I am Henry, and right now I am holding the hand of a rich suitor of my friend Mayumi.. we are angry at each other and want to fight, but the truth is.. we are angrier at ourselves because we let someone very important to us be in danger.
Mayumi.. she is the friend who always yells at me.. always reaching.. and dreaming of a bright future for me..
"Kuya Henry! One day you'll become a hero too," something like that.. like "Red Lightning."
2 years ago..
"In a small sari sari store, the morning news is played in the television, narrating how a certain unknown Hero named Pulang lightning took down an entire drug den.. with tons of drugs found and the police just arrived with the suspects tied and some hostages released.
"That's amazing.. how did he do that?" "According to the witnesses.. Red Lightning moves really fast.." that's why he was able to defeat all the bad guys.." the people murmured.
"Heh.. that's nonsense, they probably just made that up.." Henry yelled to the people..
"Big brother, can you buy me a cigarette.." "Twenty each piece, okay?"
(Oh no.. I'm missing some money.. how annoying..)
As Henry walked out disappointed in the store.. he suddenly saw a young guy walking along the street.. when this guy saw him.. it changed direction.. Henry then quickly followed him..
"Hey give me twenty pesos" "bro sorry I don't have now.." "Are you fooling me!!"
Henry was about to hit the guy.. when a voice is heard..
"Big bro Henry.. there you go again" smiling Mayumi approached them..
"Tsk.. You caught me again Mayumi tsk why all the time.."
"You can go now.. I'll talk you out of this.."
The guy quickly ran off..
"Geez, if you weren't just a cousin of a friend, I would have hurt you long ago, you're always such a nuisance..!"
"Because, Kuya Henry, you're doing it wrong.. you're strong.. and good at fighting.. but you should use your skills to protect the weak, to fight against the bad.. that's how you should use your abilities.."
"Weh.. what, like a superhero..? Like that news guy, The Red Lightning..?" Oh, are you joking? Just like Mom.. she always told me stuff like that.. do good, defend others.. and then what happened.. she ended up being the one embarrassed..??
(Flashes of memories came back.. when the police are arresting Henry's mother.. for plunder.. Mayumi is also there in the scene.. she was trying to stop the cops telling them Henry's mother is innocent fighting hard..)
"Don't be like that, Kuya.. Don't speak badly about your mother.. you just don't know.. Ate Didi is a hero.. you just don't know..!"
"Huh? A hero..? Isn't she ashamed..? Does she still have the face to face us and the people.. now that it turns out she is stealing something.. and from who? The people's treasury..!?
Mayumi is very angry.. as she just walked out and left Henry..
"Yeah right.. go ran to your school.. so that you wouldn't be a thief as well..!"
Henry is also mad, as he walked out, brawling everyone he meets on his way..
Henry arrived home and there his Father lying in the sofa with bandage on his legs.. and his seven brothers and sisters.. waiting for the breakfast he brought from outside..
Ooh Kuya.. what took you so long..? We are starving..!!
Henry.. kissed all his sisters.. and power punched his young brothers..
"Sorry.. too many interruptions along the way.. Here I bought you all breakfast..!!"
(A year ago, Dad had an accident, and since then he has not been able to walk on his own or go to work..)
(The truth is, Dad Paciano and Mom Didi are good people.. they love to adopt children.. there are nine of us in total.. one is Richard, who is my age.. and these seven kids.. who is also preparing now to go to school.. because Dad Paciano is sick and Mom Didi is in jail, I had to stop studying and help out at home and earn a little income, to add to Dad's earnings from his farm)
"Okay Dad.. we're leaving now.. and I'll take the kids to school.."
"Take care, everyone.." "Buh-bye!"
After bringing his siblings to the school, Henry goes to the market to work for his sideline.. carrying heavy sacks of rice and other commodities to the stores.. he seems good on this line of work.. after which he returns to school to pick up his siblings.."
Meanwhile..
After school Mayumi visited the Prison jail for women.. and there she visited Mrs. Didi..
"Mayumi.. how are you..? what brings you here..?"
