The ordinary bus. That is what we call buses without aircondition units. It’s the buses that often look like they go so fast that your teeth would chatter. Well, I used to take the bus regularly when I was in high school and college but these days, I can’t afford to be late for work.

Yesterday I went to work halfday because it was a holiday and yet I had to be around for the orientation of students. I decided to get on an ordinary bus from Guadalupe to Novaliches. That is one long ride on a regular day and IF it was a regular day, the traffic situation could make things worse.

Anyhow, the ride was only for an hour. That long stretch of EDSA, then going through Congressional Avenue, then part of C-5, Quirino Highway and then Novaliches. The bus driver was someone who drove really fast and I guess it was nice that it was a holiday so there weren’t so many vehicles out on the road.

I was seated by the window and because the driver was going pretty fast, the wind ruffled my hair. Someone sat beside me. It was a middle-aged looking lady. I generally don’t relish sitting beside men in ordinary buses because of most of the time, in my experience, the men who ride ordinary buses are those who came from a construction site and the smell of sweat could get unbearable.

The fare astounded me though. It was Php 27. Wow. The fare has really increased, I guess, over the years that I haven’t taken bus rides.