1 Voyaging at night

In the darkness of the night, two figures swam on the waters beneath the moonlight. These two were catching fish as means for income, riding on their worn out wooden boat or what they call it, their banka.

"Boyett, I told you to gather the net." Boyett looked at his father. He could see that his physique is already tired due to the haggard work they usually do, now more than ever because his mom is sick,

"Itay , I'm busy cleaning the fish. I will eventually do that after this. Get some rest."

Boyett's father sighed helplessly in the wind mumbling in the air words that expresses his prayer to God that he may help them out of their misery. With restored strength and determination, he neared his son and helped him clean the fish they caught earlier. They took the fish's scales, gills, and internal organs. For some, the metallic stench of blood and the fresh smell of internal organs in the air would be enough to make their stomach churn but for Mang Demetio and his son Boyett, it is just a familiar smell they have to live by.

Mang Demetio wiped of the sweat beads that formed on his forehead. He and his son just finished cleaning the fishes and storing them in a bucket full of ice to preserve their freshness but with the night still young, he knew that their work was far from over.

The loud sound of cocks crowing to the sky alerted the people that dawn is fast approaching. Luckily, the pair was almost done with the nights work. One last net to be gathered and one last batch of fish to be cleaned and finally he and his son could rest until noon. At that time, they would have to do other means of work to earn a living.

Mang Demetio was currently resting on the shore. Age was slowly creeping to him and although he doesn't want to acknowledge it, the fact that he is getting older he is surely getting weaker. His son, Boyett, was currently pulling up the net they had set up earlier but unlike the other nets they collected, this one seems heavier.

"Diyos ko," he exclaimed happily. "Is this your blessing to us?" He carefully tugged at the edge of the net and made his hands adjust to the material as he always did so and with tug pulled the net with the greatest strength he could muster. His sweat and muscles shined beneath the moonlight. Slowly but surely, he hoisted up the net towards his banka. He already anticipated a big catch but what he discovered inside his net was far more surprising.

Without much thought, Boyett hurriedly rowed his banka, towards his father, skillfully maneuvering against the tide.

"Itay, Itay!"

Mang Demetio immediately woke up due to his son's cry. The moment he woke up, his eyes swept around the sea, looking for any form of danger. Luckily, he found nothing so he released the breath he was holding.

"Itay, help me bring this banka to the shore." He quickly helped his son bring their banka to the shore.

"Boyett. What happened? Foolish child, you almost gave me a heart attack!" To show his son of how worried he is, he dramatically clutched his chest while breathing heavily but to his dismay, he could not see any trace of remorse or guilt in his son's face, only genuine shock and frustration.

"Itay, you should see this!" Boyett's eyes were urgent and frantic. Up till now, he still could not believe what he had caught.

"How is this possible?" Mang Demetio looked bewildered at the thing inside the net.

"I don't know, Itay. I don't know." Boyett shook his head. Surely enough, within his years of voyaging in the ocean, never did he experience something a catching a person in the sea. Yes, he caught a person. A living, barely breathing, battered little girl.