Chapter 1

Warning: Work of fiction. This novel contains red flags and contexts which was derived from the author’s very own perspective that might contradict your principles and beliefs. Read at your own risk.

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Fun fact: King Solomon is a polygamist. He has 700 wives and 300 concubines.

Verse for today:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

— Hebrews 11:1

Chapter 1

There are 7 billion people in the world. Maraming nagsasabi sa akin na sa pitong bilyon na iyon, makahahanap ako ng lalaki na mamahalin ako. A man whom I can beat my heart for. Pero bilang parte ng pamilyang Kristiyano, mayroon akong tanging lalaki na minamahal ko. Iyon ay ang Diyos Ama at si Hesu-Kristo.

Romans 5:8 says, 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us'.

That's how God loves us, that he gave up Christ to save us from all of our sins. And for me, loving God and Christ isn't an obligation but an everlasting and forever passion.

"Sister Serene, tama na 'yang pagmu-munimuni! We're gonna distribute bibles!" 

Napabalik ako sa ulirat nang marinig ang matinis pero mahinahon na boses ni Aleah. Napapahiya akong tumayo dahil ngayon ko lang napansin na kanina pa pala akong tulala habang nakatitig sa labas ng bintana. I pick my bible gently and went out the van. This is the King James version. Sa lahat ng bersyon ng bibliya ay ito ang pinakapaborito ko.

"Medyo mainit din pala sa labas. Dapat ay nakapagdala tayo ng payong," ani Savy at iniharang ang kamay mula sa araw.

"It's okay, sister Savy. Sa loob mall ng naman tayo mamimigay ng bible," I softly uttered.

"Sa bagay." She giggled in an embarassed way. 

Tumungo kami sa loob ng mall. The bodyguard also checked the big black bag that was carried by Aleah. Walang ibang laman iyon kun'di mga bible.

"We should've bring brother Abraham with us. Mas magaling siya sa akin sa preaching. At ang bigat pala nitong bag," buntonghininga ni Aleah.

"Ako na po muna ang magbubuhat, sister," I volunteered.

"'Wag na! Malapit na tayo, Serene. Kaya ko naman." She smiled assuringly. 

"I have eco bags with me. Dito na lang natin ilagay," Savy mouthed.

Pumunta kami sa bandang gilid ng mall. We grouped the bibles into three inside the eco bags. Bahagyang sumayad ang bestida namin sa lapag nang lumuhod kami para ayusin ang pagtatali sa eco bag dahil sa haba nito.

We are members of a youth organization who promotes words of God. Mas focused kami sa bible kaysa pag-e-ebanghelyo. Sa relihiyon kasi namin na Katoliko ay mas pinagtutuonan ng pansin ang pagkukumpisal at mga kaganapan na tungkol sa Diyos. They don't even put too much care about the verses, basta makadalo sa Maka-Diyos na gawain ay ayos na. That's why we're working for the development. Bible should be our one and only superior.

"Do you wonder where should the dead go after death?" mahinahong tanong ni Aleah sa isang matandang babae.

We sat on a kiosk and waited for the woman to answer. Nakangiti lang ako rito, hawak ang bibliya na ibibigay.

"Oo naman. Sa langit," sagot nito.

Aleah smiled. "Wrong. All of the people  that is living should be in the lake of fire, which means hell o impyerno." 

Tumaas ang kilay ng babae at tumango. Tumingin sa akin si Aleah bilang hudyat na ako na ang magsasalita.

My eyes broadened. I opened the bible and read the verse.

"Romans 3:23. For all have sinned and come short to the glory of God," malambot at malinaw kong basa. Nang tumunghay ako ay ngumiti ako kay Savy na matamang nakatingin sa akin.

"That's it. The humanity failed to put their faith on God. And instead of pleasing God, they committed sins. For the wages of sin is death, says by Romans 6:23. People were bound to die. And as sinners, this is what Revelation 21:8 says, 'But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and the murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:which is the second death'," mahabang paliwanag ni Aleah.

"But although we are all yet sinners, the Father above loves us that he let his one and only Son to die for us to live. And because Jesus Christ, our savior saved us, we don't have to suffer. For God is our God and Christ our way to heaven," Savy said.

