Tattoo

BLESSY sighed as she returned to church. She doesn’t seem to be able to talk politely to a man named Fender Hearst. She sighed sadly for the man. She knew that what he suffered was not for nothing and he fell into the water like Manong Ben's story.

"Sister Blessy?" Sister Pearl mentioned her name. Like her, she is also a Juniorate and is in the Second Stage.

In fact she is in the First Stage of the Juniorate and one of those she swore to serve the needy and help the sick. They don’t stay in one place for long, they move around as Medical Mission Sisters. Only now did Sister Pearl and her spend some time in the village of Felopina according to Mother Jean's request.

"Looks like he doesn't want to talk right now..."

“That person is unfortunate. He looks a good guy even though there are many tattoos on his body and in the neck."

She did not say a word. How good a person's heart is is not based on outward appearance. It doesn’t mean that a person’s body is dirty because of ink, it’s bad.

"Sister Pearl, did you talk to Mother Jean?" She changes the subject. 

“Ah, yes. I've talked to her Actually, we'll only be here for four weeks. We will return to Manila as ordered by Mother Jean.”

She was sad. In the few months she has been in this place, she has fallen in love with the children. They go out but only to town and mostly, just buy food and necessities for the children in their care.

“I will miss the children, Sister. This place. The people. The church and even Mother.”

“It’s really like that. You know that being a nun, there are many tests to be done."

She nodded. She knew that thing. But that did not hinder Blessy's heart from her chosen vocation. Ever since she was young, she dreamed of becoming Mother Superior one day in the church she grew up. The only one who cared for and raised her was her uncle Priest who was assigned to Manila.

"Sister Blessy!"

"Sister Pearl!"

She smiled as the children greeted them. Show them each one by drawing and coloring on paper. Somehow, someone sends them a monthly donation for the children and the church. One of the things she thanked God was that there were still good people in the world.

"Look at what we drew!"

She looked at Leah. The child has been adopted by this church since it was left outside the church. Sadness welled up in her eyes but she didn’t let the child notice. What she draws on the paper is a happy family. This is what the children in their care always draw: a happy family.

"Do you think Mom will come back to here and get me?"

Sister Pearl looked at them and it took them a long time to answer. This is the first time a young child has asked them.

She just smiled and gently stroked her hair. “Of course! You are a good child and one day God will give you what you ask for."

"Really?"

She just pinch her cheek and accompanied the children in what they were doing. When the time they left Barrio Felopina, she would surely miss the children here. They are already dear to her. If only she could, she would adopt them and take care of them but she can't.

“Why can't we see brother Fender? Is he home yet?”

She smiled and shook her head at Raiza's question. The kid was sitting in an old wheelchair. "He's with Manong Ben."

At the same time, they nod as she slowly sighed. She wants to talk to the man but he always pushes her away. 

It is no longer common for her when strangers ask for help to church. Somehow, the memory that nothing awful had happened to the man made her calm. They take an oath as junioriate to help people who are sick or in need. The man's actions in the cave were quite perilous. It can die with only one bad move. It was difficult to operate on one's own wound, so she prayed in the cave that the man would 'simply not die.

"You think to much, Sister Blessy."

Sister Pearl, her friend, caught her gaze. That's true, she's thinking about something but can't tell her what it is. Her friend will undoubtedly provide her with more than just questions and sermons.

"First, Sister, I'll go to my room. I'll leave the kids with you for a while."

She stood up when it nodded. She adjusted her clothing and her viel. She also said her goodbyes to the children, entrusting them to Sister Pearl's care. Sister Pearl mentioned that they will return to Manila after a few more weeks of being at the church and convent with the children, and she even met Mother Jean in the corridor.

MR. HEARST sat under the large tree the next day and slept peacefully, which made Blessy sigh. The man was not the reason she went to that area. She used to go there every Saturday to pick lovely flowers and medicinal plants for the church.

She was only a few steps away from the man, and she could see him sleeping peacefully.

She sensed that the man was concealing something. When she wanted to relate a story, however, as a woman who will one day be a full-fledged nun, she simply let it go. She even desired to help this man in regaining his trust in God. Because the truth is, she could sense his heart's enormous rage.

"He's pitiful..." she said nearly in hushed tones. She feel sorry the man and all she could do was pray for him.

"I'm not pitiful," he says.

When the man spoke, she was taken aback. Fender Hearst was sleeping, all Blessy knew, and the word that came out of her mouth earlier was nearly silent.

She apologized and bowed gently, saying, "I'm sorry if I disrupted your rest." She had been accustomed to his cold gesture.

"Isn't nuns like you solely work in the church and convent? What brings you here by yourself?"

"I've come to get flowers for the altar, Mr. Hearst."

"The cathedral is surrounded by flowers. Why don't you take it?" 

She took a deep breath and sighed softly. She doesn't understand what he's trying to say. She is a nun, not a fortune teller. Her brow furrowed as she asked, "What do you want to happen, Mr. Hearst?"

"Get yourself away from here or I'm the one to leave."

"I can't understand you," she frowned even more.

He remained silent. He simply stood up and gave her a hard stare. Every time she looks into his eyes, she sees hatred, anger, and revenge.

