02: Cruel Fate 

Khana sat alone in her cozy apartment as soon as her fiance left. She went to the bathroom to take a bath. She rested her head on the edge of her bathtub and stared out the window.

Her mind drifted back to the past. She couldn't help but reminisce about the time she had spent with Henry, the one who had once held her heart. It had been years since they had parted ways, but some memories refused to fade away.

As the rain gently tapped on the window pane, Khana's mind was transported back to the day she met Henry. It wasn't a pleasant encounter at all. They quarreled at their first meeting because Henry was a distant person who refused to make friends. On the other hand, young Khana was talkative and loved to socialize with strangers. They were separated a couple of times because Henry's family was constantly moving from place to place. 

They were reunited at the birthday party of a mutual friend they didn't expect to see. Their eyes met across the crowded room, and an instant connection sparked between them. Khana couldn't believe how quickly they had fallen for each other. They were inseparable, exploring the world together, sharing dreams, and supporting each other's ambitions. In the blink of an eye, their envisioned paths diverged. They simply disappear, feeling lost and confused.

Khana sighed and wiped away a tear that had escaped from her eye. She missed Henry—the way he made her laugh, the way he held her when she was sad, and the way he knew her better than anyone else. Even though she had moved on, a small part of her still held onto the love they had shared.

Just as she was lost in her bittersweet memories, her phone rang, breaking her trance. She wiped away her tears and enveloped herself in a luxurious red silk bathrobe. She sat on a chair designed for bathrooms. Khana glanced at the screen and saw her parents' names flashing. 

"Hello?" she answered, confused.

"Khana, my dear," her mother's voice sounded both cheerful and anxious. "We need to talk about your wedding!" The person on the other end continued.

Khana's heart skipped a beat. The sudden shift in the conversation startled her. "My wedding?" She repeated, trying to gather her thoughts.

"Yes, darling," her father joined the conversation. "Your father and I have been discussing the plans, and we believe it's time to finalize the details. Your wedding is scheduled for the end of the month, and we need to ensure that everything is in place."

Khana's mind was spinning. 'Indeed, I succumbed to everyone's desire to avoid becoming a spinster and to cease hearing complaints from my parents. However, I wasn't even sure when I wanted it to happen,' says the little voice in her head.

She hadn't even thought about her wedding yet, let alone made concrete plans. "End of the month? I thought I still had a month before this wedding?!" She stammered, trying to buy herself some time.

'End of the month, but that's still almost three weeks away!' She wanted to yell those words. However, she remained silent.

"Yes, dear. The sooner, the better!" Her mother said with obvious excitement in Kathy's voice, "We're considering a beach theme, and we've discovered a stunning venue for the ceremony. Your mother-in-law owns this beach in Batangas. We need your input on the guest list, the decor, and most importantly, your wedding gown and accessories."

Khana took a deep breath, trying to absorb everything her parents were saying. She had always dreamed of a beautiful wedding, but now that it was happening so suddenly, she felt overwhelmed.

"Mom, Dad, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I want it to be traditional. I want a church wedding," Khana requested, hoping to find solace in the sacred space and gather her thoughts.

"I don't know why you are refusing your future in-laws' generous offer, but fine. So, do you have a specific church in mind?"

Khana's heart skipped a beat as her mind flooded with memories of her youth. She closed her eyes, trying to recall the vivid images from that distant day with Henry. She could feel the warmth of the sun on her face and the gentle breeze rustling through her hair as they walked hand in hand towards the exquisite old church.

It was a sunny spring afternoon, and they were just teenagers exploring the town together. The couple stumbled upon this charming little church. She remembers feeling an overwhelming sense of peace and serenity as she stepped inside. The sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting vibrant colors onto the wooden pews.

She remembered standing at the church, gazing at the aisle stretching out before her. She turned to Henry and told him that if she ever got married, she wanted it to be in a church like that, wearing a white wedding gown and a veil. It felt like a simple, yet magical wish. Henry smiled at that very moment.

"My dear? Are you still there? Did you hear what I just mentioned?" Her mother asked.

She returned to reality and replied, "Pardon. I'm sorry. What was your question again, Mom?"

"Do you have a specific church in mind for your wedding?" Her mother repeated.

"I don’t know. It’s up to you, mom. I have a lot of things clouding my head and I have no time to think about these things yet. I told you I am no longer against this marriage, but I did not swear to get married as early as possible," she replied.

"Alright. How about the food, the reception, and the outfits?" Her mother replied, nagging her to finalize the preparations over the phone, refusing to read between Khana’s statements.

"I want to rest, Mom. We'll talk about the rest when you get back to the city," Khana replied.

"Alright. I'm sorry, my dear. Please know that this mother is happy that her daughter is getting married," Kathy replied.

"Good night, Mom and Dad."

