Chapter 20: Chapter 20

After a minute, Roger was back with my suitcase and sports bag. We took off his pants and cleaned his bottom with my T-shirt through the penlight between my teeth, threw the bloodied shirt, and change to a new one. We tried to put on the pants and helped him stand. We went outside to the roadside and waited for a vehicle to pass by. I observed the place again; it was a remote area in the desert but along the highway. I thought that we had a chance to get a ride up to Dubai City. We waited for almost half an hour when a vehicle appeared from our view. Roger held Arnold in his arms while I positioned and gave a sign to the approaching vehicle.

"Sir, we're heading to Dubai for an emergency purpose.....can you accommodate us, please? I said to the Indian guy on the wheel.

"Yes of course."

"Wait sir, I'll help my companion at the back."

After a minute, I went back to the front seat near the driver. He speeded up the highway and thanking the Almighty for saving us. While traveling along the Dubai-Al Ain highway, I began to talk to the driver to alleviate our situation.

"Sir, my name is Fernando, how are you today?" I asked.

"I'm fine, got my family from Al Ain to Dubai yesterday, and I settled something from our Al Ain branch."

"Good to know about that..."

"By the way, my name is Saraffudin Kumar from Bombay."

"Nice to know you Mr. Saraffudin."

"Great to know you too... What's the illness of your companion?"

"Hmmmm....intestinal problem....we have to treat them with our company doctor in Satwa, near the Satwa Roundabout."

"Okay, we'll drop you in Satwa Roundabout 'cause I'll be heading in Al Fahidi Street."

"Okay Mr. Kumar, fine....thanks for your kindness sir."

We're nearing the Sheikh Sayed Road, turned left going to Satwa Roundabout, and we dropped in front of Dubai Plaza Hotel. I thanked Mr. Kumar with a handshake and he gave me a business card which I put inside my pocket. I helped Roger with my suitcase and helped Arnold walked towards the company accommodation.

I knocked on the door of Ronnie's room which he opened instantly. "Ronnie, kindly lie him in bed comfortably, prepared some hot water and face towel...Roger, cook some hot food, asks Ronnie about it....I'll buy medicine in the pharmacy, near Jumeirah Intersection...there's an open pharmacy over there," I ordered them.

I hurriedly left the room heading to the nearby pharmacy where my Filipina friend worked. "Susan, how are you?" I greeted her smiling.

"Fine Marco, how about you handsome?"

"Not quite okay, but I think you can help me"

"What is it?"

"I need medicine for abnormal bleeding....for my friend, you know."

"Weehhh, we have Hemostan capsule....that's okay for bleeding and can be taken after meals."

"Give me ten capsules of hemostan, betadine, gauze pad, cotton, adult pamper, bandage, plaster, alcohol....how much?"

"Why in a hurry... handsome Marco?"

"Emergency....sorry..." I paid the amount, thanked Susan, and hurriedly went back to Ronnie's room. "What happened guys?" I asked them.

"We took off his shirt, pants, and brief.....and gave him hot noodle soup Marco," Roger answered.

"How's his condition?"

"We need to check his wound so that we can apply for some medicine," Ronnie answered.

I went beside the bed and asked Arnold. "Arnold, are you alright now to answer me?"

"Yeesss...Marco..." Arnold answered in a low voice.

"Arnold, please listen very carefully....we have to give you medicine and clean your wound....don't be afraid....we're trying to heal your wound...can we do that privately for you?"

"Yes, Marco....only you...not anybody else..."

"Okay take this medicine first."

I left him in the room and talked to Roger and Ronnie. "Ronnie, please don't say any word about this matter to anybody here in the flat and the store.....Roger, please help Ronnie around the room and wait for my signal to go inside the room... Arnold wanted to be alone and only me who can clean his wounds...Understood?" The two affirmatively nodded.

I went inside the room alone to clean Arnold's behind. "Okay, Arnold lies in bed face down and spreads your legs slowly," I ordered him. "How's your body condition, fine?" Arnold nodded positively.