"I'm doing well.. Ate Didi.. how are you..?"
"I'm good too.. hey.. thank you so much for everything.. I heard they stopped their acts of corruption.. and the company is also closing now.."
"Ate Didi… I'm sorry, but I can't hold it in any longer… I need to tell Henry the truth… Don't worry I will also tell him not to tell anyone else."
"Mayumi… you know Henry… and you know what he might do… and our family might be in danger…"
"But Ate Didi… he's in more danger right now… he's going down the wrong path… and it could get even worse… don't worry, he will listen to me.. I'll tell him to calm down and everything will be resolved."
"Mayumi… are you sure…?" "Yes Ate Didi… please trust him."
Henry arrived at the school to pick up his siblings..
"Hey how's School? So you top the exams again.?" Henry greeted his brother Richard.
And they all happily walked along the streets towards their home..
On the house, they have prepared the dinner, and about to start their meal..
"Okay, bunso.. now it's your turn to say our prayer.." Mr. Paciano encouraged his son.
The boy prayed..
"Lord, thank You for this food.. Please bless it to be nourishing to our bodies.. Lord, I also pray that Mom can come home soon so she can eat with us again.. I hope she can come home tomorrow.. Amen.." Amen..
"I miss Mom.." the others cried..
Henry stood up..
"Stop it already.. Mom isn't coming home tomorrow.. not in a week.. not in a year.. she still has a long time before she can come home..! So stop hoping..!"
"Kuya, don't say things like that.." Richard went mad.. and so did their father..
"Hey.. don't say that about your Mom.. that's rude.. you don't know the sacrifices she made for you.."
"Sacrifices..? You're really good at talking about sacrifices.. sacrifices for the country.. for the family.. so why is she in prison right now..!?"Everyone went quiet.. their father was outraged, "sorry" Henry whispered as he walked out
Henry went to their roof top.. looking at the stars.. and reminiscing how nice his Mother is.. Cooking all their favorite dishes, cheering them up on school.. encouraging them always.
"Henry.. I heard.. you got into a fight again.. My child.. you are strong.. use it for the right things.. defend those who are oppressed.. and help those in need.."But glances of the tragic day ruined his thoughts... when the police were arresting his mother.. his mother is reaching out to him..
"Henry.. sorry my son.. sorry.. please take care of them.. Henry.. sorry.. Please, I entrust our whole family to you as of now.." Henry is trying to hold his tears..
The next morning, Henry woke up early, prepared breakfast and helped his siblings prepare for school. Their father remains positive... smiling at Henry.. who smiled back at him.
Henry brought the kids to school.. he is waving hands to them when Mayumi came..
"Oh, Mayumi. I didn't do any trouble.. Is there a problem?"
"Yes. I think you need to know the truth. I have something for you.. but please.. wait for my explanation and understand the situation."
Mayumi handed him a letter..
"Kuya Henry.. I promised Ate Didi that this letter would be a secret. So please don't tell anyone.. This is her letter to me. A year ago she didn't want anyone to know about it."
(I'm curious as to what my mother would have written to Mayumi.)
Dear Mayumi,
Thank you so much for checking on me every day, you really lighten my heart.. and it's also true what you said that I'm carrying a heavy burden.. and now I will face it.. and fulfill my greater responsibility.. Today, I will report to the police the corruption I know about here in our municipality. I don't know what will happen to me, but I am ready for all of this.. my greatest prayer to God is that my family will not be affected by what I will face. So please, don't tell anyone about the contents of this letter.
Thank you again, my child.. and let's pray for the safety of each one of us, and try to tell Henry and Richard to take care of their siblings and father for now.. may they forgive me for this battle of mine.. and someday, may they also overcome their own battles..
Ate Didi, March 9, 2023
"Kuya.. your Mom was just set up.. she wanted to expose a big company and a syndicate.. that's why they got to her first.. and made it seem like she was the one who stole.. that's why she's staying silent, to protect you from getting involved.. however, I've already brought the case to the PAO and to people I know inside.. and it's close to winning, and those who should be held accountable will be."
"Why are you only telling me this now..?"
