Even The Grass Bleeds

July 7, 1990, Thursday. It was afternoon in Hong Kong. Rose looked at the scenery from the sala of their flat located in the 36th floor of Tung Sing House in Aplie Chau Estate, Aberdeen. It is near the Jumbo Floating Restaurants.

  The scenery was subdued and tranquil: a vast sea, brown mountains, and a retreating sun.

  She felt melancholic at the thought of the loved ones she again left behind.

  Her mother, her brother, and most especially, her sister Tina. And Daniel… how she missed them.

  Two days ago, she was still in Baguio. The pine trees. The fresh air. The cool weather. She longed for these. And Daniel…

  . . .

  It was at the Pantranco bus station in Baguio, around six o’clock last Thursday morning, where Daniel and she parted.

  He wanted to accompany her to Manila, but she refused.

  “Huwag na… ayaw kong ma-miss mo ang mga classes mo. Graduating ka pa naman,” she told him.

  (“Don’t bother… I don’t want you to miss your classes. You’re about to graduate this term,”)

  Daniel was insistent, but she wouldn’t budge. “It’s not practical,” she said. “Look, you will be travelling with me for six to seven hours to the airport. Then, you will come back to Baguio in the evening. That’s another six to seven hour ride. You will be too tired. Baka magkasakit ka pa,” she said. “Just fetch me in the house at five o’clock in the morning, and bring me to Pantranco.”

  (“You might even get sick,”)

  Daniel finally yielded. He was in their house five minutes after four in the morning.

  “Maaga ka yata,” she said.

  (“You’re early,”)

  “I want to spend some more time with you.”

  She served him coffee and sliced bread with peanut butter.

  Rose’s mother asked him whether he wanted a full breakfast. She could prepare fried rice, pork and beans, and fried egg.

  “Huwag na po, Nanay. Tama na po itong kape at tinapay,” he said. He already called Rose’s mother “Nanay”.

  (“No need, Mama. This coffee and bread is enough.” In the Philippines, if a man was to call his girlfriend’s mother ‘Mama’ or ‘Mother’, he was already signifying strong intentions of marrying her.)

  After they took a light breakfast, Daniel asked Rose if she wanted to have morning devotion together with her family.

  “Yes,” she replied.

  It was Daniel who read the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John, from verse 1 to 15. Jesus said in these verses that He was the Good Shepherd, and He would lay down His life to protect and save His sheep.

  He asked them to pray after expounding on the verses.

  “Let’s pray for the Lord’s protection for Rose as she travels to Hong Kong.

  “Yes, let’s pray for her,” Rose’s mother said.

  It was Daniel who prayed first. “Our heavenly Father, we ask this morning for your protection for Rose on her way to Manila and in her flight to Hong Kong. You have always been our Protector and we ask You to keep her safe from harm. Thank You for Your assurance, that when we ask anything in line with Your will, You will grant our request. We know that as our heavenly Father, You delight in protecting Your children. For You are merciful and kind. And You are also powerful. You can do anything. There’s no limit to Your power. Please protect her from harms way. Please help her also in her work in Hong Kong. Make her days there fruitful. Make her an effective witness to her peers and to our countrymen there. In Christ’s Name, we pray, Amen.”

  Rose’s mother prayed next. “Our heavenly Father, I pray for the safe trip of my daughter to Manila and to Hong Kong. Please bring her safely to her destination. Help her Lord in her work and give her friends who can help and encourage her from day-to-day. Help her to serve her employers well. And give her good health during her stay there. Thank You Lord for being our Guide and Protector every day of our lives. Amen.”

  It was Rose’s turn to pray. “Lord, I thank You for Your love for us. Thank You for Your promise that You will never leave us nor forsake us. You have always been our Protector and Deliverer and we thank You for Your love. I pray for my mother that You will help her each day. Give her good health Lord, and a long life. I also pray for Daniel, that You will give him good health each day, and protect him always. Help him in everything that he does. And guide him, always. Show him everyday how kind You are. For You are a merciful God who loves us always. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, Amen.”

  Tina prayed for her sister. “Lord, please protect Ate Rose in her trip to Hong Kong. Please help her in her work. I pray, in Jesus name, Amen. Boy prayed for his sister too.

  . . .

  After they prayed, Rose’s mother urged the two to get ready. She took Rose’s brown travelling bag. Daniel offered to carry it instead.

  “Ako na po, Nanay. Medyo mabigat ‘yan,” he said.

  (“Let me do it, Mother. That’s quite heavy,”)

  Rose’s mother thanked Daniel for his thoughtfulness.

  It was Rose’s brother, Boy, who saw a taxi coming as they walked to the street. He waved at the taxi driver to stop. Daniel asked the taxi driver to open the trunk so he could place the luggage of Rose.

  “Dalhin n’yo po kami sa Pantranco bus station,” Rose told the driver.

  (“Please bring us to the Pantranco bus station,”)

  Whie the taxi was rolling on the road, the driver curiously asked them, “Saan pong byahe n’yo?”

  (“Where are you travelling to?”)

  It was Rose who replied, “Sa Hong Kong po. Ako lang po ang mag-byabyahe.”

  (“To Hong Kong, Sir. And I’m the only one travelling.”)

  “Ang misis ko po, nandoon din,” the driver said.

  (“My wife’s also in Hong Kong.”)

