Next day when Jesus was coming back from school passing through the rice fields. He passed beside the river, he controlled himself, but he never knew when he removed his shirt and jumped in the river. He was having a great swim...not every time mom finds out what Jesus did.
Jesus passed his childhood in poverty. He used to eat boiled rice poured on a banana leaf. He went with his mom in other farmer's rice fields for harvesting, and got a little labored rice as wage. He used to ride carabao (buffalo) in the rice fields. He had three older brothers and three sisters. Poverty was common at that place. But still Jesus loved the mountains, river and green fields of his village.
Chapter 3
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Sagi somehow arranged for saeed to work for him. Saeed came together with Ibrahim his friend from Philippines to work for Sagi and he welcomed them.
The day when Saeed came to Saudi Arabia he was confused. Fist time he saw South Asian and Middle East people right in front of him and he thought to himself, "They all seem to look alike, everybody has the same face." And what those guys said was, " All Chinese look the same". Although they didn't know that they aren't Chinese.
However Saeed was thankful that he wasn't alone, Ibrahim and Suriara his kabayan (compatriots) were together with him. But Suraira seemed disturbed, he got home sick. He used to cry whenever he is alone. Then after about a month he packed his bags and returned back home. He said he couldn't take it anymore. Suraira gifted Saeed an internet usb modem before leaving. Which helped Saeed a lot later to call back home. Saeed was a man of a good heart that's why people cared about him.
On Saeed's first day in Arabia his bosses treated him with khabsa for lunch. It was a rice pilaf with chicken and raisin on it. For Saeed it tasted different but he liked it. Somebody gave him laban, kind of buttermilk which was sour and he didn't really like it. Then company sent him from Jeddah to Rabigh for work in a power plant, together with Ibrahim and Suraira from where Suraira left for home back to Philippines. After working for a few months Saeed and Ibrahim sent back to Jeddah for doing rack work at airport.
Khabsa and laban
Chapter 4
Somewhere in Philippines
An old man was driving a rusty small motorbike. He was wearing dirty cloths and bike was as dirty looking as he himself. Where ever he saw a piece of iron or tin he stops his bike and puts it in a bag hanging on his bike behind him. Front pocket of his shirt was full of money, everyone passes by could see that currency notes. He passed by a few factory workers, "Good morning Boss Dakila" they said.
Dakila was owner of this factory where he made bolts. He wasn't born rich but his hard work made him so. In fact he got two bolt manufacturing factories one in Philippines and one in China. Although he didn't need to work but he remembered his old days. When he started his work by collecting garbage. He cared about garbage and garbage made him what he was. That's why he carried on with his habit even after he owned the factories. Without caring about his status now, he used to take his old bike and round around his factory and collect all the metal pieces, which were left by workers.
Dakila finished his job for today, he stopped his bike at the gates. His bag was full and he was looking happy. A young man came toward him and excused him," Magandang Umaga Boss". Dakila recognized him he was one of his best workers. Good Morning Jesus, how are you doing today. " I'm good, I just needed a little advance." Jesus requested. " Sure I can give you advance" Dakila looked to his front pocket. "But I don't want you to spend all of your money before your salary and you get nothing when month is finished." Dakila walked away smiling. He knew how to treat his workers and where to spend his money very well. Jesus also smiled behind him, it had been long time after high school since he was working for Dakila, and he knew that Dakila don't do favors when it comes to money. But he always enjoyed to bother him asking him something about it.
Chapter 5
A young good looking woman was sitting at the front seat of a taxi beside driver. She was adjusting her makeup. "Why do you wear a lot of makeup." The guy beside her said harshly. "I got married to you because I felt you're beautiful without wearing this tons of makeup." "Mind your own business Jesus and don't look at me if you can't see me wearing makeup." His wife Mariel shouted back.
Jesus faced a lot of hardships in his life but it wasn't over yet. He completed his studies very difficultly by working at the rice fields after school. And after doing many jobs somehow he managed to buy this taxi, he used to drive all day. And at night when he comes back home he and his wife start fighting on small issues almost all the time. They were fighting but still there was love in their hearts which they stopped sharing that time. That's why after sometime they separated to find their own peace. Jesus was looking for peace all of his life but never find it.
