"What NO!" refusing to help the boy, forcing her to tighten her bear hug and even rubbing her hair onto his face, "You're disgusting! Fine, I'll help the boy, just quit it!"
"Really?" Cecilia gave a genuine and tender smile, something that Chris had not received for as long as he could remember. He wasn't ready for such warmth, and he was taken aback.
Chief Murillo noticed the captain's reaction, and she nudged him to snap him out of his trance. "Captain? The boy," she pointed out
"Uhurm!" Chris cleared his throat and turned to the boy... "What's your problem?" he asked in a tone that lacked empathy.
"My friend Jenny, I need to be sure she is okay, that's all I want." The small boy looked up at the imposing presence in front of him.
"Martinez, accompany Pink. See what you can do with the boy's problem," instructing the helmsman on what to do. Cecilia gave a small clap while swaying side to side, excited to lend a helping hand to the boy.
Martinez knelt to meet the boy's gaze. "So, where can we find your friend?" A smile graced his face
The boy stopped crying. "She's in my house, in Tagaytay City."
Cecilia's jaw dropped when she heard where they needed to go. Slowly, she turned to Chris, and when she saw him pout, she gave a nervous chuckle... "You don't think we have a taxi for three?"
Chris turned his back and was about to walk away, but Chief Murillo stopped him. "Captain, this is part of your duty, to make sure the souls are all free from earthly business that keeps them tethered to the mortal plane," she whispered discreetly. "It's just a small thing to do."
Chris clicked his tongue in annoyance before turning around. "Martinez, tell the chief officer to take command of the ship until I come back." He then addressed Cecilia and the boy, "You two! Come over here," Chris gagged when he accidentally whiffed the smell of fish. He held out his hand to stop Cecilia from getting closer. "Take a bath first!"
Thirty minutes later, Chris, now in a fresh set of civilian clothes, waited on the observation deck alongside Jun. Cecilia finally appeared, radiating freshness after a rejuvenating bath. She had swapped her vendor uniform and the fishy odor for a neat white shirt tucked into form-fitting black jeans, topped with a pink blazer.
Finally complete, Chris instructed Jun, "I want you to think about your friend, nothing else, only your friend."
"Why?" the boy asked skeptically
"Just do it!" Chris told the child. Jun, though startled, followed the instruction. He closed his eyes and thought only of Jenny. Chris placed his hand over the child's shoulders. A light began to emanate from the boy. Cecilia stepped back and closed her eyes, surprised by the bright light. When the brightness was at its peak, Chris quickly grabbed Cecilia by the hand until the three of them were engulfed by the light. When Cecilia opened her eyes, she was no longer in the ship but in Talanay, Tagaytay (Note: Talanay is a fictional town)
The boy then started to walk in a certain direction. Chris pushed Cecilia. "Hey, pink, let's follow him." They continued to follow the boy along the paved road of an urban town. The area was laid out with modest houses, filled with children playing.
They arrived in front of the gates of an old bungalow-type house. The boy passed through the gates. Cecilia opened the rusted metal gates, causing an eerie creaking sound. They saw the boy standing in the middle of the yard. "Where is Jenny? Is this where she lived?" The boy nodded and pointed at a brown puppy lying beneath a young Pine tree.
"That's Jenny, she's my best friend, I need to give her to Melinda so I can be sure she will be well taken care of." He explained to the two adults
"A dog?" Chris could not contain his disbelief after learning who Jenny was. "You brought me all the way here for a dog?" he shouted.
Cecilia came to the defense of Jun, hugging the boy. "Why are you shouting at the boy? If you don't know the value of a pet, that's your problem! You probably were denied a pet when you grew up!" She exclaimed in a calm and almost unempathetic voice.
Chris clenched his fist after being yelled at yet again by Cecilia. He was about to yell at her when they heard a voice, "Who are you? Why are you on my property?" A drunk man with a baseball bat asked them, "Get out or I will bash your heads!" he warned the two
"Believe me, I'm leaving," Chris snapped back. "Are you coming or not?" He called out to Cecilia.
She, however, had other plans. "That puppy, Jenny, your son Jun told us if we could take it to Melinda."
The man gave a puzzled look. "He's in school right now! If you can find it, take that mutt away, fine by me. Does nothing but howl and whine," The man said. Chris looked over his shoulder, glancing at the puppy.