— “The… My child…”
Paolo ran over and hugged him.
Mahigpit.
He didn’t seem to want to visit.
— “Ate… Please forgive us…”
Rick and Jordan were there as well.
In the middle of the village—in front of all the people who once called him a “fool”—the three men he had raised embraced him at the same time.
— “We didn’t come back… not because we forgot you…”
— “But because… we want to come back with something to be proud of…”
— “We want to give back everything you’ve done for us…”
The whole ship was silent.
No one could speak.
Si Maribel… Their hands trembled as they caressed their faces.
— “I thought… You have left me…”
Umiling you Rico.
— “Never, Sister. You became our mother… You are the reason we are here today.”
Joshua stepped forward and held out an envelope.
— “This is the title to the land and the house… “This isn’t your home anymore, my dear.”
Nagtaka si Maribel.
— “What do you mean?”
Joshua smiled and pointed to the back of the house.
At doon…
That’s where he found it.
A new house—big, sturdy, and beautiful—stood on that land.
He hadn’t noticed it earlier because he was so surprised.
He was backwards.
— “This… Is this …?”
Tumango is delicious.
— “For you, Sister.”
— “We put our savings together to build that.”
— “It’s not just a house… It is a new beginning for you.”
Maribel couldn’t speak.
He felt his heart sink into his chest, as if he couldn’t take in everything that was happening.
— “I don’t need anything like this… It’s enough for me to see you alive and well.”
Paolo shook his head, with tears in his eyes.
— “Hindi Sapta, and.”
— “Anything we give will never be enough… compared to your sacrifice.”
Paolo knelt down in front of him.
And then after him… Rico and Jomar were also on their knees.
