18 Inheritance War

September 12, 2018

9:47 am

Felicia del Mundo

It is the last day of her wake. Finally, at last, this girl will finally be buried, and she can just be forgotten for the rest of time.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. We walk in a march of death that leads up to her final resting place – the Romulo Family Mausoleum. From the high extravagance of Word Miracle Church, we walk all over the city like glorified mourners wearing white. At the head of the procession is a carriage that carries her coffin. Behind the carriage are her mourning family. I walk in this procession with Guevarra at my side. I don't know what game he is trying to play right now. In this procession where everyone is wearing white, he is the only one who chose to wear black. It was as if he is setting a target upon himself.

I know this procession won't take that much of a time. I don't think any of these people will survive the scorching heat of the morning sun. At the end of this procession, we arrive at the city cemetery. I see several gravestones marked with crosses of marble and granite. In a place where more people live, only the grass here are the ones that are still alive. After walking more and more paths, we arrive at this grand home-like place. Trees surround this mausoleum as if to protect it from ghosts. Gardeners clip away the hedges to preserve its beauty. The mausoleum is styled after the old Spanish homes of the past. Yes, of course. This is a display of the Romulo Family wealth. I truly cannot understand why a dead body needs a home. They can just be cremated and kept at home, but no. They chose to give a dead body a procession as if it was queen.

All I could do is shake my head.

In front of the mausoleum are seats set by rows with a stand in front for her coffin. I take my seat at the last row with Guevarra by my side. Right, this is the most awaited eulogies of the loved ones. I see her father walk up in front. Of course, the misogynistic Christopher Romulo. He goes up the podium with a clipboard on his hands and reading glasses on his eyes. I knew he wouldn't be sincere about this eulogy that he even had to pre-write his speech for his daughter. Can't he just speak, I don't know, from the heart?

"Dearest beloved," he begins. "We have gathered here for the death of a soul that unexpectedly left this world. I cannot say that it is not the right time, for God works in mysterious ways. Maybe it is indeed time for her to leave this cruel world. However, death creates pain, not for the deceased, but for the ones left behind. Still, I can assure that she died as part of this family. We love her for who she is and – "

"She already has her own family!"

Oh, fuck. And I thought the elite would be the one who would be the most civil in various situations. I sit here behind the seats with a man standing in objection. His striking black hair and olive skin cannot be mistaken with someone else.

Mateo.

He's actually here. How can he be here?

"And, to continue it all off, that whore ruined my life and my family's!"

From my seat, I see the horrified face of Mister Romulo. He stands agape that he cannot continue his scripted eulogy. I look to my side where Guevarra is seated. All he could do is shake his head in all of this.

"He shouldn't have said anything," Guevarra says calmly. "Now, this supposed solemn ceremony will turn into an inheritance war."

He stands from his seat and walks for the podium. He bows to Mister Romulo as if he wants to take over the eulogy, to which Mister Romulo obliges.

"Mister Macedo, I request that you take a seat," Guevarra says through the microphone. "This is a day of solemnity. We can all deal with the situation after – "

"Shut up, Guevarra!" he exclaims once more. My, oh my. He is causing quite the scandal. He walks for the aisle of the seating where he can be seen everywhere. He even dared point his finger at the lawyer in front. "You are just one of her minions that want to protect her for everything that she did. Well, you can both go to hell for everything that you are doing."

All of a sudden, Christine's mother rises from her seat. "Young man! Speak not your words! You are causing – "

"I care not for what you say, Irene," he says. He speaks as if he had taken some kind of drug before this ceremony. Did he actually want to cause this scandal? As this goes on, the mourners suddenly whisper amongst themselves in speculation of what's going on. A few of the Romulo guards surround the area as if to stop this madman from letting loose. "All I want is justice for my family and everything she did. How simple is my request that this man turn over Christine's wealth to me? I am, after all, her lawful husband."

All of a sudden, another man stands up. This man, however, is one I have never seen before. "Mister Macedo, you speak false, for your marriage to Miss Romulo never took place. You were married – "

"That marriage was valid for there were witnesses and a contract was signed. It was not annulled nor – "

"But it did not continue anyway," the same man retorts back. "No marriage took place. And, in any case, she did remarry. She went on to marry me, so take your seat for you have no claim at all."

"Why, you – "

And, then, fighting ensues. Mateo throws a punch to the man earlier. As an act of defense, the man throws another punch himself. They fight like school kids who have no knowledge of actual fighting. As people who barely fight their own battles, it is such a sight to see them fight for some dead person's wealth. I look at Guevarra who is standing at the podium. He just shakes his head in this. And I thought he would laugh at this scenario. Some of the men gathered round try to break off the fight by holding both parties off, but the two insist on throwing punches and kicks against each other. It reached a point in which the silent observers find themselves involved in this stupidity.

As they continue their fight, all of a sudden, a black car stops in front of this garden. A woman steps out of the car. This woman wears a wimple like that of a nun and is dressed that of a nun with the right gown and rosary on her. As she steps out, she guides a toddler out of the car. As the fighting parties see the nun and the boy, all fighting somehow stops.

They walk straight through the aisle as if sunlight is following them. The boy turns his eyes on me. As I gaze into his eyes, his particular sharp amber eyes made a mark on me. Christine's eyes.

Of course. This is the toddler in the picture.

Oh, my god.

This is her son.

It was if a dead person rose out of their grave for this sight I see. Mourners look with awe at the boy and the nun. They whisper amongst themselves as they try to figure out who these two people are.

The nun heads for the podium with the young boy in her arms. She bows her head to Guevarra as if to say that she will now take over. Guevarra merely obliges and returns to the seat with me. As she clears her throat, she now begins her speech.

"Good morning to all of you," the nun says clearly. "As you can see, I am a humble nun carrying a child in my arms. It is alright if you know me not, but you must know who this boy is. His name is Joseph Mari Romulo, the one and only son of his mother, Christine Romulo, and he is here to claim his inheritance."