Chapter 39: The Desert Wilderness

"Thank you Edward I'll open it later. How are you doing here my friend?"

"Fine, learning the trade here in Dubai environment and bonding with my son Ronnie. Did Mike tell you about our selected managers?"

"Yes and I'm planning to retain Mike. ...Edward kindly contact Bryan or Ayah Isabel for the documents of the applicants to be processed here. By the way, Ayah Isabel now is the new President of my organization in the Philippines together with Bryan."

"Marco, Mike I'm going ahead, I have to check up all the stores today...bye!"

"Okay, Edward bye!

"Marco, we're going somewhere?" Mike asked.

"Yes....want to meet Danielle....let's go, Mike!"

After lunch, Mike and I roamed around Dubai observing other food businesses that were being constructed inside the new Shopping Mall. Some new businesses build their wares for the new ways of selling in the vicinity of the mall. New trends which captured the buying public to purchase in air-conditioned shops housed in one roof.

Around six in the evening, we went to Jumeirah Beach in Danielle's house for a start. We observed the house's surroundings and I went to open the door with my duplicate key but it didn't fit. She changed the doorknob key, I thought.

I hastily went to the parked car and Mike drove towards the city center when I spotted Danielle driving her car. I told Mike to follow her.

We were following her through the city center up to Dubai-Sharjah Road, then to Al Wahda Street. Still, we followed her through the Sharjah-Ajman boundary when she suddenly stopped on the roadside of the highway. We halted within five meters of her car, which we viewed another two cars following us and stopped at our rear. Four men were approaching us, not Filipinos, but other nationalities with fair skins.

They grabbed us inside the car, blindfolded us, and brought us to another car, and speeded up towards the barren land. They tied our hands and feet and traveled for long hours when the car stopped. I observed that we were transferred to a wooden sled, where our destiny was vague. For more than another long hour; the sled halted, and dropped us without taking our blindfolds.

"Mike are you alright?"

"Yes, Marco I'm here."

"Come...take my blindfold with your teeth...."

"Okay, Marco."

Mike used his teeth to loosen up my blindfold I shake my head and it falls on my shoulder. It's completely dark....really dark.

"Mike comes again...tried to do the same thing for my hand."

"Okay, Marc."

He lay down behind my back to loosen up again the nylon cord that tied my hands and feet. Mike really had a hard time loosening up but I encouraged him not to stop. Really he tried his best which gave a positive result. When my hands were free I took Mike's blindfold and untied his hands and feet. We held each other arms not to separate each other. We groped into the darkness of the night until I bumped into a tree.

"Mike we'll stay here until morning...come closer to me...don't separate from me."

"Yes, Marco...I'm here."

We tried to sleep but we can't so, we talked to each other analyzing our present situation.

"Marco, do you think Danielle's behind this?"

"Yes, I'm sure Mike....you saw her in the car isn't it?"

"What about Roger Ferrer?"

"We'll find that out."

"Marco where are we now?"

"Since we followed Danielle up to Sharjah-Ajman boundary, it means we are in the middle of the wilderness, away from the main road."

"Do you have your mobile phone?"

"Yes I kept inside my underwear together with my wallet."

"Yes, I noticed you in the car."

"Before my wallet's a blessing too when we're running from a killer in Barrio Tuyom, that's why I always have it handy in case of emergency. We'll stay here until morning so that we can analyze the situation when daylight comes. Then, I'll call Edward."

"Good Marco...fine...."

We slept without knowing that when we woke up, the scorching heat of the sun had a moderate effect on my skin. I dialed Edward's mobile phone number.

"Edward, where are you?"

"Good morning Marco, how are you, my friend?"

"Edward...please hurry up...picks us up here in the Sharjah-Ajman boundary road. Bring us water, food, and two mobile phones fully charged. Ronnie's with you?"

"Yes, Marco....and why bring these items?"

