En Route

Saturday, February 8, 2014

A Night of Nightmare

It was a pleasant Sunday Evening. The usual energetic evening for me as I am a night person. I am about to finish cleaning the whole house. Only my small living room/dining room was left unclean, by the way I live alone in a 2 bedroom apartment. So I put the monoblock chairs inside the extra room and also my 3ft high bookshelf. I left the TV set connected to my laptop on it's place then began mopping the floor with a bleaching liquid. I usually let the cleansing liquid stay for about five minutes so I decided to put my garbage outside. I picked up my keys and opened my units' gate. I was about to go out when I remember I still have trashes upstairs. So I went back to get it and head down again. When I pass by the window instinct told me to pull the curtain of my window facing the gate. Just in time I saw this man's back just about to enter the front door. He didn't notice I saw him. What came first to my mind was my colleagues husband who delivers my drinking water but on my mind it can't be because he usually calls first before getting inside my apartment. So I thought it was my friend giving me a surprise visit but on second thought he won't do it because it's almost 10 in the evening. I went directly to the door, on my mind I am going to scold the man because he was tresspassing. I ask the man "who are you? "What do you need?" "Who are you looking for? I guess the man was a little stunned because he was not ready for my reaction. Few seconds passed before he uttered words telling me to get inside and asking me who I am with while showing a three inches dagger. I couldn't say another word when I saw the knife. I couldn't move. I can't explain the horror that I felt. Vision of myself in blood bathe and dead came into my mind.

The intruder walked towards the door of the two bedroom. I was left alone near the front door. I glanced at the gate and saw that it was left open. The word ESCAPE rang into my mind. In that moment I collected all the strength I could have and ran down the stairs as fast as I can, thinking that he might follow fast and get hold of me. I screamed for help with all my strength running to the second floor of the next building, where my friend Jovi resides, to seek refuge and help. The thief followed immediately shouting an answer to my plea for help, making it sound like he was trying to help me. I keep screaming but the evil stranger walked so calm then went directly to a blue motorbike and drove out of the compound. Then I saw my neighbors came out of their units to aid me but the man had escaped already.

After that unfortunate event, my life has change. I don't know if it would be right to say that I became stronger because I still live in the same apartment but has become very cautious especially in locking the doors and gates. My world revolves around school and home. No more movie treats and window shopping alone, fearing that if I went out at night it might happen again. Nights became sleepless. I became nervous and jumpy everytime I hear footsteps at night or any sound on the roof.

It was almost a year after that frightful night. Though my life has change since then, I am still thankful that God has given me another chance to live.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Her Birthday Story

August 21, declared as Ninoy Aquino's day is also my grandma's birthdate as written in her birth certificate. Her real birthday was July 21 of Spanish regime. According to her during the Spanish time a newly born child should be baptized before it reach his/her first month or they must pay a penalty for succeeding month until the baby's baptism. As her story goes, after she was born they only have enough money for their needs and can't afford to pay the priest until the copras had been sold. So her parents waited until her 2nd month before she was brought to the parish to be baptized and registered her birth month as August instead of July so that they will not pay the penalty. Its been 2 years and 8 months since she left and went to rest forever and yet I can still remember her stories of her childhood. Those funny jokes and their love story. Her favorite teacher and favorite poem. The sweet humming of her favorite bicolano songs. Her loving forehead kiss and warm embrace.

Happy birthday Mama Taba wherever you are! Watch over us always. We miss you a lot. 💛💛💛