Chapter XLVII: Hardened Bread
The years continue to move forward. In Hermosa, life slowly rebuilds itself after loss. In Caluipat, Meric, Ben, Mark, Rico, and the rest of the family continue pushing ahead one day at a time. The pain of losing Mercy never completely disappears, but it becomes something they learn to carry.
Yet in Banggai, things are different.
The old ancestral house that once stood proudly as a symbol of the Cortez family is no longer the grand home it used to be. Time has not been kind to it. The wooden walls that once shone with careful maintenance now show signs of neglect. Several planks are warped and loose. Some have already fallen away entirely, exposing parts of the interior to the weather. The termites seem to have declared war against the house years ago and continue winning every battle. The beautiful Capiz windows that once reflected sunlight like diamonds are now cracked and dusty. Several window grills have become rusty. Even the old roof groans whenever strong winds arrive. The house feels tired. It's like abandoned, and forgotten.
Junior, who now allegedly occupies the property, rarely pays attention to its condition. His priorities seem focused elsewhere. As a result, the once-proud home continues to deteriorate.
Even the beloved image of La Purisima suffers. Years ago, the image carried a gentle expression. Now it appears almost unrecognizable. The repainting done by Junior has altered its appearance dramatically. The Blessed Mother's eyes seem overly large and stern. The snake beneath her feet appears more prominent than the image itself.
Visitors often stare at it for a few seconds before quietly looking away. Something about it feels wrong. Not frightening, bust unfortunate.
The old house watches silently as everything changes around it. Ironically, while the ancestral house slowly falls apart, neighboring families prosper.
Just near the property, the Pimentel relatives are thriving. Zenaida has become well known for her gardening business. Flowers bloom everywhere around her property. Ornamental plants line her pathways. Customers regularly visit to buy decorative plants. Her children have also started their own businesses. Some sell agricultural products, others operate small businesses.
Life appears good. Although, like every family, they have their own struggles.
Zenaida's husband remains known throughout the neighborhood as the uncle who occasionally drinks too much. Arguments between husband and wife sometimes echo through the area. Rumors circulate about an alleged affair. The neighbors gossip, and the relatives speculate. Yet despite everything, the couple somehow remains together. Whenever they argue, everyone assumes separation is near. Then a few days later they are seen sharing coffee together. It confuses everyone.
Across the street lives Doning, Zenaida's sister. Unlike Zenaida, Doning's family manages a bakery. Every morning before sunrise, the scent of fresh bread spreads throughout the neighborhood. People line up before breakfast. Business is steady.
Zenaida once started her business in the past with a bakery, but not long after, it got bankrupted. As Doning's daughter, Jane retired and had no children, she started a bakery with Doning's name.
One sunny afternoon, one of Zenaida and her daughter Chelle, walk toward the bakery. They hums a tune while carrying a small basket.
"I'll buy bread for our Merienda later, Nang," Chelle says to her mother.
Inside the bakery, she purchases several pieces. Later, after taking a bite, their faces twist. The bread is unusually hard like biting into a brick. It's hard enough that she jokingly wonders if it can be used as a building material. Jane returns to the bakery.
"Excuse me," Zenaida says politely.
"Suktam man daytoy tinapay, Jane? nagtangken met. (Can you replace this bread, Jane? It's hard.)"
Jane, immediately frowns.
"Huh? It isn't stale."
Zenaida blinks.
"It is."
"It isn't."
"It is."
"It isn't."
Soon, both sides begin speaking louder, two against one. Customers awkwardly pretend not to listen while listening very carefully. Within minutes, other relatives become involved. Voices rise and feelings get hurt. Accusations start flying.
By evening, the tension between the two families has become the main topic throughout Banggai. Zenaida naturally supports her children, while Doning strongly supports Jane. Neither side wants to back down. And just like that, a disagreement over bread becomes something much bigger. Far beyond what it should have been.
Far away from the arguments below, two unseen figures observe. It's Mercy and her mother, Tory. The two spirits stand quietly beneath an old tree. They watch their relatives argue. They watch pride take over. They watch stubbornness build walls.
Tory sighs. "What a waste."
Mercy folds her arms.
"One blood," she says softly.
"Yet divided."
The wind passes through the leaves. Neither spirit speaks again.
Meanwhile, life continues elsewhere. At the Divine Word College of Hermosa, students move between classes while teachers prepare lessons. Inside the faculty room beside the auditorium, Adrion sits comfortably on a chair. His mother's desk has become his unofficial headquarters. He watches videos on his phone. Every now and then he laughs. Sometimes he nearly falls from his chair. The faculty members have long grown accustomed to his presence. Suddenly, a knock comes to the door. Adrion looks towards it.
"Coming!"
He opens it, and standing outside is Mark.
"Hey," Mark says.
"Hey," Adrion replies.
The two cousins grin. Adrion lets him inside. Lunch quickly follows. The cousins eat together while Adrion's mother supervises from her desk. Sometimes they discuss school, sometimes games, and sometimes completely random topics.
