"Kaanakan!" Zarinna scattered her gaze and searched for whom the deep voice belonged to, and as she searched, the familiar features of her uncle occupied her vision.

"Uncle!" She called out. The man gave her a stern smile and began to lift some of her luggage.

"Good thing you've arrived safely. How's the trip?" Dennis Tawwaki asked as he began to walk, signaling Zarinna to follow behind him to the car.

"Ah, it was fine Uncle. I've slept most of the time so I guess I had a comfortable time." Zarinna replied, catching her breath as she kept up with her uncle's speed. The man had dark hair and lean body, which probably explains why he is able to walk as fast.

"Oh, that's good. At least you were able to rest." Her uncle remarked, loading the bags in the trunk. "Wait here, I'll be getting your other bags." Zarinna nodded and loaded the bags she held in the trunk as well. Sighing, she leaned on the van and lifted her eyes. Warm air brushed her cheeks as she took in a breath of fresh air.

"Oh, so this is Kin-iway. It's beautiful." Zarinna whispered, her gaze probing the environment. Excitement bubbled in her heart as she surveyed the place, she didn't really get a chance to see the place very much when she came to apply for the job, but as she looked around, she couldn't help but admire the atmosphere the place possessed.

"Come on Zarinna, get in." She heard her uncle speak, tearing her from her thoughts. She hastily followed her uncle into the van and went in.

"We're going to Agawa. That is where we live." Dennis informed as he started the engine. "You can either ride a tricycle or a jeepney going to the High School, It's a 10-15 minutes ride." Her uncle continued.

"Thank you, Uncle. I'll keep that in mind." She replied.

"Casey is actually going to that school, so at least you two can go together every morning."

"Oh really, Uncle? She's already in High School? Wow, the last time I saw her she was only in third grade." Zarinna remarked, recalling the memory of her younger cousin.

"Yup, she's in eighth grade now actually." Her uncle replied and began to advance the vehicle.

"Alright then Uncle, it's a good thing she studies there. At least I can check on her from time to time."

"Yes, you're right Kaanakan," Dennis replied in assent. "So, this is your first teaching job, right?" Zarinna nodded and began to speak.

"Yes Uncle, It is," Zarinna affirmed with a smile.

"Well, good luck on that, Kaanakan. I hope you enjoy it here in Besao."

"Thank you, Uncle. I have a strong feeling I will." Dennis briefly flashed Zarinna a smile and returned his gaze to the road. Zarinna shifted her gaze to the window, feeling her heart ease as she spoke with her Uncle. He looked really stern, but according to her mother, he was a really kind man. Zarinna felt thankfulness grip her heart, the fact that he and his family offered her a place to stay was certainly a huge help.

After a few minutes, the car made a turn and entered a rough road. Implying that they already left the main highway and went in deeper to the woods.

Ten minutes passed and the van stopped by a clearing in the woods with a few houses around scattered around the corners. Zarinna couldn't see anything much since it was already dark, but the lights that the houses emitted gave enough opportunity to see the trunks of high trees that surrounded the place. The moon shone brightly setting the beautiful place alight.

"We're here Kaanakan, we just need to walk a little bit through that pathway right there," Dennis informed his niece, pointing to a wooden bridge leading a pathway in between the high trees. "The clearing at the end of the path is our lawn. I've already texted your Aunt she'll be meeting us along the way."

"Oh, alright Uncle. I'll follow you." With this, Dennis lifted two of the bags and began to walk. Zarinna followed behind him and sure enough, as they walked, a voice of a woman met their ears.

"Hey! How are you two doing?" The woman spoke. Zarinna lifted her gaze and was met by the view of a fare, dark-haired woman. Her striking high nose emphasized as she approached with a smile and took some of the bags that Zarinna carried.

"Hi, Aunt Helen!" Zarinna greeted. "I'm doing great!"

"Aw, that's good Kaanakan." Helen Tawwaki remarked as she walked ahead of Zarinna. "Wow, my dear. I haven't seen you for a few years and you've grown into a very beautiful lady!" Zarinna lowered her glance as she heard her Aunt's words, a smile forming in her lips.

"Oh, thank you, Auntie. I'm sure Casey and Elsa have grown into such beautiful ladies, as well." Zarinna replied, her thoughts drifting to the few memories she had with her younger cousins a few years ago. They were only kids when she last saw them, but their beauty was already so obvious that Zarinna was so sure they'd grow into fascinating beauties someday. Her aunt chuckled and began to speak.

