“Bon appetit,” Cesar says while putting two trays of their meals on the table.

Mark and Justin also help along with the remaining trays. And when the meals are set according to their respective owners, Coach Perez stands up amongst his sitting players.

“Sons of the Warriors,” the players look intently to their a la Alexandrian coach. “You have fought a grisly game today but we will gain the upper hand for the war that is coming upon us. We shall sweep them clean like washing dishes with Joy dishwashing soap. Now who’s with me!!”

“AHOOH!! AHOOH!! AHOOH!!” shout the players.

“Would you please shut up and eat?!!” says a Karen.

“Yeah! Let us eat in peace, you thugs!” says a Kyle.

Cesar is wide-eyed and Justin snickers because of his reaction. Mark also snickers while trying to hold his laugh.

Coach Perez gingerly sits down, “Sorry, folks. Not gonna happen again!”

“Yeah, you better be!” Kyle again says.

“Get fat, fatty!” Kevin says.

Kyle stands up and says, “I dare you speak that to my face!!!”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

So, Kevin stands up as Kyle’s thumping footsteps get louder and closer. With Kevin standing up six-foot-nine, Kyle stops short in his tracks, looking up at the Kapre (a Filipino mythical giant) about to eat him up.

“Get... fat… fatty...” says Kevin to his face.

Sweat drips down Kyle’s face as he stutters.

“Ha-have a n-nice day,” says Kyle as he waves the giant goodbye and thump, thump, thumps to his seat.

Kevin sits on his seat and says with a smile, “So, let’s eat.”

“Not so fast, big guy,” says Cesar. “Come with me for a moment.”

Cesar stands up and goes by the sink where there are not many people. Kevin follows him with a somber look. They talk and talk but mainly lecture from Cesar.

Suddenly, Cesar peeks out and gestures to Mark to come to them. Mark points to himself to confirm and Cesar nods and gestures again to come to them.

“Well, I guess I have to come and aid him.”

“I’ll go too. I want to hear him get lectured,” says Justin with a chuckle.

So, Mark and Justin go over to the sink and meet the master and the giant.

“So, what’s up, Cesar,” Mark says.

“Could you say to this heathen what he should act? Especially since he professes to believe in Jesus.”

“Yes, mastah,” says Mark then turns towards Kevin. “Kevin, what you did was wrong and it should not be done again. You profess to believe in Christ but your behavior doesn’t match what you’re saying. Scripture says, ‘Don’t insult people’ in 1 Peter 3:9. You need to have kindness, goodness, and self-control which are a few of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Back to you, Cesar.”

In the entirety of this lecture, Kevin bows his head in silence.

“I’m sorry, big bro. It will not happen again. I did not control myself.”

“And we forgive you, big guy,” says Cesar. “I don’t know how your former team does things but here in our team, we value integrity, accountability, and excellence; you need these three to be in this team, lacking one of them makes you insufficient for us even though you play well and a star in the team. Understood?”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

“Yes, master,” says Kevin.

“Well… let’s eat it out, big guy.”

Finally, they finish their meals and go home to their respective tents. Mark, in particular, invites Justin and Cesar to stay at his home since it’s already dark.

“Welp, young man. You’ve got yourself a guest,” says Cesar.

“Me too, bud,” interjects Justin.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation, my dear comrades. Let’s go,” then Mark goes on his way.

“And Mark…” says Cesar, making Mark stop in his tracks.

“What, master?”

“What about your dad?”

Mark ponders into his own deepest soul.

‘My dad…’

“I’m sure he’ll not harm you.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about, Mark,” says Cesar.

“It’s just… It may be too sensitive for you that we will see your father drunk again. We don’t want to invade your privacy.”

Mark ponders again.

‘Too sensitive… He’s right. But I have to do this one thing.’

“My dad… I know he’s gonna be drunk again and I know you don’t have to see it, but I need courage to tell him what we’ve achieved today.” Mark gives Cesar an earnest look. “I need you guys to for me to do it.”

Cesar smiles at him, “If that’s what you want, Mark, we’ll go with you.”

“Thank you, Cesar.”

“Let’s not be dramatic now. Let’s be happy and merry, shall we?” says Justin as he puts his arm over Mark.

