declared that I really am enjoying commuting, I’m thinking of taking that back now after a heart-pounding incident. Yesterday evening, I decided to go back to the camp to be early for today’s jogging. I was from Sampaloc/España area and I decided to try a new route. I took a jeep to Taft Ave. instead of riding the LRT at D. Jose station near Recto, and from there it took me another jeepney ride to EDSA. I rode the MRT from EDSA-Taft to Ayala.

When the train arrived at the station, there were far more people getting in than out of it. I was relieved to see there’s an escalator on that side of the platform. After getting out of the first escalator, I immediately jumped to the next and last one. I was carrying two bags - a tote bag large enough for a few clothes to fit in, on my left and my laptop bag on the other side. Suddenly I felt a slight push on my laptop bag. Looking back, I saw two girls, few years younger than I, who were following very closely behind me.

Immediately, I started having a funny feeling about them. If they were on a hurry, there’s a lot of empty space on the other escalator and they could have overtaken me since there’s enough space on my side. I stepped a little further ahead on the escalator. I already got off and as I was proceeding to the fare gate, they were walking very closely beside me on my right.

My suspicion was growing by the second. I chose to use the rightmost exit point. I saw them pass by the adjacent exit to my left. I had the strongest urge to stop them right there and show them my military ID. But I have yet to confirm my suspicion.

However, they were still walking very closely beside me even after we passed by the gate! I had thanked Fluffy for asking me to drop by KFC and buy some go-go sandwich. By that time, I thought I found a detour. To my surprise, they also queued behind me to the KFC counter! OMG. My suspicion was beginning to amuse me as I thought about the kind of glorious coincidence I made with these people.

I proceeded to the table nearest the door while waiting for my order. They weren’t beside me anymore. As I laid my laptop bag on the table, I was horrified to find my USB mouse cord hanging loosely from its left pocket!

I came to a conclusion that they were trying to pull out the mouse all the while as they were walking behind/beside me, perhaps mistaking it for some kind of an expensive phone or gadget. I took out my wallet, got my military ID and I was ready to confront them if I’d find them anywhere near me again.

I was totally terrified thinking that I’ve witnessed an attempted theft not just on anybody but on myself. The feeling was like being in a rollercoaster ride plus some real fear effect. I’m not sure if I ‘over-scared’ myself but one thing’s sure. I felt really scared because I kept the watch Fluffy gave me on the right pocket of the laptop bag.

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Then I saw one of the girls who followed me ask the service crew for water. Something crept on my chest that slowly extinguished the anger that was built out of my fear. After more than three minutes, longer than I expected the order to be served, the waiter gave me two go-go sandwiches in a plastic. I left after making sure that my belongings are intact and nothing is missing.

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A note to self: Never ever put valuables on your bag’s outer pockets again. Remember, you lost your Nokia 5110 cellphone (your first ever) you placed on your backpack pocket while crossing Katipunan Ave. You also lost the wallet you placed in the same backpack pocket in Marikina. Remember. Learn.