Gurls love to shop

This was Divisoria when we invaded it two weeks ago with our two generalissimos, Pauline & Neneng.

Mang Leo dropped us off at the Tutuban Mall. I gave him money for parking, lunch and for whatever he may need, and instructed him, "Kung saan mo kami binaba, dito mo rin kami susunduin. Tatawagan na lang kita."

The least that I want to happen to all of us was to get lost in chaotic Divi.

I don't remember the last time I was in Divisoria. Probably six years ago or less than that. Anyway, the sight and smell looks the same. Except maybe for a big sign that says: This way to 618.

I gave the two gurls their bonus because I want them to enjoy their trip to Divi. But when we were already there, I thought that I'd just go ahead and spend for some stuff they like so that they didn't have to spend their bonus. Each got a pair of shorty shorts, sleeveless shirts and something for the hair.

There, I saw Pauline haggle. And, man, the way she'd slash that price off the tag was jaw-dropping. Kung baga sa boksing, nakakalalaki. It was scary.

We didn't have to move around that much in order to carry plastic bagfuls of presents to give away, which ranged from beddings to curtains to bags to shirts.

We headed to the mall when I got hungry. Lunch was at Max's in Tutuban. It was a long wait to be seated but it was worth it because of the clean restroom and good meal in an a/c room.

Shopping wasn't over after lunch. If in the morning we "strolled" Recto at Divi, in the afternoon we knifed the crowd in Tutuban. Parang di maubos-ubos ang mga tao. Iniingatan ko nga yung tsinelas ko at baka matapakan, maiwan. Mapabili pa ko ng di oras.

After raiding Divi, the two gurls went to SM MOA. I was on way to a Christmas party at the Dampa along Macapagal Avenue. They rode with me and I dropped them off at the globe. You know, that rotunda.

Three hours later, I picked them up at the same spot.

I asked them if they bought anything for me.

Neneng was the first to answer, "Hindi. Ang mahal naman ng paninda dun."

So these gurls know how to shop. My mere act of driving or being there with them is a leisure by itself. What really fit my interest was that I was able to let them shop.

These are two people who know me up close and personal and yet I might have taken them for granted all year long except for those past pre-holiday shopping.

what a man brings to work

Hi. Got ur #... Ü Tnx.

This man didn't advertise his number. He gave it to her only because she did it first.

Over instant messenger...at work...while he chatted with Leila. And she, if you must know this early, belongs to the same department as Leila.

He need not know that she and Leila sat so close to each other that she would actually know when he was online to chat about work.

He need not be aware that she would actually find the reason (and time) to go down to his area to check on how they are doing, and then talk to him briefly about work.

He need not realize that in all their IM chats, she would always be the initiator. Anyway, the conversation's nothing personal.

On the other hand, she need not learn that she has been a mild cause of his distraction at work. And he's avoided getting close to her since the first time they were introduced.

She need not see that he would make glances, all stolen, at her from his seat. And for some strange reason, he felt that she knew everytime he looked her way because she would suddenly smile a lot, or talk a little bit louder. But then, he also thought that all of these were imagined.

She need not tell him personal stuff about her because, although he could be extremely curious about her life outside work, he really didn't want to because he wasn't ready for it.

Yes, ready.

But she would, or perhaps it was fate, little by little tell a lil bit about her life.

For one, she has a lil gurl. Eight years old.

For another, she isn't taken.

So, anyway, when she gave him her number, he wasn't ready for that. He didn't think it was necessary to have her contact info. But, so as not to show the tiny shock he felt, he told her that he'd call her up just so she could save her number, which she did.

And then, she texted him right away.

He texted back.

And then it became a series of exchanges unrelated to work. Pace was still slow, which was good.

You're still at work? she asked.

He answered yes and added that he was on his way out, unlike her who was already spending quality time with her daughter.

And then she tells him a bit of her schedule, her whereabouts the next day, without him asking.

Again, he wasn't ready for that.

This time, he didn't know what to reply. He wanted to tell her though that she's screwing his head. Incredible, incredible moves to make him forget about work.

Yea, he likes it.

A lot.

* * *

kids should know that...

The idea of adding text messaging to the services of mobile users was latent in many communities of mobile communication services at the beginning of the 1980s. Experts from several of those communities contributed in the discussions on which should be the GSM services. Most thought of SMS as providing a means to alert the individual mobile user, for example, of a deposited voice mail, whereas others had more sophisticated applications in their minds, such as telemetry. However, few believed that SMS would be used as a means for sending text messages from one mobile user to another. (wikipedia)