Largesse

5. Fr. Luis

"Magandang araw"

"Father...hello po. Pasok po kayo..."

"Kamusta na ang lagay ni Sep?"

"Humihinga na po sya mag-isa..." Nay Straw said.

"Mabuti naman kung ganon. Magtiwala lang tayo sa Panginoon. Magiging maayos din ang lahat."

Nanay Straw and Lola Char smiled and moved away from Sep's bed so that Fr. Luis could spend a few moments with Sep.

Fr. Luis came daily to pray for Sep and his family. He had known Sep ever since the boy came to live with Straw and Lola Char. Lola Char and her daughter Strawberry were one of the many vendors who sold goods around the area of Divisoria and the church nearby. While Strawberry had a cart and sold in the streets of Divisoria, Lola Char had a stall along the fence of the church. When Sep was young, he and Bistek helped out at the church as altar boys during the masses. However, of the two, it was Sep who stayed on and worked at the church as an adult.

Sep would regularly talk or go to confession with Fr. Luis. One day, Fr. Luis saw Sep seated in one of the pews inside the church. It wasn't uncommon for him to do this but Fr. Luis noticed that Sep seemed to be distracted or was thinking of something serious.

"...may problema ka ba?" Fr. Luis asked as he sat beside Sep.

"...ah Father..sorry po..." Sep said. He didn't move but continued to stare at the altar.

"...kausapin mo lang sya...magdasal..."

"Palagi ko naman ginagawa yun e...pero..."

"Oo...pero madalas, yung mga hinihiling natin, ibinibigay sa atin sa ibang paraan at sa mga panahong hindi natin inaasahan...ang sabi nga diba, sa tamang panahon..." Fr. Luis said.

"Father..."

"Hmm?"

"Diba nakwento ko sa inyo dati na nagkaroon ako ng mga panaginip at pangitain?" Sep said. Fr. Luis sat down beside him.

"O, may napaginipan ka ulit? Malaking tulong yung nagawa mo sa pagsabi na magkakasunog dun sa malaking bahagi nung palengke..."

"Ayaw naman maniwala ng mga tao sa akin e..."

"...wala naman talagang nakakahula ng mga pangyayari tulad ng lindol or pagputok ng bulkan. Oo, lagi tayong pinapaalalahanan na maging handa pero ang sakuna ay mangyayari pa rin..."

"..hmmm"

"...may pangitain ka ba ulit?"

"Ilang araw ko na rin napapaginipan si Ma'am Nadia..."