I checked his body from head to toe and back to his behind. The wound was quite huge and continuously bleeding but I knew it'll heal for some time through the careful dressing. I cleaned the wound with alcohol that made him squirmed painfully. "Arnold....don't move...I'm cleaning...."

I thoroughly cleaned the wound, put some betadine solution, gauze pad and assembled the adult pamper for support. "Okay, Arnold, take a rest, I'm only here outside, if you need something, call me. Don't be afraid I am here for you always. You know why, because you're a TNT, the police will catch you anytime if you'll be treated in the clinic or hospital. Say anything to me, if you feel differently...okay friend?"

We talked outside the room about Arnold's situation. "Roger, Ronnie, this is between the three of us....I'll get your opinion about this case." I started the conversation.

"Marco, as for me, it's better to have him here until he's okay for his condition," Ronnie added. "I'll help with his medicine and food."

"Good Ronnie...and for Roger, I'll present you to the main office in Sharjah, the day after tomorrow.....also at the same time I'll get my new assignment."

XXX

It was in...

The year 1988 of September 1: When I've been assigned at Al Fahidi Street, Bur Dubai.

Roger and I went together to the main office in Sharjah for my new assignment. It's ten o'clock in the morning that we rode a taxi cab going to the Deira terminal. A scheduled vehicle, the same as in Al Ain, where we settled for 30 minutes travel from terminal to Dubai-Sharjah road.

We entered the main office, sat down in the lounge, and looked for the Personnel Department's room. I knocked on the door, open the doorknob, and went inside. "Sir, can I talk to Mr. Gamal Abdulrahman, the area manager of Dubai territory?" I asked the information desk.

"How are you Mr. Fernando, how's Al Ain?”

"Fine sir."

"He's there at the end of this room. Okay, go," pointing his right hand. We went to his table and greeted him.

"Hello, sir good morning!"

"Oh, it's you, Mr. Fernando....how's your travel from Al Ain?" Even it's bad, I lied and said, "Fine sir!" We seated in front of him and I introduced Roger Ferrer, "Sir, this is Mr. Roger Ferrer, the one that I told you on the phone last week."

"I see...Filipini?"

"Yes sir."

"I thought...American...ha-ha-ha-ha...Okay, fill up this form first, then, be ready for the personal interview," he said to Roger.

Roger finished the usual way of applying for a job; been interviewed, approved, and submitting his original documents. The company wanted Roger to get a letter of transfer to his present employer, passport, and other papers to finalize his new employment. He went back to Al Ain to process his transfer where he talked to Arnold privately and said goodbye.

As for me, I had the new assignment at Al Fahidi Street branch, Bur Dubai, the other side of the Dubai Creek in Deira where Ronnie Ramirez worked. I stayed in Ronnie's room but worked in the Al Fahidi branch while tending Arnold Castillano for his recovery.

After a month's time, Ronnie Ramirez was transferred to the Al Riqqa branch which he left his room for me. I helped Joel find a temporary job in the Al Fahidi area that he began to work in the catering business of the Hotel Ambassador in which he stayed in the staff accommodation.

The Al Fahidi branch staff got a new apartment in a building next to the store where I transferred my personal belongings. Nevertheless, I was accustomed to the new flat and all the branch personnel. During my day off, I visited Mike Luna in his residence near Bank Street, the first visit for him.

"Hello Pareng Mike, how are you and why you're not visiting me, huh?" I slightly slapped his face and hugged him. "I missed you...see, I'm here in Dubai now?"

"Yes....alive and kicking....and why you're not visiting me?"

"You know quite busy for my job and lots of work to do every day, Pare..."

"How's Ayah Isabel....the children...and your wife, Lina?"

"They're fine....your eldest daughter Anne, grade 2...and Kent, grade 1...they're schooling inside the subdivision which Lina helped them."

"I'm happy to know that my friend!!"

"You know Pare...there's a lot of beautiful ladies here in Dubai."

