56: Found you

Her son, Kharl, cooed softly in her arms, his small eyes tracking the movement of the fish. For a moment, everything felt peaceful, as if the weight of the world had lifted, allowing her to simply exist in this quiet moment with her child.

Then, in an instant, that peace was shattered.

As Khana’s gaze wandered around the tranquil church grounds, she caught sight of a man standing near the edge of the courtyard. He seemed oddly familiar. Her breath hitched in her throat, her mind racing to place him. The resemblance was undeniable. He looked just like someone she had known long ago—someone who was supposed to be dead.

Her heart began to race as memories surged forward, unbidden. "Henry?" she whispered under her breath, her mind refusing to believe what her eyes were telling her. The man began to move away, and before she knew it, Khana was on her feet, following him without a second thought.

However, before she could catch up, a nun appeared in front of her, blocking her path. The nun’s gentle smile and serene demeanor were a sharp contrast to the turmoil brewing inside Khana. She greeted Khana, “Do you need help with the baby, sister. I just noticed your baby is quite feverish when I carried him.”

Turns out, it was the nun who’d helped her have a peaceful prayer. Khana searched for the figure of the priest from afar, but the latter had vanished like a thin air. 

“Oh, thank you, Sister,” Khana murmured, her worry for her son battling with the confusion and urgency that still clouded her mind. “But... that man…” she trailed off, her eyes darting around, searching for the figure she had seen. He was nowhere in sight.

The nun seemed to sense her distress. “Is there something troubling you, sister? Perhaps I can help.”

Khana hesitated, glancing once more in the direction the man had disappeared. She turned back to the nun, curiosity gnawing at her insides. 

“Sister, I have a question. It’s fine if you can’t answer it, but… do you have a priest here named Henry?”

“I’ll do my best to answer your question, sister.”

“Do you have a priest here named Henry?” Khana asked, hesitant but determined to quench her thirst for curiosity about the deceased priest.

The nun placed her hand on her chin and stared at the sky, trying hard to contemplate if she had encountered a priest the lady mentioned. “I am not sure, sister. Actually, I’ve only been here for three days, and I haven’t met all the priests assigned here.”

“I-Is that so? ” Khana replied, wearing a disappointed look. She thanked the nun, trying to mask her disappointment. “Thank you, Sister. I appreciate it.” 

Khana was about to leave, but stayed a little, when the sister added, "We have a mass later tonight. If you are looking for a certain priest, you may ask our reverend father, if he happened to know that certain priest."

Khana nodded and left the church. She went to the market to buy milk and diapers when someone bumped into her. 

"Watch where you are going—" The lady who bumped Khana was dumbfounded and forgot to run her blubber mouth. 

"Serina?" Khana uttered in disbelief.

"Khana, you were here all this time. Your husband and family have been flipping places looking for you," says Serina.

Khana dragged her friend into a cafe and had a serious talk with her. Once inside, she found a quiet corner and sat down, motioning for Serina to do the same. Khana’s eyes were intense as she met her friend’s gaze. She locked eyes with her friend and begged, "Please don't tell anyone yet."

"B-But why? You know how worried they are," Serina replied.

"You see... It's a long story. I was looking for peace and tranquility for the meantime," Khana replied. 

Khana sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. “It’s… complicated. I needed to get away, Serina. I needed peace, space to think.”

"I'm your trusted friend, aren't I? You can just cut the chase and tell me what happened. I can help you. Besides, I am the godmother of this little angel."

"Don't get me wrong, but I find it hard to trust the word "Friend" anymore. I haven't told you what Bettina and Richard did to me."

"If those people harmed you, I hope you haven't forgotten I never once betrayed our friendship," Serina uttered.

Khana looked back at their younger days, it was Serina who served as a bridge for their love. Serina did not even though she was also in love with the young Henry. She chose their friendship over her growing feelings for the young man.

"Bettina was the reason why Henry and I failed to meet that day."

"You mean, that day when you're supposed to elope with him?" Serina asked. Serina remembered how broken Khana was that day, thinking Henry had a change of heart.

"That was just the beginning of the scheme she sews," Khana uttered. She gulped the cold water on the table before confessing everything to Serina. "She and Richard made my dad's company bankrupt and even lied about her cousin, Richard, having a terminal illness to deceive me into marrying their Santillan family."

"What?! That was so low! How could they do that to you?" Serina screamed, forgetting the fact that they were in a public place. She even slammed the top of the table, drawing the attention of other patrons. Khana quickly shushed her, but not before Kharl began to stir and cry.

Every eye was on their table, especially when Kharl cried out loud. Gladly, Khana was able to put her baby back to sleep.  “Shh, it’s okay, baby,” Khana whispered, gently rocking her son back to sleep. She sighed in relief when he quieted down and closed his eyes again.

"How come I haven't heard it before?" Serina added but in a lowered voice.

"What's even worse is he slapped me amidst the heated argument. I ran away the next day. That was the final straw.”" Khana added.

Serina gasped, "That was too much! Has he gone insane?!'

"I wanted to file a divorce, but I need time for myself first."

"I'll definitely help you get custody of your child," Serina promised. "But, how long do you plan to stay here?" Serina added.

Khana bit her lip, uncertainty clouding her expression. “I don’t know. I just need to stay out of sight for a little while longer. I’m not ready to face everyone yet.”