IN THE NIGHT by Richine Bermudez

Expect the unexpected! All my life, I have always expected the unexpected. So, in everything that I do, I always see to it that even before the problem comes, I already have the solution to it. My friends would always tell me that I am being too hard to myself, because I expect things to be perfect. I am not a perfectionist. I just always want everything to be under control and avoid problems that can explode in my face anytime.

It was like a big explosion in a quiet and peaceful place when Covid-19 arrived. People did not see it coming and no one was prepared nor was ready for it! No one, including me!

Back in 2016, I got my US visa. It was a dream come true when I passed the interview and given a 10-year multiple visa. I thought then that it was my way to be able to live my “American Dream”. So, I planned to travel every year to America. I went to Guam in 2016, California in 2017, Nevada in 2018 and Arizona in 2019 and this year, 2020, the planned was supposed to be New York! I was very excited, everything was planned and set until Covid-19 happened. Back in February, I thought that by May, everything would be better and that I could still pursue my plans. But it got worse! It’s such a bummer and I couldn’t be disappointed more!

Disappointment, along with the whole world. I was also disappointed because of the postponement of the much-awaited Tokyo Olympics, the biggest sports in the world. Not that I wanted for it to push through amid the Covid-19, but had it not happened, everything could have been a lot different. Many businesses could have gone bigger, many people could have gotten more jobs, tourists could have subdued the whole of Japan thus have made our economy prosperous.

I hoped for prosperity. Before the outburst, I was planning on putting up my own private tour guide group with some of my friends, thinking that lots of tourist will come to Japan this year. We prepared tour packages, activities and many more for the business. But due to the situation, nothing has materialized. So frustrating!

More frustrations! The school where I work for had to close for a month and a half to comply to the government’s measure in containing the virus. This was my first time ever to stay at home for more than a month doing nothing. But to be honest, I was thankful that my boss was very considerate as she did not risk our health and our students by not letting us continue to go to school during the State of Emergency. It was a hard decision to make, I’m sure, especially her business was at stake. But she chose life over money. Very inspiring, indeed!

All our lives, we have been trying hard to inspire ourselves to chase our dreams and be someone in this world. We have believed that having a prestigious title, having the best things in life, lots of money, and always being on top are the basis for being successful. But that’s not true. Going after these things is like chasing after the wind. All our efforts will be futile after these things were taken away from us. So, it’s better to focus on our family and relationship with God. These are the things that can never be bought and can’t be taken away from us.

Life is full of surprises. We can’t just be too complacent and take time and things for granted. Being ready is a must and being vigilant is important. Because like Covid-19, unexpected events are going to come and surprise us like a thief in the night.

Richine Bermudez