Happiness

Last night, I stood up the company’s Iftar Party. Iftar is the breaking of the fast among Muslims and an Iftar Party is being held to observe a Muslim culture where fasting is not only abstaining from food, water and sex from dawn to dusk but also as one of the pillars of a religion.

Sadly, I preferred to get a good sleep than feast on the food, which my doctor advised me to refrain from.

Before I fell into my slumber, I got my favorite blogger’s tweet wishing me for “happiness.” That made my first smile of the day.

Today, work was again up to the neck. I had to rush and finish the backlogs, such as the awards for the Top Three Call Center Agents of the month, payroll for contractual workers, pending insurance enrollments, applicants’ interview, administering applicants’ test, manpower budget review and after the time clocked at 3PM, my boss dropped the last task.

Ramadan Bonus for the Contractual Workers.

I rushed to do the thing. I saw the CEO and my boss signatures already on the papers.

Went to the figures after figuring that my name was there. Saw some figures higher than the figure parallel my name.

Went over it again. Five names had higher figures. It just one month basic salary and since I had been doing the payroll for the passed three years I should know better.

I conferred to my boss the observation I had before I left to escort his guest waiting at the lobby.

When his guest arrived, my boss agreed with me asking where the hell he got the figures.

Whew, I had to call the Finance Department in order for them to do some overtime work in order to have the printing of extra checks aside from the September salary.

I thought the Ramadan bonus was the only happiness that came into my life today.

When I arrived home, I rushed to grab a bite of the pansit and lumpia left over I had for breakfast. It is really so starving after a day of fast at work.

While eating, I boot up my laptop and when I saw an offline message, it was Beh.

He got a new cheap cell phone from the 11K pesos that ATS gave to him after jumping more than 40 feet from the ship to the dark blue sea and floated more than five hours in the Zamboanga Peninsula waters before he was fished out by a cargo ship while his cousin that was separated from him was plucked from the Malaysian waters.

“My SIM card is still working, please call me,” the message.

I rushed to call. I don’t know how many minutes it was but happiness brought tears into my eye talking to my baby. He is really alive and he still remembers and loves me.

"I nearly died but am still alive and I do love you," my partner said. I love him more than ever.

lumitaw

It was 6:34.11AM today when my ym was ringing. I was only able to wake up during the last three rings. I had to connect my earphones fast to accept the call but the 30 second-ring was done.

I missed the call. It was my beh.

He left a note:

beh..ok lang ko,d2 na ako manila,txt nlang kta pag may cp na ako,na apil jud ka lunod tanan gamit nku,

parang ako na naman ang nalunod.

pastilan, dude!

lumubog

I could hardly believe that a ship carrying my ever dearest babe sunk. Three hours before life jackets were distributed my babe sent me an SMS urging me to call. It was the third SMS asking me to call him but the last one added, “habang may signal pa.”

Despite my 3 minute-call load left, I called my ever beloved. Di ko matiis, ang lambing at sweet kasi ng bebeh ko eh.

During our call he first described how he enjoyed the cold breeze caressing his face but told me the waves are strong and that their ship has stopped and there were no lights in the ferry.

“Madilim. Naka killing yung barko beh. Marami nga ang natakot at nagsigawan kanina,” he told me asking what the time was. It was five minutes before 7PM, Riyadh time. Almost midnight in the Philippines. He said they were already around Zamboanga after sailing in the morning from Gensan.

About three hours later, I was waiting for The OC to show when I chance a brief news that Superferry 9 is sinking.

I could not sleep anymore. I was late in reporting to the office and I could not count how many times I sneaked surfing the websites for news of the sinking ferry. I told three officemates about the incident as well as my babe’s cousin who is also working here.

While waiting for new developments about the ill-fated ship, I kept on hearing my beb's voice.

"Nag resign ako sa call center beh para pumunta ng Maynila at doon ako mag apply ng overseas job para magkikita tayo sa Riyadh," he told me last Friday when he informed me that he is going to Manila with his mother's sister and three cousins via a ship from Gensan.

Only at 4:47PM when I read his name on the list of rescued passengers that I cried so hard.

I love you beh. I could not wait seeing you in person, alive.



Thanks God.