Take Us Back to Genesis: The Genesis Series, #1

By Errol Fern

Timothy Ignacio has not returned to Baguio City for years. But this summer, he is returning home to meet Daisy, his first love. 

 

Take Us Back to Genesis recounts the last year of Timothy Ignacio's stay in Genesis House, an orphanage in Baguio City founded by an old couple who couldn't bear a child. It is a tale of young love, unconventional family structure, dreams, grief, and regrets.

 

Pack your bags and let the summer Take Us Back to Genesis!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fern Publishing
• Release date: Jun 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201337582

Book preview

Prologue

Baguio City, the City of Pines, and the Summer Capital of the Philippines. People may have other names for it, but I will always call it home. 

I haven’t returned to this place for some years. College swallowed me whole with academics and extracurricular activities. 

The moment I get off the bus, the cold air bites through my skin, and weirdly, I find it comforting. Having stayed in a warm place for years, I always yearn for the cool weather of this small town.

Once I arrive at the terminal, I get swarmed with middlemen who are trying to fix me up with cheap hotels and van rentals. I wave them off for I know where to go.

I boldly walk on Baguio’s familiar streets without a jacket, testing myself if I can take the sudden change in temperature. I look at my watch and it’s almost 3 PM. It’s getting colder soon.

It’s also a bit crowded now. As I get to Session Road, I wade my way through the sea of people. I still recognize some of the old stores that are filled with good memories, and I wonder if they still look like how they were before. It was the same burger joint where a friend and I used to frequent to buy some burgers and fries.

That friend is partly the reason why Baguio is home to me. She tested my patience and yet made me more forbearing. She was the person who tried to change my brooding default look into a happy one.

Obviously, she didn’t succeed. But she made me happy. Every day that I get to spend with her is blissful. She didn’t know that, for she thinks she was the bane of my existence.

I take a taxi to have some lemon pies in a café near Mission Road. After a few bites, I continue my way. I know walking uphill will take me a while, but I’ve hiked that road for many years. My legs know where they’re headed.

I notice that there are fewer trees now, but I can see the same recognizable houses. I used to walk past them every day and imagined living in one, with my own family. You see, I grew up in an unconventional household: It was filled with children who were not related by blood but treated each other as siblings. We were one big family.

Finally, I can see my destination from a distance. I can’t help but smile, as I am just a few steps away... 

The house looks the same. The same wooden design gives an aura of ardor to whoever comes inside. The same bougainvillea plants near the entrance are still there. Purple flowers all abloom.

I look around and see a very familiar face. She’s sitting on the steps, her legs stretched and crossed in front of her as she waves and smiles at me. Her smile is as stunning as the sunset beginning to happen in the background. I wave back as I hold the sketchpad she gave me years ago when we parted.

I walk over to her, face to face. She stands up and holds out her arm. Her hand feels warm in mine.

Hi, Tim. You’re late, and I am early for a change, she giggles.

Hi, Daisy. It’s been a while, I say. She asked me to meet her here.

So, I stand in front of The Genesis House once more after a long time. The dwelling place of all my blurred rage. The house that brought comfort to my despondent past. It housed my troublesome years and gave birth to what I am now.

Finally, I am home.

Tran_Orphanage House Ver.1.png

Chapter 1

I sit beside Daisy on the front steps of the house. She grins from ear to ear when she sees her sketchbook in my hand.

Why did you bring that with you?

Oh, you know, I am sappy like that.

She laughs at this and nods.

By the way, do you remember the first day of high school? I ask her.

I certainly remember it like it was just yesterday, Daisy replies. It really felt great to reminisce about good old memories.

***

Even with Lolo’s constant reminder of closing the bedroom windows at night, I left them open all the way. Every morning, the rays of the sun illuminate my whole room and serve as my wake-up call.

The lush view of pine trees from my window was visible from my bed. I loved looking out at this landscape to start my mornings. 

As I contemplated the things I’d have to do for that day, Charlie suddenly stormed through my room like there was an emergency. Of course, there wasn’t any. He was always brewing trouble, no matter what time of the day it was, just how any ten-year-old would.

Tim, wake up! You’re going to be late! Charlie called out. Still huddled in the blankets, I didn’t move at all. But he was relentless. He made me believe Lolo was there and started counting down.

What was that, Lolo? Oh, don’t worry, he will wake up in 5,4...

I bolted right up and rubbed my eyes, thinking I looked more scared than refreshed for someone who just woke up. I looked around but did not find Lolo, only Charlie. He looked at me with an impish smile and immediately ran downstairs, laughing as he went. It annoyed the hell out of me.

Charlie, whose real name is Charles Gomez, first arrived in Genesis as a frail-looking kid who wouldn’t even look at anyone. I remember the first time I talked to him, he seemed like a lost pup who’s always on the verge of crying. 

He lost both of his parents in a freak accident, and all his relatives were all out of the country, so no one would take him in. Apparently, a relative from his mom’s side was supposed to come pick him up, but in the end, nobody came. 

He didn’t get along with the other children his age, instead, he frequently hung out with the older kids. He had this certain wisdom and humor that the adults appreciated.

At first, Charlie looked like a lost lamb with his curly hair and pleasantly plump build. But boy, his jaunty side appeared after a month, and everything about him became better from then on.

Tran_Charlie.png

Startled. That was how I started my first day of senior high school, and I would say, very appropriately so. It’s my last year in the house.

