Notes of a passerby

“Will…you…marry…me?”

Hmmmm…

I wrinkle my brow…

Now why would the Rustan’s Mall use four of its precious glass display windows along Ayala Avenue just to have those words splashed for all the passersby to see? I glance over the fifth window and I see a mannequin wearing a simple wedding dress. Last time I checked, June was a month ago and December is months away.
I stared at the well-lit façade of the mall and smiled. Man, if I were a guy proposing marriage to his girl. I will make sure we walk along this side of the mall, kneel down right near the pretty mannequin on the display window and pop the question. Hahahahaha jologs but c’mon, kilig pa rin.

Drifter, get a hold of yourself. Must be that time of the month or the too many late night conference calls at the office.


********

How long have you been married? Says the girl.

“Three years.”

“Wow!”

“Yeah. Time flies. Can you believe it? Three happy years.”

Girl number 2 says, “I should have listened to my mom. Early on she sensed that something is not right with my boyfriend. That I should think twice about marrying him. Now look where it got me. Buti ka pa.”

Then I make a left towards our building entrance.

I tried to catch a glimpse of the two ladies from the glass main door as they walk straight past our building. Their voices now barely audible.

(Me, eavesdropping?! They were talking so loudly, I couldn’t help it. )

Two different pictures of a young marriage. The first one is made in heaven, the other, a partnership gone awry.

Reality check on a rainy Monday morning.