Lost Driver

My stomach is still very upset from my disappointment last night.

My dear friend Sarry Celestial wanted to visit me in the office.  She and family were going to Solaire for the dinner buffet at 6 pm.  Since it’s only 5 pm she told me she wanted to see our tindahan.  She would be coming from SM near Intercontinental Hotel in Ayala Commercial Center.  She was confident that she knows where it is because she worked here in Makati before.   However, the unexpected happened.  Instead of going straight on EDSA and turning right at Pasong Tamo Avenue,  they turned right at Pasay Road.

Pasong Tamo crosses Pasay Road kaya I thought okay lang.  However,  a Skyway ramp had been built so they would not be able to turn left at the corner of Pasong Tamo and Pasay Road.  They were supposed to stay on the right side after the stop light and before the ramp.  There’s a narrow street sa gilid nung flyover that goes inside the commercial area where there’s a McDonald’s  They will have to go around that area as in U-turn to be able to turn left at Pasong Tamo.

I didn’t think that they would get lost.  BIG TIME.   It didn’t cross my mind that a lot of time and effort would be lost.  To cut the story short,  kung saan-saan na sila napunta.  By 6 pm,  they were still lost.  Sarry and I were on the phone all the time.  Nalow bat na kami pareho.    I tried my best to help them navigate by asking Sarry what building could she see.  The problem was,  while we’re talking,  her driver kept on running.  so by the time I was able to figure out where they were,  iba na ang location nila.  I asked Sarry to stop and ask for directions.  Ang problema naman,  her driver didn’t get detailed information.  Pag sinabing dumiretso,  yun lang ang tanong nya.  Dapat kumpleto ang tanong and not to move again until he’s certain of his direction.

I was in my office and I never really thought that they would get lost.  Before I knew it,  an hour had passed.  I looked for a driver that could find them and trace their route.  But all our drivers had gone home kasi 5:30 pm ang out nila.  The only driver left with me only relies on me telling him kumaliwa ka, kumanan ka, or else,  sa Lipa Batangas ang bagsak ko.   At buti nga hindi ako buntis kundi mapaglilihan ko ito sa kunsumisyon.  Nung sabado nga he brought home to Batangas Edmund’s car keys.

When Sarry said they were in Dela Rosa, I called the driver to my office, pero mukha pa lang nya, parang nakunsumi na agad ako.  Hindi nya alam ang Dela Rosa Street, Santillan, etc.  I couldn’t do anything.

Sarry and driver reached Pasong Tamo however they went to the opposite direction, which was easy to remedy.  I told Sarry to make a U turn and just go straight.  But for some reason, napunta sila sa riles ng train, ilalim ng tulay.  I was feeling dizzy na and so stressed out.  I didn’t know what to say anymore.  I wanted to scream and cry.  I was so agitated. I asked to speak to her driver.  Sabi ko pumara muna.  When I asked the driver “Nasaan kayo ngayon”.  He answered “Makati”.  Dyos ko.  I knew already that it was useless speaking to him.  I asked again  “Saang  kalye?”  He again said “Makati”.  It was obvious he was driving blindly and had no clue.

Nahuli pa sila ng pulis.

A————— “Sarry,  makiusap ka na lang sa pulis, sabihin mo nawawala kayo, hindi kayo taga dyan”.

At 7 pm,  they got lost talaga and she was in a place I had no clue where. I just couldn’t talk anymore because I didn’t know what to say.  My head was spinning trying to guess kung nasaan na sila.     I wished my husband were beside me in that moment kasi Edmund is very good in directions and has great sense of direction.  This same situation happened to me before.  He helped me navigate to the main road kaya nakauwi ako at 10 pm.

A good driver must have a good sense of direction.  If he knows where EDSA is,  at least he would be able to trace his direction.

I left the office at 8:10 and didn’t know what to do.  Etong driver ko ang alam lang pauwi ng bahay namin.  I was calling Sarry but her phone was busy several times.  Then when it started ringing,  she wasn’t answering.  Baka kako na low bat na.  My intention was to look for her.   Maybe it was too late.  Kasi the last time we spoke, at 7 pm,  she told me they would just proceed to Solaire kasi nga late na sya.  She was asking me for directions on how to get to EDSA but I didn’t know anymore where she would be coming from.  She mentioned some establishments around her but I had no clue.   With resignation,  I just asked her to tell her driver to ask for directions.    I felt so terrible.

I advised her to instruct her driver to stop and ask for directions.   I trusted that he would be able to find his way back to EDSA.

My stomach is sooo sooo upset.  Nahinayang ako sa oras and what could have been a short reunion of sorts.  My plan was I would bring her to Solaire when she gets to my office kasi etong driver ko nung tinanong ko kung alam nya kung saan yung Solaire,  ang sagot,  “Silang mam? ”

Dyos ko,  Silang is in Cavite,  inay ko po!

I was already in EDSA Buendia and still trying to contact Sarry  per0 hindi na sya sumasagot.  I reached home at 8:15 pm feeling so distraught.

Until now I am still blaming myself.    I was having a meeting with the people in charge of the vehicles’ registration at inis na inis kami dahi lang tagal ng process,  but I couldn’t concentrate.  I kept thinking about what I should have done last night.  Dapat the minute I found out that she was lost, dapat ako na ang naghanap.  I was so confident kasi that she would find her way to my office.

I felt so bad.  Really bad.  Sarry is going back to the US the day after tomorrow.  And as in all balikbayan, their schedules are full.  I was thankful she initiated visiting me  pero napasama naman.    Napagod pa sya, na stress pa sya, na late pa sya sa Solaire dinner nila.    It took her 15 years to come back to the Philippines and only God knows when she would have to chance to be here again.  Nahinayang ako.  Time lost is lost forever.

Sorry Sarry.