LEAVING JACOB

CHAPTER THREE

The days became weeks and the weeks became months yet there was no sign that this pandemic will be over soon. Not at all. Yet people has to continue working despite the great risk of moving around otherwise there will be nothing more to eat. With the national government having a hard time providing assistance to every Filipino what else can a person do but go back to work. People has to continue earning a living for the family's needs. Just like Jared, he is just one example of an overseas Filipino worker who is trying to make a better life for his only son and now is greatly affected with the lock down due to this crisis. He has to do something. He has to continue to earn specially now that he has another reason to earn more for his son's life. His son's future.

May 26, 2020. Jared received a call from a friend who was helping him with their planned travel to Manila. Most of them were OFW's or Overseas Filipino workers from Ormoc City and from nearby municipalities who were supposed to be bound to return abroad to continue with their work contract. He was just informed that the schedule for them to depart for Manila was on the first week of June. It was already on its third month of lock down and his resources were starting to drain just like every other Filipino families. He's lucky to have both retired parents who got pension they were able to sustain everything they need at least for the basics. However it is Jacob's treatment that he worries much. He has no idea until when it will be. There is no sign as well how long this pandemic is going to end. There were just so many things to worry about for Jared. His parents are old and both have compromised health as well. They also need healthcare themselves from time to time. If ever this pandemic will not end in the next few months or years, how will they be able to have Jacob be treated regularly in Cebu City. Who is going to accompany him if senior citizens are not yet allowed to travel or what if local travels will not be available yet. Specially now that Cebu City was turned back to ECQ again due to the rapid rise of COVID - 19 positive cases in the city lately. It now becomes the epicenter of Covid-19 in the entire Philippines.

There might still be a lot of things to consider but Jared's plan was already iron clad, no matter how hard his parents were trying to convince him not to leave. Leaving Jacob again is the only way he believed will give him the chance to prepare the necessary logistics they will need for his treatment. And he had to make that decision in the midst of this  Covid-19 pandemic. He would rather leave and work harder not even considering the danger of contracting Covid-19 virus than seeing his only son suffer while undergoing treatment. For him it was a choice of being a father by his side with an empty pocket or being the father far away but can provide the necessary things his son will need to get better. 

One morning Jared was sitting outside there house silently. He was in a middle of deep thinking when Jacob suddenly went out. 

"Dad, what are you doing there alone? Jacob curiously asked while trying to sit on his father's lap.

"Oh hi son, nothing i was just thinking about this pandemic, I hope this will end very soon. I just heard our neighbor talking about our place having it's first positive case because of that "Balik Probinsya Program" being implemented by the government. " Jared replied.

"Grandpa told me you are going back to Canada again, is it true dad?" Jacob inquisitively asked again.

"Well, you know daddy has to go back to work. Why you don't want me to bring another set of new toys for you anymore?" Jared exuberantly responded.        

Jacob blissfully responded back, "Of course I do dad." and they hug each other.

"Don't worry son, I'll make sure next time i won't be gone for too long. Okay, I will come home twice a year what do you say about that ha?" Jared trying to make her son happy with a promise.

"Sounds great Dad!" Jacob replied happily with a smile while hugging his dad again.

" Okay now go back inside, you go to grandma and tell her its time for our snacks alright? Just call me if it's ready okay?" Jared told his son. 

"Sure thing dad." Jacob joyfully replied.

Jared didn't notice that his father was just in the other side of the wall listening to them. His father was about to go out to join them when he saw them hugging each other he stopped and couldn't help the tears coming out from his eyes. That was a priceless moment both his son and his grandson can not experience everyday. Instead of joining them he just stayed where he saw them and let them enjoy that very moment together as father and son. When Jacob got inside that was the time when Jared's father came out to him. 

"Oh hi Pa. So you have told Jacob about me going back to Canada ha." Jared noticing his father approaching. 

"He mentioned it? well he's going to learn about that anyway, its better he knew about it from me rather than hearing it from our neighbors right." his father replied.