The year was 2013. It was just a regular Thursday and I was scheduled to attend a training class on a Construction software I can use for work.
The training center was just around 2 hours away from my workplace. I always took the bus. I didn't own a car at the time plus it's always cheaper to take public transportation to get to places.
It was fortunate that airconditioned buses exist, especially ones that will take me exactly where I needed to be.
I don't remember what time the classes started. All I remember is that the session wasn't longer than 4 hours. Two hours travel time to get there, four hours in class, and two hours for the ride back home. That's a full 8-hour workday. I did this every Tuesday and Thursday for the duration of the training.
It was slightly raining on October 10th of that year. Shortly after the class, I did my usual routine before traveling home:
- Go to a convenience store and buy my dinner
- Eat and relax for a bit
- Use the restroom
- Walk to the bus station
- Sit inside the bus while on standby, waiting for the scheduled time to depart
This is probably around 5pm. Bus leaves the station around 6pm. I should be home by 8pm.
I always get the same stuff from the convenience store: Fried chicken and Rice. And then a cold bottle of Gatorade for my drink.
I didn't finish the whole bottle of Gatorade, but even if I did, I knew I had enough time to go to the restroom before the bus leaves. I'm all set.
It started to rain harder, but thankfully, I'm already inside, comfortably seated, in an airconditioned bus. It felt colder than usual due to the rain, but in my mind, I just needed to wait a few hours and then I'm home again.
This was a provincial bus. That means there's only 2 stops: The starting point, and the destination. No in-between.
The bus eventually left the station at the scheduled time. Rain water dripping down the windows. I wasn't the one driving. I can relax. I can sleep. I can drink my leftover Gatorade if I wanted to.
The problem I encountered this day was that this was the same day that the Philippines hosted an NBA preseason game at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City! Game started at 7:00pm, right around the same time I'd be halfway through my journey home!
I assumed this was what caused the traffic to be heavier than usual. I thought my 2-hour ride would turn to 3 hours. I'd be fine, I thought to myself. What's another hour? I'm just chilling.
And chilled, I did.....
It was getting too cold inside the bus. I ended up drinking the rest of my drink without thinking what my new ETA would be. After at least an hour and half in, I felt the need to use the restroom.... badly..
I looked out the window to see where we were at and how bad the traffic was. Around that time, I should only be about 30 minutes away from home. We were nowhere near that.
I had to hold my pee in for another hour and half. I couldn't just exit out of the bus, run somewhere, relieve myself, and then run back inside. We were in the middle of an expressway and no buildings nor other establishments were near enough for me to run to!
I was getting desperate. I moved to a farther seat towards the back of the bus to hide from people. I thought maybe I can pee into the empty Gatorade bottle I was holding. As soon as I sat down on my new spot, I looked around and realized people can still see me. Plus, who knows if anyone can smell the scent of urine in an enclosed space. What if the bottle wasn't big enough to hold the fluid????
I continued to hold it in.
I was in pain. I didn't know what to do. I kept praying that the heavy traffic subsides or that we arrive at the next stop sooner. It'd be too embarrassing if I end up peeing my pants!
Eventually, we arrived at the next stop and I jolted out of the bus after being stuck there for over 3 hours!
The stop wasn't really an official bus stop, but more of a courtesy stop. This is where most travelers hop out anyway in case they need to ride a jeepney that will take them to a different direction.
Since it wasn't really a bus stop, it was just an open space, no buildings nor restrooms around. Just a big junction where buses and jeepneys alike hang out for a bit before they continue on their route.
I ran towards the nearest tree, hid behind it, and did the deed. I kept going. It felt like I peed for 3 minutes straight! Finally, I'm was out of my misery!
It was the worst bus ride of my life! Thankfully, the rain had already stopped at that hour. I flagged a jeepney and got in so it can take me home, which was only about 5 minutes away.
I arrived home, took a shower, and went to bed. I hoped I never get to experience something like that ever again.
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