Sometime In July (2024 edition)

Chapter Seventeen

Seth stood under the warm stream of the shower, the water soothing the tension that had built up over the past few days. His mind, however, was still racing. He smiled to himself, relieved that he had packed everything in a waterproof bag. At least my brain's still working, he muttered, amused by the small victory.

Freshly showered and dressed, he stepped out of the bathroom, neatly folding his soaked clothes into a plastic bag before tucking them into his knapsack. Mr. Gonzales waited by the doorway, holding a small piece of paper with an address scrawled on it.

"Are you heading out now?" Bernardo asked as Seth slung his bag over his shoulder.

"Yes, sir... er... I mean, pastor," Seth replied nervously. "I think it's time I find her," his voice steady but tinged with the weight of anticipation.

Bernardo nodded. "Well, then. You have my blessing."

"Thank you, pastor. I hope to return soon to talk more." Seth offered a sincere smile, and the older man returned it, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. The pastor shook his hand firmly.

As Seth walked away, Bernardo stood at the door, watching him disappear down the path. He thought of his daughter, Yssa, and for the first time, he understood why she had come home—to run, perhaps, but also to find clarity. And maybe, just maybe, for this vigorous young man Seth.

* * *

The rain had subsided, and the clouds began to part, allowing slivers of sunlight to peek through. Seth felt a strange sense of fortune as the weather shifted in his favor. After a short tricycle ride to the subdivision's gate, he followed Mr. Gonzales' instructions, walking to the small lot where cars were parked. It was a simple plan: hire a car, make his way to Lake Sebu, and hopefully, to Yssa.

Inside a nearby carinderia, Seth bought a bottle of water, sipping briefly before stepping back into the open air. A young man leaned against a faded 1985 Toyota Corolla, watching him with interest.

"Going to the lake, boss?" the man called out, a grin stretching across his face.

Seth glanced at the paper with Jane Atienza's address and nodded cautiously. "I need to find someone first—Jane Atienza. Can you take me to her?"

The man shook his head. "Nah, I just go to the lake. One thousand pesos for the ride. It's beautiful there."

Seth wasn't in the mood for sightseeing. He pulled out three five-hundred-peso bills. "We'll find Jane first. I'll give you more if I decide to go to the lake afterward."

The driver's expression shifted, eyes lighting up at the sight of the money. After a brief conversation with his friends, who were laughing among themselves, the man finally nodded. "Alright, hop in."

The drive was long and winding. Seth stared out of the window as they climbed the narrow, twisting roads, the world outside growing more mountainous and remote. Five hours later, they were nearing their destination, the air growing cooler as they ascended.

The driver suddenly braked in front of a small, patched-up wooden house. "That's the address."

Seth stepped out, legs stiff from the journey. His heart pounded as he approached the house. He couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty—Is this where Yssa is? He prayed silently that he wasn't too late.

He knocked, but there was no answer. After calling out Yssa's name, an older woman finally appeared at the window, her face lined with age. She said something in a language Seth couldn't understand, her voice quick and sharp.

Frustration welled up. The driver strolled over, clearly amused. "She says a certain Yssabelle Gonzales is at the Lake Palace Hotel, in the middle of the lake? You still want to go?"