Then he met another girl and got married again. Till then h'd a house of his own, his home sweet home. He struggled a lot to built that house, it wasn't complete yet but he loved it. He adopted a puppy to keep in his new home. His father died of cancer because of smoking. Maybe that's why sometimes he used to get very angry on small things. He wasn't like this he never wanted to be, but he had no control over it. Even a few times he punished his puppy in his anger. But he felt bad when he realized it later. He used to go to church to calm himself and in search of peace. But many times he got distracted of praying, by some girl sitting next to him wearing shorts.
Chapter 6
Taiba, Jeddah
It was really hard to breath, he opened his eyes but couldn't see anything, it was all dark. Even he couldn't see his own hands, he tried to move but couldn't. He was stuck somewhere in the dark, where no body was around. He moved his arms and it hit something hard. He tried to move his arms again but he could hear the sound of his arms hitting some wood only. He tried to touch it, it was some kind of wooden box he was trapped in. He tried to breath, but it'd become really hard. He tried to shout for help but sound wasn't coming out of his throat. He was feeling very thirsty and he was in great misery. Then he heard a sound, " Saeed what happened to you, Saeed move." Somebody was hitting his face. He couldn't breath, he was trying to shout but couldn't say anything. "Grrrrrrrrrrr grrrrrrrrr" only that weird sounds was coming out of his mouth. Few more guys joined the first guy and they took him up. He couldn't see where they were taking him in the dark. He was feeling like they moved him out of some room, and then they put him on some chair. They were keep saying," what happened to you, saeed move." Then someone said put water on him, with that a guy put water on his head and face. Suddenly he woke up. He was breathing very hard and he was too scared. It was only a bad dream but he was unable to breath. He didn't know for how long he stopped his breath but he was thankful to the guys who woke him up. A guy brought a glass of water near his mouth and he started drinking quickly.
After leaving Rabigh Saeed came to company's dormitory in Jeddah together with Ibrahim. There he met a Yemeni guy Fekri again who was working with him in Rabigh. Fekri was a slim guy, he'd long curly hair and a very thin beard and he was a heavy smoker. He was very slim but he was a hard worker. He used to wear fashion garments and he was careless of what world thinks of him. Anyway he was quite a nice personality. He showed saeed his new room and introduced him to his new roommates. It was a small room full of 5 bunk beds and 7 guys including Fekri. But Fekri was leaving the camp so he gave his place to Ibrahim, and Saeed got another empty bed. So now there were eight guys in the room, one was from Bangladesh and others from Pakistan. Saeed never knew it was because of stress of hard work at site, where there was too hot and a lot of dust all around. Or because of over crowded room where there was a single washroom for 16 guys in two room, that he had this horrible dream.
"
Sanaa Garden" (
CC BY-ND 2.0) by
YXO
Chapter 7
Company wasn't supplying drinking water, therefore Saeed had to go out to bring water. Water was quiet expensive there. It is like you get about 2 litters of gasoline, but half liter of water in one riyal. However there were many Saudi Citizens who'd put water coolers outside of their houses as a social work where you can get chilled drinking water anytime you need. Even some guys had put refrigerators outside of their houses where people put their extra food and someone needy can consume that. But for Saeed only water was necessary to take.
One day Saeed was coming back to dormitory after taking the water and a car pulled over beside him. There were a few young guys sitting in the car laughing and shouting. Saeed knew their intention isn't good so he started walking fast. But the car starting moving behind him. One guy took his head out of the side glass and shouted, " Hey do you need something?" and then all guys started laughing. Saeed couldn't afford a fight with them so he kept moving faster and faster. Then suddenly one guy in the car tried to catch Saeed's arm but he ran fast together with his 20 liters water bottle. Luckily the company's accommodation wasn't too far and he reached home before they could catch him. He got too angry and his face was red with blood. But he saved himself and didn't harm anyone. He felt good after calling his wife back in Philippines using internet usb modem which Suraira gave him. He also had a two years old daughter and he used to forget all the tensions after hearing her sweet little voice.