"I'll tell you later....hurry up Edward...we're on the wilderness of the desert...use your phone in locating us...okay?"

"Okay, Marco...I'm coming!"

"Always keep your mobile phone open!"

"Okay."

We waited for Edward while we continued searching for the right path toward the main road. I used my knowledge about what I learned from my R.O.T.C. – a military course during my college days. We followed the tracks of the wooden sled and at the same time called Edward on the phone. I thought of minimizing my calls to preserve my battery.

We spotted two men riding in camels that we immediately approached them.

"Saddique wen inta?" I asked in Arabic but they didn't answer. "Fi muskila ya saddique?"

The two Arabic men wearing Egyptian clothes went down, jumped, and grabbed us. We fought manually with our skills in combat training but they're physically big that we're subdued and hog-tied behind the camel's back. They brought us to the little shack house and plunged into the sand dunes. My body was aching and I conditioned my mind to eradicate hardships but allowing them into my system as a blessing from the Almighty. I saw Mike's really hurt by our situation, but he too was trying to survive the ordeal.

The two men left us tied in a different wooden plank connected to a boulder. I'm getting thirsty and hungry as time passed by for a long time. It's getting dark and hoping for Edward to find us. I still believed that he'll find a way to rescue us.

My hopes were getting thinner and patience was eating me up while we were waiting for two men or Edward. I tried my very best to loosen up the ropes on my hands, but it never gave a positive result.

"Mike...are you alright? I cannot see you....it's dark." I heard something moving not far from us and I used a penlight along the way approaching us.

"Edward.....Edward...."

"Marco...."

"Edward is that you?"

"Yes, Marco...where are you?"

"I'm here...quick Edward!"

Edward untied me hastily and then, loosen up Mike.

"Edward give me your lighter," I asked.

"Here"

I burned the house all over and we left hurriedly. "Edward where's your car?"

"Over there...hurry!"

We quickly rode into the car and speeded up towards the highway.

"Thanks, Edward...you're an angel...can we drink first!"

"And what happened for the two of you?" Edward asked.

"We followed her...and then...here we are..."

"Want to release that bad element?"

"Yes, I'm sure...I will for tonight...but first we'll buy a drink in a convenience store!" I said. We stopped at the store and bought mineral water to quench our thirst and biscuits to eat.

"Okay and then...Where to?"

"Holiday Inn?"

We drank to the highest level and I didn't know what happened next. When I woke up the next morning, I found myself on my bed neatly covered with a comforter. I stood up and went directly to the bathroom to clean myself. Still in my mind was Danielle.

XXX

I sent the selected management employees to the Philippines for their required documents to be processed and came back to Dubai. It was a tiresome kind of organizing these people because of their employment status, but I really had to do whatever it costs. Their contributions which I anticipated were my trust in them in the first place. Some of them were merely the results of my kindness that grew through the years.

Edward and Mike worked with me through which I had the courage to push through with my new ventures in another business development. This time, I started my way to connect to the people in the field of distributorships. It was on the planning stage that I eventually studied in advance. But my heart was still with Danielle that every day after my duty hours, I roamed around Dubai to find her. She's nowhere to be found in her house at Jumeirah Beach. My desperate attempt to find her led to another love story that blossomed between Edward and Vivian while Mike still longed for his wife Lina.

Edward and Vivian planned their marriage at St. Mary's Church in Dubai. I telephoned Ayah Isabel to attend the wedding together with Lina and told her to give instructions to Bryan, Manuel, and Eduardo while she was away for this occasion. I gave emphasis to her about the security of the children and the businesses. They traveled at once going to Dubai while Mike didn't have knowledge about Lina. When they arrived, Mike and I picked them up at Dubai International Airport. We find a place to wait in a coffee shop.

"Hey Marco, how are you? It seems that you're worried about something?"

"I'm really agitated with what happened to us."

"Forget that, you're wife is coming...She knows about your children with Danielle?"

