00: Prologue

Father Henry stood in front of the confession room, adjusting his priestly robes. It had been a long day filled with prayers, counseling, and performing church services. As he prepared to take his seat inside the confessional, memories of his past started to resurface, memories he had buried deep within his heart.

His mind wandered back to his younger days when he was just Henry, a passionate and spirited young man deeply in love with a woman named Khana.

As he entered the confession room, he took a deep breath, preparing to offer forgiveness and guidance to those who sought it. Little did he know that the next confession would lead him down a path of emotions he had long suppressed.

The sharp sound of a stiletto caught the attention of another man serving in the lord's presence. He looked up to see a lady with black hair, fair skin, and an alluring figure.

"I wonder what a beauty like her has to confess," the guy mumbled as he watched Khana knock before entering the confession room.

Khana sat, her voice trembling as she began to speak, "In the name of the Holy Spirit, Amen."

"May the presence of the Lord be with you. May the Lord find the path to your heart. May you humbly confess your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen." Father Henry replied.

"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been years since I last confessed.”

Her words reached Father Henry's ears, but her voice seemed distant as if coming from another world. However, the mention of "Father" caught his attention, and he leaned in closer, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Tell me, sister, what is troubling you so much?" Father Henry replied.

"I have been carrying the weight of hatred in my heart," Khana continued. She took a deep breath and continued speaking her mind without pausing, "There's a man I still hate now. I despise him to the core, yet I long for him. I just can't get him out of my mind. I hate him for not letting go of my memories."

Father Henry cleared his throat, thinking that it was just a simple misunderstanding between two lovers. He replied, "Is there any reason why you can't see him?"

"I'm getting married to another man in a month," Khana replied.

Unaware of the woman who had just confessed and the man Khana referred to, Father Henry prayed to the Lord for peace to be with both souls.

"Father, have you ever loved anyone before?" Khana asked out of the blue.

Father Henry was taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation. Then, he hesitated for a moment, grappling with the memories he had long kept hidden. He smiled bitterly and fell silent for a moment before responding cautiously, "I loathe romantic love coming from a human. have entered celibacy, I am not permitted to desire a woman. Only the love our father bestowed in humanity is the love I will never hate.”

He closed his eyes and looked back to the time when love and lust consumed him…

In the dimly lit room, the air was heavy with anticipation. Khana and Henry stood face to face, their eyes locked in a magnetic connection. The tension between them was palpable, aching to be released. It had been building for weeks, a dance of longing and desire that neither could deny any longer.

Khana's dark, lustrous hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her captivating features and adding to her alluring charm. Henry couldn't help but be captivated by her radiant beauty. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, revealing a hidden confidence that sent shivers down his spine.

As he moved closer, Henry felt the warmth of her breath against his skin. Their bodies were mere inches apart, and he could sense her heart racing, matching his own frantic heartbeat. The room seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a world where time stood still.

Khana reached out, her fingers gently grazing the edge of his collar, and Henry's breath hitched. Her touch was electrifying, setting his senses ablaze with desire. Without a word, she pulled him closer, her lips finding him in a hungry, passionate kiss.

Their lips met with an intensity that took their breaths away, igniting a fire within them that was impossible to contain. Henry's hands found their way to Khana's waist, pulling her even closer, his heart pounding in his chest. Khana's soft moans escaped against his lips, driving him wild with need.

Their bodies pressed against each other, fitting perfectly like two halves of a whole. Khana's hands traced a tantalizing path down his chest, sending waves of pleasure through Henry's body. He could feel her heart racing in sync with his, their connection growing deeper with every passing second.

With a gentle yet firm touch, Henry lifted Khana and carried her to the bed, their lips never parting. As he gently laid her down, their eyes locked once more, speaking volumes without uttering a single word. Desire and passion swirled in their depths, and the unspoken promise of an unforgettable night hung in the air.

Clothing became an obstacle, a barrier they eagerly discarded, revealing their naked forms to each other. Henry's hands traced every curve of Khana's body, memorizing every inch as if he wanted to etch her into his soul. 

“Ah… Uhmm…” Her soft gasps and gentle moans encouraged him, pushing him to explore and worship every part of her.

"Father, have you ever loved anyone before?" Khana asked again, assuming that her question had not reached the other side of the confession room.”

Father Henry was taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation as if all the blood drained from his body. A hand that held a rosary trembled at the mere mention of 'romantic love'... like a bomb, such a topic could shatter his world.

