I had only done a night-run around campus once during my entire 4-year stay. Looking back, I should’ve done it more often. But that one memory has been recurring ever since.
One night in our second year, my friends, Pat and Luj, and I decided to spend a school night to be active and healthy, instead of the usual study, tambay, or drink. We took a night-run. From the dorm lobby, to to Gate 3, to the football field, to the covered courts, and to Loyola School of Theology. We didn’t really go very far.
LST was built right by a cliff overlooking Marikina. It’s where many would go to sit, talk, reflect. It’s a solid spot. And as we stumbled our way towards this cliff, we noticed that there were three white metal chairs, one next to the other, facing the Marikina view. It was as if someone knew we were coming and had placed them there especially for us. So we took our seats.
From there you can hear the cars honking and revving. You can see the street lights switch from red to green. We were close enough to feel like a part of the chaos below, but far enough to feel isolated from it. Mere witnesses. I’ve forgotten what we talked about that night. But I’m glad the rest of the memory stuck.
P.S. The photo shown here is not of our Marikina view. But it might as well have been.