Encounter with a Stranger: Her Strength

     I was on my way to work for a half-day. I thought that I don't have any leaves left but, what the heck, I don't care. I was in a jeepney (if only I can skip jeepney rides..) and the old lady who was seating opposite of me, asked me where will I have my stop. I was planning to buy myself some food in a mall since I haven't taken my lunch yet, so I named the mall as my stop. She said that she was heading the same way and I said, ooh, ok. I didn't know why should I care and then she started telling her little adventure. I was like, huh??? Was there something that was sticking behind my back that says "I solve problems" or "You can tell me your problems"?

     No, I didn't expect another love story from the gandma but I expected some hardship story and I was right. She came from a far away province and that she wanted to visit her daughter. I think it was her only daughter and only family left, but she didn't find her. She already asked the local brgy./munincipal's help but they have nothing in their record of residences. She said that she don't have any money for traveling for her to get home and I dunno how much she needs and I don't know if I can help in that part (-.-). Granny.... why did you go here without any money for returning home? Didn't you think that there's a possibility of failure in finding your daughter? Or, why did you came here alone??

     Anyway, I can listen and ignore (since the surrounding was noisy anyway). I didn't want to look into her eyes though, I always look or sometimes stares (unintendedly) at the eyes of the person I'm talking to or listening to. Because I know that I'll see some tears there. But then, I told myself "If I see, even a little tear in her eyes, I'll see if that tear is real and if it is then, her story is real." So I looked at her and saw those, seems to me, real tears. *Sigh* Maybe she just wanted somebody to talk to? So I asked some questions, made some suggestion and surprisingly, she already did all those things too, which means, for an alone old lady, she wasn't discouraged so easily.

     And here I was thinking of just giving up -life maybe? I'm in my era of 'not-knowing-what-you-wanna-be/to-do' -again, and even the 'love-hating', again. What the? is this a re-take? I fluked these exams long ago and if this is a re-take of it then I won't fail - I don't wanna. Though, it seems to me that I stopped dreaming, I won't stop believing in Him. I can call Him. It's good that I got to meet these random people. These two people, they already won over to the things I lose to.

     So I checked my coinpurse and wallet... It seemed that a breeze of air that said "empty" pass through my face. It was my and the granny's stop. She went down first. I decided to just split this already unbudgeted money I have (ah, what about lunch?). I asked someone there to have a change with me for smaller bills. I looked for the granny and luckily, I spotted her (heh, I know I'll spot her). I ran toward her and gave her the money. She didn't want to take it at first because she said that she wasn't begging for it but I insisted and that atleast she could eat for that day. She wanted to look for a job, or a house job to be exact. I seriously thought of having her as our helper but while she was telling me that she tried to apply as a maid, all those applications were rejected because she's too old for the job, and I said to myself "Oh, yeah...it's a good thing that I didn't tell her my thought first." I told her to come inside tha mall and look for a job there. She said that she's scared that the guard wouldn't let her in (huh?). She said that before, she was going to a mall and that she wasn't allowed to enter. The guard there told her that they do not let beggars in.Well, I beg your pardon???? She is clearly not a beggar! she is correctly dressed and doesn't stink! She may look like very poor but this granny has the honor of having her head held high because of her strength!

     She was going away now and I didn't want myself to look at her until she's gone at my sight. I'm sorry that this is all I could do and that I still want to not get involve in this. But surely, the two strangers I met where in my heart and mind. I would want to meet this old lady again and I would want to see that she is reunited with her only family. I would want to know if the lady I met in the church has her heart settled and that there would be no "bone-breaking" to do. Tch, these people are selfish, they left me behind in their misery. But they sometimes make me smile and I know that they are alright.

Encounter with a Stranger: Her Love

     Weeks ago, I was in our church with my sis to attend a bible study. After the study, my sis, went outside and I stayed at the back row. I was contemplating and I would have prayed then when suddenly:"Ui, alam mo....*blah,blah,blah*" ("Hey, you know what...*blah,blah,blah*"), I was silently shocked when the lady beside me (I didn't even noticed that she was there) talked to me and started telling her confusing love life. In my mind I was like, what? why me of all people????? I'm an NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth) and I'm not romantically involve in anyone! So, how can I be of help to her? She thought, that teens can relate to her situation...I'm 22...

