Lesson From A Ghost

It was a cold, foggy morning of August 16, 2017, that I decided to go out for a run. I planned to take my usual route which is to get to Mines View via South Drive-Outlook Drive. This is my usual route so I was expecting nothing. It would be a normal run. I didn't expect something out of the ordinary to happen.

Here's what happened:

As I crossed the intersection going to South Drive, I stopped to do some stretches in front of the Panagbenga Park. Mostly during this hour (around 4 A.M), you would see other joggers run. Although not by a lot, you would see and run past other joggers. However, this day, there weren't that many joggers around. It was maybe due to the heavy fog surrounding the whole of Baguio this day. So, as I was doing my stretches, I saw, what I assumed was another jogger enter the area. As he passed by me, he greeted me a good morning and asked why the weather is gloomy this morning. I courteously replied and began a small chat with him. After which, he then asked me if he could partner up with me for the morning jog. I agreed and thus we began running.

As we jogged through the area, a conversation about family and life in general ensued. He asked me if there's one thing in life that I regret to which I answered, "maybe". I returned the question to him and he said his regret in life is that he became a workaholic. He said that he didn't get to say all the things he wanted his family and loved ones to know until it was too late. He said that if he had time, he will tell them how much they mean to him.

I was intrigued. I asked him why he can't do that now. I also told him that maybe he can do that this day. He said he can't anymore. I was thinking maybe, for whatever reasons he might have, he had a falling out with these people and not on speaking terms with them. I began to tell him that it's alright to ask forgiveness and that he should talk to them.

That triggered something in him that all of a sudden a change in his voice tone was felt. He sarcastically told me that if he can, he would do it. I apologized and said that maybe we can talk about something else.

As we approached the old Hyatt Hotel area, he stopped me and faced me and said: It is time, my friend. It's not that we lose time. We all have it. It's the choices you make and how you use time is what makes us feel we use it. I made the wrong choice. I chose work. And all is gone in an instant. Use your time wisely.

And just like that, he vanished right in front of me. I remained rooted to where I was standing. Fearfully trying to make out what had just happened. I realized that all this while, I was talking to a ghost. I looked around me, in my frantic search to look for my so-called jogging buddy, I realized where I was: The Hyatt Hotel ruins entrance.

Scared out of my wits, I continued my way towards the Baguio Country Club and hailed the first cab that came into sight.