Chapter 8
Hsinchu City Taiwan
At a construction site of a bridge
Roll of welding wire rod was running on a machine. A welder was sitting inside a big pipe and was welding joints inside.Weather was cold but he was running his hands in the speed machine was unrolling the rod. Which made all of his dress full of sweat. He was working but his mind was running in the other direction. He was worried about his wife. "Are you ok Jesus?" the guy who was working together with him asked him. "Yes I'm good." Jesus replied. But he wasn't actually good. Last night his sister Jasmine called him and told him that his wife was doing something really bad. He was worried about that. He told his sister to go and check on her tonight.
Back in Manila Philippines, it was midnight when Nicole woke up by the noise of her doorbell, Someone was beating her door too. Nicole got up hurriedly, she was in deep sleep and she didn't realize what she was doing. She only ran to the door and opened it. Her eyes widened with shock when she saw Jasmine at the gate. She tried to close the door but Jasmine pushed the gate and made her way straight to Nicole's room. There she found that guy she heard about in Nicole's room.
Jesus was laying on his bunk bed. It was a big hall where company had put many beds for workers. Jesus tried to sleep but couldn't he was still thinking about his wife. Right then Jesus's cell phone rang he picked it up and heard the different noises of yelling someone he said hello. It was Jasmine on the other end. She told Jesus that she was right about her doubts, and then she gave the phone to Nicole. Nicole was crying she admitted her mistake and asked for a chance. But Jesus was too angry to hear her. He said, " Take your stuff and leave my house right now" and then he cut the phone. Jasmine took her phone and left without saying anything else. She was too angry to say something. Nicole didn't leave right then but she left Jesus and his house in the morning and went with her guy. Before leaving she took all the expensive goods in the house with her.
Chapter 9
Jeddah
A loud bang got everyone's attention. All the workers in the area ran toward the place where noise came from, to see what happened. It was lunch time saeed's team left the work and went to look for their lunch boxes. Saeed thought that he should prepare the material for work after lunch. He removed the fork lift from underneath the recently installed conveyors and took it toward the materials. He wasn't very far when he heard this loud sound. He left the fork lift where it was and ran back to see it. Everyone was gathered there already. He was shocked to see that his last installation fell on ground from where he just removed the fork lift. Although it wasn't properly secured but he didn't expect it to fall. Luckily there was no one around and it was less high than two meters.
"Guys forget the lunch today we've to make it correct before Sagi returns." Saeed informed his team. Everybody agreed on it because nobody wanted to be yelled on by Sagi. Loud shouting of Sagi scared them more than any falling object. Thus they started to rebuilt the damage, they were fast enough to make everything correct within the lunch hour. Also they've finished their lunch before Sagi returned.
"Saeeeeeeeeeeeed" Sagi shouted loud. He was looking at the same place where it fell down. It was his routine to do his inspection after team finishes the job each place. Saeed ran to him, "yes boss". He was clearly looking worried. He could guess that Sagi already knows what happened there. "Here this support doesn't look straight." Sagi pointed toward the steel support with his mini torch. Saeed took the hammer and hit the support a few times. "Ok now it looks ok. " Sagi frowned and then he left. Everybody started laughing behind him.
Fallen Installation
Chapter 10
2 o'clock at night a vehicle stopped in front of a building, a tall guy with curly hair came out of the car. He looked around nobody was there probably everybody was sleeping this late. He went inside the building the door was opened. He was careful to take his steps and not to make any sounds. He went inside a hall it was dark so he used his cellphone light to see the way. He stopped in front of the first room in the hall, looked around and turned the door knob the door was opened. He went inside, there were a few guys sleeping on bunk beds. He went near first bed put his hand under the pillow of the sleeping guy and took out a wallet, he put it in his pocket and moved to next guy. Thus he checked every pillow using his phone light and found two wallets. He saw a laptop beside one guy he tried to grab it but the guy moved slightly. So he left the room quickly and silently but he left the door open. After spending ten minutes out he went inside again. This time he grabbed the laptop and started to walk away slowly. But it was hard to pull the laptop because a charging cord was going under the sleeping guy from the laptop. He tried to pull it but the guy woke up. "What are you doing man." the guy who woke up inquired.
Saeed was sleeping deep as usual. But he felt like someone was putting light on his face he moved a bit and light was gone. He slept again, but after a while he felt like someone was pulling his skin. He opened his eyes he saw a guy who was trying to go somewhere using cellphone light. He thought one of his roommate is going for a piss. But he felt he was pulling something from underneath him. What are you doing man" he asked the guy. The guy pulled hard and ran with his laptop. "Alibaba" saeed yelled after he realized that the guy was trying to steel his laptop. The thief panicked by his voice and threw the laptop on the floor with a loud noise and ran away.
