Before I left home to pick up Ana I thought of wearing a black shirt to camouflage my black leader body bag in case something awful will happen. I don’t know why I thought that way before leaving home late last night. I never had any idea why the thought of being held up crossed my mind. I rode an FX on the way to our meeting place, at exactly 12:30am I left home as soon as I can so I can meet up with Ana. I arrived about 20 minutes earlier at the terminal. I saw her with a huge bag, that was how prepared she was for our sleepover. I gave her a hug as soon as she approached me and we headed to the jeepney stop instead of waiting at the FX terminal. Because it has been a long time since we've seen each other we chatted as we were waiting for a ride. Finally, an empty UV Express stopped to give us a ride. We were the first passengers to ride that vehicle, we sat beside the driver; the front passenger seat was too narrow for the two of us so I asked Ana if she wanted to transfer at the back row but she hesitated. In awhile, the driver stopped to pick up passengers among those two men who rode I can only recall how the other man threw his cigarette before riding. Those two sat behind the driver. Ana acted strange and whispered “Jay, parang nakakatakot naman yung FX na to” I calm her down and asked her to continue what we were discussing about. Just after 10-15 minutes another passenger rode the FX, he sat at the back row seat. I was so busy listening to Ana that I didn’t even notice that the FX was full. I never had any suspicion that something bad will happen until we reached the long dark road on the way when the driver suddenly slow down. I heard the guy behind him saying something until he became agitated and shouted:
“Dirediretso lang, wag kang hihinto”
“Huwag kang hihinto”
I can still remember kung paano ikinasa ni kuya yung baril nya then he pointed it to the driver beside us. That was the time when I froze and realized that we are being held up by those men.
“ilabas nyo ang mga wallet nyo, cellphone” “Akin na yung mga bag nyo”
I was blank that time staring straight at the windshield; I didn’t know what to do. I froze; I really froze that I can’t even move a muscle too afraid that those guys might shoot us. I can’t even follow what they commanded us to do. All I can do is to let my mind speak these words time after time:
“Lord, tulungan nyo po kame.”
Consequently, I chant those words in my mind as my heart was pounding. I thought they wouldn’t notice my sling bag until the man who cocked the gun shouted at me:
“Akin na yang bag mo!”
He grabbed my bag from behind since I can’t move. I didn’t protest for I wanted that scene to end and let those guys take the valuable things in exchange of my life. Though I was still frightened ‘cause the young couple sitting at the back row contested to get their things back. But no matter how I wanted to tell them to just give ‘em up, thinking what if the hold-uppers get mad and pull the trigger, I can’t speak.
This experience was very traumatic, what if Ana got hurt? What if that tragic moment end our lives? I left home late that night without anyone’s notice. I didn’t even say goodbye to my parents. I can only say how much love God have given me, because he did not let those people hurt us. Thank you Lord for you gave me another chance to live. Thank you that Ana and the others were safe. I won’t give any suspicion to the driver for I know that justice will prevail in God's hands. Thank you Lord, I love you.
