March 16, 2022
Wednesday 7 AM
Months had swiftly passed...
"Where are you going, dad?"
"I'll just visit someone... it's been a while." He said before leaving their house. The sun rose already and the streets of San Lorenzo came back into life.
With an open window, Timotheus felt the morning breeze. He was greeted by the neighborhood. On his way to his destination, he passed by a flower shop.
"Good morning, officer! You're at the right time. Our flowers were freshly delivered."
A white bouquet of gerbera flowers caught his attention. He immediately put it beside the passenger seat. He stared at the flowers for a second before starting the engine.
It was a peaceful drive not until he noticed a commotion in the middle of the road.
"Again?" He parked his car at the side of the road.
"You f*cking j*rk! You're the one who bumped into my car! Look!"
"What? I'm just passing by and you're—"
"Excuse me? What is this all about?" Timotheus asked while checking the damages.
"Who are you?" One of them asked.
He just showed his identification card instead of wasting his time to explain.
"Officer, look! He—" The man was interrupted when Timotheus raised his hand to keep him quiet.
"In my professional perspective, mister," Timotheus looked at the foreigner who was playing victim. "You're in fault here."
"What? How come? I just—"
"Even if you asked someone else... they will judge the same." TImotheus stated.
"No way! He should have paid for the damage! I am innocent—"
"You'll settle this or I will put you behind the bars?"
The foreigner gulped and looked around. People gathered to watch the commotion and based on their looks, they probably judged him.
"F-Fine! Fine! Here." He threw the money to the man he was fighting with. "F*ck you all!" He immediately went inside his car and fled away out of shame.
"Thank you, Officer!" The man was grateful to him.
"No need to thank me. It's my duty after all. Just be careful next time."
"I will. I will."
He looked at his wristwatch and sighed before he continued his drive. After a few minutes, he arrived at the most peaceful and quiet place in the town.
Timotheus put the flowers beside a gravestone and knelt to light the candle.
"It's been a while my friend..." A sudden burst of emotion came out from him. He looked up to prevent his tears from falling. "Damn... too emotional."
Timotheus a hand on his shoulder. He almost cursed when he thought it was a ghost but it wasn't. He sharply looked at the man standing beside him, the man was laughing and it made his blood boil.
"You still haven't changed. Still scared of ghosts, I see." He smirked before putting the flowers he brought and also lit a candle.
"I thought you're going to stay in bed for a year." Timotheus said with sarcasm.
"It's exhausting, you know?" He sat on the grass and stared at the gravestone. "Thanks to your dad I didn't have a chance to see her again." He chuckled.
"So you want to be burned there alive, huh? Elaine wouldn't be grateful to see you unrecognizable."
"F*ck you. Of course souls wouldn't be the same as the physical body."
Timotheus laughed at his irritated face.
"Kidding aside. Glad to see you again, Ferran."
"I know you're mad at your father but I am thankful. He did the right thing." He sighed and looked at the clear sky. "He's crazy, yes. Many people died because of him but on the other hand, we can't blame him. People made him do those things. At least he made the right choice before he died. I hope you'll forgive him because it is burdensome to have a grudge over someone."
"I'll try. How 'bout you? Maybe you're still mad at me."
Simeon looked at him and there was silence before he speaks.
"You know what? I really don't understand why of all people, Elaine needed to sacrifice herself. I always ask, why her? Why not you? No offense but that's what I always think whenever I see you alive and breathing but..."
Timotheus couldn't help but to stay silent and clenched his fist. He felt really guilty.
"You know that—"
"Don't speak. Let me say everything I wanted to say."
Timotheus gulped and couldn't look at Ferran.
"I wish I could turn back time, like what happened to you. I want to go back where I could meet her again but it's impossible. I shouldn't blame anyone, even you but at that time, I'm blinded by my anger. Why? Because of this." He showed him a piece of photograph. An ultrasound.
"W-What? Damn..." A tear fell from his reddish eyes.
"She's two months pregnant with our first child—"
"Simeon... stop."
"She sacrificed not just herself but also our unborn baby just—"
"Simeon... please stop." Guilt was eating him alive.
"No, you listen to me—"
"I don't want to hear it anymore!"
"No! Listen to me, you punk!" Ferran's eyes were fuming mad but it's not for Timotheus and he's breathing became heavy. "Of all people, I should have known. It's duty over anything else. Duty comes first, that's Elaine."
"But..."
"I'm forgiving you, you idiot. I don't want to blame you anymore like I used to. Don't blame yourself too. You just took her command as your superior."
"Damn..." Timotheus covered his face using his hands. "I thought this day wouldn't come."
"You know what? During your stay in my body... I'm watching you. You've grown like a real man. You even say, you're proud of me."
"What? W-When—" His eyes widened. "I thought..."
***
"I thought you only knew how to brag," Spirit of Alfarez talking to Ferran's body. "But over the years, you have done things that others don't even know. But there are people who are grateful 'coz you're there to save and protect them. I hate to say this. I really hate it but hey," he tapped his right shoulder with his left hand.
"I'm proud of you."
***
"Damn..." Timotheus closed his eyes because of that embarrassment.
"They are waiting, let's go." Simeon tapped his shoulder while chuckling.
+++
Everyone's at the dinner table and having a lot of fun while eating. Timotheus was sitting at the head of the table while Simeon was at the other side. Beside Timotheus is his beloved wife, Carina.
"I love you." He whispered while holding her hand under the table.
"I love you." She replied.
Danryll just watched them and shook his head before enjoying his meal. The kids are there too, Trestan, Blair, Cally, Dylan, Hailey, and Julianna. Dylan and Hailey were adopted by Simeon while Julianna is under Timotheus and Carina's care because she's part of the family.
"Sorry, we're late." Czaquira along with her brother, Aquiro, arrived.
"Me too. Sorry." Everyone looked at Xol and welcomed him.
"Have a seat. Have a seat." Carina assisted them.
They were having a good conversation not until someone's phone rings.
"Excuse me." Simeon excused himself and answered the call.
Another phone rings.
"Oh... It's mine. Excuse me." Timotheus also leaves the table and answers the call.
When they're back, the two looked at each other and sighed heavily.
"What is it?" Carina asked and they answered in unison.
"Duty calls."
- THE END -