All the guys in the room woke up. They were asking saeed about what happed. He told them everything, everybody started to check their stuff in the room except one Pakistani guy who was still in deep sleep. One guy went to him and woke him up" hey we've been robbed here wake up check your stuff." The guy suddenly woke up and ran towards the door, everybody ran behind him. They went outside the dormitory looked everywhere in the street for the thief, there was no one but silence everywhere. After coming back saeed checked his laptop it was working good. Everything was ok in the room except Saeed's wallets and waist bag and Ibrahim's wallets were missing. There were some cash, Iqamas, ID Cards and also Saeed's gold ring was in his wallet. It wasn't big cash and ring was also not much problem but Iqamas and ID Cards were big issue. It was hard to complain and get the new one and also they had to report and pay the fees.
At morning they went to police station to complain. On their way back an arab guy called Saeed and told him that he found his bag on road side and he wants to give him back. Saeed and Ibrahim went to Raheli where that arab guy asked them to meet. They found the guy in front of the mosque, he told them that he saw it beside the road and he found saeed's number in the bag and called him. They thanked the guy and asked him for some refreshment but he said no it was his duty to find the owner. Saeed and Ibrahim's Wallets were inside the bag but all torn up. No money or ring was inside but thankfully iqama and ID cards were there. "Never forget to lock the door before you sleep" Saeed laughed together with Ibrahim.
Raheli, Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Chapter 11
"One moz please" saeed asked the guy to give him a banana. It was Ramadan, everyone was fasting. He woke up at 3:00 in the morning, ate well and started his fast at 4:00. He got a little rest and then went to bus at 5:00 to go to work. Long day was ahead, thankfully work was reduced to 6 hours. There must be no food or water all day. Although food wasn't big problem but he gets very thirsty specially when temperature rises to about 50°C, and he had to do hard work. But he was full of courage inside, he knew he could make it. His believe was strong that he is gonna get rewarded much more than his effort on judgement day.
At 12:00 bus was waiting outside the site. He put some water on his head and washed his face from a plastic water tank. It was about 40 minutes ride back home after reaching home he prayed and slept. Afternoon he got up and at 6:30 he went to mosque. Time of Iftar was on 7:15, after then he could start eating. It was like Saudi people brought everything from their houses for everyone. Though there were many Saudis who stop their vehicle near by you and give you some nice food all year. But in Ramadan it increased. He saw many people giving nicely packed fresh food to anyone passes by at the road. But on reaching the mosque he saw more.
Everyone was sitting in lines in front of the mosque. Though they were sitting on carpets spread on the ground but his Saudi Host asked him with respect to sit there. Steam roasted chicken with rice had been served together with water bottles, fruits, dates, soup, juices and much more. After a few days of eating there those guys started to recognize Saeed and they started to give him his favorite white rice with vegetables. When it was time about to Adhan one of the host asked, "do you need anything else guys." Saeed said " A banana please" and he got one. Right before Adhan a guy brought yogurt on his heavy bike. Then Saeed heard the sound of Adhan and he opened his fast with a date and started drinking water. After prayer of maghrib he wasn't feeling like he was fasting all day, but there were more to come.
Thus Ramadan finished rapidly and Saeed got one week holiday for Eid. He spent his holiday as usual as mostly expats in Saudi Arabia do. Only sleeping, calling home, wishing everyone Eid on Eid day, cooking and eating a lot.
Chapter 12
Manila Philippines
Therefore as Jesus returned to Philippines he went to his home in Manila. It looked empty his wife was gone with most of his precious things. He didn't care about anything else but he was too heart broken because of Nicole. He thought of committing suicide but he wasn't this coward. He wanted revenge, he asked one of his friend that he wants a gun. He wanted to kill his wife and her lover undoubtedly. It was so devastating for him. He stopped respecting woman after that. Every woman is bad he thought to himself. But he never knew then, what the destiny was gonna bring for him.
