2:30 pm, today, our landline phone rang and nobody was around to answer it. I took the call and a man answered the phone asking, “Andyan ba si mama mo?” I didn’t find this unusual since (1) almost all calls that our phone receives are for mama and (2) some of them usually just ask the same question.
I told the guy she’s not around and asked for a name. He said, “Hindi…andito si mama mo…” And he mumbled about mama being in a hospital and that I had to wait to talk to somebody else. I was alarmed at this point because (1) I did not clearly hear what he said; (2) mama might really be in the hospital; and (3) I’ve heard of this on TV and this might be a Dugo-Dugo gang modus operandi. I was immediately vigilant. But of course I had to be entirely sure.
So I asked again, “Sino ho sila?”
He asked me back, “Ilang taon ka na? May iba bang pwedeng makausap dyan?”
I innocently said, “Wala pong ibang tao."
He said, “Parang 10 years old ka lang? Ilang taon ka na?”
Well my voice could really sound younger at times. But ten? really? I doubted. I was thinking that I answered the phone with my mature voice. I brushed it off though. Still, I gave my real age, I said, “22 po.” I thought it won’t do any harm. They were making sure I was alone and (maybe) that I was young.
Then he mumbled again about mama being in the hospital and that I needed to talk to someone. My knees were shaking at this point. I don’t know if from nerves or I was anxious of what I’d be hearing and doing next.
Then, a woman talked to me. She said a name I didn’t catch. She said – this time, clearly – mama had an accident and was in the hospital. Then she asked for my name and she said they’ll get my mama to talk to me. So I got the impression that this must be or she’s pretending to be from the hospital. I said my name, Pauline, and she heard it wrong. She said “Coreen?” I didn’t bother correct her. If mama was really with them, which that time I was sure was not the case, she would know that she doesn’t have a child named Coreen.
There was some babbling on the other line that seemed like they were getting my mother so I could talk to her. I grabbed the chance to ask the female voice again.
I asked, “Sino po ulit ‘to?”
She said, “Catherine Chua. Sa police station ‘to.”
I asked, “Anong police station?”
I was under the impression that they were trying to make an impression that they were in a hospital. So why were they in a police station?
She said, “Manila”
I asked again, “Anong police station sa Manila?”
She did not answer and prattled again about talking to my mother.
Then I said the smartest thing I could say.
With the most sarcastic tone I could muster, I said, “Really?”
Then I shouted (and I was thinking I should do this just like how I see it in the movies), “ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?”
Then she started cursing me saying, “Ano? Putang ina nito. Anong sabi mong tanga-tanga ka? …” I forgot the rest but they were filled with curses and her voice was breaking which filled me with immense satisfaction. Then she hung up the phone.
