Beautiful House

In a moment, Prinah open her eyes, in far distance as she was leaning on the trunk of the tree she saw a beautiful and newly constructed house. Everything is new in her sight, the paint shone brightly, the colorful curtains is swinging in an open window as the wind gently blowing it and the colorful flowers surrounds the house while the butterflies and bees are busy pollinating. When she saw those sights she slowly stood up in amazement. Shortly, a man came out from the house with a bird resting on his shoulder and go directly to the well and draws water. He then walk toward the garden as the bird flew around him. Prinah was shocked in what she saw and call on the name of her father. Attempting to run with all her strength toward the house, she could not able to move, her body seems so heavy while forcing herself to move she was stumbled and grounded. In an unexpected chance, she woke up with her feet stocked in a root while her hands is firmly holding dried leaves and realize that she was just dreaming. Back in her consciousness, she heard the whistling of the wind and the chirping of the birds. She glanced at the house and it was the same old and abandoned.

"Sorry Prinah, you are just dreaming," she talk to herself and sighed.

"Maybe I should clean the house," Prinah stood up and walk toward the house while carrying the strainer and water jug.

When she was about to reach the house in the distance in her right side she notice an old man fetching firewood in the middle of the woods. She wave her hand and called the man politely. The old man was surprised and worried to see a young and beautiful lady living in the midst of that forest. The old man has a clear vision and still strong even in his old age. Prinah is expecting the old man to come but to her surprised the old man just walked a few steps and steadily stood in his position and rather wait for her while holding his staff. Prinah notice that the old man was curious and wanted to talk but there is something that bothers him. Without hesitation, Prinah then run toward the old man and greet him.

"Good afternoon sir," Prinah greet the old man while panting.

"Oh! you can call me 'lolo' (Filipino term for grandpa) Rio," the old man quickly respond, "You must be his girl friend?" the old man guess and tease her, "No, I'm just joking."

"Do you know the man who lives in this house?" Prinah asks seriously.

"Will," the old man turn his head and look on the ground and think, "I just met him twice," he was sure of what he said, "I don't even know his name."

"Why? What is he doing here?" Prinah interestingly want some sure answers.

"The first time we met here when I was feeding my 'Carabao' (water buffalo) in this grassy land. I saw him outside the house with a bird resting on his shoulder cultivating his garden in the backyard of that house. He was busy carrying a bucket of water and watered the crops. When he noticed me he came and greet me as what you did today. He gave me this 'bolo' (large single-edge knife) when he notice me fetching firewood and I have it until now-the old man tapped his side. I asked him what's he doing in that house, he told me he came to take his rest. I ask him whose house is that and he said he inherited it from his grandparents." the old man reported to Prinah.

"Did he told you about his job and family?" Prinah further investigate the old man.

The old man answered, "He don't talk much, the second time we met right here (the old man point his finger on the ground) he told me to stay where I stand while he went back to his house after I told him my problem. I waited here because that was he told me and when he came back he gave me money exactly what I need, that was the time that my son needed to pay his school fees. He is generous but he gave boundaries to people, I think he doesn't really trust people. He told me he had a business and used to came here weekly. Last thing he told me is that his father is a Korean missionary. I think he was sixteen or seventeen at that time and he's tall and handsome," the old man about to close the conversation but he continued, "I forgot his face, its's been twenty four years since the last time I saw him, I wonder why he did not came back," then the old man felt sorry to Prinah.

"He is my father," Prinah ask him.

"Oh, I never thought, I never expect he had a daughter," he smile and shake his head.

"Lolo, do you have any idea where I can find him?" Prinah hopefully asked the old man Rio.

"Well, all I can say is you go to the city of Paglaum, " Lolo Rio encourage her, "Anyway, how did you find this place?" he curiously asked her.

"It's my grandparents who told me because my mom died when I was three," Prinah then closed her eyes and bow her head in sorrow, "If she was alive both of us would come here supposedly."

Lolo Rio asked her, "Where did you land when you came here?"

"In Pangitaa," Prinah responded

"Ah, I see they are just closed with that City," Lolo Rio nod his head and assured her.

"So the city of Paglaum and Pangitaa is next to each other?" Prinah confirmed the statement of Lolo Rio.

"Exactly," Lolo Rio snap his finger.

The old man notices that it's getting dark and thinking about Prinah's light in the house so he gave to her his fully fueled lamp. Prinah refused to take it, but Lolo Rio told him he can still manage to go back in his village an hour without getting darkened in his way.