PATER UNITATIS: The last light

CHAPTER 6. A NEW FAMILY

After they finished eating, Kael volunteered to clean up and wash the dishes they had used while the three young men and his parents were already in the living room, where they talked with one another. After he finished washing everything they had used for their meal, he immediately arranged them in their proper places and then went to the living room where his companions were. He arrived just in time to see them happily chatting.

"Oh, there you are. You know, these three are really amusing. Hey, Kael, let the three of them sleep in your room for now. The three of them can fit there better than sleeping here in the living room. It’s too cold here. I hope that’s alright with you," Mang Roman told the young man.

"Of course, Father. Who am I to refuse?" Kael replied.

"That’s good. From now on, we will all become one family here in this house. Don’t hesitate. If you need anything or have something to say, just tell us, your mother and I," Mang Roman said, and Aling Kora agreed with him.

The three young men were happy upon hearing Mang Roman’s words because, in this way, they would no longer have to struggle with hiding themselves or worry about showing their true selves to Kael, fearing that he might become afraid or suspicious.

"Thank you very much, Mang Roman and Aling Kora. At last, the three of us finally have a place to stay," said the young man named Lagud.

"What are you saying? From now on, you may call us mother and father as well. Don’t be shy anymore," Aling Kora told them.

"That’s right. It’s better when there are more people because our home will become happier. And most importantly, I will no longer be alone whenever I go to the rice fields to fix the fish pond beside them," Kael added.

Lagud burst into laughter after hearing what the young man said, while Kael simply scratched his head in embarrassment.

They continued talking happily for several hours before finally entering their room and going to sleep. As soon as they lay down, Kael immediately fell asleep because of the cool breeze coming through the window of their room. Meanwhile, the three others were still wide awake.

"Oh, by the way, I received some news earlier while I was following them on their way to the town where they went earlier," Harayon told his companions.

"What news is that, Harayon?" Lagud asked.

"According to what was told to me earlier by the earth spirit living in the grasslands near the entrance of the town, there is a certain area there that has become the nesting ground of aswang. It is located at the foot of Mount Samlang in that town. They are said to be led by someone named Bangkilan, and their victims are the people who pass by that place during the afternoon or at night. That is what worries me. There isn’t even a single hut built in that area yet."

The two of them fell into deep thought because of what Harayon had revealed.