Sweepstakes na naman
I moved to Japan after finishing College. Nakakuha ako ng work through some friends who were already making it big here. They helped me arrange all the papers needed so after a week off graduation, I was on my way.
Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala at first but all doubts disappeared when I set foot in Narita Airport. This is it. OFW na ako.
A Japanese guy was waiting for me with a plackard that had my name on in. There was another name on the plackard; Gail Sese. I wondered who this other person was but after a few minutes, the Japanese guy I was with started to wave at a black girl coming out of the arrival gate. Hindi ako sanay makakita ng itim na babae dahil wala naman yatang nagagawi sa province namin then pero napataas ang kilay ko, impressed at how attractive this African beauty was. She had nice, calm eyes that reminded me of Jada Pinkett (asawa ni Will Smith) pero mas dark ang skin niya. Also, a bit different from my image of black women, as I saw them on American TV and movies; this girl had a smaller and heart-shaped face, small nose, big bright eyes and full lips…winner din ang buhok which was done in really small, fine braids. She wore a conservative looking black suit over a white shirt pero hindi maitago ng suot nito ang pamatay niyang curves. Matangkad siya sa akin by a few inches with full breasts, a small waist, and saliva-enducing balakang which was drawing so much attention to most of the males, and females, na madaanan nito. I admit, medyo partial ako for mestisa and fair skinned women but she changed my views on beauty. Needless to say, I was attracted.
I was introduced to Gail, whom I learned was from Senegal of the African Continent. Apparently, she was also here for the same program that I’m in. Pero kahit kakarating lang, napansin kong magaling na siyang mag-Japanese. On the car, marami silang pinag-usapan ng hapon naming sundo. Hindi ko pa alam mag-nihonggo kaya medyo na-estepwera ako. Pero okay lang, I thought, dahil I will probably have my time to talk to her later sa destination namin.
Unfortunately, we were dropped off at separate dormitories. Nauna siyang ibaba sa isang building that was a bit far away from where I was to stay in. Medyo nainis ako sa sarili. This was probably the last time we’ll see each other, learning from the Japanese guy that she was to be assigned somewhere else after language school…pero di ko man lang siya nakausap, kahit sandali.
But I was pleasantly surprised ng muli kong nasilayan ang dark-brown niyang ganda. Nakasabay ko ang dalaga as I took the train on the first day of language school. Apparently, iba lang daw ang class (advanced course siya) pero parehong paaralan daw kami. She also mentioned na 6 months lang siya rito before she gets transferred to South-of-the-island: Hiroshima. Pero masaya na rin ako dahil makikita at makakasabay ko na rin siya, kahit papaano, araw-araw.
But I was wrong, sabay man kami sa pagpunta at pag-uwi to and from the school, hindi rin ako makalapit dahil may palaging nakadikit ditong either Aprikano or European. Kahit ang mga lalaking Japanese teachers, napapansin kong medyo nagba-blush kapag siya ang kausap sa school hallways. Kakaiba talaga ang hatak ng charm at aura ni Gail. It was clear that getting near her is gonna take a lot of pushing and maneuvering…combined with an enormous amount of luck. Hindi ako magaling sa first two kaya ayun, all I could do was wait…with a feeling similar to buying sweepstakes tickets. You believe their’s a possibility…paper-thin…pero nandun ang pagbabakasakali at pag-asa.
Summer. Our school had its annual bus trip to a place called Nara. I was very happy when I saw that I was in a bus with Gail. Siyempre, andaming nagpipilit na makatabi ang aprikana kaya doon na ako tumambay sa likod ng sasakyan na malapit sa CR, where walang masyadong tao…although somewhere in my heart, I also wished na na nandun ako sa harap, katabi at kausap ang magandang dalaga.
Kalagitnaan ng bus ride when I saw Gail making her way to where I was. She smiled when she saw me…papunta yata sa CR. When she got out, I was surprised, and probably the whole bus na rin, when she decided to sit beside me.
‘Hey! How are you?’ ang bungad niya, relaxed and friendly.
‘Am okay…just a bit lonely sitting here alone…good thing you came by’ ang nakangiti at honest kong sagot. Trying to relax but feeling a bit intoxicated…my ticket numbers were coming up…umaasa. Napangiti na rin siya as we continued chatting for the next hour hanggang makarating kami sa Nara. It was obvious na nakikinig at panay ang lingon ng mga ‘fan club’ niya na nasa harap ng bus pero hindi niya ito pinansin. For some reason, kami ang naging magkasama the whole fieldtrip. And I waited eagerly habang binobola ang susunod na numero sa sweepstakes ng buhay ko.
Uwian. The bus dropped us off at the language school so I was ready to give up my temporary streak of luck. Alam kong dudumugin na naman kami ng mga tagahatid niya. And just like clockwork, naglapitan na ang malalaki at matatangkad na members ng fan club ni Gail, eager for attention and pushing me aside. Pareho ang train route namin ng dalaga pabalik sa kanya-kanyang dorm but given the eagerness of her entourage, my chances were close to nil. I was ready to throw away my ticket as I got off the train when I saw a miracle, nawala na ang mga asungot ni Gail.
Tuloy ang bola! Pushing my luck and bicycle, nakasabay kong umuwi ang dalaga…a good twenty minute walk to her dorm. Tawanan kami ng tawanan talking about the unusual differences ng sari-sariling cultures. I also tried to match her wit and intelligence as we talked but it was evident na mas matalino ang dalaga. I’m sure she’s aware of this but she didn’t seem to mind at mukhang pinapalampas na lang nito pag hindi ko masaydong maarok ang lalim ng mga sinasabi niya.
‘You’re interesting. I’d like to talk to you more…’ ang sabi ni Gail as we neared her dorm.
‘Kochira koso (Same here)’ na lang ang nasabi ko, ni-try na itago ang pagkabigla at kasiyahan sa kakarampot na nihonggo kong alam.
It was already past 7 ng gabi kaya bago pa maging awkward ay nag-babay na kami sa isa’t-isa…
‘On second thought, I have a really nice, un-openned bottle of South African Cape-wine…you wanna try some?’ biglang tanong ng dalaga.
‘Really? Sure, why not?’ ang sagot ko, trying to stop myself from jumping in excitement.
Dark and beautiful lady luck was smiling at me.
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Have a good weekend everyone! Bawi na lang ako next week.
Barny