Body Work (on hold)

Chapter 2

***For those who have read the first chapter before, just a heads up. I changed the name of our heroine and the supporting characters to give them their #ownvoice.

***

The wake lasted for a week. Twenty-four-hour vigil was held at the small chapel where the coffins of Kit's family were sheltered.

The mourning and the weeping never stopped, but a happy and welcoming atmosphere usually enveloped the place. Kit believed that it'll help her family on their journey to the afterlife.

It was a small funeral. Kit's long lost relatives, friends, and even her sister working abroad paid their respect. 

Mourners came and went, expressing their sympathy. They left their abuloy and shared some stories about her parents.

With every step she took Kit felt her surrounding blur, her heart felt heavy and her body was numb, moving on it's own accord.

After the week-long wake and a Mass, a funeral would soon take place.

A picture of her parents and siblings were placed in a frame, placed directly on top of their coffins. She looked at the photos once again, biting her lips and try to conceal her emotions.

"Kit, it's time," her brother, Melchor said, patting her back.

She nodded and after a moment, she took a step forward and stood directly to her mother's picture.
Kit gazed at her short naturally curly hair, those stunning eyes full of happiness and a smile so radiant it could light a room.

A stray tear fell down her cheek and she let out a choke sob she had been holding, her eyes screwing shut.

"Ssh...it's okay. It's okay," Her sister, Maningning, held her and soothed her back.

She cried on her sister's shoulder, suppressing the taste of the bile in her throat rising from her stomach.

"Nay...Tay..." Kit was breaking down into hysterics. Her sister was holding her tight while her brother staring at his siblings' coffin, his face blank but shining with tears.

Kit finally pulled back and wiped her eyes. Marikit, Maningning and Melchor viewed the body for the last moments and then the lid of the coffin was closed.

Before the coffins were moved out of the chapel, the members of the family offered a prayer.

With that, Kit inched away, her face was red and eyes were puffy from all the crying.

The coffin was then carried out the door feet first and carried by the town people.

With reluctance, Kit followed the crowd.

The funeral itself was a long procession on foot with participants singing parts of prayers all the way to the cemetery.

The town people, no matter how long the distance was, joined the procession.

After an hour, they reached the cemetery.

Kit stood in the graveyard staring blankly ahead. She was trying to look anywhere else other than the coffins in front of her.

It's always strange how the weather seems to know when to change. The days prior had been sunny and calm. That afternoon, the rain had decided to crash down from the sky as Kit's family readied themselves for the worst day of their lives.

***

A day after the funeral, Kit and her siblings were completely homeless orphan.

They stayed for a moment at their Aunt's house but after a week of grieving, they'd left the place that only reminded them of the things and people they no longer have.

With the money they gathered from the abuloy, the siblings went back to Manila and stayed at Melchor's house in a squatter settlement area. The house was a size of a rich man's bedroom where the main room serves as a kitchen, living room, and bedroom, all in one.

Many live so simply, yet seemed to be peaceful and content within, that was what Kit's observation after a week's stay.

"Kuya, I didn't know you were living in this kind of place." Maningning said to his brother while they were seated on the floor eating, having no table at all.

"This is just temporary Ning," said Melchor. "I already filed a housing loan. Soon we will transfer to Cavite." He took a spoonful of rice and smiled.

Kit looked over at her sister-in-law Gloria who were breastfeeding her one-month old sixth child while feeding her one-year-old son on the side.

"That's life. Just a little patience with hard-work and perseverance we'll survive. Di'ba anak?" Melchor lovingly smiled at his thirteen-year-old daughter sitting next to him as he asked for affirmation.

"Kapit lang bes," his daughter humored, just to have faith, and they all laughed.

"Tomorrow, we will claim Kit's passport and then I will accompany her to the agency to apply," Maningning blurted.

"What kind of job?" Melchor's head shot up.

"Masseuse." Maningning's brow rose. "That's your part-time job, right?" she asked Kit.

"Yes." Kit nodded and continued quietly eating her food.

"No, she's not going to work Ning." Melchor stood from the floor where they were eating.  "Our sister is going to continue with her studies. She's a graduating student. It's a wasted opportunity if she'll stop and work abroad."

"It'll be a great opportunity to save money for her future," Maningning refuted and stood in front of her brother.

"No. She's not coming with you." Melchor declared with great certainty.

"And how do you plan to support her?" Maningning asked with eyebrow arched and hands on her waist. "You can't even feed your family three times a day."

Melchor fell silent.

"She's single and still young. I'm not gonna let her live her life in this miserable place," Maningning added, throwing her hands in the air.

"Ate, stop it." Kit stood between her siblings.

"Sorry, kuya," Maningning apologized for what she have said. "Just like you, I just want the best for our sister. I don't want her to be like us." Maningning's eyes dropped on the floor.

"Kuya," Kit spoke.  "I've decided. I'll go with ate Ning in Bangkok." Kit looked at her brother, pleading for understanding.

Melchor let out a deep sigh. "Kit, you are the only one educated among our family. I'm sure Nanay and Tatay would want you to finish your studies. Don't let their hardwork go to waste."

"I will finish, I promise." Kit held her brother's hands. "I don't want to be a burden to you neither to ate Ning. I will work and save money and then I'll go back to the university. I will be an FA and I'll travel the world!"

Melchor held her sister's face. "Save your nephews and nieces a round trip ticket to Disneyland." He lamely joked and let out a weak smile with tears forming in his eyes as he pulled his  sisters in for a tight hug.

****
Filipino Terms:
Ate / Kuya– A term of respect for older sister / brother respectively or even just a girl/boy older than you but not relative.

Anak - Child.A term of endearment when a parent uses it.

Abuloy - Financial contribution at/for a funeral. 

A/N:
Wheeee!!!Thank you for patiently waiting. I am really sorry for the lack of updates.
Only the first month of the year and I'm trying to keep my head above water that's up to my neck right now. 😵
I'm currently working on a 2 short stories for a couple of box set anthologies, Feature post for the Wattpad Block Party, writing for the romanceclass 2017 (all due this Feb). Rebranding Forever Night Stand,  organizing a seminar for more than 100pax, nursing a sick child and working 8hrs a day! Grateful, nonetheless.  😂

What do you think of this chapter?
Kit is going to Thailand! This is the first time I'm going to write a story set in another Asian country. I'm so excited to keep this going!