Hold my Hand

Book 2 Chapter 3: The Seedling of Victory

The boys finish practicing basketball when Al invites them for lunch. They are a little bit hesitant but Al insists.

"Please, you're my guests. I can't let you leave without giving you one of my blessings." Al says

"Sir, we have a big appetite. I don't think it's a good idea to invite us over for lunch." Cesar replies.

"Well, that don't make a difference. I have a big appetite too, the food will be enough for us. Besides, I have told my cook that she should bring in more food for you boys, it would be a shame that they would get wasted."

Mark, Justin, and Cesar look at each other with a hint of shyness at the offer. Eventually, Justin walks past Al briskly.

"Well, Sniper. I need to taste the food of the rich, I'm famished."

"Justin, don't-" Mark suddenly walks past Al to pursue his friend eventually catching up to him. "Don't say that to Sniper, that is rude."

"What? For saying I'm famished? What did I do wrong now, Mark?"

"What's wrong is when you said, I need to taste the food of the rich. You just don't say that to someone especially when you're just a guest."

Just as he finishes his sentence, Al grabs their shoulders.

"Sure you can, I love the rawness and grit of it. Keep being you, Jus. Can I call you that, young fella?"

"Cool," Justin says. "Thank you very greatly, Sniper."

"Sure do, kid," Al says while smiling at him. "Now let's eat, I'm now also famished."

In the dining room and on the table are barbeque chicken wings and pancit, and to these Justin is drooling. Around the table, sit Al, Manny, Sam, Cesar, Mark, Justin, and Ruth who recently arrived shortly after the meals are presented.

"Well, you're a little bit late," says Justin to Ruth. "If you'd been late a little bit more, I would've eaten more of these myself. Because I know you'll eat all of them with your big mou-" Mark elbows Justin as he's about to finish his sentence. "Hey, wharrr-ay-doo?"'

Mark draws close to Justin and whispers, "You're being rude."

Ruth just chuckles and says, "Oh, I will eat all of them, Justin. I won't leave you a single one."

"You sure will, Ruth," Justin says and turns to Mark with a smile. "Told you."

Mark just shakes his head when Al calls their attention just as the rice arrives at the table.

"My fellow guests who are friends and classmates of my daughter Sam, thank you for being here today. It's an honor to present these magnificent cuisines that are in front of you. This act of mine signifies that you're welcome in the Macapobre home and that I consider all of you part of the family. You've been good to my daughter and it's time to pay back goodness with goodness. Let us bow our heads and close our eyes in prayer."

Everyone at the table bow their heads and close their eyes.

"Lord," Al begins. "Thank you for the blessings of savory meals that you have given us. I thank you, Lord, for giving such good friends to my daughter Sam. Forgive us of our sins that we have committed in our hearts as we eat your blessings. In Jesus' name. Amen."

They raise their heads and open their eyes when Al bangs the table with his fists. He is giddy and licking his lips looking at the food.

"Let us dig in with these scrumptious cuisines we have at our table."

"We sure do, Sniper," Justin says in an excited tone.

So they start to eat at the table, occasionally talking to each other. But one finds it uneasy that the two are enjoying each other's company. He finds himself jealous, wishing he should be the person who makes her laugh and smile. But he can't do anything about it when she doesn't even like him. And that he is Mark.