(Hi guys. Please skip this post if you haven’t read Parts 1 to 4 yet. Kindly scroll down. Merci!)
I thought nothing could make me sad anymore since I could be with my First Love anytime I want but I was wrong.
July 21, 1973: As soon as I entered Room 6, I could feel the heaviness in the air. Based from the gloomy faces of my room mates, I could sense that something tragic just happened. They advised me to sit down, gently telling me that I should be calm and not be shocked for what they were about to reveal. I nervously complied but my mind was in a blur, not knowing what the fuss was all about. When they thought that I was already composed on my seat, they showed me a tabloid and the Headline drained the blood out of me. I screamed and cried like a lunatic while they tried to hug and pacify me. I was shouting “hindi totoo yan (that is fake news)!
The following day, I received a social telegram from my dear father which said: “My condolences with the death of your idol BRUCE LEE. Please be strong. I love you anak, Tatay.”
I cried a river. I still couldn’t believe that my idol left this world at a very young age of 32. My heart was crushed. I wanted to fly to Hongkong but I did not have a passport back then. Thankfully, my First Love was always with me to comfort me in my suffering.
While my heart was in pain, I was happy at the same time. I was dismayed with Bruce Lee’s passing but was amazed with my father’s display of affection. I was in a trance that Tatay consoled me during my time of mourning. I did not expect that behind his demeanor of solid rock, a soft spot existed within him that melted my wounded heart. For the first time in 15 years, I was grateful to God that he was my father. I love you Tatay!
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