Mark goes downstairs and smells spring rolls in the morning. He goes to the kitchen and sees the spring rolls on tissue paper on a saucer, on a tissue paper so that the oil can be absorbed.

“Eat up, kiddo. I’ll take you to church.”

“Thanks, dad.”

Mark grabs a plate and a spoon then scoops up some rice. He puts his plate on the table and sits on a chair while scooting closer to the table.

“You pray, kiddo. I don’t believe in that anymore.”

Mark freezes at what he has just said. He sees his dad so broken but can’t do anything about it but hopes that God will do His work in him.

“Ok, dad.”

Mark bows his head and closes his eyes while his dad remains upright with his eyes open.

“Thank you, Lord, for the food you’ve given to us today. Guide and teach us as we gather in your presence. Open our hearts to your love and truth. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”

Mark opens his eyes and sees his dad with a gruff look, his hands crossing over himself.

“Let’s eat, dad.”

“Thank you, kiddo.”

And so they eat together, Mark doesn’t dare to strike up a conversation with his dad. He no longer is comfortable around his dad but is intimidated.

After they eat for breakfast, Mark and George enter their car. Mark sits at the front with his dad in the driver’s seat.

“You look great, kiddo.”

“You too, dad.” This is a lie. Mark notices that his dad is only wearing a jersey shirt, jersey shorts, and a pair of flipflops.

‘Dad, what is happening to you? When will the happy-go-lucky dad return?’

“Thank you, kiddo. Let’s get you to church.”

George starts the engine and they are off on the road. They don’t talk to each other momentarily but George breaks the silence.

“So, how are things between you and Samantha, kiddo?”

Mark takes a glance at his father and then on the road, “We’re fine, dad.”

“Does she still like Cesar?”

Mark is stunned for a moment, “Uhm. Apparently, yes, dad.”

“And do you still like her?”

“Uhm… Yes, dad.”

George sighs, “A year has passed, kiddo, and you still like her? Don’t hurt your heart too much, kiddo, you’ll be miserable.”

“But in my heart screams the name of Sam, dad.”

“It doesn’t matter what your heart screams, kiddo. Sometimes the heart can deceive you.”

“But there’s this promise from God for me.”

“What?”

“God promised to me that I would have Sam as my wife in my dream.”

George stops the car in the driveway and turns off the engine. He stares at his son with bewilderment.

“When did you dream about this?”

Mark pauses, “It was… It was the night before Ma died.”

“What happened in the dream?”

Mark tells him his whole dream between him and Sam, especially when a voice tells him that she will be his wife.

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George reclines to his seat, “Your mother had a dream once.”

“I know, dad. She told me.”

George smiles, “I didn’t believe it at first. I bet she didn’t tell you that I was weirded out by what she said to me about the dream. I distanced myself from her and dated other women, but it didn’t work. I had a different feeling when I was with Gemma, she made me feel comfortable and calm. She’s the one who really is very fitting to what is my ideal woman; kind, understanding, and is able to talk to me. But I rejected her. After we graduated that’s when we started to talk to each other more especially at church. That’s when we reconnected where I asked for forgiveness that I gave up on her so easily and looked for other women, to which she forgave me for it. Then I started courting her again, keeping her dream as a consideration for what might happen. Over time, we fell in love again and our love grew even more. And then we got married. Kiddo, it was the most beautiful moment in my life. I cried a little bit.” George chuckles at the thought of it.

“I know, dad. You always told me that you cried when you saw Ma so beautiful in a wedding dress walking down the aisle.”

George smiles, “She was. And she still is… in my heart.” George gives him a glance, “Kiddo, don’t take your dream lightly but…” George pauses for a moment, struggling to let the words out. “But take it to God… Just pray to him your dream if it’s from him.”

“Sure, dad. I will take it to God and rely on him for the answers that I want to find.”

George looks at the sky ahead, “I sure hope you will have what you expect, kiddo.” George smiles at him, “So then, I shall take you to church.”

“Will you go in with me, dad?”

George’s smile fades and his gaze strays to the road, “No, kid. Not now.”

