Chapter 3

Verse for today:

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

— Romans 12:9

Chapter 3

"Paano ko makukuha kung ang layo mo?" 

He was smirking while waiting for me to step closer. I took two small steps and gave him the ID.

I was waiting for him to thank me but he didn't. Bumuntonghininga ako at nagsalita.

"Sige po, babalik na ako sa loob. May bible study pa kami."

"Wait!" he took a hold on my shoulders. Mabilis akong napalayo doon. I become uncomfortable when someone, especially strangers would touch me.

"You won't even ask how I got here? O kahit bakit hindi ako nagpasalamat sa'yo?" he asks, raising the side of his lips.

Tumikhim ako. "Sorry po, male-late na talaga ako sa bible study namin." 

Nanatili akong nakayuko. It's not really required to put too much gap with men in our religion but I couldn't help it, always. 

My cheeks reddened when he chuckled. My conscience started to swallow me. Did he get sad when I rejected his demands?

"Kung gusto mo po, isasama na lang kita sa bible study namin," I offered.

He shook his head. "Ayaw ko. Baka masunog ako."

My eyes widened. "Po? Bakit ka naman masusunog? It's safe here."

His forehead creased. I heard him laughed. "I'm sorry, I don't really have interest in that thing. Mas mahalaga sa akin ang mga pinagkakakitaan ko nga ngayon. Reading bible won't produce money." He showed a sheepish smile at me.

I pursed my lips. Napakurap-kurap ako. Tiningala ko ang tangkad niya at sinuri ang mukha niya. I smiled sadly.

"1 John 2:16, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. But a true man of God can resist it," I slowly recited. 

"And you can't, because it seems like you do things that is not according to God's will. But I believe that Jesus will help you to climb your heart to heaven. He is the way to God," I said.

His mouth parted amusedly. Umalis siya mula sa pagkakasandal sa pader at lumipat sa isang motor, which I think was his.

"Thank you for the words that I couldn't understand. What's your name?" wika niya.

I hesitated to answer when a thought came from my mind. When I was a child, my mother taught me not to introduce myself to strangers. But I realize that we introduce ourselves to strangers so they won't be strangers to us anymore.

"I'm Serene," I said. 

Tumango-tango siya at ngumisi.

"Nice to meet you, then... Serene," he whispered my name. "I'm Travis." 

He extended his hands to me but I simply shook my head because I don't do shake hands to men who isn't very close to me. Binawi niya agad 'yon.

"Oh... you're concious." He smiled widely, showing his perfect set of teeth.

"I prefer calling you Isaiah," ani ko. 

He shot a brow. Bigla akong nakonsensiya dahil mukhang nagalit yata siya.

"S-sige po, uuna na ako. Take care." Dahan-dahan akong tumalikod mula sa kanya.

"Thank you..." I heard him whispered.

I took a deep breathe and walked away. Napaigtad ako nang biglang sumulpot ang isa sa mga bible study partners ko, si Sarah.

"Serene!" tawag niya sa akin.

Saglit akong tumigil, she walked along with me.

"Hindi po ako late, ano?" 

Umiling siya. "Hindi, pero malapit na ang bible study natin. Galing na ako sa library at nandoon na sina James at Genesis." 

Napahinga ako nang maluwag. Never in the record did I became late on a simple event, I always make sure that I come early. Kung hindi maaga, sakto naman sa oras. I am not uplifting myself but I was raised being eager to everything even though I looked lacked of confidence.

When we reached near the library, Sarah coughed.

"I saw you with a guy. Boyfriend?" 

I was stunned with what she said. I bit my lower lip and shook my head multiple times, like exaggeratedly craning my bones.

"Hindi, Sarah." I denied. I even forgot to put the 'sister' because of nervousness.

Humagalpak siya ng tawa. "But you look frustrated? Crush mo?"

I heaved a deep sigh and just stretched my lips from ear to ear. 

"I don't commit my adoration to the person who is not God's chosen person for me. It's depends to God," ngiti ko.

"Ikaw na talaga ang the best, Serene Mariah Halillo!" she proudly said.

I shyly mouthed 'thanks'. We proceeded to the library and saw James and Genesis, eyes focused to the bible on the desk.

Tahimik nila akong nilingon. Malawak na ngumiti ang dalawa.

"Ayown, andiyan na sina lodi!" mahinang sabi ni James.

"Shh, 'wag kang maingay, Lolo," Genesis teased. 

Mahina silang nag-asaran. Nang umupo kami ay nagseryoso na ang lahat. We read the same bible silently and analyze the lessons. We did it for an hour and haft before we ended the study session.

"Now, I truly understood why King Solomon had many wives. I used to call him unfaithful and playboy husband to her wives before..." She emphasized the word 'wives'. "... ngayon, naiintindihan ko na."

"Hindi lang naman wives, may mga concubines pa." Humalakhak si Genesis.

"Asus, inggit ka naman dahil kahit kaisa-isang crush mo lang ay hindi mo makuha? Wala ka pa yata sa kili-kili ni Haring Solomon," pambabara ni James.

They teased each other. Sarah and I just laughed with their joyful bond. Kumain kami sa canteen bago dumiretso sa kanya-kanyang dorm. 

Mamayang hapon ay may assignment pa kami na pagkakabit ng aesthetic bulb sa gym para sa celebration ng anniversary namin bukas. I thanked God because we're not gonna waste time because there are so many things to do.

"Bless us oh, Lord for these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen."

Naabutan kong nagdadasal ang tatlo kong doormates nang makarating ako sa dorm. Foods were on the table and they were starting to eat silently.

Nang nakita ako ay binigyan ko sila ng ngiti. I didn't disturb them. Pumunta ako sa silid ko at nagpalit ng damit. I layed to bed and think of something to do. Napadako ang mga mata ko sa phone ko na nasa tabi ng lampshade. Kinuha ko iyon.

I use my phone rarely and when I use it, most of the time, is for biblical purposes only. But I do have social media accounts which is I use once in a lunar eclipse. I decided to went to 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚖 and checked the notifications.

My eyes stilled on a single notification. My eyes almost pop out from its socket when I read it.

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Hi, pa-autograph pi.

I shut my eyes. Really...

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Written by: Illuminativity