The Last Man Standing

Chapter 2

Peace— That was the first adjective that entered Clio's mind the moment she stepped inside the church. Bright white marble floors greeted her muddy and old shoes.

There were a lot of people, mostly families with a complete set of parents, dressed in their most presentable dresses and pants including Lilith. Clio, on the other hand, was wearing her wrinkled shirt and faded jeans.

The whole design of the church was aesthetically beautiful. The altar was dressed in assorted colors of fairy lights and a bunch of white roses and red poinsettias decorated every pillar and pews of the church. There was a big chandelier in the middle of the church’s ceiling, making the whole place look extra expensive. The word ‘extravagant’ was not enough to describe the mesmerizing overall decorations of the church. Truly, everyone was getting all out in celebrating Christmas.

“Let’s sit over there!” Lilith excitedly pulled Clio to the middle pew, fifth row from the altar. They sat side-by-side.

Beside Clio was an old woman wearing a long skirt and white long sleeves, kneeling on both of her knees, holding a rosary and praying the novena. On Lilith’s side, a man with a thick beard was sitting. Beside him was a little girl who was holding a ragdoll.

“The Belen was so beautiful!” said the little girl, pointing at the popular decoration constructed at the right most corner of the altar.

Clio and Lilith looked at the Belen, a notable Christmas decoration mirroring a very important scene in the Bible; when Maria gave birth to Jesus in the manger in the city of Bethlehem. Both of the ladies were in awe of the altar’s decoration, now that they were seeing it up close. The life-size statues of Mary, Joseph, the child in the manger, and the three kings made of elegant alabaster were in a pompous arrangement showcasing the popular Belen Nativity Scene.

“Woah! The church really goes all out for this year’s Christmas,” Lilith said, amazed by how churches really commemorate Christmas.

On the other hand, Clio’s eyes were in tears when she remembered her childhood borrowed memories. She was once like these people before. She once had the strongest faith. She was once a believer.

But now, she couldn’t even remember when was the last time she prayed. She couldn’t remember the last time she thanked God or when was the last time she apologized to God. What’s all left in her were doubts and anger. Why did God take her mother away from her? Why did she suffer? Why did God forsake her?

"The Lord be with you," said the priest.

"And with you too!" the people responded, simultaneously. The old woman next to Clio had the strongest response that echoed in the quiet church hall.

Clio was the only one who didn’t answer the priest. “You forsake me,” she whispered, looking up at the big cross in the middle of the altar. While everyone was celebrating God’s birth, Clio was feeling nothing but anger.

‘He guides us all the time.’ Clio heard her mother’s soft voice. She always sounded like an angel. Her mother’s smile was the kindest of all. ‘We must love him more than ourselves.’ It was her mother’s daily reminder to her.

‘We belong to Him.’

The mass was halfway done when Clio’s mouth tasted like rust. She bit the tip of her tongue when the priest suddenly shouted in the middle of his homily, “Glory is all His!” Then the people in the church clapped.

Her fists clenched. She could feel the bitterness slowly seeping into her system. The angry shouts she wanted to let out died down in her dry throat. These screams turned to treacherous tears, stinging the sides of her eyes. She was about to cry in the middle of a celebrating crowd. That would surely grab everyone’s attention.

To save herself from embarrassment and pity, Clio left Lilith's side without even telling her.

Due to hurry, Clio stepped on the new shoe of a lady who was infuriated by it. After apologizing, she left the church with a heavy chest. She was literally dragging her feet in every step towards the church’s exit. She’s tired. She shouldn’t have gone with Lilith. The church was not for her. Everything about church and religion infuriated her.

When Clio finally got out of the church, she immediately crossed the road, to the closed grocery store. She had only one thing on her mind now, to go home and prepare some food and then visit her aunt in the hospital.

Clio’s face was in deep frown as she waited for the bus. She was literally hugging her upper body because of the cold breeze of the wind. She loathed herself for forgetting to wear her cardigan.

"Clio!"

Lilith’s familiar voice made Clio sighed deeply. She saw her friend approaching in her direction. Lilith’s bleached hair, expensive watch, and simple but elegant attire further exacerbate her face beautified by expensive cosmetic products.

She waved at her and forced a smile.

“Why did you leave? The mass is not yet finished,” Lilith asked, breathlessly. “I fought the woman who cursed on you earlier. Just so you know,” she added, flipping her hair.

Clio chuckled. “You shouldn't have done that.” She sighed before holding Lilith’s hand. “But thank you.”

Lilith was one of the best people Clio had ever known in her life. No matter what she did or no matter how envious she was in the life she had, Clio would never get mad at her. She helped her several times, not just emotionally but also financially.

Clio averted her eyes to the dark night sky to avoid Lilith’s scrutinizing gaze.

“Clio,” Lilith called. This was the tone she always used when she encouraged Clio to open up about her problems. However, Clio remained quiet.

A long silence intervened between them. The only noise was coming from the howling wind and from the church’s mass that was being broadcasted to the whole city via a loud and big speaker.

"It was suffocating to be inside that church.” Clio sighed, her lips started trembling and her voice quivered, “It was suffocating to be in a crowd where everyone was happy except me." Clio's tears fell no matter how hard she tried to stop it.

“I’m sorry, Clio. It was so inconsiderate of me.” Lilith caressed her friend’s back, losing all the comforting words she should say. “I’m sorry.”

“When will my problems end?” Clio sobbed. Her tears fell like an endless river. She always hated herself when she was weak. But right now, the depressing feeling in her heart was overpowering her rationale. She was keeping everything for a long while now. The negative emotions were just too much and she could not hold it anymore. “I only want simple things, Lilith… I-I never asked for anything grand. I never hoped for the best. So, why does He have to torture me like this? Why?”

