"Sad news for all of us. Rico's father has passed away."
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanxuipjE8l
The living room where the meeting of the community always holds suddenly turns silent as Mr. Michael reports that shocking news. Mr. Michael adds, "After previously being treated in the ICU, finally he can't be helped anymore. Rico's father passed away this afternoon. We are in the process of helping to prepare for the burial ceremony. Tomorrow, we can go to the funeral home to bid farewell to Rico's father, as well as provide physical and moral support to the bereaved families."
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzD5IKnPuG
Damien immediately responds, "If you need something, just mention it, Sir. We'll do our best to fulfill it." The others also nod in agreement.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QonB5hJad
"You guys are the real good friends," Mr. Michael replies. "I am so proud of the cohesiveness of our community."
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBpF3AikWF
Hence, all community members visit together to the funeral home where the remains of Rico's father are put for a while until the burial ceremony is held. Daphne is also going with them. As for Rico, he can take care of his father's funeral because he has distant relatives in Emerald. But the funeral home he can get is far from the word 'luxury'; it is small, dismal and even looks shabby.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBLXdY3AKX
"Well... we are the refugees after all. We don't have enough money to rent a more proper funeral home," Rico utters gloomily.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmpyf8aX7t
Mr. Michael taps him on the shoulder. "Dude, what's the point of an overly lavish funeral? In the end, the remains himself doesn't even know what kind of funeral the living organisms give him."
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SpB2nVSla
Rico just curves a slight smile in return.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2LTBhcuId
Everyone in the community come to the funeral. They donate a lot of help to Rico and his family.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6nCUw6E87
"We may not be able to give too much help, but please accept this. At least, these are the gifts we donate based on our deepest sincerity," Damien says seriously.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41WHvcvQim
Rico smiles. "I am really supposed to thank all of you. Becoming a refugee, and now I suffer from this disaster, I have rubbed salt into the wound. But because of you, I feel so grateful. I even feel, I am not in Emerald - I am still staying in Sapphire."
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT1hjQCHCa
"That's what brothers and sisters are for, Rico. To help each other when somebody is in need."
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtIiDojKgV
Rico also has a conversation with Daphne.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DLespdtFt
"Ah... sorry, Daphne. My dad can't give you the information you need," says Rico.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1DeUOaAuN
"Don't say such kind of sentences, Rico. I don't really want that information." Daphne quickly replies. "My Dad has died, after all. Mourning about it will only bring up the wounds of the past." And, if the news I am about to hear isn't as good as I thought... it'll ruin my relationship with Stairmount instead. Maybe this is God's will, so that my relationship with Stairmount keeps running smoothly, until the end of all this.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡictDYljhqv
Copyright ©️ by boundless_universe
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNhmyytPPO
Daphne gazes at the photo of Rico's father, which is plastered on the front of his tombstone. There is one thing she envies about Rico - at least Rico can get his father's remains in complete condition, and the reason for his death is clear as well. Contrary to her, she herself doesn't have any clear point about the death of his own father, even until now. That's why she almost went crazy when she suddenly accepted that tragic fate.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhyowWHe0X
"Dad has passed away?!" Daphne screamed aloud. "Impossible! Dad called me just three days ago. Dad mustn't die!"
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmPbhaVKJX
Daphne screamed hysterically as she heard the news for the first time. Her mother had to hold her so tightly to prevent her from going berserk. "Mom, why didn't you ask them clearly about the reason why Dad died?! You should have asked them clearly! You can't take it for granted!"
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1gZDV3Deb
"Daphne..." Mrs. Yalle couldn't help but be silent. The middle-aged woman then did the funeral arrangement for her husband all in silence.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyjKpGEhX6
However, even if his father really died under unnatural circumstances, and there are indeed some parties who are at fault and must be responsible for it, will it be able to bring his father back to life? That's what her mother always says... but Daphne knows, even though Mrs. Yalle is seemingly willing to let her husband go to Heaven, but her inner voice actually speaks for the contrary. She knows about it crystal clear. However, she also knows, the reason why her mother struggles to stay strong, is to set an example for her, and to follow that rough, bitter footsteps.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mL6eqxXTn
The reality Rico is dealing with, is actually more or less similar to hers. His father also died in injustice. The culprit is the mafia who hit him, but the one who died is his father. But Rico and his family have no power to sue the mafia because they are refugees. Their money is not enough to pay for a lawyer and win a court case against the mafia who has a lot of money from dirty work.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlr6RZHcQH
Perhaps, it is the same with her father. Perhaps, this is the reason why her mother doesn't want to prolong the case. It turns out that they have lost money or power against that party, so her mother is willing to choose this way even though she has to swallow the bitter pill.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7b3DzHa2l
Don't bring up the past that only leads to regret and revenge. Let bygones be bygones. Whoever must go, let him go. And those who are still alive, live this life firmly and set your sights not to the back, but to look forwards.
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuhntjjB4f
Daphne keeps gazing at the photo of Rico's father. "Goodbye... Sir. May God grant you His most beautiful place in Heaven."212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtIozCKeLQ
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpDdW04DqX
Copyright ©️ by boundless_universe
212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeQ4yzYswb
