The House Of The Unholy

The entrance to the town's cemetery is through a narrow road branching out from the main dirt road. An old balite tree served as a landmark to the entrance to the land of the dead. The tree stands proud at the center of the narrow road which obliges those who will visit the cemetery to trek by foot and walk around the tree. Its roots protrude from the ground looking like b.a.r.e skeletons half-buried into the ground, with its thick roots crawling on top of each other. Around the massive tree scatter vines and shrubs embracing the tree from the ground up; while its canopies branch up wildly, its thick leaves casting wide shade on the ground.

The tree itself was said to have grown upon another tree, entrapped it within until the host tree succ.u.mbed to the scrounging figs, killing the original tree. Legend has it that a bird of some kind dropped off a seed atop the original tree, and from there grew the epiphytical fig, its roots crawled from the top to the ground, eventually swallowing the original tree in. For years, the balite tree brought in fears to the townsmen who are to visit the cemetery and had to come along it for the host tree inside its hollow core has a likeness to a pale old man trapped into its columnar branches, especially if one comes across the tree at night.

Moving further into the narrow road, the rusty gates of the cemetery welcome the visitors. The gate at the right has been detached from the wall which used to hold it. Its hinges have long been broken, making the gates always flinging open. Tall grasses tower over the brick base of the fences only revealing its rusty iron half. As the visitors make their way in passing through some graves that are eaten by the ground, they would see empty graves which have holes on them with plants growing out while other graves are dug out.

"Another robber attack?" Tatang Chuy greets at the inspecting sepulcher standing over the emptied tomb

Isko and Teo pause walking to listen to the old man,

"Totally disrespectful," the sepulcher answers, "they robbed the dead man and left him in pieces after. They took all that they can get but they did not even bother putting him back to his grave" he continues while pointing to the pieces of crushed bones scatter on the ground

"Had it been me, I would have crept out of my grave and drag those bastards in it" Tatang Chuy retorts as he gestures with his hands for the two boys to continue walking

They reach a small hill covered with tall grasses. From a distance they see the mausoleum, the biggest construction in the cemetery. Its bricks are made of marble, replicating the stone house; its huge sliding doors are of hard wood. In front of the structure there is a deformed statue of Archangel Michael with his right foot standing over the defeated devil. The statue is worn out due to harsh weather. Michael's wings are chipped, the hand that used to hold his sword is amputated; and its sword is missing, must have been robbed as well since the sword was made of silver. Below the archangel lays the statue of the devil with his hands covering his shamed face as if asking for mercy from the dominating archangel. One of its horns is missing.

Tatang Chuy slides the door open and they are greeted by dust that rushes to embrace them. The large mausoleum is illuminated by the sunlight coming off the windows as the old servant steps in and lights a lamp hanging on a corner. Still outside, Isko finally utters a word as he asks permission from his Segnor to visit his mother's tomb just down the hill

"Kindly extend Nanay Seling my deepest condolences, Isko" Teo responds shortly

He is then left behind looking at Isko making his way into the tall grasses and into a graveled pathway. His attention turns toward the mausoleum where he sees Tatang Chuy dusting off the Don's tomb.

"Don Lorenzo, your son is here," the old servant solemnly speaks to a grave in front of him; his raspy voice echoes over

Teo fixes his suit as he steps in to meet the grave of his foster father. His breath is frantic and he could feel his heart beating wildly. As Teo stops in front of the grave, touches it and stares at its marble tombstone; with the Don's name written on it, he then begins to sob silently. In his inaudible grief, his guilt is loudly echoing.

It all flashes back to him in that moment. The memories of his childhood where he was running wildly in the rice fields with the Don watching him silently. It changes to the memory of one of the stone house's festivities where he sees himself asleep reclining on the Don's lap; his head resting on the Don's shoulder. Finally, the memory of when the Don sent him off to the port of Banate when he left for Manila. Teo recalls the look on Don Lorenzo's face as the ship sailed away from the port slowly; it was of sadness and of pride, though the Don tried hard to conceal them in his nonchalance and in his silence. Every memories that flash back to him all feature the Captain silently watching over him, patiently staring at him in amazement. That is when it occurred to him how sad the Captain might have felt waiting on his sick bed for him to come home; and how heartbreaking it must be for him dying without his foster child by his side, his pride and joy.

That moment, Teo feels guilt stabbing him straight through his conscience. He didn't know how he could change things back in Manila, or how he should have convinced Fray Jacinto to allow him to go, all he knows is that he should have tried harder to go home, he should have been there by his foster father's side.

Teo leans in forward to the tombstone and whispers a silent prayer for the Don. From time to time he can still be heard sobbing secretly as he wipes tears off his cheeks while he stares at the tombstone with its epitaph that reads;

"Aquí está el cuerpo de un gran hombre. Padre, líder y hijo de Dios"

"Father, leader and a child of God," he reads out loud the last sentence and he felt consoled knowing that his foster father's life was recognized accordingly.

"Father, you always had nurturing hands that every seeds you touched turn into leafy plants; which in turn would bear fruits that will nurture others. God must have found His garden still lacking in flowers that bloom, trees that provide shade and plants that give life that He decided He had to take you home to be His personal gardener. I will be at peace in knowing that in every fields I walk into, in every trees, flowers and grasses my hands touch; and every fruits that I will taste; were all nurtured by you; His greatest farmer"

Teo fixes his suit and gestures for Tatang Chuy to prepare the carriage home. As Teo is left alone, he notices a bushel of flowers right below the base of the grave. In it different types of flowers cram; lilies, orchids and roses all stuffed in the tiny basket. He picks one orchid up and sniffs it,

"This one is still fresh" he muses to himself

He also sees a candle stub beside the bushel of flowers; its melted wax is still hot.

"Someone was just here," Teo whispers

When he is about to stand up, he hears footsteps heavily disturbing the dusty ground making its way to the tiny backdoor; the dimmest part of the mausoleum where sunlight coming off the windows could no longer reach. Then he hears the back door slams carefully

He rushes off the sliding doors, open them mightily only to be slightly blinded by the sun rays and makes his way to the side of the mausoleum, then to the back door. From a far he sees a figure; a slender woman in dark blouse and skirt with black veil covering her head runs into the grasses, disappears into the trees.

As the wind blows, the grasses dance along and the breeze cause chills to build up on his spine,

"Teo," Isko calls from behind looking at where Teo has his sight fixed. The disturbed grasses are still swaying with the wind

"I heard a noise," Teo reasons out, "must be a stray dog looking for a shelter. I only saw its tail running through the grasses," he claims then turns his back on the trees and approaches Isko.

Tatang Chuy pulls in the reins and the carriage plunges into the dusty road away from the cemetery. The settling sun in the horizon gives off an orange glow to the lands as cool breeze finally blows in overtaking the humid winds of the high noon

"The Captain was adored by many, they could have been offered by them," Isko claims after Teo hands him the orchid that he was inspecting back in the mausoleum.

Teo nods in agreement as he looks out the window,

"Somebody must have adored him even more in silence," he pauses,

He then takes another sniff at the fragrant orchid while watching the rice fields fade away as the carriage passes by them.