I breezed through that day in the best mood possible. I’d often tell myself that I’d get back at Charlie sooner or later. But I was 17 and he was 10. It seemed easy to annoy him, but I never got around to it.

Thinking about it, I am sure that day was chilly, like most of the mornings in Baguio. I was grateful for the hot showers, but there were days when I’d wish for a cold-water bath, particularly during the summers.

That year, I got my last set of uniforms. I grew two inches over the year, and I figured that it might be the last growth spurt of my lifetime. I have put aside my old sets, knowing that a younger boy would have use of them. Lolo asked us to take good care of our uniforms exactly for that purpose. I got hand-me-downs, too.

My face remained the same as I turned 17, except for the faint stubbles on my upper lip and chin. I know that I looked like my dad. Everyone said so. We had the same straight hair. Mine just fell on my face and occasionally covered one of my eyes.

I met Lolo on the way out of my room. Kids would all go down for school, and he would be going up the stairs back to his room. I would always say See you later, Lolo! and he would give a small wave of his hand.

Lolo looked like he was perpetually bored, but he wasn’t. He just seemed sleepy all the time. We called him Lolo because of his silver stray hairs.

He was always the first one to wake up, making sure someone was overseeing breakfast and taking care of all the other morning routines.

Arthur Medina — the owner of Genesis and the one who ran the whole house. Our parent. The person who accepted all of us when no one had the heart to do so.

At the bottom of the stairs, I was greeted by Remi. He gave me a big smile and a ready high five. I am not a fan of this gesture, so I gave him a lame one.

Reminald Locsin was like our resident motivator and energy booster. 

Man, twelfth grade! You ready for it?

Remi was used to my indifferent shrugs. Everyone in that house knew that I didn’t like to show my emotions that much. My usual response to everything was a shrug or a nod when I don’t feel like talking.

You got this, he insisted. 

Yeah, I got this. I think.

Remi stood beside me with arms crossed over his chest, and a concerned look on his face. This was his usual stance. We talked about the school schedule for a while. Then he turned his head towards the top of the staircase where we heard someone squeal.

I am late, am I!? I am so in trouble!

Daisy hurried down the stairs. Looking frazzled, yet well-groomed in her uniform. She managed to clip her hair on one side of her head while she hastily walked down.

Desiree Ramirez. The only girl I know who was always late for everything, but no one really seemed to be bothered about it. Perhaps it’s because Daisy was always a cheerful soul, and that made up for her tardiness.

Here she comes! Wow, you guys have been classmates for such a long time now, huh? Haha! Remi laughed at his realization.

Like I have a choice, I sighed. I didn’t like being late for anything.

Daisy stopped at the foot of the stairs to catch her breath. Her cheeks flushed. Then she stood up straight and smiled.

Hi, Remi. Good morning! she greeted.

Hey, Daisy. Tim here has been waiting for ages. Remi teased.

When she turned towards me and gave me her best, heart-melting puppy dog eyes, I lost it. I will never be mad at her. Slightly irritated, maybe.

I am so sorry. I thought it was still early, and the bed was pulling me back to sleep, the covers are so comfy—

Let’s get going, I told her as I fixed my backpack, indicating that I was indeed ready to go.

Ok, ok. She waved goodbye to Remi as she struggled to keep up with me. I intentionally walked faster than usual. We were running late anyway.

Enjoy your first day, guys! I remembered Remi calling out to us.

***

Why do I remember so many details? Perhaps it's because we always remember the firsts and the lasts. Anything in between is a blur. That’s life... But everything that happened between today and the last day, I can confidently extract from my memory.

Chapter 2

I still can’t believe I made it through graduation, I say to Daisy.

Yeah, people always thought you were aloof and unfeeling.

I am aloof. Well, at least I tried to be sociable during our last year at high school, right?

She laughs and she brushes my hair off my right eye, I can’t believe you still have the same haircut just like in high school

Well some things never change, Daisy, I look her in the eye and she smiles. She then starts looking at the book. 

Most of the teenagers from the Genesis House were enrolled in a regular school, but Daisy and I studied at Harrison High School, which is a 20-minute walk away from Genesis house. 

I passed by it a while ago, but it was closed for the summer. The structure looks the same except for a new paint job on the gates and the main building. 

***

It was 2015 and Harisson High just gotten bigger. There were additional classrooms because of the influx of new students that year. The wall paint also had a new touch of blue instead of the simple green paint last year.

The buzz inside the classroom got louder as more students hurried inside. Daisy and I sat up in front like we always do. Luckily, we were not late this time because our class adviser came in late, too. After settling down and leafing through books, Daisy suddenly put up her hands across her face as if she just remembered something horrible.

Tim! she gasped. Her eyes were wide as saucers, and she held me by the shoulders.

‘What?" I looked at her with a poker-faced expression.

This year is our last year in Genesis!

Duh, like I didn’t know that. Daisy pouted when I said this.

Do you know what that means?

Yeah, freedom! I exclaimed and smiled while I feigned happiness.

"No, dummy! It means we must move out and be on our own!

That time, I pretended not to hear her because I did not want to think about my last days at the orphanage. Just the thought of going to college and being on our own scared me out of my wits.

I also felt unwanted and uncertain. Somehow, I can’t help but feel Genesis can’t wait to kick me out.

You don’t like that idea too, huh? she asked with a mocking look on her face.

"No, it’s just that I haven’t thought about it yet. I don’t want to