Silence again fills the car when George turns the key of the car.

“Let’s go,” George says. “I don’t want you to be late.”

Mark gazes at the road, “Yeah. Sure, dad.”

George steps on the gas and on they go towards church. After a short while, they arrive at church. Just as Mark is about to get out of the vehicle, George gives his son a hundred-peso bill.

“For your tithe, kiddo. Be good at church.”

Mark takes the bill, “Thanks, dad.” Mark gets out of the vehicle and into the church.

Just as he is about to sit on a chair which is slightly at the back rows, somebody taps his shoulder. Mark turns to see who is it, and he sees a clenched fist offered to him. Mark smiles and concedes to create an explosion, he fist-bumps with Justin.

“Boom!” both of them said.

They finally sit beside each other and wait for the service to start. The church is moderately packed with some patches of chairs that are empty-seated. After waiting for some time and talking casually to each other, they see Cesar and Sam, and then they wave at them. In turn, Cesar and Sam see them and wave at them also. The pair of lovers approach the best buddies.

“Happy Sunday, guys,” Cesar says. “How are you fine lads doing today?”

“We’re doing fine, Cesar,” Mark says with a smile. “How about you guys, how are you?”

Sam smiles and says, “We’re also doing fine. I’m glad y’all went to my house yesterday. It was a pleasure to have such guests as y’all.”

“No. We should thank you for such a beautiful accommodation you’ve given,” says Justin. “The food was nooiicee.”

Mark elbows Justin gently.

Justin chuckles, “What? I’m just telling the truth.”

“You can’t only just thank them for such shallow reasons.”

“Whatever, Mark. I stand by what I said.”

Mark just laughs in disbelief, “Alright, Alright. Whatever floats your boat.”

“Haha, nice.”

“But expect me to correct you whenever you get out of pocket.”

“Yessir.”

Cesar and Sam just giggle at them.

“We're just gonna go there, guys,” Sam says as she points at the patch of empty chairs that are slightly at the front. “We wanna hear the sermon better.”

“Oh, bummer. We want you to be here with us,” says Justin.

“I’m sorry, guys,” says Sam. “I just wanna hear better. Maybe you could be there with us.”

“Sure thing, Sam,” Mark says.

“Nice. Let’s go.”

The best buddies follow the lovers slightly at the front. Cesar sits by the center of the aisle with Samantha beside him. Mark sits beside her with Justin further away. The company waits for the service to start. But while they’re waiting, Mark strikes up a conversation with Sam.

“So, how’s your day, Sam?”

“Oh, it was good. How’s your basketball practice yesterday?”

“Yesterday was awesome. We got a new kid… well, more like a giant kid. Haha.”

“Yeah, Cesar told me about him.”

“I remembered Cesar lobbing the ball to him so high in the air and he still caught it, this kid is special. Cesar told me he’s gonna be in the NBA, which I don’t protest. He has the agility, speed, and skills; he’s unstoppable.”

They talk about basketball for a while until the worship team steps up and urges the people to stand.

“Good morning, church!” says the worship leader.

“Good morning!!” replies the congregation.

“Today, we will worship the Lord in all our hearts.” The worship leader bows her head, “Lord Jesus, forgive us of our sins that we’ve done this past week. Give us grace to sing a song of worship to you, God. We need you, God. Have mercy on us, Lord.”

The worship leader starts to sing and the congregation sings along with her with the aid of the screen at the above and front showing them the lyrics. Some raise their hands and others put their hands on their chest.

Mark sings with them and for a moment, she looks at Sam. He sees her with eyes closed and heart poured out to the Lord.

The presence of the Lord fills the room as they sing the chorus.

“I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus.”

With eyes closed and heart poured out, Mark hears a still small voice in his heart.

“I will give the woman beside you as your wife. This is my decree; no angels nor principalities, life nor death will be able to thwart my plans for you two. The both of you may not like my plans but I will join you both together in holy matrimony.”

Mark opens his eyes and glances at Sam. He sees her hand and Cesar’s clasped together in worship.

“Do as what you have said, Lord. Your will be done.”