let me tell you a story.

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- wednesday afternoon, 3:30 pm, my dad's bedroom, preparation and briefing before i leave, he tells me where to keep my money.

dad: ok, ilagay mo na lang dito sa bulsa na 'to (pointing to the tiny watch pocket or whatever it's called).

me: sige, kasya naman eh. titingnan ko ung pants na gagamitin ko mamaya kung kasya dun.

- i rush to my room, get the light-brown pants i'm going to wear during the trip.

me: ah eto dad, merong bulsa to...

dad: white? white pants? while travelling?! carlo...!

me: bakit? ano ung problema?

dad: isuot mo na lang ung suot mo ngayon. eh white...!

me: ano bang pinagkaiba...?

dad: white! white pants! *insert random pinoy expletive here* ang impractical! isipin mo nga!

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and there it was. i was stuck in the airport later that night in my maong pants. tough, heavy maong pants i only wore because of our chem lab earlier that day. that bummed so much, i had planned everything with those light-brown (not even white!) pants. i loved travelling in those pants, so loose and flexible and comfy. i also packed one pair of denim pants, so i would have one denim and one non-denim pair. now all the outfits i had planned are ruined.

and what's the big deal with light-colored pants while travelling anyway? it's not like i'll get pre-menstrual spotting on the plane. is there a rule against wearing light-colored pants in airports after labor day? do i get horrible pantymarks, letting everyone see through them to my black boxers? all i'll be doing during the trip is sit and eat and sleep anyway. is there nothing or no one who can justify the loss of my pants?

but hey, i'm here, i made it, right? and i won't let anything, not redundant pants, not incomplete outfits, not impaired stylishness ruin the holidays.

i'll survive