"Ate Didi always told me.. not to tell you all of this.. because she said, she knows for far what you might do.. but just yesterday I already told her that she can't stop me anymore.."
"I'm sorry, Mayumi.. Mom has been in jail for a year.. I haven't even visited her.. I'm still ashamed of her.. I need to leave and I'm going to see her now.."
Henry ran as fast as he could until he reached the women's jail..
"Oh wow Henry my son you.." Didi has not finished her words when Henry grabbed his mother to hug her tight.
"I'm.. sorry… I'm very sorry Mom.." Henry cried..
"It''s Ok my son.. It's Ok, everything will be alright.."
(Present time..)
Henry is still arguing with Philip when he recalled the past.. he suddenly let go of Philip..
"Wait I remembered something important.. I need to go now!" Henry quickly ran off..
"Kuya Henry.. where are you going..?"
"Just wait for me here I need to visit someone.."
At the jail, Police suddenly called Didi..
"You have a visitor.." She was very thrilled.
Henry hugged his mother.., who is very happy seeing his son..
"You just visited me the other day.. did you miss me already, my son..?"
"Yes, Mom, we miss you so much.., nonetheless.. I came here today because I need to find out something.. Mayumi is missing.. and until now we have no idea where she is.. I thought that maybe.. your case has something to do with this.. as far as I know, she is also opposing the big syndicate that you are fighting."
Didi is very worried.. "Oh, poor Mayumi.. what happened to the child?"
"Because Mom, I know Mayumi approached the PAO and investigated.. she also wants to fight what you were fighting.. so it's possible that they are behind Mayumi's disappearance.."
"That's impossible, Henry.., because we have already succeeded in the fight.. the company we fought against has closed.., even the corrupt employees have stopped their activities.. some have already retired.. you also know that in a few months I will be released.. so.. why would they still do something to Mayumi.. after all of them are already gone.. even that corrupt company has already closed too…"
"...Are you sure, Mom..? Doesn't your case have anything to do with this..?"
"I'm sure, Henry.., but what worries me is if a bigger company noticed Mayumi's actions.. because the small company that is closing is a partner of a bigger company.. that's the really hard part to fight against.."
"I'm sure.. we have no chance left.. or nothing we can do.. so I just hope they weren't the ones involved.."
"Which company, Mom..?"
"Unang Maharlika Global Holdings.."
"Mom..? Are you sure.. that's the biggest company here in the Philippines.."
"That company controls everything.., but we still lack evidence.. I think, son, they haven't noticed yet.. but think carefully.. did she have any enemies or conflicts with other companies or politicians..? Or even a group..?" Henry starts to recall..
"Oh mother.. he also has a lot of influential enemies.., okay Mother.. Richard and I will work together.. we will get back to those who might have done this.."
"Alright child.. do your very best.. I want to be able to talk to that child once I am free.. I hope you see him soon.."
"You can count on us, alright, I will be leaving now and sorry ma, we just need to hurry."
Henry then left the city jail, and called Richard to meet with them.
Meanwhile.. Charles is also busy with his cousins looking for Mayumi, he is now in a bench in the streetside with his cousins when he fell asleep while holding a missing person poster ..
"there is a blurred image of a guy.. he looks built and strong.. his resemblance is that of a native Filipino.. his dress is as if a Datu or Raja with his golden big sword in his waist and his looks is very overpowering with his tattoos and his crown–like bandana...
"No matter what trials you face... do not be afraid to confront them! God is the witness... you will become heroes... just don't give up.."
Is this just a dream..?
"..Charles wake up.. our posters are falling from your hands.." all looks tired as well
Henry, Richard and Natasha is walking along the road when Charles saw them, he approached them.
"Wait bro.. have you found Mayumi..?
Richard answered him.. "Not yet bro, we are still searching as well.."
"Where are you going, and you seem to be in a hurry? Can I come with you guys...?"
We have an idea of who might have done this to Mayumi.. (Henry fiercely replied).
They better be ready!!
Charles signaled his cousins to go home and rest.. and he joined Henry on their fierce walk..