My Cursed Havaianas

I told you I was going to tell the story of my cursed Havaianas. I bought mine probably a week or less before my birthday last month. My sister wanted a pair for Christmas, so I bought her one and I bought myself one. I got myself a black pair with Havaianas written in white on the strap (or whatchamacallit).

The first time I wore it was on my birthday when I went to PETA Theater. That was only a few weeks after Ondoy and it was the first few days that the tricycles from our subdivision can go to the Pasig Market because Mercedes Ave. was finally passable. When I climbed out of the tricycle, I stepped on inch-high, cold, squishy and stinking-to-high-heavens mud. Of course I cursed in my head. Very loudly, and eloquently. I paid money that could have bought me five pairs of my prefered flipflop brand for the flipflops that I just covered with Ondoy’s mud.

The next time I wore it out, it was a nice, sunny day, and Ondoy and Pepeng were but bad memories. I met up with other MSV writers, Carla Giopaolo, Edith Joaquin, Doreen Laroya and Leira Carlos. I walked, ate, laughed, and had a great time until I went home. The moment the FX I rode moved out of the terminal at SM Megamall, it started to rain. Really hard. And when I got off the FX at Kapasigan, the street was flooded ankle-deep. Strike 2 for my Havaianas.

The third time I wore it, I went to Bookware to collect my check. I couldn’t remember where to get off the jeepney so I overshot the bank and had to walk back a bit. So I stepped on chewing gum and tripped *sigh*

The fourth time I wore it, I went to Market! Market! to meet with my best friends. I walked to the terminal right in front of Pasig City Hall. The street was dry because it was a sunny day. I was looking down at the concrete, ready to avoid any and all debris that I could step on, especially chewing gum. When the barker pointed to the FX that was going to make the trip to Market! Market!. Ta-dah! The ground where the FX was parked was surrounded by mud, and I couldn’t climb the darn vehicle without stepping on mud.

Why do I remember every instance that I wore my Havaianas? Because the in-between times that I wore my reliable Toeberries flipflops or my Converse sneakers, there had been no incident of mud, flood, rain, or chewing gum.

Now, I’m afraid of wearing, or even bringing, it to Dumaguete in fear of what other kamalasan it could bring. In fairness, masarap siya sa paa. Malas lang talaga yung Havies ko