If I had the chance to let the version of me from three months ago see the me right now, I’m sure that the me from the past would be totally laughing her ass off at the present me.  You see I got a taste of the good stuff and just like any other junkie out there in the world, I want more. 

The whole thing was just a high, just the thing I need in this world that I’m beginning to be bored of.  At least this way, I have one thing to look forward to.  If only I had known that the actual experience would be this great, I would have done it years ago!  After all, I already knew all about it since I was sixteen.  I should’ve pushed myself into doing it sooner.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about driving. 

It’s like an addiction for me right now.  Every time I close my eyes, I see myself behind the wheel of the car, zooming through the metro.  I often catch myself staring at nothing, just thinking of different ways to maneuver the car into parking spaces. 

Pathetic, I know.  It’s like I’m in love but not with a person.  My mind’s occupied by all sorts of thoughts about the different places that I can’t wait to drive to.  It just makes me nuts that I’ve wasted all those years commuting all around Manila.  Had I gotten the courage a little bit earlier, I should’ve been free a long time ago

Granted, I was only sort of forced into driving by my current circumstances.  My brother’s effectively out of the running as my sort-of-driver because his attentions are laid elsewhere because of his new girlfriend.  He’s really no good at being a brother with a girlfriend—totally undependable.  And I so can’t count on my parents for rides to and fro; they’re usually too busy and too tired.

So what other choice do I have?  We have four vehicles, and two of them are sort of at my disposal.  All I needed was a sign from God and I’m all set.  Lo, said sign came in the form of our Nissan Exalta’s hood being mauled by one of the younger and more playful dogs during its in the garage.  And so vanishes my fear of scratching the car and having to hear an earful of scolding after it.

Right after the Cabanatuan Job I decided that it was high time for me to try my hand at driving outside the village and it’s all been downhill from there.  In the span of one month I’ve already drove various people to the bus station, gone to Binan, drove to the nearest Starbucks in SLEX, went to the nearest SM Hypermart (where I actually didn’t fuck up a parking job), and drove from our house here in Laguna to our house in Valenzuela.

Now I hear rumors of my father allowing me to have his parking space in my mother’s building whenever I want to go to Makati to frolic. 

Say it with me, GAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!