In the middle of chilly night of twenty-fourth of December, Clio released all the emotions she harbored inside. Like her previous downfalls, Lilith was the only one to witness it.

“Everything is going to be alright, Clio. Just cry it all out. Just let go.” Lilith stroked Clio’s back. When her friend’s sobs grew louder, she did not hesitate to embrace her. She let her friend cry on her shoulder. “Just tell me what I can do to help. I can lend you some money again.” Lilith whispered softly in Clio's ear as she continued to caress her back.

Clio immediately wiped away her tears and parted from her friend’s hug. She sniffed before giving Lilith a forced smile. “No. It’s embarrassing already, Lilith. You’ve helped me a lot already. This time, let me handle this on my own.” Clio heaved a deep sigh. She ran her hand through her disheveled hair. “It’s not possible that every time I am short of money, I will depend on you for everything. That’s so wrong of me. I don’t want people to think I am abusing our friendship.” Clio tried to laugh but failed miserably when her tears fell again.

She averted her gaze from Lilith to the sampaguita vendor from a distance. She wiped her tears and mentally scolded herself for being such a crybaby.

“You’re my friend,” Lilith whispered, taking a red envelope with gold lining from her bag. “You’re my only friend, Clio.” She then placed the envelope in Clio’s hand.

Clio looked back at Lilith because of the envelope she had given her. She frowned. “What is this?” She was about to open the envelope when Lilith stopped her. “Lilith?”

Lilith held Clio’s hand tightly. There was a wide smile on her lips, staring intently at her friend. Clio was her only genuine friend. Someone who was there for her not because of her parents’ wealth. “It’s just a simple Christmas gift, Clio. I wanted to give you that tonight or tomorrow.”

“But—”

“Please don’t refuse my gift. I gave it to you for being a good friend of mine,” Lilith immediately said, sensing Clio’s refusal. “After all, this is how Christmas is spent, isn’t it? It is all about giving love to the people who matter to you.”

Clio hugged Lilith tightly. It’s been too long since someone gave her a gift. “Sorry.” Clio bit her bottom lip, staring at the envelope. “I have no gift prepared for you. My situation is a bit tight right now.” She looked at Lilith apologetically.

“It’s okay, Clio. I understand your situation more than anyone.” Lilith c****d her head to the right, expectantly looking at Clio. “So, are you accepting my gift? A simple thank you will be enough,” Lilith said, hugging her friend.

“Thank you, Lilith. Thank you for this gift and for everything you have done for me,” Clio said, hugging her friend back.

“You are important to me, Clio. Thank you for being my friend.”

Lilith immediately grabbed Clio’s hand after parting from the hug they shared. "You have paid all your debts to me from now on."

The smile on Clio’s lips froze with what Lilith said. She could not understand what Lilith meant. “I will pay you soon, Lilith. Jeez.” She chuckled. “Stop saying weird things.”

“God loves you, Clio. Always remember that. He used me as an instrument to guide you back to His arms.” Lilith hugged Clio for the second time, not paying attention to the deep frown on her friend’s face. She hugged her tightly, caressing her back. “It’s not too late to repent, Clio. God Bless you.” Lilith whispered which caused the hairs on Clio’s nape to stand.

When Lilith separated from her, Clio seemed dumbfounded and did not want to say a word. Her friend smiled at her before she turned around to leave.

"Wait," Clio said in a small voice. Lilith turned back to her, looking a bit distant with those cold eyes and fake smile. This was the first time she acted like this in front of her. "W-Where are you going?"

Lilith pointed across the street where the church was. “I will end the mass. I want to finish the Christmas eve’s mass so I can ask for a wish. Also, I’m not in the mood to go home yet.” Lilith waved at her. "Bye. Be careful, Clio. Until we meet again." Lilith crossed the road back to the church and left Clio standing in front of the closed grocery store.

It took a few seconds before Clio noticed that she had been holding her breath for a while. She sighed loudly. She was about to check what was inside the envelope that Lilith gave her when she was dazzled by the headlights of an oncoming bus. It was her bus.

She immediately got on the bus. As the moving vehicle pulled away, she looked at the church for one last time. The shiny and bright decorations of the church made the building stand out in the middle of its dark surroundings.

Clio remembered her friend who was back at the church to finish the evening mass. Her head tilted in curiosity. What more could a woman, who already has everything, ask for?

Holy Mary, mother of God,

Pray for us sinners,

Now, and in the hour or our death,

Amen.

Clio looked around the bus. There were three people beside her. All of them had excited looks on their faces. “Everyone is really happy,” she muttered, turning her attention to the envelope in her hand. She opened it and immediately frowned upon seeing a folded black paper. “Greeting card?” She took the paper, a scented kind, from the envelope and laid it out in proper shape. The paper had gold lines as borders. The letters were printed in gold and in gothic font style.

What she read from it was one of the most bizarre and unexpected phrases she ever read;

You are invited! Grab your chance to repent and redeem your auspiciousness in the embrace of our Lord! Come and join us to celebrate the prosperous birth of our King, and our Savior!

When: December 24, 2021; 12:00 AM

Where: Kalye Paraiso, Barangay Makatarungan, Manila.

What: A gathering and celebration that is full of games and unexpected surprises. Be ready for a $5 million jackpot prize!

Your password and codename: Knave

We are looking forward to your presence!

To God be the Glory.

“What the heck is this?” Clio murmured, blinking her eyes repeatedly.