Chapter 44A

It was way too early in the morning. The sun had not yet risen but Gideon's spirit was wide awake. He was sitting in a hotel lobby while leaning on his back and facing his cellphone, typing a text message for Jewel.

'Good morning, Jewel. Do you want to taste dried mangoes? I'll buy you some.'

That's what he wanted to send to the woman but he couldn't press the send button. He just stared at the letters like an idiot.

He is currently in a private hotel somewhere in Bogo City, just kilometers away from Medellin, at the hotel he spent the night. This is where he and Angela's older brother Arnel met, and this is where he plans to leave the car.

Arnel insisted that they should take a bus. And he agreed. After all, they were going to a getaway conference. It would be better if he will took off some of his comforts for better experience.

When he heard Arnel's voice, he put the cellphone in his pocket, stood up, and slung his backpack into his back. He no longer sent Jewel the text message.

A man in his mid-40s approached him. Gideon smiled. "Good morning. What took you so long, Arnel?"

"Good morning, Gid. There's only so much left for the people here." The man pointed to the large entrance of the hotel. "Let's go? The bus has been waiting for a while."

"All right." They walked to the door together. He cleared his throat. "How about your sister Angela? Is she coming?" he asked.

"No. There's an event underway in Mantalongon. Free preaching at the public audi there, Gid. She said we're all invited."

Gideon smiled. "I'm going."

Arnel looked at him for a moment before he asked, "I heard you are married. You wedded a girl through civil marriage last summer, right?"

The cold air blew as they left the building. Gideon looked at the dark sorrounding. The sun had not yet risen in the east. A man approached them and he handed the car key and continued to step onto the waiting bus outside the hotel.

"Yes."

Arnel smiled, clearly teasing him. "Shall I expect your wife with you?"

Gideon halted his steps for a moment and chuckled. "Then should I expect you to Mantalongon?"

Arnel sighed and Gideon already knew that he was not sure he could attend the gathering in Mantalongon. The man had been busy these past few years and he had a lot of responsibilities in Bogo.

The man grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "If God's willing, Gid." Then he looked around. "Bring your wife as well. Angela wants to meet your wife, Gid."

He chuckled, grinning as he got on the bus. "If Jewel's free then I'll take her with me," he joked. Of course, it's within his plan to bring Jewel with him in Mantalongon even without Arnel's persuassion.

Gideon sat on the side of the window while Arnel sat next to Aisle. Gideon adjusted the backpack at his feet and leaned back. He took a deep breath.

"Do you have no plans to return to service?" Arnel asked.

Gideon nodded. "I want to focus on Medellin. I also served in the country for thirteen years and during that time, I didn't even see it change. When Jewel finishes school, I plan to build a church in Medellin."

Arnel tapped his shoulder and smiled teasingly. "You married a student, Gid? Why, that's child abuse pre."

He laughed. That was also the joke of his Pastor when he told him he would marry a nineteen-year-old college student. But the good man did not protest when he told him that Jewel was a believer.

He casted his gaze down and sighed. In fact, he didn’t know if Jewel was really a believer. Her parents belong to a Christian denomination so he assumed that his wife also acknowledges the God he acknowledges.

But in recent months he couldn't seem to tell if his wife is really a believer.

She has a lot of bad habits and does many things that a God -fearing person should not do. And from what he sees, Jewel doesn't seem to know God.

"It's still three hours before the bus reaches San Fernando, Gid. Might as well sleep first. You look tired. Have you been sleeping these days?" Arnel asked, teasing.

He laughed. "What happened to the strict doctor of Mantalongon?"

Arnel, on the other hand, laughed. And then lean back, raising his arms behind his head. "A lot has happened, Gid. A lot," he said meaningfully then closed his eyes. "I'll sleep first. The sun's still hiding. The conductor will wake us up when we arrive at the central bus terminal of San Fernando."

Gideon glanced out the window. There was not yet any sign of the sun rising in the sky. The occasional breeze blowing into the bus window was also freezing cold, but he was accustomed to this kind of cold because of his former work in the army.

He took a deep breath and smiled softly. He could no longer remember his last visit without worrying any problems. Now that he's going to join the group again, he wants to go for a visit with carefree mind, not minding any problems along the way. The truth was he's tired and wanted to unwind in a quiet place.

He leaned his back on the seat and closed his eyes.

Gideon woke up when someone poked him. Looking to the side he saw Arnel's smiling face. "You're sleeping well, Gid."

He looked around. It's bright. He could clearly see the light gray ceiling of the bus and the brown seats. It's also noisy from inside and outside of the bus. When he looked out the window, he realized the bus was parked in the center of San Fernando.

He was surprised at the big change in the town center. The last time he visited, there was no huge buildings where people go to buy fishes. There was no building of a large fast food chain in the country occupying almost half of the Makapagal building, the first building built in the center. He hadn't visited in a few years and the place he once went to with Angela had changed drastically that he almost could not believe it.

Gideon frowned and he looked away. Why did he suddenly think of Angela?

"Come on," Arnel said and stood first, stepping out of the bus.