adventures with the old Elantra

From http://outoftheshadows.multiply.com/journal/item/5/11_January_2009

An unbelievable day… It was the first time I drove out of Merville without my mom, the first time I went to a formal event with Job (by the way, congratulations and best wishes to the Mr. and Mrs. Jameson and Kat Ong), the first time I met his friends from the companies he’s worked with (except Rach haha), first time I locked the car and left the keys in the ignition, and the first time I got caught and gave what we all call kotong. What a day indeed!

I woke up feeling rather queasy that day. The moment I realized that it was Sunday, my heart began pounding in my chest. This was how I always felt before something went wrong. I was actually expecting the car to conk out since it badly needed a top overhaul, but to my surprise it worked fine. The problems started after parking the car. I left the keys in the ignition then power-locked the car from the driver’s door—first stupid move. Next, I climbed into the back seat to put on the shoes looking at the keys in the ignition for a moment and realizing that I had locked all the doors. Second stupid move—I closed the door and sealed our fate for the day. Of course, Job got angry and started telling me to call my mom and brother for the spare key (which we didn’t have); I just went quiet, amazed at how brainless I could be when I’m excited. Calling my mom was a no-no really. First time on my own and what do I do? Come on?!?! So I was thinking, we’re in Manila, somebody knows how to jimmy a car around here for sure! We walked over to where his friends were at the time and Job introduced me to them then followed up with the news. Couldn’t really remember all of their names, but it was nice to put a face to some of the names that came up in his stories. Suddenly someone suggested asking the security guard for help and so I did. Lucky enough he said someone could do it; it was just a matter of compensation. Then I called my mom. I got the usual, grabe! Ikaw talaga. Hearing that again was heart-breaking, but what could I do? I just reassured her that I got someone to jimmy the car with a wire.

The car is a ‘98 Hyundai Elantra with the locks on the side, not on top like the Toyota Corolla. Jimmy-ing the car was not possible however; I didn’t lose hope right away. It was a good thing that the oldest of the three men who came to do it was pretty clever. They pried the door partially, just enough to let their thick wires through then they tried to push the lock open. That went on for an hour. In the middle of it, we thought that we would be attending our first wedding/formal occasion outside and worrying about my stupid mistake. You wouldn’t believe the ideas that were going on in our heads while slowly losing hope wit every missed attempt of the old man. Job even thought of breaking the glass again—oh hell no!!! (previous incident in Presidents Ave, BF where the rear passenger window was broken in order to get my digital camera and my Manual SLR camera). Thank God they were finally able to open the door! That service was pretty costly though, but way better than buying a new window or going home in a cab…

It was the offertory part when we finally entered the San Sebastian Basilica for Kat’s wedding. That was Job’s first mass since his college days and I ruined it a bit with my thoughtlessness. Wishing each other peace calmed things down; relief kicked in. Pictures were taken and I was finally into getting to know his friends. Things seemed to pick up then until we were on our way to the reception…

Along Quirino, two vultures stopped me and JM’s car. I was on the second lane from the left, but he was charging me with a wrong lane violation—so came the kotong. I gave the man 200 for me and the other car. What a waste, man! Could’ve given them less if I had change! HAHAHA Job said they stopped us because I was a girl. Lucky for those soul-sucking pigs I was knew at driving in their territories. I was so dismayed that I even ran a red light, but I didn’t get caught that time—weird…

Kamalasan aside, the rest of the night turned out fine. Food was good, although there was a scary dish—roasted doves, I think. Taking that in was like swallowing a shot of olive oil; it went straight to my head. His friends were really nice and especially funny. Unfortunately, there was no dancing for us except for the mommies and the dance instructors hahaha Sorry, I’m a frustrated ballroom dancer hahaha

Gave Job an apology and a kiss in the car, then he drove us home...
No repercussions whatsoever.