I felt embarassed because I only said few words. Kapag ganito ay mahina talaga ako. I am not that introvert but I really stutters when public speaking. Kinakabahan kasi ako at pakiramdam ko ay mali-mali ang mga salitang lalabas sa bibig ko.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pamimigay ng bible. Nang maubos iyon ay 'tsaka ko lamang naramdaman ang pagod. Tumigil kami sa isang maliit na tindahan para bumili ng tubig. Marahan kong inabot ang bote ng tubig mula sa kamay ni Aleah at uminom doon. The dryness of my throat washed away. I silently thanked God for the benefit it gave me.

"Sa isang araw na ang anniversary ng WABOC. The choir is now practicing songs and the others are organizing the event," deklara ni Aleah.

WABOC is the acronym of the name of our organization which is We Are Believers Of Christ. Apat na taon na ito at simula 16 ako ay kabilang na ako rito. Now that I am 19, I'm still here.

"Excited na ako, sister Aleah." I clasped my hands and smiled.

"Ngi, sino bang hindi?" natatawa niyang sagot.

I laughed. Wala naman talagang hindi gugustuhin na sumali sa mga events ng WABOC. Lahat ng okasyon na nagaganap sa amin ay may impluwensya ng bibliya. No alcohol beverages, no smoking, and no too much intimate interaction with the opposite sex. 

Kung sa iba ay mababagot ang mga ito dahil strikto ang mga patakaran namin. Pero ang totoo ay sobrang saya lalo na kung alam mong iniaalay mo sa Panginoon ang bawat mabuting gawain na iyong ginagawa. 

"Ayan na pala sina sister Serene! Kumusta ang pagpi-preach niyo?" tanong ni brother Abraham pagkarating namin sa building.

"Okay lang po, brother," sagot ko. 

"Okay lang po, brother," Savy imitates me, replicating my soft voice.

Nagtawanan sina brother Abraham at ang mga kasamahan niya. 

"'Wag nga kayong ganyan kay Serene," Aleah said.

Nakangiti lang na tumingin sa akin sina brother Abraham pagkatapos ay nagpaalam na sa amin dahil mag-b-bible study pa sila.

Pagkarating namin sa dorm ay naabutan namin doon si Castellina. Nakasuot siya ng mahabang puting bestida at nagbabasa ng bible sa sofa. Nang makita kami ay tiniklop niya ang aklat at ipinatong sa mesa.

"Good afternoon! Nagluto ako ng adobo. I hope you had a fine distribution of bible and preaching."

"Wow, chef." Humagikhik si Savy. 

Nagbihis muna kami ng pang-bahay bago nagpahinga sa living room. I blew off some air before to sit on the sofa.

"Samahan mo ako bukas sa mall, Serene." Napalingon ako sa sinabi ni Castellina.

"Bakit po, sister?" I asked.

"Bibili ako ng regalo. Malapit na ang anniversary namin ng boyfriend ko," she said, smirking.

"Hindi ba bawal 'yan sa atin? Sasama sa isang lalaki?" tanong ni Savy.

"Hindi kaya!" sagot ni Castellina.

Aleah looked at us. "Hindi naman, as long as you are not doing something that is oppressing the bible. I myself have a boyfriend and I don't think it's bad." She raised a brow. "Wait, are you even Christians?"

"Aleah!" sabay na sigaw ni Savy at Castellina. 

I chuckled. Pumaling ako sa bintana dahil hindi ako maka-relate sa usapan nila.

"Ikaw, Serene? May boyfriend ka?" tanong ni Aleah.

I shook my head. "Wala akong boyfriend."

Wala sa isip ko ang pagkakaroon ng boyfriend. Sure, God has plans for me regarding it but I am more focused on serving the Lord, than proportioning my time for a guy.

"For sure you are not planning to look for one, right?" Savy guessed. 

"I am not looking for a man in the future. I am waiting. I know God already shipped me with the right man who would be my catalyst. Hindi naman po ako atat," I said.

"Wow! I love the mindset! Ano bang gusto mo sa isang lalaki? Mabango? Gwapo? Badboy? Mabait?" Castellina beamed.

"I want a man who loves God. I want someone who believes that everything is according to no one but God. Because if he is a believer of Christ, everything is perfect and I don't have to worry for anything because I have the assurance that the man I love, also love the man I love first before him."

That is my preference. But never did I know that in my life, that would be broke.

                      --✿✎◒◓✐✿--

Written by: Illuminativity