Story Deleted

Chapter 11

/11/ STARTING ROAD

But small is the gate

and narrow the road

that leads to life, and

only a few ever find it

- Matthew 7:14

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KHEL'S POV

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It's been a long time since I stood in front of a church.

Tumayo ako sa labas ng van na nakaparada sa tapat ng isang simbahan. Crossing my arms, I rested my back against the van's hood.

Pinagmasdan ko ang kabuuan ng church mula rito sa labas. The pure white paint on those enormous walls, with huge pillars standing by the entrance, and the medieval architecture design.

Maluwang ang pagkakabukas ng pintuan ng simbahan. I can clearly see its interior. The long aisle and wooden seats, the tall ceiling, and a big cross at the very front, with an engraved name: Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Kitang-kita ko rin ang dalawang magpinsan na nakaluhod sa loob, nakaharap sa cross na 'yon. Meera and Narri, the two are praying inside the church for almost five minutes.

Maya-maya pa't biglang sumulpot si Brint sa tabi ko.

"Tagal naman nilang magdasal. Masyado yatang maka-diyos ang magpinsan na 'yon," aniya habang nakatingin sa simbahan.

I scoffed. "They're just wasting time and effort. Wala namang makakarinig ng mga dasal nila. Human's delusion is a tough stupidity."

Brint, then stares at me with suspicion in his eyes. I don't like the way he stares at me.

"What?"

"Tsk tsk tsk," he suddenly clicks his tongue. "Naku, nakuuu! Mukhang lumalambot na ang isang Khel Davidson, ah?"

I threw a glare at him. "What now, moron?"

"Ang Khel na kilala ko, hinding-hindi papayag na pumunta o kahit mapadaan man lang sa tapat ng simbahan," aniya at nagtaas ng kilay. "An'yare sa'tin, bro? Bakit parang nag-iba yata ang ihip ng hangin? May nakain ka ba? May sumapi ba sa'yong anghel?"

"Tch." I squinted my eyes. "You're exaggerating."

"Anong exaggerating? Hindi, ah! Totoo naman na hindi ikaw iyung tipo ng taong napapapayag kaagad! I know you, Khel. If you hate something, you hate it. And I know how much you despise churches! So how did a simple request from those two..." sabay turo n'ya sa magpinsan na nasa loob ng simbahan. "...change your mind?"

Ngumiwi ako. "It's called being gentleman."

"Pfft!" Biglang tumawa ang ungas na si Brint. "H'wag mo akong niloloko, bro! Wala sa bokabularyo mo ang gentleman. You're the rude and cold and snob Khel Davidson who takes girls for granted! C'mon! Something is going on here. Umamin ka nga sa akin, Khel..."

Hinarap niya ako nang nakapamulsa. Nanatiling nakakrus ang aking mga braso habang nakasandal sa van.

Brint smirked. "Tinamaan ka 'no?"

What the heck is he talking about?

"Kay miss cutie, tinamaan ka ano?"

I shot him a sharp eyes. Matagal kaming nagtitigan. Kinalaunan, ako ang unang umiwas ng tingin at nagtiim-bagang.

"None sense."

"Asus! None sense? In denial ka, bro!" Humalakhak si Brint at sinuntok ang braso ko. "Kitang-kita naman sa mga kilos mo eh. Kilala kita, Khel. I'm not your best friend without a reason."

"You're imagining things, Brint." Umiling ako.

Ngunit hindi ako tinigilan ng ungas. Nariyan pa rin ang malisyosong titig n'ya sa'kin. What a moron.

Mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi sa mukha niya. "Sigeee, deny pa, bro. Mag-deny ka pa. Mahuhuli rin kita."

Without saying anything, I fixed my eyeglasses' bridge.

Guess what? I don't give a d*mn.

After another round of five minutes, finally, the two ladies came out of the church. Sabay na naglakad ang magpinsan palapit sa direksyon namin ni Brint.

"Well, well... Done with the prayers, ladies?" my friend asked.

Tumango si Meera at sumagot si Narri ng, "Yup! Let's go?"

We all agreed and immediately jump inside the camper van. Kung ano ang posisyon namin kanina, gano'n pa rin ang posisyon namin ngayon. Brint as the driver, I sat on the passenger's side, both Meera and her cousin are at the backseat again.

Umandar ang van palayo sa church, hanggang sa marating namin ang main road. Buildings and famous establishments were aligned down the city's street. The sky brightens a little. Thus, mister sun, splits between tall structures. Its golden hand touches the land.