Mark and Justin laugh along the way to the Mercado residence while Cesar stops for a while and reminisces what he is witnessing.

‘You got a great friend, Mark,’ Cesar thinks and then goes on his way towards Mark’s destination.

When they arrive at Mark’s house, Mark stops short in his tracks with Justin and Cesar behind him. He slowly lifts his hand to the doorknob and opens it gently. He enters the threshold first and sees George, his dad, at a distance in the kitchen.

George is half-asleep in the chair with a bottle of beer on the table. Justin and Cesar enter the home and Cesar closes the door behind them.

At the closing of the door, George wakes up from his half-slumber and smiles.

“Ohh, helloo there, Mark my boyy. I’vve been waitinng for youu,” and then goes back to his slumber.

“Maybe you should sleep in your room, dad. Or maybe on the couch so that you won’t be bothered going upstairs to your room,” says Mark.

“Oh, ohh,” George wakes up again. “Whaat you ssay again?”

Cesar approaches George and says to him, “Let’s get you to the couch, uncle. You’ll sleep better there.”

“Ohh,” George awakes again. “Oh, yeahh. I wanna… ssleep.”

“Yes, uncle.”

Cesar puts George’s shoulder over him and holds his waist, then they slowly walk together to the living room.

Mark is wide-eyed and thinks to himself, ‘Wow. This is who I want to be.’

Cesar puts George on the couch in the living room. But before Cesar can pull away from George, the latter grabs the former by the arm and pulls him closer.

“Thhank youu… for heelpinng myy son,” says George.

“You’re welcome, uncle,” replies Cesar. “Now, get some rest.”

George lets go of his arm and lies on the couch. He sleeps immediately and snores.

“Let’s go, Mark,” says Cesar. “Oh, where are we going again?”

“Let’s go to my room,” Mark replies.

The trio goes upstairs and into Mark’s room. They put their bags on the floor and hop on the bed.

“We have conquered the unconquerable! We’re gonna be champions!” says Justin.

“We will, but we have to put in the effort worthy of it,” says Cesar.

“My nuts itch, I’ve gotta go change.”

Mark laughs, “What the heck did you just say?”

“My balls itch, Mark. Deal with it,” and Justin laughs along with him.

“Go change in the bathroom then.”

“Where’s your bathroom?”

“At the end of the corridor. I’ll go with you since I would change anyways.”

“I’ll go with y’all too, I have to change,” says Cesar.

The three go to the bathroom one at a time to change clothes. They also brush their teeth before going out. After changing clothes and brushing their teeth, they go back to Mark’s room. Justin hops unto the bed first then Mark then Cesar.

“Haa〜,” says Justin. “This bed is soft.”

“Why do you say that? Don’t you have a bed in your home?”

“Mark, I only have a room and a bamboo couch. And I put a mat on it to make it more comfortable because of the wood.”

“Me too, Mark,” says Cesar. “I only have a small room with a bamboo couch. I’m glad that my landlord gave me a mat to lay down on. I’m content but I’m aspiring to make my life better, bit by bit, inch by inch. I know I will.”

“You guys are tough,” says Mark. “I don’t even have the same circumstances that you have. It will get better for sure.

“Yeah,” says Cesar. “I hope so."

“Now, I’m just grateful to God that I have everything I need. Just as you handled trials, my fellas, I hope I would handle trials the same; with determination and hope.”

“Just fight on!” says Justin and the three of them laugh.

They talk for a while until they get tired of it.

Justin yawns and the others follow suit.

“Let’s just go to sleep. We have a game tomorrow,” says Justin.

“Let’s not forget to pray, guys,” says Cesar.

“Who’s gonna lead?” says Mark.

“Justin’s gonna lead.”

“Me?” Justin says. “Ok fine. Since you insist.”

“That’s the spirit,” says Cesar. “Let’s close our eyes in prayer.”

“Thank you, Jesus, for the victory you gave us today against the VCF Lions. They really are tough, Lord. Help us to win the championship, Lord. Give us the strength to play tomorrow. Give us rest tonight, Lord. In Jesus’ name.”

“Amen,” says the trio.

The three of them sleep peacefully in the Mercado household.