He hesitated for a moment, grappling with the memories he had long kept hidden. A bitter smile formed on his face as he fell silent, carefully choosing his words. "I have chosen to embrace celibacy. Child, I am committed to abstaining from romantic relationships with women. The love bestowed upon humanity by our Father is a love I will never despise."

"I'm afraid I cannot share much information about that love you just mentioned. However, sister, if you don't mind, I would like to hear more about this guy. You seem to have more to share about the weight of your heart," he added.

"Sorry about that outtaway’ question, Father. Going back, I thought I would be able to move on if I found a new love," Khana responded, her voice trembling slightly. She paused to catch her breath before continuing, "I'm scared that things will end between me and my ex-lover once I get married. And I'm not sure if I truly want this marriage."

"Sister, if you have feelings for someone other than your fiance, it would be dishonest to him and your family.The people involved in your life may feel betrayed and find it hard to forgive you," the priest replied.

 "I-I know that, Father. However..." Khana bit her lower lip, struggling to hold back tears. "The more I try to push him out of my mind, the more my heart longs for him," she added.

Fr. Henry replied, "You will never find peace if you have doubts in your heart. Marriage is a sacred commitment, sister." 

"You probably won't be able to relate to this feeling, as you have dedicated yourself to His glory. But I'm sure there was a time when you experienced love," Khana responded.

Fr. Henry paused, not in the best shape to discuss romance—the memories he no longer wished to remember flooded his mind. Nevertheless, a voice behind his head whispered, "Of course I did... I do have someone who holds a special place in my heart."

He fell silent for a moment, his mind wandering to the past. Love, he described it as sweet as candy but as painful as a decaying tooth. He wondered if he would be sitting in the confession room, wearing a priest's stole, if 'she' had not left.

"What if  she were to come back? Would you be willing to leave everything behind to be with her again?" The voice in his head asked, to which he responded with a silent mumble, "Why would I sacrifice my faith to be with someone who can’t keep a word?"

"The wound in my heart never stops hurting. I will never be whole without him," Khana's words brought Father Henry's attention back to the present.

He took a deep breath and asked, "If he were to appear before you, would you consider leaving your current partner for your old lover? And if you did..."  After a short pause, the priest picked up where he left, "Do you think you could make him stay?"

 The letters jumbled inside Khana's head, leaving her unable to respond.

Father Henry continued, "If you don't leave, why must you still hold on to the past?"

"I don't know. I need some clarification. I can't let go of this anger. He left me without any explanation. How can I forgive someone when I don't understand their circumstances?” Khana replied.

"I understand the weight of this burden on you, but it is beyond my control. I suggest you move on and ask God for guidance in forgiving your former partner's infidelity. As part of your penance, recite the rosary seven times," Fr. Henry advised.

"Before I leave, let me share a story. I need someone to listen… I need someone to talk to,” says Khana, desperate enough to spend any minute in the church to distract her confused mind.

Fr.  Henry had no choice but to comfort the lost soul, thus he replied, “My child, if it’s what makes you feel better. Go ahead. I’m just here.”

 “I met him when we were young, and we separated multiple times. The last time I saw him was when we confessed our love. The day we gave in to our desires."

Father Henry listened in silence, finding the story strangely familiar.

"It's funny because you remind me of him, with your name being the same. But there's no way Henry would be found in a church. He doesn't believe in God. I'm leaving now. Thank you for wasting your time on this promiscuous woman," Khana concluded, her voice tinged with bitterness.

"Again, Let God know that I regret the sins that I have committed. I was unfaithful. From now on, I'll try to focus and be faithful to the person I'm marrying soon," Khana uttered.

"May the almighty God absolve you, and by his authority, I set you free and deliver you from evil. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit."

"Amen."

As Father Henry heard the clicking sound of stilettos and the door shutting, he realized a few minutes later that he needed to leave his post and check the other side of the confessional room. To his surprise, he discovered a familiar bracelet left on the chair.

"Khana?" Father Henry murmured. He hurriedly left the church, searching for the woman who had just confessed. His heart raced as he searched for her, unsure what he would say when he found her.

Father Henry's footsteps echoed through the empty corridors as he hurried out of the church, searching for Khana. His heart pounded in his chest, fueled by a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Thoughts raced through his mind, contemplating the possibility that fate had reunited them.

As he scanned his surroundings, his eyes caught a glimpse of a figure in the distance. It was Khana, briskly walking down the street, her back hunched under a burden he could only imagine. Father Henry quickened his pace, his determination guiding him closer to her.

"Khana!" He called out, and his voice laced with a mixture of urgency and hope the lady was truly his old lover.

The lady slowly turned her head...