Verse for today:
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
β 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 πππππππππ and checked the notifications.
My eyes stilled on a single notification. My eyes almost pop out from its socket when I read it.
@itstravisnotisaiah followed you in πππππππππ
@itstravisnotisaiah reacted 7 of your posts
@itstravisnotisaiah messaged you
@itstravisnotisaiah
Hi, pa-autograph pi.I shut my eyes. Really...
--βΏβββββΏ--
Written by: Illuminativity
Verse for today: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. β Proverbs 15:1 Chapter 4 Autograph? Why is he asking for an autograph? I decided not to reply. I was hesitant but I chose to stalk his account on πππππππππ. Ang sabi sa akin ni Savy, kapag nag-s-stalk ka sa isang tao ay magmumukha kang kriminal. But I'm not doing something illegal, right? I tapped his icon. Bumungad sa akin ang profiles niya na mayroong 700 plus followers. I read his bio. You're the bottle of my Margarita. The key of my motorcycle. The ace of my playing cards. The intensity of my stares. And the love of my I love you's. Naningkit ang mga mata ko. I easily comprehend his bio. King Solomon also has sweet and capturing words that's why I'm not new to this. I scrolled on his timeline to view the photos. My forehead creases with the photos. Mayroon doong litrato na may hawak siy
Chapter 4 Autograph? Why is he asking for an autograph? I decided not to reply. I was hesitant but I chose to stalk his account on I*******m. Ang sabi sa akin ni Savy, kapag nag-s-stalk ka sa isang tao ay magmumukha kang kriminal. But I'm not doing something illegal, right? I tapped his icon. Bumungad sa akin ang profiles niya na mayroong 700 plus followers. I read his bio. You're the bottle of my Margarita. The key of my motorcycle. The ace of my playing cards. The intensity of my stares. And the love of my I love you's. Naningkit ang mga mata ko. I easily comprehend his bio. King Solomon also has sweet and capturing words that's why I'm not new to this. I scrolled on his timeline to view the photos. My forehead creases with the photos. Mayroon doong litrato na may hawak siyang billiard stick at ina-asinta ang mga bola. Only his sideview is visible and his pointed nose is perfectly defined. There was a caption of 'not minding
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Verse for today: But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. β John 15:21 Chapter 6 "Bakit naman kasi dito nagkakalat ang mga hindi naman miyembro natin?! Tayo rin tuloy ang napeperwisyo," reklamo ni Castellina habang nagpupulot ng mga kalat at isinisilid iyon sa sako. I wiped the sweat of my forehead using the back of my hand. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagwawalis habang nakikinig sa usapan ng mga kasama ko. We toured the whole part of WABOC here and find out that the neighbours are throwing garbages to a hidden part of the field. May village din kasi sa harap namin kaya ang iba sa mga nakatira ay ginagawang tambakan ang parteng ito ng lugar namin. Tatlo kami nina Savy, Castellina, at ako na naglinis. The others were also busy on gardening, quizes, and bible study. Walang masyadong pagala-gala sa labas ng building kaya aakalain ng iba na kaunti lang kami, alth
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Verse for today: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. β Psalms 46:1 Chapter 8 "Huh? Nasaan daw ang driver?" Castellina confusedly asked. We were already leaving but then, the driver of our van wasn't here. Kaya narito kami sa harapan ng caretaker namin, and Castellina's the one who's talking with him. "Umalis at nakabangga raw ang pinsan niya at siya ang mag-a-asikaso. Mag-tricycle na lang kayo, Ma'am Aleah," magalang niyang tugon. "Give me the keys." Inilahad ni Aleah ang kamay niya sa matanda. Nagugulat na tumingin sa kanya ito. As I always perceive, Aleah can confidently do anything that is related to professionalism and talent. Even driving vehicles, that's why no one should underestimate her. "P-pero wala kang lisensiyaβ" He was cut off when Aleah showed him
Verse for today: My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. β Proverbs 1:10 Chapter 9 Why is Isaiah here? Paulit-ulit pumasok iyon sa isipan ko. I was enraged that he called Fleur dumb. He should respect Fleur, whether who she is, not just because she's living in a luxurious mansion. Are they related? Inihagis niya sa isang maliit na basurahan ang natirang sigarilyo at nakapamulsang naglakad palapit sa amin. I thought he's going to greet us but he just passed by and went upstairs. "Why are you here?" striktang tanong ni Fleur. "May naiwan akong gamit. You think I went here for Damiel?" He rolled his eyes. "Aalisin mo na lahat ng gamit mo rito? Why? So you could finally have your own chaotic and disgusting life? Hindi ka papayagan ni Dad!" Fleur blurted out. "Like I care, huh?" Matagal siyang nakipagtitigan kay Fleur bago inalis ang tingin niya rito. Before he finally get off o
Verse for today: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. β 1 Corinthians 13:7 Chapter 10 "Are you sure po na hindi magagalit sa akin ang mga bandmates mo? You left them there," I worriedly said to Isaiah. He moderately maneuvered the car before looking at me. He suppressed a gentle smirk to me. "They won't," aniya. "Babalik din ako pagkahatid ko sa'yo. It's more safer if you have someone with you in this case." Sumandal ako sa upuan ng sasakyan at mataman siyang tiningnan. "Isaiah, I don't want you to think that I am a damnsel in distress. I am naturally shy but I can stand on my own despite of my disadvantages. Sana ay hindi rin ako nagiging pabigat sa'yo." His brows shut. "Why did you come up with that thought?