"No...I think no...Do I have to tell her?"

"As for me, I think you have to."

"For a long time now, she doesn't know, only Edward and you. Yes, she knows about Danielle, but the children...," my words trailed into the air. "But still I want Danielle but I hated her for loving Roger Ferrer, I felt jealous about their relationship...I wanted her to love me....only me...I wanted to kill them...if only I could, but not in this place...very strict..."

"Yes Marco...the laws here are very strict...but forget about that...friend?"

"I will try to forget Danielle. Let's focus on our own lives." I said without knowing it.

"Marco let's go to welcome Ayah."

"Okay, but I have a gift for you," I said while we were walking towards the arrival area.

"A gift for me why?"

"Because you're my friend....remember Manila Port?"

"Oh, there you are again!" He embraced me tightly.

"Yes I won't forget that day when we met....you're such a bastard!"

He smiled at me; a smile that taught me how to love him, how to feel being a friend besides Edward, and his loyalty that soothed my heart. He's a person who loves to be loved and needs the ecstasy of his manhood.

"You see that woman walking along with Ayah Isabel?"

"Where Marco?"

"Over there...." I pinpointed the two women.

Lina waved to us that he suddenly jumped to the railing and the police guard stopped him.

"Hey, Mike...behave, boy...behave."

"Marco...Thank you!" He's holding my hand giggling.

"You're happy my friend?"

"Yes, Marco...you save me..."

Ayah and Lina were smiling while approaching us. I hugged Ayah Isabel and Mike embraced Lina.

"How's your first travel Ayah?"

"Afraid but excited to see you!"

"Mike, Lina...let's go to the car. We'll carry the baggage."

We left the airport going to other scenic places, went inside the malls to shop, and eat in a hotel for our lunch.

"Marco why not call Edward to join us?" Ayah suggested.

"Yes, good suggestion! Let's wait for them though...."

I telephoned Edward and Vivian together to come to Hyatt Regency for lunch. When they arrived Edward introduced Vivian to the group. Ayah and Lina ordered food while I ordered the beverages. We ate and talked about different subjects until the wedding plans.

"Edward, you know what? We're staying here at the hotel for two days." I said.

"Marco, what's this? No, let's celebrate in your flat."

"No, let's stay here...one room each....how about that?"

I looked at Edward who seemed agitated about what I suggested, "Edward, you mean to say....not yet, I mean the first time?"

"Yes, Marco...not yet...asks Vivian."

"Oh sorry, Vivian...Marriage first?"

"Yes, Marco but I will....how's that Edward?"

"Oh yes! I'm happy for both of you!"

I observed Mike was very happy while holding Lina's hand. I cannot fathom his happiness at that time.

I was with him for a long time I knew Mike when he was in the mood to copulate.

"Mike only in first gear when you drive okay?" I teased him.

"You too Marco, minimize your speed when driving," Mike said.

"Let's go to the bar section, you like Japanese-style?"

"Okay."

We enjoyed the whole two-day stay at the hotel which everybody had no time to talk about, but was busy for the early honeymoon of each pair. Edward got his first base with Vivian while Mike got his first after a long break and I did mine too with extra topping!

Edward rented a flat for them together with Ronnie. Ayah and Lina stayed in my flat and Mike prepared the other room for them. I asked Edward about his guests from the Philippines. He wanted his parents and son Larry to come during his wedding so I called them to come to Dubai which they did. Edward was very happy with the outcome of our relationship.

The wedding was held at St. Mary's Church where mostly our friends attended the wedding ceremony. During the wedding, I reminisced about the time that we were getting married by then in Barrio Tuyom. I observed some unwanted persons during the ceremony and I approached Mike secretly.

"Mike it seems that Danielle's group is here, do you notice?"

"Yes, Marco I noticed...I saw Roger at the other end of the church near the entrance"

"Where?"

"Near the entrance door."

XXX