     She told me that she really don't know what the guy and her status is, and that, she was so confused and was so damn worried about the guy since he was been sent to a far away place due to work. I didn't want to really give something to say and get involve in some way with her because, in my mind she's a stranger and that I don't need to get involve so, I was just intending to listen since some problematic people just need to throw their stress away by telling it. But since I already listened and knew, I couldn't help myself to throw some bomb on her.

     I told her to not fully trust the guy. What? after flirting with her or he was just being so close and sweet, he just gets off without any confirmation nor closure with what was really it??? Some may say that I shouldn't had judged the guy with just that. Yes, I agree to that, but trust to me is like everything, that's why I told her not to give her full trust. So that, when the worst case scenario comes, she'll not be too hurt, well, atleast -that is (hmm... I didn't tell her this, *tsk*). Some may say that I shouldn't be like this since I dunno the guy. Yes, I dunno the guy and I have to balance things, so I said some possibilities to why he is not answering his phone nor replying to sms, nor contacting her (guilty, here^^;). The guy was assigned to Basilan, a place to be not in, in my country. I told her that it might be due to his work or he lost his phone or something. I even told her the possibility of an accident or being dead... hehe :p. I didn't tell the dead part directly though.

     I'm an observer whether I like it or not, and I'm saying that this kind of occurance is what I usually see, all the more when I was a student. It's so ugly that I don't want to get near these kind of stuffs. The stuffs when the two of you are so sweet; the flirting stuffs and stupid things, but you're not in a relationship. I don't want to become like them. That's why, when I was a student, I had promised to myself that: 1) I won't have a bf (nor entertain it)until I graduate, 2) he must be in the same religion, and 3) who'll be my first shall be my last. And that's how I shielded and shields myself (I already passed no.1). Most of my friends, aah.. actually, I think all (-.-), tells me that the last one is not realistic. I know, and I admit that I'm the last fool who believes in that. So, that 3rd promise can be broken but I will NEVER break the 2nd one. I can dissappoint and hurt myself but I will NOT dissappoint and hurt God.

     As far as I remember, the last time I was alone with a guy was because he was my thesis partner and that we were having our meeting. The guy friend I have in my office now, that I can categorize as "close", is gay. So you might say that I lack of some social life with guys and I lack the understanding of them that I might be a one-sided advisor. Honestly, I got really angry at the guy easily. I had thought that he was one of those jerk-type. He was irresponsible and selfish. But I know that I was fair with my advice and I had used logic instead of instinct. And, no, I'm not a man-hater just a jerk-hater (>,>).

     After all what I had said, the lady was still saying some same things and that, at that time, she was showing her teary eyes. She was showing this to me... why was she showing her weakness to me? I'm a stranger. So, I felt like that I have to have a second look and asked again how long has this situation been going on. And she answered.... "about 1 week or so.."....Pfff--!!! what the heck? So, I wasn't listening good(^_^;).

     In the end, I supported her in doing what she was doing, which is to not stop contacting him and not give up on him -yet and pray. And I think, that those were the only words that she had heard in our entire conversation... She said that she doesn't care if the guy played with her, if the guy already has a family and played with her, if the guy only got the money from her and played with her. She is 36 (if not 37) years old and that she really don't mind ending up alone, she just want a closure and to know that he is safe. To some she may be stupid but, to me she showed me her love that was really beautiful. Her love went beyond trust and showed me faith... Indeed, love is faith, like how God is love. I had forgotten about that. I was in the edge of forgetting it's wonderful and beautiful side because I only see how ugly and stupid love is. She was the one who really did the helping, not me who she thought that gave her advise. I guess, she only wanted to have someone to say to her to not stop in doing what she has her faith in.

     So, to the guy she's inlove with, I ask you not to hurt her and break her heart or else I'll break your bones, pull you liver out and fed it to the janitor-fishes. Liver, because your heart will not be good to the animals' health. Same goes to those kind of guys out there! Murdering you pshycologiclly and then physically shall be expected!