Once In A Lifetime

Chapter 26: In Retrospect

"You don't need a reason to help people."

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Mr. Aragon hurriedly drove his car away from the Cuizzini turning left, going back to his office instead of heading southbound for home. The urgency to get some documents in the office and call one of his men suddenly changed his direction. Diner back home could wait and the kids would not mind having him late for a couple of minutes. The drive back to office seemed endless when the busy road caught all the vehicles in a heavy traffic during rushed hour. He should have taken the other route, but it was too late to turn around and go back.

After 20 minutes of being sucked in the traffic, he decided to leave his car at the nearest parking lot to take a train instead. He was lucky to find one along 5th Avenue. When he was about to pull his car from the traffic towards the parking lot where vacant lane was in view, he saw a black limousine, emerging from the parking lot and slowly making its way to the main road. But somehow, the car was caught by a couple of street children selling sampaguita garlands and seemingly, the kids had been there all the time, waiting for the car to appear. An old man sitting beside the driver handed the expectant boys some bills and bought all the flowers from them, casting his smiles and encouraging look as the boys waved their goodbyes to the figure inside the accelerating car.

Mr. Aragon's gaze was fixed to the old man and afterwards to the boys as they run happily in one corner and started counting their money for a fair share. Somehow, the old man looked familiar to him. Maybe, one of the philanthropists featured in a cover magazine or an old time client who came at his office once and never came back. Whoever he might be, Mr. Aragon was happy to witness a scene in the busy life of wealthy people, like the old, man who had time to sow seeds of kindness in the heart of those innocent children.

His heart went also for those kids for he knew what was life in the street. Fate had been too good for him when one day, sicked with Cholera, he was brought in the hospital by an old woman who cared enough for him as he was found lying under her vegetable stall in the market almost dead. For few days, he was treated and survived. Since, he had no family of his own, after recovery, he was transferred to an orphanage and few years later, found a family who gave him a home and an identity he swore to protect for as long as he lived. The reason why he chose to become an investigator was simply because of the tiny hope resting in his heart that one day, he'll gonna find his biological parents. His reverie was disturbed when the train stopped at Station 3, a few minutes walk to his office.

Reaching the front door, the security guard looked surprised at the panting figure and immediately opened the door for him asking,

"Are you okay, Sir?" There was an edge of worry and concern in his polite voice.

"I'm okay, Dan. I just forgot something real important." He said as he headed his way to take the elevator going to the 2nd floor.

Inside the office, he grabbed the phone right away and dialled Carlo's number. He asked him to come over for a very important case. Without hesitation, Carlo agreed meeting him right away.

Carlo is one of his men, the best one for that matter, whose dedication and commitment to work had been tested many times. Every woman he had fallen in love with, could not simply understand his passion for the things he was doing in the many cases he handled. And so, one by one would leave him brokenhearted. But even amidst brokennes, his job would never be affected. He considered himself being married to his job and would marry a woman who's willing enough to embrace his job in the way he only knew how. That's why, he remained a bachelor until this moment, one who had the luxury of time when married ones didn't have.

After talking to Carlo, he dialled the number back home. Manang Joy received the call, but after few seconds, Caroline was already at the other end.

"Hello Princess."

"Hello Dad, Denise is in MVU right now." He could sense the excitement in her voice as she broke the news with oozing enthusiasm while he stood confused and surprised over her announcement. How on earth she learned about it?

"I was about to surprise you with it. I never thought the news would come ahead of me. That's quite fast, huh? How did you learn about it?"

"She called, Dad. We'll meet tomorrow for diner at Lexus."

"That's great. And speaking of diner, I will be late sweetie. Maybe we can have it at around 8, would that be alright?"

"Yeah sure. We'll wait for you Dad."

"Is everybody home already?" He asked intentionally for one obvious reason - Cyrill.

"I bet, Cyrill is on his way. He can make it Dad." She assured him to erase whatever doubts he had. Then, teasingly, she continued saying, "Ian and Andy are all set to devour your favorites. So better in a hurry, Dad. These two monsters will leave you nothing."

He heard a little commotion as the boys made fun of her. Then, the phone went dead. Glad that the kids had moments to grow together and create memories. His only worry was Cyrill, who had been so aloft since the day his wife died. There seemed to be a distance - quite disturbing-separating Cyrill from his other three children. Most of the time, the young man would excuse himself from family gatherings. He was not around during Caroline's graduation. He did not also joined them at Baguio for a short vacation. Mr. Aragon was starting to worry about him, but every time father and son would talk in private, Cyrill had his way to convince his father that everything is fine with him. But then, Mr. Aragon could see in Cyrill's eyes, that until this moment, his son still blamed himself for the death of the woman they all love - Corazon- a sacrificial mother and a loving wife.