MY UNFORGETTABLE MRT RIDE

Today, I had the most terrible MRT ride to and from work.

I arrived around 7:15am at Guadalupe station going to Santolan/Annapolis Station. I let the first train pass because it was already full. I was in front of everybody while waiting for the next train. When the next train came, I intended not to go inside at once since there are some passengers about to go down. But me, without exerting a bit of my own energy, was pushed inside the train all unprepared and shocked for what happened. I ended up hugging my things to my stomach area as people keep pushing in all directions. The very uncomfortable position, congested train and different scent of people inside gave me a sick-throwing up feeling. When i got to get out of the train, I felt so dizzy and stressed for i only have few minutes left not to be late for work. For a more comfortable and fast transport, I took the cab and made it 3 minutes before my official time. I felt better after telling my co-workers of what I've experienced and less stressed since I was able to make it anyway. Lesson learned from that experience is not to take the train anymore when it is past 7am.

Going home is another different story.

All the while I thought that being a bit late and letting the rush hour pass will allow me to have a better MRT ride. But I think today, I was wrong. I arrived at Santolan/Annapolis station around 6pm. There were at first just a few passengers waiting. But when the train was taking so long to arrive, the number of people keep on increasing. I was like 2nd in the line of people waiting for the train. First train arrived, it was so full that only around 5 people were able to enter. I was in front of the line. Second train arrived, still full yet the people on my side rushed in and I was pushed aside since I managed to keep still. I surprisingly ended up again on the 2nd line. Third train, has some space but I don't know how people from my side just slide past me. I didn't bother to move from where i was standing. I was in front when the lady trying to make herself fit inside the train decided to go out and took my front spot. It was fine by me except that she keeps wagging her pony-tailed hair as she looks from side to side hitting me on my face. To my annoyance, I told her "miss yung buhok mo naman!". Fourth train came, I'm happy that it has more space now so most of the people were able to go inside including myself. There's even enough space for me to hold on to my cellphone and text until we arrived on the next station.

Ortigas Station.

There were a number of passengers waiting to go inside the train. When the train stopped and the the doors opened, people kept flooding in trapping inside the ones who need to go out. When people kept going inside despite being told that there are others who need to go out, and other people including me were getting really squished, I shouted at the top of my lungs "merong bababa, paraanin nyo ho!".. That was the only time people stopped going inside and gave way to the people going out.

Shaw to Boni Station.

People come and go and the those who are inside were still being squished, but people coming in gave way first to people going out. What annoyed me this time is the lady with a very long hair and didn't even think of tying it since she'll be riding a train. I somehow managed to move away from her back before I start to say something or pull a strand or two to make her realized her being insensitive.

Approaching Guadalupe station.

I was preparing myself to go down and feeling quite happy to be out of the very congested train when all of a sudden someone farted. Group of people who know each other exchanged words saying how lucky they are because they are to go down the train already. I felt that way too because it really smelled awful inside the train.

Guadalupe Station.

The line going out was long already even before we came so people from the train where I was in had to go all the way to the back of the line. Next train came and the line was still long. I saw one lady from the newly arrived train cutting the line but she's far from me so I can't do anything about it. But I felt so annoyed with what I saw and to the person who let it happen. Then, a guy was trying to go in front of me and I told him in my mataray voice "dun ka sa likod pumila!" And I guess with what I said, he really went at the back since I still saw him still in line when I was able to go out already. I didn't mind him looking at me and I even raised my eyebrow when I looked back at him.

Well, that's how it was for me today and my MRT ride. I hope that that would be my worst MRT ride and that I'll be able to adjust so for me not to experience again what happened today. And one thing I can be sure of is that I won't forget my manners on being a good commuter.