It was his mom who gave him courage. Her sweet words stopped him for doing anything wrong. "The world isn't over, you're gonna find a better one" she promised him. Time passed by, he took his taxi back from his driver who happened to be his friend also, he was the person who took great care of his taxi when Jesus was in Taiwan. He didn't want to make him jobless but he needed something to keep himself busy in, to get rid of all these bad thoughts. Besides his driver was a very good guy he surely was gonna find same job with someone else. And later some time Jesus called his driver again to drive his sister's taxi.
"
Manila by Night" (
CC BY-ND 2.0) by
Gert Mewes
At Ortigas business district of Metro Manila in SM Megamall a pretty woman was lined up at UV FX Terminal to catch a ride back home. It was rush hour and a lot of sounds and traffic horns were coming to her ear disturbing her. But now she didn't bother much of it, her ears used to it after working long time for an airline ticketing company there. Finally it was her turn, only empty place in the taxi was front seat beside the driver. She hoped on, she saw something, it was driver. She found something interesting about him something very attractive. Same thing was happening with driver, there were many women sit beside him every day but there was something unusual about this girl. Something was pulling him toward her. "Maybe she is the one" he thought to himself. "Uh a lot of traffic, its gonna be a long journey" he tried to start a conversation. She smiled at him, " it is going to work" he thought to himself. Then he started his conversation, he cracked many jokes and made her laugh.
He didn't realized how he has covered most of the distance already. "My name is Jesus, Jesus Fronda Him, by the way" he introduced himself. "Oh I'm Lea, Lea Salongsongan" she replied. "Can i have your number" he requested. She didn't like that, asking him like this her number. She was never gonna give her number like this to a man she just met. She didn't get it why but she gave him her number.
"Hi, have you reached your destination safely" she read the message on her cell phone screen. She knew it that Jesus is gonna contact her. She didn't know why but she felt good about it. "I'm fine." She replied. After that it went on and on. It was like he is messaging her every second. Then he asked her to meet him for dinner and she agreed. After a few meetings they came to know each other very well. She took him to country side to meet her parents. Everybody in the family seemed to like him. Not long after that they got married.
"
Mandaluyong City" (
CC BY-SA 2.0) by
Shishberg
Chapter 13
Jeddah
"Oh my God help me" room echoed with a loud noise at the middle of the night. Saeed suddenly woke up and ran to Ibrahim's bed. "Utol what happened, are you feeling pain again" Saeed asked sympathetically. Ibrahim was putting his hand on his stomach and was trying to press it. He was all rolled over on his bed and he was making loud noises.
It started after Ibrahim came back from work. He was saying that he is feeling pain in his stomach. When pain got worse Saeed took him to nearest hospital in company's provided vehicle. However in the hospital doctor checked him and gave him some pain killers and an Intravenous therapy, and sent him home. Ibrahim was trying to sleep but he was feeling severe pain. He couldn't endure it anymore then he started shouting for help.
Saeed went to his boss room and woke him up. It was good of him that he brought his car out and took Ibrahim in the biggest hospital of the city at Makarona Street together with saeed. He left them at hospital for checkup and came back. Saeed took Ibrahim to emergency department where after some tests doctor found out that he had appendicitis. He needed a surgery, they waited more than an hour before Ibrahim's Medical Insurance Company approved the procedure.
The operation was successful and after a few days in hospital Ibrahim left and went to his cousin's house in Jeddah. Saeed continued to go to his work after first day and about fifteen days later Ibrahim was back to work too. Thus everything was back to normal again. Then Ibrahim called back to his family in Lopon City in Mindanao and informed them what happened to him. He didn't want to make them worried earlier.
"
Mindanao Express BV115" (
CC BY-ND 2.0) by
~ BUSADDICT
Chapter 14
VI Warehouse Jeddah
Saeed opened his arms when a plane passed over him not very high in the air. It was nice weather after rain. It doesn't rain in Jeddah very often. That's why everybody likes to enjoy the rainy weather. Site closed because of the rain and everybody came to warehouse at midday which was nearby the airport, to go back to accommodation. When ready for going home Seed went to the driver, "I'm gonna drive" Saeed announced. "Are you sure you can drive I never saw you driving" driver frowned. "Don'ts worry my friend I used to drive jeepni, and truck full of woods and many other vehicles in Philippines I know It very well." Saeed told him, and he proved It while driving, that he was an excellent driver.
