Stories of Quirino (two)

I was handed a plastic bag by Leonelle to throw up. There was nothing I would let out, I had not eaten properly since breakfast, so I bawled like a baby instead in frustration. My ride companions told me to sit, instead of laying down. So I sat, and I asked Claro to drive us back to civilization (we were in a pocket forest somewhere) then realized we were on our way. There was no road, really, just a dried up river that we traversed. Some parts we crossed waters. Needless to say, the ride was rough, and the bumps our wheels had to fight made my nausea worse. I wanted to strap myself with the seatbelt to steady myself but I was so dizzy to move. I asked for medicine, it was in a small wallet in my sling. My companions were not sure which one, so one took out all the meds there was in my mini-drugstore, handed it to Leonelle. Leonelle could not read without her glasses so she was unsure, too, if it was the right pill. So she showed me the pill, like she wanted me to read the label. I went on beastmode and said: 'Maululawak la ngaruden, syak pay la agbasa!'. To which Leonelle retorted, 'I am not asking you to read, I am just showing you if it's the right pill!' Di ba? Pinagalitan ko sya, pinagalitan din nya ako. 

After what seemed to be an eternity, we reached 'civilization', and the pill started to work. But my next problem was I had to pee. In places like where we were, the only challenge women have who work for government is pee-ing. Someone thought of asking this policewoman where I could, and she brought me this place located on top of an inclined path. The pick-up could not accelerate to the restroom. I alighted, tried to keep my balance and went to the decent restroom, the kind they have in far-flung barangays where a hole is dug and that's it. I needed to squat to pee. I had no choice. I was successful with it, though. 

We went back to where a simple  program was to start in the vicinity. I stayed in the pick-up. There was a problem about the activity, I knew right away. From inside the vehicle, I could see my staff running about with tense looks on their faces. So I had to collect myself, I forced it. I needed to get out of the pick-up. 

To be continued.