WEB NOVEL: SET APART

Written by Abby Caymol | Apr 9, 2024

Abrielle

When I got home, I found my Dad preparing dinner for us. I wasn’t starving because I had my lunch late due to a busy day at work. However, my Dad had prepared my lunch, and I didn’t want to disappoint him by not eating it. He said, “Joy, I cooked your favorite dish, sinigang, and I also prepared your favorite condiment of fish sauce and chili on the side.” The smell of the dish was irresistible, and I was tempted to sit and eat. During dinner, my Dad told me that he received a call from his cousin in the Philippines regarding the land my grandma had gifted him. Several companies were interested in buying the lot, but the family refused. My Dad was still determining whether to sell or keep the land, but he had another plan. He wanted to fast and pray for God’s guidance in decision-making and asked me to pray with him for the right decision.

I told my Dad I supported him no matter his decision and was always there to pray for him. After discussing a family matter, my Dad asked me about my work schedule for the following day. He wanted me to drop him off early at Pike Market, where he and his best friend, Uncle Peter, run a small seafood business. My Dad works part-time for him and enjoys it a lot. They would meet a fisherman early the next day to sell fish directly to them, so they needed to be there by 5 am. I agreed to take him there early. After finishing my dinner, I thanked my Dad for cooking and went to my room to try the sheet masks that Eun-Yeong had got me. While waiting, I received a notification from The Fruit app that I had two private messages from two different people.

I received two messages from different users. The first one, from a user called User0543777, said, “Hi, Abrielle! I want you to know the verse you shared about Psalm 23:4, ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ This verse gives hope to all who are going through a tough season. I hope they will put their trust in Jesus in their darkest days. Can you also pray for me too?” I agreed to pray for them and encouraged them by reminding them that God’s love comforts them. The second message was from a user called GhostYusukeUrameshi07, who asked if I had an online Bible study group and said they might be interested in joining. I replied that I don’t have one yet but will consider creating one someday. I thanked them for the message and then closed the app.

I am pleased that many people are becoming more interested in God and His teachings. Indeed, the word of God has the power to transform someone’s life. Today, after dropping Mama Selam off at her home, I wondered how she was doing. I decided to give her some space to rest her mind and body. However, I know that the recent call from the scheduler informing her that the location of her checkup had been changed to the cancer department was a lot to handle. 

Another thought came in. I thought about Jeremiah and how I hadn’t gotten a chance to see him. I wondered if he was off today and what might be on his mind. I find it difficult not to be friends with him, not even acquaintances. I hope we will become friends someday if it is God’s will. I am unsure how that would happen, but I trust God knows.

Jeremiah

Today is my day off, and I plan to visit Pike Place Market to buy fish I want to fillet. I’ve wanted to go fishing but needed to work on it. After two hours, I finally arrived at Pike Place Market. Finding parking in the Seattle area is challenging, so it’s better to take the train to get to this place. The market is bustling with people, and I love the sea breeze blowing in the cold fall weather. As I walk down the aisles of Pike Place Market, I can hear the sound of the ocean waves. It’s an excellent time to catch fish during the autumn season, I thought to myself. 

I roamed around the market to check out some seafood booths. Suddenly, a friendly man caught my attention and greeted me. He asked if there was any particular seafood that I was looking for. I told him that I wanted some fish that I could fillet. He gave me some fish ideas, and I finally chose one I liked and bought it instantly. 

“I plan to go fishing in some rivers and waters here in Washington,” I told the fishmonger. He said there are plenty of places where I can catch fish, and if I’d like, he can help me since he has many fishermen friends who can recommend good fishing spots.

I told him I wanted to go fishing for recreational purposes. He gave me his business card, and I looked at it. His name was Jose Ferrer. I thanked him and told him I would call him back once I got my license. After that, I left the place. When I got home, I immediately prepared the fillet. While checking his card, I noticed his last name sounded familiar, but I needed to figure out where I had heard it before. I shrugged it off. I am excited to go fishing as it brings me peace and quietness in nature, which I always enjoy.

After I finished cooking, I took a shower and ate my lunch. I went into my room and opened my window. The autumn breeze invited me to nap, but I picked up the book I was reading before that. It is rich with God’s teachings, and I learned a lot from it, but I wish I had someone to discuss it with. I checked Abrielle’s story on her Blessbook. She wouldn’t know that it was me viewing her stories. She posted a reel from The Fruit app where she plays a worship song with lyrics and the setup of where she is driving. The autumn leaves, yellow and orange, were falling down the streets she passed by, and they seemed to be dancing in perfect harmony with the calm wind.

I added the worship song to my music list and then put the book down. As I relaxed, I stared out the window from my bed and thought about sharing my thoughts on my journey of getting to know God with my friends Eden, Elijah, and Jacob. However, I don’t see how they will react or if they will understand. I hope to find a friend with whom I can share my thoughts someday. I’ll keep my thoughts to myself because I fear being called names. I want to keep my space free from people’s comments while transforming and progressing in my new self. Abrielle became an instrument to transform my mind and heart, but I couldn’t talk to her then. Maybe someday, another door will open for us to be friends, but many things will still happen.