Gregorio and Josepha were eating together, warry about what will happen later. He just feels sorry because he would be enjoying his food but would throw it up later. They were both quiet, they were watching each other gulp or take a bite of their food. And that's when,
"Gregorio"
"what?"
"Did you notice anything with your mouth?"
"What"
"Have you ever noticed that your uvula is color black right now"
When Josepha pointed that out, Gregorio asked her to take a look at it closer. According to what Josepha had observed, a small black thick ink-like coat had completely covered his uvula, its unusual, it's out of ordinary.
So Gregorio tried to remove it but it and was able to remove some of it, its texture is similar to mucus. He pulled some chunk of it so he thought that it was gone but he was wrong. Josepha checked it again and Gregorio's attempt of removing it had no mark.
It was still black as ever. Gregorio tried pulling it out again and it became an unending game of pulling for them. It never seems to end. His uvula started to feel the pain of his pull, but he had decided that he should end it now.
The pain of unbearable but how he feels about the situation that he was marked by someone is more unbearable.
Josepha witnessing this scenario asked him to stop or take a rest first. The moisture from her eyes convinced Gregorio to halt his action. So he waited, and waited until the evening came until sleep visited her.
He went outside, touched his mouth and felt where his uvula is. He gently felt it and touched where could be the black thing coming out. Then he felt something, it's as if his uvula is two. His natural or ordinary uvula was covered by the unnatural one. The unnatural one coated his unnatural uvula. With a tear and hope he pulled hard then a gush of black mucus-like came out from his mouth.
He cried like a child that night. It's a mixed tear of pain and happiness.
Gregorio looked at his asleep wife and he was able to really look at her without a curtain-like curse that covered his eyes; which prevented him to see the beauty of his wife. He finally saw her like how they first met.
Leon heard about the success of Gregorio and was genuinely happy for him. And he wants to do something for him. He was nervous but he still wants to do it. He arrived at Gregorio's house but he was not still there. Their house is locked so he has to return in the evening.
He had the time to wander on the road while waiting for Gregorio, he was enjoying the warm sunlight of that afternoon.
The leaves were giving off fresh air that's why his body's condition was really perfect. He never had the time to admire this feeling when he arrived as they were always busy with work.
He was able to walk on his own step now, not rushing. He can finally feel the brushes of bushes on his feet. The pine tree leaves are pricking his bare feet and he was able to watch the ants moving.
But it won't be a natural feeling if he won't feel anything unexpected, or unnatural. He was used to the fresh air that is penetrating in his skin that is why he became nervous. He felt fear from the strands of his hair until his toe.
An unnatural strange freezing air walked through him, not passed by but walked through him. His back felt the cold ice air entered and he felt like his chest became the exit. An unseen being walked through his human being body.
His whole body trembled with shock, of course he would feel fear. He would always be. He tried to overcome it and was able to do it for quite some time but it just surprises him.
He doesn't know when, where or how it will happen. Leon wonders though if that unseen being seen him or that unseen being can't see him also.
Gregorio poured the black coffee into Leon's cup. Leon took a sip and base on his reaction Gregorio knew that it was too bitter for him.
"Sorry we can't afford sugar", Gregorio shyly said.
"It's okay, we can't afford sugar also, none of us anyway" Leon said to make them laugh…... "It's just that you have a strong coffee" Leon said again that made them laugh altogether.
"By the way, why are you here"? Gregorio asked
Leon looked at him. This time he is afraid of his fellow human being. They might have thought he is crazy. Leon asked Gregorio is its okay for him to prayed over.
The moon already welcomed Leon when he came out of Gregorio's house. He felt relieved and somewhat happy but what he was not happy now in his situation. It's already dark but he really needs to go home. He talked to himself while walking, keeping his mind occupied to not think about anything.
Then he felt this unnatural air again, he can actually felt that breathing is becoming hard, the feeling where he was surrounded my many people.
Leon can feel the hard pressure from his chest, his ears felt like it was covered, as if he is inside a drum. His eyes seemed to had a curtain, blocking him to see a clear view. He already knew that he is in a bad situation, they are all curious about him; every one of them want a piece of him.
The good news is they can't really harm him, physically. He looked around, he tried to concentrate even though its dim and recognized where he was. Then,
"Ah, it's really dark in here. There are too many trees, they are blocking the moon; so I can't see the beauty of it. I think it would be better if I'll cut all the trees her...."
Leon said to himself but said it aloud because he knew they are listening; they are attentively listening. He can now already feel the presence of the unseen beings moving around him.
"I'll cut the trees and then burn it so..."
Then he heard whooshing gush of wind moving away from him. The heavy pressure that he felt slowly faded away.