Fate through the Demon's Hands

 It was afternoon in December, a day before Christmas eve. The sun was eventually not shining so bright but it’s quite hot in the city. Everybody were busy shopping. They bought fruits, meats, grocery items, and gifts for their families and loved ones. Department stores, malls, and even public market were very crowded. There was a heavy traffic along the highway which caused the Public Utility Vehicles and private cars ran at minimum speed.

"Jingle bell. Jingle bell. Jingle all the way..." The street children sang Christmas carol hoped that somebody will spare them a coin. Some children begged food from the passers.

I went out from the department store when I saw a beggar sat alone near the exit door.

It is my nature not to give money to beggars.

What was always in my mind? What if that money goes to some child trafficker or what if the child is only acting as a beggar as a means of getting money for personal use? These unknown factors sometimes caused me to ignore such beggars but I can’t also let a poor child starve on the streets when I can help them in some way. 

 I felt pity on her so I spared her a pack of biscuit. I walked away then.

I got home past 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon. I lay down on my bed and fell asleep.

 "Oh, Shit! It's already 8:00 o'clock in the evening. My friends might be waiting for me."

I rushed to my closet and hurriedly dressed up. 

I picked my cellphone up and answered the call.

“Yes, I’m coming”.

I drove my car and ran it as fast as I could. 

I was about half kilometer away from my house when a young girl suddenly crossed my way. I stopped. I almost bumped her. I opened my car window and looked at her without saying any word. 

Maybe she was between twelve to fifteen years of age. She had a short uncombed blond hair, wore dirty dress which seemed unchanged for how many days, and walked with bare feet. She looked messy. She was one of the beggars in the street.

 She nodded her head and did not even looked at me. Maybe she was scared. I was supposed to go down from my car and called her but she walked away fast.

I went to Bonchita's Resto Bar where my friends are waited for me inside. 

Laughter, rock music and deafening sound filled the room. Sexy ladies danced on the dance floor along with the music. We stayed there in almost two hours. Me and my friends had drank much. Of course I enjoyed their company. However, the image of the young girl I was about to bump didn’t vanish in my mind. I was not sure what caused me into those thought. I was bothered.

Five years after, I was sitted alone under the shade of the big Mahogany tree in front of my house one afternoon. I watched the sun as it set at the west. The cool breeze brought fragrance like flowers in the early morning. I stared at the children played happily at the nearby canto.

Suddenly, a black car stopped in front of me. An elderly couple came out from the car together with the young lady. I haven’t recognized them at first.

“oh! How are you boy?”

“ I'm just doing good Uncle”

He was one of our family friend. 

“ here is my daughter, Charity.

Charity, he is Alfonzo. He is five years older than you.”

“ Uncle? I thought you don’t have your daughter before?”

He just smiled at me.

After we've eaten our dinner, I sat at the balcony to breathe fresh air outside. Charity came and talked to me.

“ Yes, you are right Alfonzo, I am not their daughter by blood but I am now their daughter by the law?”

“what did you mean.? Okay, I got it.”

Charity began to share me what happened during her past life, that was five years ago.

I just listened to her.

  “I walked alone on the street one night. Suddenly, there was a man followed me. I walked faster. He ran after me so I ran fast until I arrived at the back portion of the old St. Isidore church. He ran faster than me so he caught me. There was no enough light on that place and people seldom passed there. He attempted to rape me. I fought against him. I attempted to run away but he held my hand.

He stabbed me on the right portion of my back below my shoulder with a sharp knife. Meanwhile, there was a car coming. The man ran away and left me on the street. I lay along the highway. A minute after, a couple in their black Hilux car passed through the road where I was there. They saw me so they halted. The old man carried me and put me inside the car. I didn't know who they were. They brought me to the hospital. Since then, they let me live like their own child. They cared for me and gave me all I need. They sent me to school. I am now Ms. Charity de Guzman, the one and only daughter Mr. and Mrs. de Guzman. I was very thankful to them. I owe to them my second life.”

  “ What brought you to walk on the street at late night? Are your parents did not look for you? Where are they? You are not supposed to walk on the street alone especially during night time.” 

“ Alfonzo, I know you haven’t remembered me anymore. But our path already crossed in several times. The night I was stabbed was the night you almost bumped me with your car. I was so scared that time so I walked away.

I never forgot you when you gave me a pack of biscuit. I was so hungry that time and did not have food to eat. I was not able to thank you that time because you are in a hurry. Anyway, what caused you in a hurry always?”

My tears trickled into my chicks after I heard her life story. I hugged her tightly.

Oh, what a small world after all!

It also happened that she enrolled her subjects in the school where I worked as a teacher.

Since then we became good friends.