Chapter 2

Verse for today:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

— James 1:5

Chapter 2

"Pupuntahan ko muna sa site ang boyfriend ko, sister Serene. Gumala ka muna rito at bumili ng kahit ano." Inabutan ako ni Castellina ng limang daang piso.

"Site? Ano po bang trabaho ng boyfriend mo?" nagtataka kong tanong.

Ngumiti siya. "Construction worker. Sige na, aalis na ako. Malaki ka na naman, sister Serene. Hindi ka naman siguro mawawala rito. Mwa!" Nagmamadali siyang naglakad paalis. 

Luminga-linga ako na parang nawawala. I don't know where to go. Wala naman akong alam na bibilhin. And I don't go out without a friend.

I decided to distribute biblical booklets instead. I have ten copies of this inside my tote bag. Mabuti na lang at nagdala ako, this save me!

"Booklet po..." and I handed it to a woman in my age.

She stared at the booklet before looking at me. She scanned me from head to toe and showed me a disgusted smile. Kinuha niya mula sa kamay ko ang booklet at nilagpasan ako.

"Old-fashioned ugly girl," I heard her murmured.

Yumuko ako at hindi na lang nagsalita. I've been told that many times but I am not planning to change my style. I am preserving myself. I don't want to wear revealing clothes. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko sa mga nagsusuot ng ganoon. I don't hate it, it's just that for a bible woman like me, I got used wearing thick and long fabrics that made me comfortable and it's a kind of cloth that would please God.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang namalayan na nakalabas na ako sa loob ng mall. I sat on a cemented stair to rest. Tinitigan ko ang nag-iisang booklet na natira. Tumayo ako at tumingala sa langit.

The sky is dominated by blue hues and cumulus clouds. The perfect saturation of blue and white in the horizon lighted by the sun astounded me. 

Above anything else in the nature, the sky is my own tranquility. It's just ironic for it to witness numerous memories endowed with different theme. It could be happy memories, dark memories, or sad ones. There are so many secrets that only the sky could reveal because it has witnessed every one of it.

Maglalakad na sana ako patungo sa loob nang may nadaanan akong isang lalaki. I approached him to give him the booklet but before I could even hand it to him, a fog-like thick smoke covered my vision and invaded my nose. I automatically coughed. Hindi ako sanay sa usok na ito.

Binugahan ako ng lalaki ng usok ng vape.

"Holy b-booklet po," and I gave him the booklet, still covering my sensitive nose.

Nang naramdaman kong hindi nito tinatanggap ang booklet ay ibinaba ko ang kamay ko. There are no more smoke and when I looked up to the man, he is boringly staring at me.

"H-holy booklet po," ulit ko.

"Sasagutin ba ng librong 'yan ang problema ko?" I jolted in surprise when he suddenly speak with a deep voice.

I calmed down and smiled. "Yes. This is the words of God. This is a motivation to strive harder to be a better person. This will be your guide." I extended my hand for the booklet to reach him closer.

He smirked. "I don't need that. That won't save my life."

"John 3:16. For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life," bigkas ko. "See? It already saved us."

His lips protruded.

"Alam mo, Miss, sa iba mo na lang 'yan ibigay. I still have some bussiness to do. I'm not interested in bible," he raspily said and turned his back on me. 

Nalaglag ang balikat ko. Hindi ko nagustuhan ang sinabi niya. He showed direspect to the Father. I was about to left when I heard him spit some words.

"By the way, you look innocent. Pretty angelic." That sounds like a whisper to me but I still hear it. 

Napatulala ako sa sinabi niyang iyon. I blinked many times. Don't be deceiveth by a guy, Serene. 

I hope the man would realize that his perspective is wrong. Not being interested in God even though you're a Christian means being a person without soul at all. And he was driven by lust of doing negative habits like smoking vape that he did earlier. 

I know I shouldn't elaborate with someone else's life but I am sort of worried for a Christian brother. 

Bumuntonghininga ako. Napayuko ako nang may nakitang bagay sa mismong pinagtayuan ng lalaki kanina. I squatted. As expected, sumayad ang suot kong bestida sa lupa kaya inangat ko iyon. I grabbed the thing. 

Namilog ang mga mata ko dahil isa itong ID at siguradong pagma-may-ari ito ng lalaki kanina dahil nandito ang mukha niya. I stood up and read the details on the Identification card. 