One afternoon they spend fifteen minutes debating whether memes would perform well in choirs. Neither reaches a conclusion. Their routine continues for months.
Then one day something changes. A late afternoon settles over the campus. Most students are already heading home. Adrion sits inside the faculty room playing a game. Suddenly, a knock comes to the door. Although, the sound feels unusual. Adrion opens the door. Mark stands outside. But something is wrong, like there is terrible news that have unraveled. His eyes are red, his shoulders are slumped, and he looks as though he has been carrying a heavy weight all day. Adrion immediately notices.
"What's wrong?"
Mark hesitates. Then he asks quietly.
"Ron..."
"What do you do if a girl dislikes you?"
Adrion pauses. He sets down his phone. The joking mood disappears. He studies his cousin carefully.
"Did something happen?"
Mark forces a weak smile.
"Maybe."
Adrion thinks for a moment. Then he answers honestly.
"If possible, ask what happened."
Mark nods.
"And if it doesn't work?"
Adrion shrugs.
"Then be yourself."
Mark remains silent. Adrion continues.
"You can't force people to like you."
The words are simple. Gentle, not dramatic but sincere. Mark nods again.
"Thanks."
Then he leaves. Adrion watches him go. A feeling of concern settles inside him.
Outside, Mark walks alone. The afternoon sun feels strangely cold. It turns out, something bad did happened to him. Hours earlier, he had spoken with a girl he liked. It's a girl who once seemed interested in him and who made him hopeful. The conversation had ended with words that continue echoing inside his head. These painful words went through him like stakes to a vampire or arrows piercing into his body. All the weight each words have, are like a knife plunging a mark in him. Words that quietly close a door and that leave no room for misunderstanding. She only saw him as a friend and nothing more. The disappointment hits harder than he expected.
As classes end, Mark avoids the usual routes. He doesn't want accidental encounters. He doesn't want awkward conversations. He doesn't want questions. Instead, he takes the longer path. He climbs up the college building, and going down the underground hallway and classrooms, and emerges on the other side directly at the stairs going down to the back gate.
When Ben arrives later, Mark simply climbs onto the motorcycle. Neither says much during the ride home. The following days become difficult. Mark tries focusing on studies. He tries distracting himself and tells himself it shouldn't matter. Eventually, the school year finishes and maintains 3 consecutive With Honors through the school year.
However, even if it's summer as the free time for students, it's still like a lost haven. Emotions rarely obey logic. Several sleepless nights follow as he tosses and turns, stares at the ceiling, replays conversations, and questions himself and everything. Even Rico notices.
"You seem tired, Apok (Grandson)"
"I'm okay, Pang (Gramps)"
But in actuality, he isn't.
One particular night feels heavier than the others. The house is quiet and everyone is asleep. Outside, only insects sing beneath the darkness. Mark lies awake and his thoughts refuse to stop. He feels hurt, embarrassed, and lost as the words are still cutting deeper.
For a moment, everything seems overwhelming. He quietly leaves his bed and goes downstairs. The darkness surrounds him. Tears begin forming in his eyes and he feels alone. Not because nobody loves him, but because pain sometimes convinces people they are alone even when they aren't.
For a brief moment, he finds himself standing still, overwhelmed by emotions he does not fully understand. He pulls out a knife from the kitchen, and puts the tip on his chest.
Then, sduddenly, a soft gentle voice, almost like a breeze, gets his attention.
"Cherish your life, for you only live once."
Mark freezes, and his breathing trembles. Tears are rolling down his cheeks. The voice continues.
"Haan ka agsangsangiten nakkong. (Don't weep anymore, my child.)"
Warmth fills the silence like a candle just had been lit. Not fear nor terror Mark feels, but comfort and solace, the kind of comfort only a grandmother could give. Fresh new tears roll down his cheeks. But this time they are different. They are not tears of despair, yet it's the tears of release.
Slowly, he steps away from his dark thoughts. He wipes his eyes and takes a deep breath. The overwhelming feeling begins to pass. He heads upstairs. Before returning to bed, he kneels briefly in prayer. He doesn't ask for miracles nor answer, but only asking for strength.
When he finally lies down, sleep arrives peacefully.
Elsewhere, unseen by human eyes, a familiar figure stands quietly near the staircase. It's Mercy, who still wearing her beloved red blouse and glasses. She is still carrying the warmth that defined her life. She watches her grandson sleep and gentle smile forms on her face. It's the same smile she wore whenever he brought home medals, when hugging him after school and when calling Raffy her little "arimunding-munding."
She knows Mark's journey is only beginning. There will be more disappointments, more heartbreaks, and more challenges. But there will also be victories, friendships and dreams fulfilled.
Moments worth living for. And for tonight, that is enough. The moonlight slips through the window. The house remains quiet. The family sleeps peacefully. And somewhere between memory and love, Mercy continues watching over them. Not as a shadow nor as a ghost to be feared. But as a grandmother whose love never truly leaves and who still hopes, prays, and believes.
And as the night slowly gives way to dawn, Mark finally rests, unaware that the strongest lesson he receives that evening is not about rejection. It is about choosing life, and continuing forward.