  “Ano pong pangalan ng misis n’yo?” Rose curiously asked.

  (“What’s the name of your wife?”)

  “Consuelo Abad po. Ako naman po si Alejandro Abad.”

  (“Consuelo Abad. I’m Alejandro Abad.”)

  Her eyes shone. “Si Aling Consuelo, asawa ninyo? Kilala ko po s’ya! Ka-grupo namin s’ya!”

  (“Aling Consuelo is your wife? I know her. She’s one of the members of the group I’m part of.”)

  The driver was excited. “Ha, paano kayo nag-kakilala ng asawa ko?”

  (“Really? How did you get to know my wife?”)

  “Eh, kasi po, sa Hong Kong, grupo-grupo ang mga Filipino kapag day-off nila. May grupo ng mga Ilokana, Kapampangan, Ilongga, Cebuano, Waray! Ganoon po. May grupo po kaming mga taga-Baguio roon! Barkada po namin ang misis n’yo, si Aling Consuelo. Mabait po s’ya!!!”

  (“In Hong Kong, Filipinos stay in groups during their days-off. There are Ilocanas, Kapampangans, Ilonggas, Cebuanos, Warays! That’s how it is. Even we who are from Baguio have our own group! And Aling Consuelo happens to be a member of that group. That’s how I met her. She’s very kind!!!”)

  The driver smiled. “Tingnan mo nga naman, ano? Small world!”

  (“Imagine that. Isn’t it a small world?”)

  “Baka may bilin po kayo sa kanya?”

  (“Would you like to relay anything to her?”)

  “Ikumusta n’yo na lang po ako. Pakisabi po na okay naman kami. Maayos naman ang mga bata, kaya lang nami-miss namin s’ya.”

  (“Just give her my best regards. Tell her that I and the kids are okay. We just miss her so much.”)

  “Bayaan po nyo’t sasabihin ko,” Rose said. “Ano nga po pala ulit ang pangalan n’yo?”

  (“Don’t worry, I’ll tell her.” “Sorry, but what was your name again?”)

  “Alejandro po… Alejandro Felix Abad,” the taxi driver replied. “Anding po ang palayaw ko.”

  (“Alejandro… Alejandro Felix Abad.” “Anding is my nickname.”)

  They reached the Pantranco station after a few minutes. It was 5:51 on Rose’s watch.

  “Ito po ang bayad,” Rose said, handing him a twenty peso bill.

  (“Here’s
the payment,”)

  “Naku, wag na! Okay na yun!” the taxi driver refused to accept payment.

  (“Oh no, please don’t! That’s on me!”)

  “Nakakahiya po sa inyo. Sige na po,” Rose was insistent.

  (Feeling embarrassed, she said “Please take it.”)

  “Hindi, okay lang! Wag na. Maliit na halaga lang ‘yon. Nagpapasalamat nga ako sa Diyos at naisakay kita nang maikumusta mo naman kami kay Consuelo.”

  (“No, really, it’s ok! Please. That was only a small amount. I’m even thankful that the Lord allowed you to be my customer so that I could send my greetings to Consuelo.”)

  Rose was thankful to the driver for his kindness. She assured him that she would talk to Consuelo about the chanced meeting.

  “Sa Linggo po’y magkikita kami ni Aling Consuelo. Siguradong magkakabalitaan po kami,” she told the driver, appreciative, her face full of gaiety.

  (“I’ll be able to meet Aling Consuelo on Sunday. I’m sure she’d be glad to hear about you,”)

  The driver later drove away, waiving his left hand.

  “Salamat sa Diyos at nakakuha agad tayo ng taxi,” Rose’s mother said.

  (“Thank the Lord, we we able to get a taxi immediately,”)

  “Oo nga po, Inay. At kakilala pa ng ate ang asawa n’ya,” Tina said in addition.

  (“Yes, Mama. And big Sister even learned that the driver’s wife is her friend in Hong Kong.”)

  “Ate, mag-iingat ka, ha?” Boy reminded her.

  (“Big Sister, take care, okay?”)

  Rose nodded, looking at her brother with a glimpse of sadness. Then she turned to her mother.

  “Inay, mag-iingat po kayo. ‘Yung health n’yo po, wag n’yong pababayaan.”

  (“Ma, take care of yourself. Don’t neglect your health.”)

  Then, she told her brother and her sister, “Boy, Tina, wag n’yong pababayaan si Inay, ha! Alagaan n’yo s’yang mabuti.”

  (“Boy, Tina, don’t forget to watch over Mama, okay? Take good care of her.”)

  The two nodded.

  Tina reminded her about the Sony Walkman she wanted her to buy.

  “Oo, bayaan mo’t ibibili kita,” Rose replied. Daniel was content to listen to their conversation. He could understand the feeling of Rose’s family over her departure, for he felt it too.

  (“Yes, don’t worry, I’ll buy that for you.”)

  Rose turned to him this time. She gave him a loving look. Her smile was forced, sad, and brave.

  “Take care,” she said.

  “You, too,” Daniel answered.

  “Write me, will you?”

  Daniel nodded. Then, he accompanied her into the bus.

  After putting her luggage in the compartment above her seat, he bid her good-bye.

  “Daniel, thanks,” she said, looking at his eyes.

  He kissed her cheeks, and he immediately walked towards the bus door, not wanting to see her sad look up close.

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  . . . CHAPTER . . .

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