Chapter LV: The Cousins
The place where the old Caluipat house once stood no longer resembles the aging structure that had witnessed decades of memories. Time has finally transformed it. Jonn's house now stands proudly on the property. Fresh paint reflects the afternoon sunlight. The walls are solid. The roof is complete. The windows shine whenever morning light reaches them. It is not the largest house in the neighborhood, nor the most luxurious, but it represents years of sacrifice, work, and determination.
For Jonn, it is a dream fulfilled, and for Rico, it is another reminder that time never stops moving.
One afternoon, a familiar vehicle arrives and it's Jing's old Avanza. After weeks of discussions and arrangements, Jonn purchases the vehicle, with Meric helping financially so that the family can finally have a more reliable mode of transportation. The day the vehicle arrives, neighbors immediately gather outside. The neighbors murmur behind their backs like Meric and Jonn owning a Tesla. Gossips spread, yet none are true.
"It still looks good, Yowz," Mark says as he circles the vehicle.
Jonn grins.
"It better be. I spent a lot for this."
Rico places both hands on his waist. A smile appears on his face.
"Our own car."
At first, he seems genuinely happy, and everyone notices it. For several days, Rico proudly cleans the vehicle every morning. He wipes the windows, checks the tires, and inspects the mirrors. He treats it almost like another family member.
But as the weeks pass, something changes. The vehicle slowly becomes a source of pride. And pride, as Mercy always used to say, has a way of creating unnecessary walls between people. The first time all five of them ride together inside the vehicle, tension quietly fills the cabin. Nobody says much. Jonn drives and Rico occupies the front passenger seat. Mark sits in the back. Meric and Ben sit together. The silence feels heavier than the vehicle itself. Nobody argues and fights. Yet everyone feels the unspoken tension, the old misunderstandings and wounds.
By the time the trip ends, Ben already knows something. This arrangement will not work.
Later that evening, he speaks privately with his wife.
"Maybe it's better if we don't ride often."
Meric nods slowly.
"I feel the same."
They both understand. Sometimes distance prevents conflict, and peace requires space. From then on, Jonn, Rico, and Mark often use the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Meric and Ben prefer other arrangements. Not because they are angry nor because they are bitter. Simply because they wish to avoid unnecessary tension.
Far away, life continues moving for the younger generation. At the Hermosa Arts and Trade School, Aldric finishes his classes for the day. The afternoon sun hangs low above the buildings. Students flood the sidewalks and vehicles pass continuously along Quirino Boulevard.
Although a long way to their college building, Aldric crosses the road and enters the convenience store. The cold air-conditioning immediately greets him. A few minutes later, he exits carrying two bags of chips. One is for himself, and the other is for someone else. Outside waits Maine, his girlfriend. The moment she sees him, she immediately smiles.
"Ahh, there you are."
"You sound like I disappeared for a year."
"Nagbayag ka met. (You took forever.)"
Aldric laughs.
"You asked for snacks."
The two begin walking. To strangers, they seem more like best friends than a romantic couple. They tease each other, laugh at each other's jokes and sometimes even compete over the most ridiculous things.
Yet relationships are never perfect. Arguments eventually happen, and misunderstandings eventually appear.
And one evening, a particularly painful argument leaves Aldric feeling lost. The words continue replaying inside his mind repeatedly like stuck in a loop. By late evening he finds himself alone near the river. The sky is almost night, and clouds cover the horizon. The wind blows steadily across the water. Aldric stares into the distance. His thoughts become darker, and he feels overwhelmed, confused, angry, and heartbroken.
Then suddenly, a voice emerges.
"Makammo ka ta ubraem. (You are responsible for what you do.)"
He freezes as he recognizes that voice. He slowly turns around, and a woman stands nearby. He is wearing a red blouse, short black hair, and glasses. It's none other than her late grandmother, Mercy. Aldric blinks repeatedly, and his heart pounds.
"What..."
Mercy folds her arms.
"Anya kadi ti panpanunotem? (What exactly are you thinking?)"
Aldric lowers his head.
"Nabannogakon, Mang. (I'm tired, Mang.)"
"Ti anya? (Of what?)" (Mercy)
"Everything." (Aldric)
Mercy's expression hardens.
"Everything?"
She steps forward.
"Gapu lang kadi iti maysa nga ringgor? (Because of one argument?)"
Aldric remains silent. Mercy continues.
"Adda nagannak mo nga mangay-ayat kenka. (You have parents who love you.)"
Still silence.
"Adda pay lang ti masakbayam. (You have a future.)"
Still silence.
"You have responsibilities."
The words strike him harder than any shout. Then Mercy delivers the one thing he cannot forget.
"Apay? Gapu lang iti babai?! (Why? because of a girl?!) You are damn-weak if you think that, and to the trouble you did to your parents. Lallalo idi naminsan nga binuongam ti lusa diay sangawanan ni Amam! (Especially the time you broke a plate in front of your father!)", Mercy berates him.
