This is a story I have almost forgotten, but it has only happened a week ago. Friday? Saturday? The details of the dates are already vague. The human mind always seems to surprise me, as I myself is quite good at burying bad memories deep into myself, in a place where I will certainly forget.
But here we go, I have a good few minutes to slowly write this story and the fragments in my mind are still complete to relive it in text.
I am throwing so much literacy into this but in a nutshell, I locked my keys inside the house LOL. It was a regular workday, nothing out of the ordinary. I ate, cleaned, and dressed myself. Locked the house and started walking towards work. A good few minutes after I realized that I locked the house keys inside the house.
F*** me, I said to myself, then I started looking into the consequences. I have to get the land lady's spare to get in when I go home, inconvenient I say but whatever. Hmm what else, well... well... that set of house keys has the only locker key I have attached on it. HMMM. That's bad, means I have no locker access when I go to work, my umbrella has no place to store itself, bummer. What really kicked the horse is that in that freaking locker room is a pair of company issued shoes, I can't go to work without those pair of freaking shoes.
Then I ran, ran so hard in my life. I realized my cardio is top notch but the strain on my legs from last night's walking seeps into the cracks. I got back, a good 15 minutes left before self-destruction (being late at work). I collected myself and asked kindly for spare keys. Fortunately, the land lady is as prepared as cocked gun. She was ready for this, I got the spares, opened the room and got everything I need.
There is only one thing, there isn't enough time. I just had to ask for the ultimate favor.
Now call me weird but I treat my bicycle not as an inanimate object, but rather like a companion, a dog you would say. I subconsciously talk to my bike when I am on my rides and stuff. Riding the bike for me is equivalent for taking it for a walk. Now I asked for its help on this dire time. So out of schedule I took it outside to ride the few hundred meters to the bus.
Here I am, on my work clothes, riding my bike. Zipping past some vehicles and pedestrians I got stopped by the security guards. Time is ticking... I did not have my helmet on. I had to argue around the notions of public safety, but we agreed on the end. I just had to walk the rest of the way, with the bike on my right side.
It is at this point where everything started pouring in. Adrenaline is draining down and I am here on this dilemma. I will be leaving my bike for the entire day, completely unattended. I'll be at work typing away while this blue, striking, mountain bike displays itself for the public for everyone to see. I had to myself only these: the cheapest bike lock and a handful of regret.
I chose the most exposed spot there is. Directly within a few meters from the sidewalk. It is a place where motorcycles park, figured it looked the part.
Sprint walking the rest of the day, regret fills my brain. Leaving the god damn bike all day outside? How could I? After everything I've done, the adventures! with this bike, all might end on this day. I have asked the bike too much this time, and I might pay the price. How selfish I was I thought to myself, to risk the bike so I can make it. Did I not have the sprint left in me to just run instead of riding the bike? Did I really not have enough time? Was that the only choice?
I realized later on; I did have time. My watch was set forward by a few minutes. I found a person also wearing my colors and uniform, last time I saw here she was walking while I am on my bike sprint, she made it into the bus. The bus left a few minutes late actually. All of these facts pour onto me like iron and slag. I did not have to risk it all. I am in shambles.
I filled my mind with work. Drowned myself so I don't have to think of what I've done. The guilt is too much I cannot stop; I cannot let the thought to even touch me. I probably set a company record in productivity that day. But the break times do occur, and the moment I turn off the monitors the monster I keep avoiding asks what it is owed.
It was even worse at lunch time. Thinking about what I've done to my bike. I couldn't hold it; I turned the monitors back on and this employee just started doing unpaid work at his lunch break.
Sometimes we just ask too much, and we don't realize it. And the giver is more than willing to provide, bad judgement on their part but who asks is most to blame. This is a tale of me and an object, a bicycle. But what if its towards me and my parents. Would I ask for something that will put them in an ultimate risk? Would you? Would I ask for favors that will ruin the lives of my friends and everyone around me? This day, the question was asked; and unfortunately, the answer was a resounding yes.
Come end of day, judgement hour. I rode the bus and started walking towards where I left my dear bike at. I wasn't on a rush, I walked slower than I did most days. A brisk walk turned into a casual pace. Casual place into a leisure. A leisure walk turned barely to a stroll. I can't bear the fact that it is almost time to face the consequences of my actions. But I carried on, left foot over right, right over left.
A few minutes later I could see through the tall hedges and vehicles the spot of parked motorcycles. People are passing through, just like any other day. And there it was, the blue mountain bike on all its glory, presented itself just as how I left it. My legs went weak, and I laid my head on its seat. Never again.
Returning a favor the security guard gave me; I did not ride my bike until I got out of the complex. Past the gate, I rode on. And I gave the good boy a night ride out like we always do.