57 Is It A Miracle?

"Sonny, stop the car," Estella requested. They were almost exiting the market area by then.

"Why?" Sonny asked and instantly braked the car.

"I want to see what the boys are doing here. I really could not help but wonder."

"Maybe they are just here for some errands."

"I don't know but my instincts tell me to follow them."

"Ok, I just need to park this car properly."

Sonny moved the car and parked it along other four-wheel vehicles near the edge of the marketplace. Estella hurriedly got out while Sonny reluctantly followed. Their paces quickened, almost to the point of running, so that they would catch up with the boys. Finally, they found them.

"Why is there a crowd?" Sonny asked upon observing a small group of people bunched around a middle age man. The boys were heading towards the man.

"That makes me wonder also," Estella answered. "Come on, let's find out."

They ran across the street and joined the crowd, but at the same time, they were careful enough to maintain at least a one-meter space from other people. Estella tiptoed and moved her head, eager to watch what was happening. By then, Loduvico was already touching Jamie's face. The news duo saw the brilliant light emanating from the man's hands.

"Who is that man?" Estella asked the woman beside her.

"Huh, you don't know him?" she answered sarcastically. "That's Loduvico the prophet."

"Has he been doing that for a long time?"

"You mean the miracle healing? No..... I'm not really sure but I heard he already had healed some kids of their wounds few days ago. I was not able to witness it, that's why I am here now. I can't miss this one if indeed he can perform miracles. As to preaching, he had been doing it since last week."

"Has he been a prophet or miracle worker for a long time?"

"Oh no, Lodu is working here in the market doing different kinds of job. But when the meteor crashed in Subangdaku, he began acting differently. He began talking about some tragic future for Subangdaku. And yet, a savior will also be coming."

"I see. He does not have any mental problems, right?"

"Of course, none. Lodu is a good man though his life may not be perfect. His wife left him years ago. No child so he is living alone now."

"Do you believe him?"

"At the beginning, I had doubts. Who wouldn't? I have known Lodu since he was a child and he was just like any ordinary person here. But suddenly, he had become a confident speaker."

"And doing miracles as well."

"I hope so. I would be happy if he succeeds."

Sonny was listening to their conversation all the while, and at the same time, he was observing closely what the man was doing. The dazzling light from his hands was mesmerizing, even the incomprehensible words he kept uttering.

With final declaration, Lodu took his hands from the boy's face. There seemed to be a soft explosion of light from his hands that momentarily blinded everyone. An eerie silence ensued as the light slowly vanished. Quickly, the people rubbed their eyes and looked at Lodu and the boy. They gasped in disbelief. The myriad sores that covered the child had mostly gone and only the dying sores and scars were left.

"He did it," the woman whom Estella was talking to whispered.

Estella simply nodded. She could not believe what she had witnessed. She turned and looked at Sonny but he too was shocked. She looked around her and the people were already celebrating. They cheered and spoke praises for Loduvico. Because of their noise, curious bystanders starting joining them and listened to their stories. In no time, news of Loduvico's miracle spread my mouth to mouth.

Sonny pulled Estella away from the crowd and walked towards their car. They could not stay much longer, there were news they needed to cover.

"Was it a miracle we have just seen?" Estella voiced out once they were inside the car.

"It looks like it," Sonny answered and started the car. "But we could not just believe it right away. The man could be a great fraud."

"They say he is a good man. Life's hard but not a troubled person."

"That's not enough."

"I know. That's why I want to dig deeper on who he really is."

Sonny looked at her in puzzlement.

"Are you serious?"

"I am. I believe what he did was newsworthy."

"I can't believe you fall for that act."

"I had an odd feeling about him."

"Instincts? Again?"

Estella nodded and went silence, careful not to raise any argument with her partner.

"Well, that's up to you," Sonny said. "But for now, let's focus on truly substantial news."

"I agree. That miracle worker was only a small distraction and I can work on him later. For now, the outbreak and Dr. Alvarado first."

"That's my girl."

They rode in silence until they finally arrived at the school. Since their management already secured a pass for every newsperson, the duo easily got through the entrance. However, Sonny struggled finding a parking space inside the campus. Doctors, nurses, patients, and families were everywhere. The sight was so much different than yesterday. Finally, Sonny spotted an empty space near the clinic and immediately, he took the spot.

"This camp looks like a circus," he commented as he got out of the car.

"This is worse than I expected," Estella said. "I thought only the low to medium risk patients are accepted here but from the look of this commotion, the medical personnel may not have followed the order."

"Yes, but we can't really blame them. Maybe they are too busy to classify people that come here."

"That could be more dangerous. If there are worst case patients here, they could jeopardize the other patients."

They were still talking and preparing their equipment when the clinic's main door suddenly opened. To her disppointment, Estella saw the two nurses from the local district health center coming out of it.

"Oh, Estella Bermudez!" Tara exclaimed. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"So am I," Estella retorted. "Volunteering here?"

"We are sort of relocated," Cecilia answered. "They need more nurses here."

"How noble the two of you are."

"Well, we'd better get going."

Cecilia and Tara went on and entered one of the isolation tents.

"I don't really feel right about the two," Cecilia said when the nurses had gone a good distance.

"They could not be bad persons," Sonny answered.

"I hope so."

But deep inside her, Estella had doubts about them....

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