"Oh, they're still children, my dear. Sik-a pay adi di talagay nas-et ay balasang." Helen countered in their tongue. Saying in Applai how she was such a beautiful full grown maiden. Zarinna laughed with her as they walked. She couldn't help but notice though the exotic beauty her aunt possessed, she remembered the time when her Uncle first introduced the Mountain Province woman he was to marry, her Aunt Helen was still a young woman and she looked so fascinating back then, and even now that years and childbirth has affected her aunt's figure, her beauty never faded.

After a few minutes of walking, they finally reached another clearing, and two cottages on both sides of the place met Zarinna's gaze. One was a two storey house and the other a small cottage.

"May, amey kayus di ta eyak subliyan din udom ay karga na..." Dennis spoke, telling them to go ahead in the cottage as he went to get Zarinna's other bags.

"Oh, alright Dear," Helen replied and turned her attention to Zarinna.

"That's the house you'll be staying in for the time you're here Kaanakan," Helen informed, pointing to the small cottage adjacent to the larger house. Zarinna nodded and followed behind her as Helen walked to the cottage.

"This was our house before, but since the kids came, your Uncle made a bigger house on the other side and we moved there." Helen recanted, "Don't worry, we cleaned and refurbished it for you." Zarinna's lips curled into a smile as she heard her Aunt's words.

"Thank you so much, Auntie, this is such a huge help. I couldn't be more thankful." Helen smiled and slid the key into the padlock.

"You're family, Child. Of course, we'd do this for you." Helen replied. Zarinna could only smile upon hearing her Aunt's words. Oh, thank you, Lord, you've led me into such kind arms. She prayed in silence. Helen signaled Zarinna to enter and as soon as she stepped in warmth instantly seeped through her clothes to her chilled skin.

The place was breathtaking, the way the cottage looked inside wasn't what Zarinna has expected. Although small, the interior was very well detailed - a result of her uncle's aesthetic abilities in carpentry most likely- and it was wider than how it looked from the outside. A fascinated sigh escaped her lips.

The house had wooden floors and had a wooden table to the left, obviously a carved masterpiece by her Uncle who was a really talented wood sculptor. Beside it was the tiled stand which held a stove, a thermos, a dish holder and right the very edge was the sink, and two curtain covered wide windows was in front of it, allowing the pathway behind the house to be seen. I wonder where that pathway leads? Zarinna wondered.

The other side of the cottage had two doors, probably leading to separate rooms. The cottage looked small from the outside but was surprisingly wide when seen from the inside. Zarinna sighed in satisfaction as she appreciatively looked at the couch that seemed so comfortable to sit in.

"Zarinna, this is your bedroom," Helen informed, leading her across the room and opening one of the doors revealing a blue covered bed by a window in on its side. There was a table beside it and a simple wooden four leveled drawer.

"The other door leads to the bathroom. But, you see we don't have water connections here yet so we have to fetch the water from the spring. The pathway you saw a while back leads to the spring. I'll show you tomorrow when the sun is up."

"Oh wow...It looks like I have a lot of getting-used-to to do." Zarinna chuckled. "Yes, Auntie thank you."

"Alright." Helen nodded and excited for the door. "I'll be leaving you to freshen up then. I'll call you in an hour for dinner, okay?"

"Okay, Auntie... thank you." Helen flashed Zarinna a smile and closed the door behind her. With this, Zarinna began to survey the place once again. The warmth the little cottage provided made her feel so comfortable, she walked in her bedroom and instantly caught the scent of fabric conditioner on her sheets, making her feel sleepy as she laid her back to the soft bed.

"Wow this house is beautiful," she whispered, "Thank you, Lord."

She lifted her gaze to the ceiling, counting her every breath. And instantly, as though responding to instinct, she began to pray in tongues. Joy bubbled in her heart as she allowed the Spirit to take control of her tongue once more. Tears welled up in her eyes, thanking God for not taking her tongues away despite her sin. She continued to pray and worship in tongues to her heart's content, and in no time, sleep began to claim her.

Thank you, Lord that despite my failure... You're still here.

Kaanakan - Niece/Nephew
Agawa- One of the Barangays of Besao, north of Kin-iway
Applai- Main Dialect of Besao