Last night after my shift, which ended at roughly past 2am, I went out to look for a cab. At that time, most cabs parked around our office have drivers that are taking a nap at the time I got out. I went around the building, near the bus station terminal thinking that there’d be more cab drivers who are still taking in passengers at that time of the night. A cab driver inquired where I’m headed and offered to drive me home. My first instinct told me not to, and then to stall time I decided to make a phone call. While on the call, I saw an E&E cab pull up, which I so wanted to hail if not for the other cabbie who offered to drive me home, and who I later on found out was eavesdropping in my phone conversation. After the phone conversation, I was about to hail the E&E cab, when I saw its driver went out and swayed as he walked so I gathered he was tipsy or well if not, perhaps very sleepy. So I went ahead and ditched whatever my gut feel is telling about not taking the other cab. It turns out his cab was inside the pay parking area.

When we were already out the parking area, when I noticed that the meter was not on. I was completely mortified when the cabbie said that I can just pay him PhP200.00! I told him that my usual cab fare is not even PhP100.00 and that I normally add PhP20.00 as a tip. But then again, I asked to go down right then and there. The cabbie did not stop and said he’ll just accept the PhP120.00, and he kept breathing a sigh of remorse and was saying he had to pay PhP50.00 for the parking fee.

It was extremely difficult for me to keep myself from giving him a lecture. It was 2am and I had to really restrain myself from b*tching around. At least I got home in one piece. If you happen to be in the Araneta Cubao area, and in need of a cab at odd hours in the morning, please do not board the cab with NIMFA as name. I will be updating this post with the plate number and the operator’s phone number sometime next week. In the mean time, please take my word and remember not to ride this cab.