Height: 182 cm

Weight: 71 kg

Nakalagay din doon ang number niya. I'll just call the number so I could give it back to him. Sa bandang baba ay mayroon ding pirma nito. His sign is pretty clear and looks like a calligraphy. My eyes wandered on the front.

Name: Travis Isaiah Alegre

Course: BS Political Science

That's his name? Isaiah? Galing sa bible ang pangalan niya pero hindi Maka-Diyos ang ugali niya. He must be irritated with his second name. But I shouldn't judge, baka bad mood lang talaga siya kanina?

"Sister Serene..." 

Bumungad sa akin si Castellina. Malawak ang ngiti sa labi niya nang sinalubong ako. She eyed me, confused.

"Teka... hindi ka nag-shopping? Kumain ka na ba, Serene?" she asked.

"Hindi pa, Castellina. Hindi ko pa rin po naigagastos ang ibinigay mo sa akin na pera dahil namigay ako ng booklets kanina. I will give it back to you. Sa dorm na lang tayo kumain para makatipid." I supressed a gentle smile on my lips.

"Ikaw talaga, ang bait! Sige, sa pag-uwi na lang tayo kumain," she said while we're walking and smiled wider than what she did earlier.

"Wait, is that an ID?" tanong niya at sinilip ang ID na hawak ko.

I gave it to her. Kumunot ang noo niya nang makita iyon.

"Alegre? Hmm, familiar..." Tinitigan niya ito. "Ah! Ito nga pala ang anak ng may-ari ng AES Inc. Teka, bakit nasa iyo ang ID niya? Is he your..." She looked at me maliciously.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Hindi ko po boyfriend 'yon, sister Castellina! N-nahulog lang iyan ng lalaki na pinag-aabutan ko ng holy booklet kanina."

Her mouth formed o. "Oh, so you saw him? Ang sabi ng marami ay may pagka-sarkastiko at masungit daw iyon. Sabagay, he's out of your type."

Pumara kami ng taxi pauwi sa building ng WABOC. Pagkarating namin ay narinig ko agad ang tahimik na ingay mula sa gym. Nagpa-practice na ang choir doon. I am always listening to worship songs that's why I'm pretty sure that the song is Still because of its familiar tune.

"Tara, makinig muna tayo ro'n," paanyaya sa akin ni Castellina. "Parang nandoon din sina sister Aleah at Savy."

We went to the gym. Kakaunti lang ang tao roon at iba ay nasa bandang sulok at nagbabasa ng bible. Ngumiti ako sa iba at sabay kaming tumabi ni Castellina kina Aleah at Savy na malapit sa stage. Nagbatian kami bago tumingin sa entablado.

"Wow... Micah's voice is really incredible," papuri ni Aleah kay Micah na leader ng choir, siya ang may hawak ng mikropono.

"Agree. She sings with grace," ngiti ni Savy.

"Talent of a Christian, eh?" Ngumisi si Castellina.

I nodded in agreement. "Lahat naman sila ay magaling."

When the ocean rise and 

thunder roar

I will soar with you above the storm

Father, You are King over the flood

I will be still know you are God

The blend of the choir's voice dominated my soul and I know that it did the same with sister Aleah, Savy, and Castellina. When it comes to singing, choir's effect to the audience really hits different.

Nang matapos ang pakikinig sa choir ay lumabas ako saglit. I sat on a kiosk alone and pick my keypad phone from my tote bag.

I heaved a sigh and pull strength to dial the number of Isaiah. Nakailang ring pa iyon bago tuluyang nasagot mula sa kabilang linya.

"Hello po," panimula ko.

"Sino 'to?" His deep voice lingered to my ears.

"Uh, ito po 'yung nagbibigay ng holy booklet sa may mall kanina. Naiwan mo po ang school ID mo kanina, nasa akin."

"Oh." I heard his low chuckle. "So ikaw 'yon."

"Opo. Baka pwedeng ikaw na lang ang kumuha sa akin? Limited kasi ang paglabas dito sa amin," magalang kong sabi.

He laughed. "I'm here." 

Nalito ako sa sinagot niya. Inikot ko ang mga mata ko sa paligid. Bigla akong napatayo ng may makitang matangkad na bulto, nakasandal sa pader at nakapamulsa. Ang isang kamay ay may hawak na telepono habang diretsong nakatitig sa akin.

I walked towards him. Dumistansiya ako nang makalapit. Kinuha ko ang ID mula sa bag ko at iniabot iyon sa kanya.

"Here's your ID..." I smiled a little. "...Isaiah."

                       --✿✎◒◓✐✿--

Written by: Illuminativity