She thought everything was settled, but after a few hours. A message shocked her and stole the chance for her to get sleep. She sighed and squeezed the bridge of her nose. Then, her lips muttered, “Why do they even ask? Looks like I’m getting married this week.”

Khana looked for a casual get up and decided to go to the church once more. She needed someone to listen to her burden in life. Meanwhile, Father Henry was seated in the confession room. While waiting for the visitor, he was in deep thought of how hypocritical his life was. At the back of his mind, a question that never left him still lingers: "My life right now is a fragile ice, one wrong move and my facade will end. What will happen to me once the world discovers that this guy wearing a priest vestment is just an evil trying to hide his real identity.’

“Father…”

Just a few letters from the lady occupying the other side of the confession room had his body feeling alive. He knew it was her. He couldn’t be mistaken this time.

He wanted to go out and hug her, but he knew it would be a sin. It will also simply hurt them both. The lady is getting married, and it would only complicate things if she were to see him now. 

He closed his eyes and prayed silently: ‘I will do my best to hold back. In any case, I failed to do so. I will understand if you disown me. I might speak words that are not yours, but I will try to atone for my sins.’

"Father, I hope I'm not that big of a trouble since I came here late in the evening again."

"This is the house of the lord. His child seeking forgiveness is never a bother," Henry replied.

"I was hoping to hear more advice. You see...this church is booked for the venue. My parents must  have chosen you to officiate my wedding. Honestly, I’d like you to officiate my wedding because your name and voice remind me of my old lover."

Henry was scared to ask if Khana still loved her old lover. He doesn't want to hear her saying she no longer loves him, yet he doesn't want her to be stuck with their old flames. All he can do is wish her all the best since there is no point telling her how he feels.

Inside his mind was a bloody battle of voices. Even though he decided to let go of her, there's a voice coaxing him to reveal himself to her.

'I already kneel in front of you. I already realized your great existence, why must you betray me like this? Is it because you truly do not acknowledge me as your son? Was it because my past was engulfed with sin?' he once asked himself.

Henry cleared his throat and asked, "Are you unsatisfied with your future?"

"I can't say I'm not satisfied. It's more on, I'm unsatisfied with my present."

"You are unsatisfied because there's something you do not possess in the present. Was it your old lover again? What if you two had a chance to meet again? And, he still has feelings for you, so what would you do?"

Khana was silent for a minute. She's confused yet able to reply, "It's too late. I cannot turn back now. I might die in guilt knowing that I betrayed my fiance. The man I'm marrying is a good man. I shall take responsibility for the love and trust he bestowed."

Khana sighed and added, "I don't know. Henry is now part of my past. It's pretty ironic cause I waited for him for 15 years only to grow feelings of resentment. I guess, there's a part of me that wants to see him to vent the frustration I had pent up for 15 years."

Henry was deeply wounded upon hearing that he was just a broken piece in Khana's life.

"Maybe, there's no resolution other than forgetting and being forgotten. I guess, it's really a farewell."

Father Henry crumpled the hem of his vestment and whispered to himself, "You came to me like a wildfire, burning me to ashes. It's killing me to hear you want to erase me from your memory.'

"What if that guy was just out there, trapped in a circumstance where he couldn't face you? What if he still loves you very much, but he has no courage to say those words anymore? What if he's just out there staring at you... wanting to hug you and kiss you?"

Khana was surprised to hear those words from the priest, but before she could react, another statement had caught her shaken to the core...

"What if he wants to tell you that you are the moon that lights his dimmed world?"

Khana remembered those exact phrases. She held her breath and uttered, "Could it be..."

"From here on. Your sin shall be absolved, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit. Amen.

She panicked when the door clicked. Soon after she heard footsteps leaving the confession room, her body moved and followed the priest outside.

"Wait! Father Henry!" Khana yelled to hold back the priest from leaving.

Meanwhile, Henry felt a cold wind freezing him to the point he could no longer lift a single finger. He is sweating cold and his heartbeat is beating crazy fast. He closed his eyes and wished that Khana would leave as soon as possible.

"Sorry for the trouble, but can I have a moment with you?" Khana asked. She was determined to prove her guess was wrong.

"You really remind me of someone. Please turn around if I have mistaken you for someone else. And if my intuition is right, please walk away."

Father Henry stood frozen at Khana's words, his heart pounding in his chest. The weight of his secret, and his unspoken love for Khana bore down on him. He wanted to turn around, and look into her eyes, to plead his love to her. 

In that tense moment, he felt a mix of emotions – fear, longing, guilt, and the burning desire to see Khana again after all these years. He took a deep breath, wrestling with his conscience, knowing there was no easy way out of this predicament. No matter what he'll do, she will still know he was the 'Henry' she's been looking for.

He stared at the altar and asked his holiness, "What should I do?"