"Owwww, there you are...Lina's waiting for you, my friend...."

"My duty's from 5 pm to 12 pm...that's why, very hard to roam around the city. But, I'm asking my manager to change my shift, so that I have time in the evening...you know.."

"Pare, next Thursday, my day off...try to be with me....we'll going out."

"Sure, I'll try...You want to eat?"

"Yes, what you have there?"

"Kabsah with a green salad and canned coca-cola, your favorite friend."

"Okay, but remember, next Thursday our night out...I'll call you Wednesday afternoon, in your job?"

"Yes, just ask my name Mickey...not Mike."

"Owwww, why did you changed your name......are you a celebrity?"

"Yes, my friend...I'm here in Dubai...and I'm a celebrity now!"

"Let's eat now."

I left Mike's residence, went to St. Mary's Church to attend Sunday's Mass, and visited Ronnie in the store at Al Riqqa Street. He offered a free snack for me, but I preferred to drink brewed coffee and a double cheeseburger. I ate hastily while observing him which I stayed for almost an hour.

I walked along Al Riqqa Street which I intended to visit Vivian Montoya's flat. I telephoned her first if she's inside the room.

"Hello, can I talk to Vivian?"

"Sorry, she's working right now, who's this please?" Asked the voice at the other end.

"Marco, please tell her I called up and I'm here now in Dubai."

"Okay Marco, I'll tell her."

"Thank you, bye."

I walked along Al Riqqa Street going to Al Guhrair Mall, I crossed the road towards the Public Plaza, then to Al Maktoum Street. I spotted the Aquarius International Manpower Agency office. I entered and asked about Ryan Mallari. The front office staff answered me that he's not around. I thanked her, went outside, and continue walking going to the Deira side near the creek. I waited for my turn to ride in a wooden-motored dhow going to Bur Dubai side. I went home feeling alone towards my room and switch-on my Betamax player to watch the movie "Dr. Shivago." After watching the old movie, I took a warm bath, washed my clothes, ate fresh fruits, and listen to my favorite music collections.

I called up Vivian Montoya for a possible night out with her. She responded positively, suggested Riviera Hotel near the creek as our meeting place. I dressed up instantly, rode a taxi cab, and went inside the hotel.

I looked around for signage of the Filipino bar on the second floor, that I went instantly upstairs. A Filipina server greeted me and finds a table for me.

"Hi, good evening, please find a table for two near the stage."

"Okay sir, come, over there."

"Thank you."

"I'm waiting for someone, but for now just give me a mug of Heineken draught beer. By the way, what's the occasion tonight?"

"Sir, it's Filipino night, there's a lot of Bayanihan show here tonight. You know sir, after an hour, more Filipinos are coming....that's why you've free appetizers, you like it then?"

"I see, what's your name please?"

"Maribel Tan sir from Ilocos, the hot and spicy people like me!"

"Nice to meet you, Maribel."

After half an hour of waiting, Vivian showed up at my table.

"Hi, Marco, nice to see you again....how's Al Ain?"

"Good....great...Vivian."

"How are you when I'm away....and where are you working?"

"I'm working in a hotel's catering service, so every time there were celebrations, weddings, parties or meetings, we're hired by the manager temporarily and we got our salary at once. It's better that way, for my security, but I'm alert always to the authorities. Like this place, they're everywhere but aware of it."

"Alright...good, you have more knowledge about your situation. I went to your house in Libertad Street and I talked to your father. He said regards to you....and your children too."

"Nice, I'm happy to hear that they're all fine. Thank you Marco."

"Okay, what's your drink, I'll call Maribel." Maribel got Vivian's order and served it.

"You want something to eat....they're serving Filipino foods tonight?"

"Yes, bulalo and beef afritada...and you?"

"Me? – no, I have to drink first."

I ordered another mug of draught beer and drank halfway. The show on stage was full of colorful lights dancing to the tune of the music. The artistes wore Filipiniana costumes dancing like the Bayanihan Troupe of the Philippines. Truly Filipino!

XXX