He turned and walked slowly without saying anything. He was dressed in a torn pair of ragged jeans and an old white shirt. She notices a big mandala tattoo on the man's shoulder that extends from the neck to the entire right hand. Anyone would assume he's an addict when it comes to appearance and body colors because he wears a black rings on his finger.

"Mr. Hearst," she started.

It stopped for a brief moment before continuing to walk away. She freely followed him with her attention and decided to go flower picking in order to come back to church as soon as possible.

WHEN Zerus arrived at old Manong Ben's hut, he let out a heavy sigh. He is the one who avoids the situation in which he is currently struggling. He will not quit as long as his heart continues to feel strange.

"Hijo!"

He look at Manong Ben. It was carrying tilapia and catfish that were still alive and dangling from the abaca fiber

"I brought our food! What exactly do you want it cooked? Sister Blessy and Mother Jean will be relieved. They enjoy ginataan catfish with a lot of chile."

The old man suddenly drew his attention. He took a look at the fish he was hauling, and they were quite big. He grinned, "I'll cook that." And walked over to the kitchen.

"Wait a minute, are you sure? Your wounds haven't healed yet."

"Manong, the wound is not in my hands. Okay, I'll cook, and then you can relax."

"If you insist, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop you. Wait a minute, I'll just put these I got in the sink."

He simply nodded and grinned quietly. If this is the case, he should be the one to make the meal and let Blessy taste how excellent he cooks.

Zerus wounds in his thigh and abdomen did not stop him from preparing the necessary seasoning. He began by pulling out the coconut milk and washing the fish.

He let Manong Ben sleep and rest outside on a rattan hammock. He will prepare ginataan catfish for the woman. He knew he had mistreated her, but he couldn't blame himself. For two years, he determined to forget the woman who belonged to some God, but here he is now, close to realizing that not only his life is in jeopardy... His heart, too.

She'll forget she's a nun thanks to the delicacy of my cooking.

He burst out laughing at his own joke. He has no intention of seducing the woman. When he leaves this area, the madness he is feeling will disappear. Everything is only fleeting.

"I didn't expect you to be a good cook, Son."

He did not respond. He first tried his food on the old guy, who had awoken with a delicious smell. Manong Ben's excitement was shown on his covered face as he sat on the wooden chair. He's finished cooking the rice and special ginataan catfish.

"It'll be a hit with Sister Blessy!"

He stopped when he returned inside the home to retrieve an old pitcher and glass. "Really?"

It smiled broadly and continued to eat. He decided to keep going inside the hut to retrieve the pitcher and glass.

"It's you, Sister Pearl."

Later, Zerus heard the old guy say that term. He peered through the bamboo wall's gap. He noticed a female nun carrying flowers. He was uninterested. He kept scooping water into the old jar.

"Was Sister Blessy here, Mr. Ben?"

“No. Why did you inquire, Sister?"

He was surprised for a time before peering inside the hole once more. He was waiting for the woman to speak out.

"She should have returned to church earlier. She hasn't arrived yet, and I can't find her. That's all fine, Manong. I'm going to leave. Father Alex, by the way, is looking for you. I believe he will assign you a task."

"Okay, Sister, I'll follow after I eat."

The nun simply nodded and walked away. As Zerus had pondered. He dashed back to Manong Ben with the pitcher and glass in his hand.

"Could you please bring the catfish I cooked to church and give it to the nun? All I'm going to do is go to the waterfall."

 Even though he was treading cautiously, he hastened to the waterfall. There was no difficulty because his thigh wound was far distant and his bone had not been damaged. The only thing close to the gunshot wound was his side abdomen, which nearly killed him.

He has strong feelings that something bad is going to happen to Blessy, and he never fails when it comes to his intuition. He taught himself to flee the world once he was enslaved as a result of his inclination.

"What the hell! Where has she gone?"

He didn't have the wound. He wanted to make sure the nun was all right and that nothing awful had happened to her. His attention was drawn to every tree and tall plant that passed by.

"Blessy!" he dared to say, but no one responded. He couldn't even say the woman's name correctly. It bothers him that they are at odds with the rest of the world. And liking it is a great craze for the lone Fender Hearst disguised as Zerus Craige.

When something caught his eye, he stopped. Some flower petals were scattered on the ground. He dashed over there and grabbed it. He sniffed the flower and stared at the flower he was holding for a few seconds.

"But where the fuck is she?" He snatched the sad flower and tossed it aside.

He is a calm individual. But this time, he doesn't give a damn! His heart was beating as he searched for the woman. He could kill a man if something awful had happened here!

"Blessy!"

He waited a few minutes for her to answer, but she never did. He, too, has come a long way. He was already at the waterfall's right end, where there was a lot of grass and a ravine next to it. Those who are unfamiliar with the area may be frightened.

“Blessy! Where have you gone?"

Fuck! This is not good. This is terribly bad! He was frustrated when the rain began to drop. If he wants to murder it now, Heaven is still upset!

Bullshit! Where exactly are you? Have you encountered a shattering event? I should not have left you like that before and merely let you roam so I could keep an eye on you. Oh, damn!