Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 17: Unrecognized

"I've lost people and found them again. The second time around, things just made more sense. Honestly, timing has a lot to do with everything. Sometimes you aren't ready for each other yet."
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"Inang, Amang, I need to go now. I don't want Denise to see me."

"But you can't do this forever, son, sneak and disappear?" Gaspar's voice was low but vehement.

"I know, Amang, but this is not the right place to meet her. I don't want to spoil the joy she's having now. In a day or two, I promise to see her and ask for her forgiveness. Maybe tonight, I will call her. I got your number now, anyway. I will be calling often." They embraced once more. They did not see Denise coming . Then, suddenly, she appeared from behind, puzzled on the scenario she was witnessing.

"La...Lo...is everything okay?" The trio disengaged from embracing each other. They were filled with shock when they saw Denise standing beside them. It was too late for Denis to walk away when his daughter was standing right in front of him. Soledad turned pale, a cloud of confusion was evident on her eyes, even though, she tried to conceal her astonishment. She silently prayed for Gaspar to break the silence, before Denise could finally have any hint of recognition to the man whom she embraced a while ago. She felt the tension and as if any minute, she would fall. Yet, she managed to remain calm.

"Lola, are you okay? You looked pale."She was suspicious that her grandmother had an episode of high blood pressure, that would explain their disappearance from their seats.

"I'm fine, Apo." Soledad assured her and continued, " I just need some air. It's quite hot here. Oh, by the way, you were great."

"Yeah, we are proud of you, Denise. You are just like your mother." Gaspar could not help remembering Linda.

Denis was just standing, watching her. Obviously, she did not recognize him. He summoned all the courage left in him, now that he's facing his daughter, confused of what to do.

"Congrats Denise. It's a powerful piece." He extended his hand and Denise took it without hesitation, but her eyes were questioning, calculating his identity. Before she could finally asked  him, she heard her grandfather saying,

"Ah...em...Denise...meet Pastor...ahem..." Gaspar had a hard time introducing her father to her without making any lies. Denis was too quick to save the old man and introduced himself.

"I'm a Pastor from the United Conference of Christian Believers. Probably you don't remember me, right?" He said without mentioning his name.

"You looked familiar but, yeah, I don't know you. Are you a relative?"

"Oh yes...we are all brothers and sisters, part of God's family. Yeah...that's it." For a moment, he was amused with his excuse, hoping it would not sound silly for a witty girl like her.

"Again, I want you to know, you got a splendid speech. You're a smart girl and a brave one, too."

"Oh, thank you." She felt something strange about this man. His penetrating eyes, the way he look and the quality of his voice gave her a feeling that somehow, she knew this man, but could hardly remember who he might be.

"There you are!" Denise glanced back upon hearing Caroline. She showed up with her boys - her Dad and elder brothers, Christian and Conrad, without Cyrill still - who all looked gorgeous but Christian was unmistakeably the most handsome of them, a male version of Caroline.