Toyjunk-The Dolphin

      I alighted from our van with a deep sigh. I looked around and  admired the campus. The greeneries gave me a soothing relief. I followed my company to the press of the exclusive school. (We were to buy books for our library.) Getting into their display room, I found it unusually small for the reputable institution. (I am describing the place to give you the ironic scenario. The real story happened outside the publication house.)  The small space made me uneasy. I decided  to go out of the publication house and stayed at the corridors. I took a rest on a bench. While seated, a bunch of students came. I overheard them in a conversation. It went this way.

    "Putang ina pare. Loko si _________________," the cute college guy remarked.

   " Puta talaga siya. Mukhang tanga talaga ang punyeta," the chubbier guy answered.

     " He should have asked us to come. Bastard!," the girl said.

   Then they ended up laughing. I almost fell from my seat with the kind of words they used. I tried to give reason to the situation. I was thinking that maybe they were irritated that was why they used such vulgarity. I diverted my thoughts.

    Minutes after, a couple passed by. They appeared intimate. I scrutinized their actions.

   "Puta, are you going?" The thin looking girl said in a thick Manila accent.

   "Hindi e. Mom will come."

   "That would be fine."   

    I cringed on my seat. I was uneasy to hear the words again.

   I entertained myself by texting. Again, my attention was caught by the passers by. A group of three good looking guys walked before me.

   "Pare, you should come ha." the dusky guy reminded.

   "Puta naman oo. Of course." replied the tallest guy.

        At the moment, I though I was warped in an unknown place. I found the situations alarming. I became dogmatic that moment. I was thinking that maybe a number or worse, all the students in the school maybe are like the college people I encountered while seated on the bench.

    Upon hearing the words again for the nth time. I stood up and decided to go to the van. Another minute in that location and another eavesdropping would make me lethargic. I am maybe too old already that I can’t dicipher the language of the youth today. Hearing such kind of language from young people from a well known institution brought me into deep thoughts of regrets.

       On our way home. I was quiet. I thought about the college students. I thought about my former students who are studying in Manila.Are they eaten up by the culture? Are they enculturated to be in such actuations and ways? Are they  still themselves amidst the pressure of the millieu they are into?

    I thought about myself.  I appreciated that I was provincial bred and that I came from a small school. I have maintained my simplicity of life. I have retained the sanctity of my being. I am pleasantly simple. I am happy this way.

         In the end, I uttered a prayer. I prayed for my continued simplicity. I prayed for the young people. I asked the Lord to give them the conviction so as not to be eaten by the society in the culture of barbarism and elitism. I prayed that He dwells in man’s hearts.

      I thought. In a company of cats, I hope I can still be a rat. I hope that I will not be forced to be a cat in my ways to please others. It will be hard but that will make me happy for I will be me.