Repentant
Mang Hermano welcomed us to this house that serves. It was small made of woven plywood
"Yes, Mom. I'll be home tomorrow too", I said before dropping the call.
I said goodbye I had to do something. I did not say in detail because it was for the safety of the old man in front of me.
"Eat now" he offered.
Abel helped him with the food offering. I was looking at the picture frames in its small cabinet. Photo of happy family with the late Fr. Kule. There is another picture with my Dad.
"Will you and Dad meet?"
He pulled up a chair after pouring water into our glass. I, in turn, took part in the start of the meal.
"Yes, your father knows me but we are not very close"
I nodded at his explanation. Abel is quietly eating next to me. He doesn't seem to live. As much as he ate of them, so is he here.
"Just take it easy" the old man said to her.
Abel laughed even though his mouth was full of food. "because your cooking is delicious"
"It's good that I even cooked bangus porridge for you. Since my husband died, I haven't had a destination in life. All my life I've regretted what I did to Erma and Fr. Kule."
He overcame my food.
"I miss this thing. My son threw me up. He can't accept that I killed someone. He didn't know for that to him"
Tears welled up at the sides of her eyes.
"If you want, we'll visit you often?" it was Abel who smiled at him.
I think he also felt sorry for the old man’s situation. Any man would feel sorry for him.
"It's embarrassing for you" said Mang Hermano. We see in his eyes the hidden joy.
For several years he must have lived alone in such a crowded and old house. A few blows of a strong storm might give it away.
"It's nothing! Then if you want us to contact your son"
I secretly kicked Abel under the table. He looked at me then shrugged as if there was nothing wrong with what he said.
"There's nothing I can do about that son of mine. He didn't know it was for his recovery. But the only substitute was to forget me."
He stood up to wipe away the tears with the end of his dirty clothes.
"I've become emotionally impatient"
"It's only natural because you're a parent who misses your child"
I sighed as I stared at him. Hopefully her son will find her and give her time to explain.
After dinner we sat outside his house. The air is fresh because there are many trees around. Fireflies dance in the darkness of night.
We told many stories of one who don his experience after committing that crime.
Here he has lived in Gurabo ever since so Fr. Kule. Until they moved house because of his and his wife's work.
He met Don Emilio when he once worked with the Vitales for its construction of the Roshan bridge project.
The Roshans' battle with Abarquez was at its height. He was one of the candidates for the family in exchange for damages of sufficient food for his family. Until Don Emilio won as governor.
The governor is in the middle of his administration. Many complaints due to the leadership of Fr. Kule. When the governor found out that the priest was close to him and he needed money for his son. The governor took advantage of that.
After he committed the crime. He would have confessed to the sin but before he could do that the news reached the Roshans.
They searched for him until Roshan's staff thought he was dead. Fortunately, the person who saw him was kind. He was lucky because he was a doctor in medicine.
He received several gunshot wounds but survived. The doctor who helped him later died of the disease. That is where Mang Hermano's begging began.
When he got to El Preve he immediately visited the mansion of the Roshans. He wanted to signal his return. He wanted to look for Karlos but he was preceded by fear.
"When I saw you I wanted to tell you everything. I wanted to help but I was led by nervousness" he said while looking at the bright moon.
There was no trace of doubt I felt in what he said. It was obvious how miserable he had become and regretted what he had done.
"If I am imprisoned I will readily accept that"
As the night wore on we went inside.
"I'm sorry, I only have a pillow and a mat"
We lay in his small living room after Abel swept the floor.
"We used to sleep without a blanket" said Abel.
In the middle of my sleep Piper visited in my dream. She calls my name as she cries. He was holding a rope while tying it.
Suddenly I got up so Abel was stunned.
"Are you okay, Pre?"
I held my chest as I gasped for breath. He hurried to catch me with water.
"I dreamed Piper was sad"
My friend scratched his head.
"You know just look at this"
I almost threw away his cellphone. What is it and why does it show a slender woman.
"I can hide my cellphone like you bought it" he complained.
"Fix what you're thinking" I sighed.
His cellphone was bright as he scrolled through Facebook.
"Oh, that's it. When you see you're fine"
I frowned when I saw Arrow with him. He has others in the picture but I can't help but see Arrow standing next to him.
"I think you'll be even more upset than what you saw. It's been a long time. It's still the first week that Piper came home to Laguna and then you talked, didn't you?"
I don't know if that's a conversation.
"Talking?"
He nodded.
"Yes. You're talking on the call aren't you?"
I smirked. "It was only a moment and I wasn't even kissed"
I covered her mouth as she laughed out loud.
"Maybe Mang Hermano will wake up!" I ejaculated but he didn't seem to be listening. He still laughs with laughter.