I had just finished reading The Opposite of Love by H. Benedict and this book reminded me of one story.

In the midst of a squatter’s area in Manila lived a poor family. It was only the father who worked because the mother lacks the initiative to help. And so it was the father who worked almost all his life for the family until his death (but this is another story). The eldest of his children was his favorite it seemed. He had never let her do hard work like doing the laundry though most of the time the eldest helped in preparing and cooking food for the family when the mother is not around or is lazy to do the cooking.

Because of the weak body of the eldest, it was the second to the eldest daughter who was assigned to do the laundry. The mother had given the responsibility of doing these house chores early to her daughters. She had even more time to stare at the skies than her daughters. The second to the eldest of course was very annoyed at the situation. She had vent her anger to her older sister. She had always been angry and disrespectful.

One time when she was doing the laundry at the base of the three-stepped house, she started doing the laundry and also started speaking harsh words intended to her older sister. The older sister tried to ignore but her younger sister could not be silenced. As minutes roll by, the older sister got irked and began to speak, “Stop that nonsense or I’ll throw these hangers to you.” The second sister really had this intention to provoke her older sister so she kept on talking ill things about her while the neighbors across and around started to gather. “Stop, or I’ll throw these hangers to you!” went the angry voice. But she could not be stopped. The next thing the second sister knew was that a few hangers landed on her face.

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Let me tell you a story about this little boy. He seldom smiles at me nor at anybody else except when he’s around with his two older sisters and playmates. He will not go near anybody but his father and mother. He will not allow you to touch him, or cuddle him, or give him a kiss. He is as untamed as the animals in the wild. But if you really want to hear him talk (he talks cute and he sounded like an adult despite his young age) or you wanted him to go near you and let you hug and kiss him, there is one secret.

The secret is nothing new. Food. He seems to have an appetite. He likes to eat. If you had experienced sometime in your life when food was scarce, then maybe you will understand why he can forget that he does not like to be cuddled, hugged and kissed in exchange for food.

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They were about to be wed the following year. Mona and Cris had been together almost like husband and wife though they still live separately. He goes home to his parents’ house and she goes home to hers.

Mona’s family was greatly in favor of Cris. They liked him very much. That is why there were no questions when they go out. Everybody in her family was looking forward to the day that they will get married.

The day came when they decided to get married. Everybody got excited. Cris’ parents went all the way preparing, and so Mona’s family, too. But a month after the announcement, Mona noticed something different. Cris had become silent. His visit became infrequent. He became evasive to some questions. He suddenly became a stranger.

Mona sensed that something was wrong so he called him up one day and asked him to go to her house because they need to talk. Cris sounded hesitant but probably felt he had no reason not to come. When he arrived at Mona’s house, Mona noticed that he cannot even look at her in the eyes. Mona initiated to cut the tension that was unconsciously building by asking him what the problem was. Her world seemed to fall apart when she heard, “Mona, Maya is pregnant.”

Maya was Cris’ officemate. Mona remembered he had once mentioned that a girl named Maya in the office seems to flirt with him. Mona remembered she thought that time that Cris was only making her jealous and answered, “Give her what she needs.” She had never expected that she will earn what she had nonchalantly uttered. She had never expected that Cris would betray her. She felt stupid to have trusted so much, to have loved this man who is not worth every single thing she did for him.

She went to the venue where she will meet with Cris and Maya. She was not sure why she decided to go. Cris told her before this meeting that she was the one he loves and what happened between him and Maya was an accident. He told her that if she’d tell him to choose her, he will do so. They were already at the restaurant when she arrived. She ordered water because she felt speechless and weak. She told them not to worry anymore because she can handle the situation, “It is important that the baby will have both her parents when she comes out of this world.” She was lying. She felt suffocated and life was beginning to drift.

Jerick, Mona’s friend, came after she sent him a message to rescue her from the situation. When he came, Mona abruptly stood up and said goodbye to Cris and Maya who had become speechless all throughout that short meeting. Mona almost fell when Jerick helped her to stand. Everything in life became a blur.

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She was one of the many pretty, innocent, young girls in a remote place of a province in this ill-fated nation. She was one of those who imagine coming to Manila, the most popular dream destination of little girls like her. The stories about this place make little girls like her desire to visit, stay and make their fortune in it. The stories even haunt their dreams that become frequent as days go by. The stories make the place called Manila a fantasy land or a magic place where everything could be possible.

So it was the stories that forced her to work the possibility of leaving her home and come to Manila. She searched for the lady who was allegedly been giving little girls the opportunity to work in Manila and earn lots of money. After a few weeks, she was already talking to the lady who had promised her almost the nicest things she dreamed of.

Off they went to Manila with several other girls her age. They were instructed to put a little make up so that they would look older than their age. The lady told them the jobs that they will be referred to need girls aged eighteen and above. All of them are underage.

It was a long journey but for her it did not matter at all. Her focus was on her dream of coming to Manila, the place full of bright lights and bright promises and future. After almost two days, they reached their destination. All of the girls, including her, were amazed to discover that the talk about the bright lights is true. It was almost midnight when they reached their destination but there are still many bright lights and people come and go as if they do not rest and sleep.

They were led to a room on the second floor. The lady left them there and locked the door.

She is among the many beautiful, delicate roses in a jungle called Manila, wilted and wasted away by her false hope and dreams. She is a rose in Manila, desired because of the beauty, lusted because of her innocence, and craved for because of her youth. 

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She was waiting for this day. The final interview to get the job. She did research and tried to be mentally alert despite the constant headache. She fixed her hair and makeup and tried to look good and neat. She tried her best to look decent and right for the job.

Once again, she was made to hope, received again a word of false hope telling her they will notify her after the process of shortlisting. But it’s just the same. She did not get the job.

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