Time check, I glanced on my wristwatch. It's exactly 6:45 am. Too early.

"So, for our first destination, dadaan tayo pa-Silang Cavite," I heard Meera's voice.

Napatingin ako sa rear-view mirror. The ladies on the back were now holding a map. As in, literal map of CALABARZON. And they're studying the map's lineages to assure our direction.

Gusto kong matawa pero pinigilan ko. Napaka-old school naman nilang magpinsan. Hindi ba nila alam ang Google Map or Waze? Bakit may dala pa talaga silang literal na mapa?

"Don't worry, ladies," nagsalita si Brint habang nagmamaneho. "I got this. Alam ko ang pasikot-sikot na mga daan. At saka meron naman tayong digital maps. Mas madali 'yon gamitin kaysa... diyan sa dala n'yo."

Ngumisi ang ungas. Looks like we have the same thoughts.

"Ayun naman pala, 'insan eh! May digital map naman pala. Ba't ba kasi nagdala ka pa nito?" ani Narri.

"Gano'n ba? E'di sige, mag-digital map na lang tayo kung 'yun ang mas madaling paraan." Tiniklop ni Meera ang hawak niyang mapa. Then she pouted her lips. Tila dismayado siya na hindi n'ya magagamit 'yung mapa niya.

She looks d*mn cute. I bit my lower lip and divert my eyes back to the window beside me. Pinigilan kong ngumisi para 'di ako magmukhang tanga.

How innocent.

While driving, nilabas ni Brint ang kaniyang phone at pinatong ito sa dashboard. Pinindot n'ya ang isang app at nag-flash sa screen ang digital map.

"There," ani ng ungas. "Mas convenient ang digital maps kaysa sa mga papel na mapa, kasi kaya nitong mag-send ng info kung sa'n ang mas mabilis at walang traffic na ruta. In just one click, the path was cleaned. See?"

"Oo, alam namin 'yan. Hindi naman kami taong kweba, ano?" mataray na wika ni Narri.

I didn't see that coming.

"Huy!" Siniko siya ni Meera at pinanlakihan ng mata. But Narri just shrugged her shoulders.

"What? Totoo naman, ah!"

Biglang humalakhak nang malakas si Brint, dahilan para mapatingin kami sa kaniya. The moron is on the mood, again.

"Hahaha! I-I'm sorry," natatawang nagmaneho ang ungas. "Sorry kung na-offend ko kayo. Haha! It's just that... Ngayon lang ako naka-encounter ng mga babaeng, you know, pure innocent."

"Oh? So, tingin mo sa'min mga ignorante? Gano'n?"

"Narri naman!" saway ni Meera sa pagtataray ng pinsan n'ya.

Napatawa ulit si Brint. "Looks like your cousin misinterprets what I said, miss cutie?"

"Oh, ngayon, tingin mo naman sa'kin eh hindi marunong umintindi ng---"

"Pagpasensyahan n'yo na si 'insan," Meera cut off her cousin's remark. "Suplada talaga 'to sa mga lalaki. NBSB kasi, eh. Hehehe."

"What?! 'Insan naman---"

"Oh? Kaya naman pala," my friend butts in. "Hindi pa pala nakakaranas na ligawan kaya medyo nagpapapansin."

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Narri roared. Halos sugurin na niya si Brint mula sa kaniyang inuupuan.

Meera holds her cousin's arm, trying to calm her down.

Muli, humalakhak ang ungas kong kaibigan. It seems like he's enjoying the quarrel. I smirked inside my head. Happy now, moron? Mukhang nakatagpo ka na ng katapat mo.

"Inner peace, 'insan. Remember? Sabi ni Lord Jesus, peace be still..." Meera stated while doing deep breaths.

Kumalma na rin ang pinsan niyang si Narri, ngunit nakabusangot pa rin ang mukha nito. "Oo na. Inner peace. I get it, I get it. I'm at peace now, happy?"

"That's right. Keep yourself in peace, 'insan," ani Meera.

I lifted my eyes to the rear-view mirror. This time, I stare longer at her reflection. But Meera noticed that I'm staring at her, so she smiled at me... and it's not a good idea. My heart beats violently.

I bit my lip.

Kaagad akong nag-iwas ng tingin, saka inayos nang bahagya ang aking eyeglasses. Tumikhim ako at tumitig sa bintana.

I never knew... this road trip will be MORE than I expect it to be.

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