Aldric feels tears forming. The memories come flooding back.
At that time, they were just having a regular family lunch inside the dining room, then Aldric suddenly picked up his plate and smashed it in front of them all. Instead of him apologizing, Elric knelt before him and apologized.
There's also another time, that Aldric repeatedly punched himself and his cousin Nathaniel had to stop him, and Adrion keep on telling them to stop it. This happened inside their car.
The countless moments people continued loving him despite his flaws. Mercy's voice softens.
"Life becomes difficult sometimes."
She points toward him.
"Adda kenka, nu kayat mo ituloy ti ubraem, wenno haan. (You have it in you if you continue what you will do, or not.)"
For several moments neither speaks. The wind continues moving through the trees. Eventually Aldric lowers his head and cries.
Meanwhile, 10 minutes have passed, and Elric gets a phone call. He picks up the phone, and it's Jonn. As he receives the news, he is in shocked, so he and his wife goes straight to the hospital. Nurses attend to him, and doctors examine him. His parents worry endlessly. His mother remains at his side and Elric arrives looking both frightened and angry. The emotional strain overwhelms him.
Jonn shows him the news which reads,
"Teenager attempts to drown himself in Govantes River"
Elric looks at Aldric.
"Anya ti pinanunot mo? (What were you thinking?)" he asks.
Aldric simply looks away. Later, while recovering, Aldric quietly tells them about the woman in the red blouse. Jonn listens carefully, and he believes him. Elric shakes his head.
"You're exhausted. That's all."
Some questions remain unanswered. Yet regardless of what anyone believes, Aldric knows what he saw and the message stays with him.
Unbeknownst to them, invisible to the human eye, is a spirit listening to them, and it's Mercy.
"Al-alyaen kanto pay, Loco! (Wait 'til I haunt ya, you idiot!)", Mercy jokingly says as she hears Elric not believing in spirit.
Meanwhile, another challenge quietly emerges. Mark has changed. At first the changes seem harmless. He smiles more, yet uses his phone more often and becomes distracted more frequently. Both Ben and Meric notice, even his classmates notice. Eventually the truth becomes clear. Mark has developed feelings for someone. The situation slowly begins affecting his judgment.
One cloudy afternoon he travels to visit a girl he has been tutoring. The visit initially appears ordinary. It's a simple study session, and conversation, nothing unusual. Yet while distracted, Mark accidentally creates a situation that exposes what he has been keeping from his family.
Before long, Meric learns where he is. And when Mark finally returns home, he receives a long and serious lecture. Not because his parents hate him nor because they want to control him. But because they are deeply worried, and trust has been broken. Mark wonders what happened on why his phone just randomly dialed his mom.
Unbeknownst to him, while at the bus, Mercy tried to mess with the phone's system and ends up dialing Meric.
As the days pass, Mark spends his time reflecting. Embarrassment overwhelms him, and guilt follows shortly afterward. He realizes how much stress he caused, and how much disappointment he created and how far he had drifted from the version of himself he respected. Rico and Jonn quietly support him during that difficult week. Neither man judges him and humiliates him. Instead, they simply remain present. They offer guidance, patience, and understanding, while Meric and Ben are still skeptical of their own son because of his lies that shattered their bond.
One evening, Mark sits alone in his room. The house is silent. He stares toward the window. His thoughts race endlessly. Then a familiar feeling appears. His vision goes dark, as he can't seem to escape the reality of seeing his parents like that. And so, he takes his Abel blanket and wraps it around his neck. He jumps, and feels the restriction in his neck. He wonders why is not yet dead.
Unknown to him, Mercy is holding him, and tries to knock some sense into him. He then remembers every lesson Mercy taught him. All the responsibilities, respect, humility, family, and faith.
Slowly his breathing steadies, and his mind clears. He takes off the Abel blanket, and sleeps. And for the first time in days, he finally feels peace.
The following Sunday arrives, and the family attends Mass together. The cathedral feels calm, sacred and comforting. Mark is wearing his black shirt as a sign of humility that he had sinned.
As the congregation reaches the Agnus Dei, Mark feels something inside him break. Not from sadness, but from realization. He understands how much his family loves him. How much they have sacrificed, and how much they continue sacrificing every single day. Without hesitation, he embraces Meric and Ben. Tears form in everyone's eyes. No words are necessary yet the gesture says everything. It tells forgiveness, love, understanding, and growth.
From somewhere unseen, Mercy watches quietly. A smile appears on her face. The reckless confusion that had briefly clouded Mark's judgment has faded. The kind-hearted boy she always loved is still there learning, growing, and making mistakes. However, he is still moving forward. And perhaps that is what truly matters. Not perfection nor success nor avoiding every mistake, but choosing to rise again after falling.
As sunlight passes through the cathedral windows, illuminating the faces of the faithful gathered inside, Mercy closes her eyes and offers a silent prayer. Her family continues moving forward.
And that is enough. For now, that is more than enough.