Story Deleted

Chapter 10

/10/ THE UNBELIEVER

Praying for the

unbelievers

to find faith

in the Lord Jesus

- Author's note

.

KHEL'S POV

.

"Are you sure you'll be alright on this road trip?" tanong ni Aunt Kyla.

She's standing by the door frame. As for me, katatapos ko lang iimpake ang aking mga gamit sa isang malaking backpack. I zip it closed and plopped it over the bed.

"It's only for a week, auntie." I turned around and faced her. "H'wag kayong mag-alala. We'll keep in touch. I'll contact you through phone."

Bumuntong hininga si aunt at naglakad palapit sa akin. "I know. May tiwala ako sa'yo."

"Kayo dapat ang mag-ingat," I countered. "Mag-isa lang kayo dito sa bahay habang wala ako. You sure you'll be okay with that?"

"Of course, Khel. Okay lang ako dito mag-isa. Isang linggo lang naman at ka-close ko naman ang mga kapit bahay natin. I can talk to them if I'm bored," ani auntie.

Hinawakan niya ang dalawang balikat ko, and she stares at me like how a mother stares at her son. She smiled.

"Enjoy the road trip, Khel. Hm?"

"Para sa contest kaya kami magro-road trip, auntie..." I remain blanked face. "We're doing this not to please our days. It's all for the magazine content and for the upcoming competition. Remember?"

"Then do it for both. You can do it for the contest and enjoy the trip at the same time," she reasoned out. "I just want you to enjoy your youth. Minsan ka lang bata. Live the moment."

Hindi ko talaga sineryoso ang sinabi ni auntie, though I appreciate her concern.

"I will," nasabi ko na lang.

Eventually, three consecutive horns were heard from outside the house. Beep! Beep! Beep!

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Aunt Kyla sa bintana. Without a doubt, I can say that he is already here with the camper van.

"Nand'yan na ang sundo mo. Let's go?"

I get my backpack and swing it over my shoulder. Dinala ko rin ang tripod at baka sakaling magamit ko 'to. Sinamahan ako ni auntie palabas ng bahay, hanggang sa marating namin ang labas ng main gate.

Nakaparada sa tapat ng tarangkahan ang isang makulay na van. A camper van, to be specific. Bumukas ang pinto ng driver's seat nito, saka iniluwa ang aking nag-iisang ungas na kaibigan.

"Yo! Good morning, tita! Hey, bro!" nakangisi siyang lumapit sa'min in auntie, saka tumingin sa'kin. "Ready for the trip?"

I raised my eyebrows to him with a hint of sarcasm. "You should ask yourself if you're ready for the consequences after missing the attendance in school?"

Dahil loko ang ungas na 'to, mas pinili niya talagang um-absent sa klase para makasama sa roadtrip na dapat kaming dalawa lang ni Meera. I said no. Pero nagdrama at nagpumilit ang loko. As a bargain so I could let him join the trip, he insisted to give us a free ride to his vehicle. At dahil mas mapapamahal kung magre-rent kami ng sasakyan... I ended up agreeing with this moron's deal.

I told Meera about this through chat last night. Yes, we're chatting... in a formal way. And she said she's fine with it.

Kaya, ayan, narito ngayon ang lokong si Brint at dala ang kaniyang camper van. He's already eighteen and he has license in driving. So we're safe in his company.

"Haysh! Advance mo talagang mag-isip, bro! Saka na natin isipin ang consequences na iyan!" aniya. "Sa ngayon, we should be excited for the road trip! Wuhoo!"

Brint made fist-bump in the air. He's like a seven-year old kid being excited to go to a playground. Tss. Childish.

Tinulungan ako ni Brint na ilagay ang aking mga gamit sa compartment ng sasakyan. After that, nagpaalam na ako kay auntie. Aunt Kyla waved her hand for a goodbye, I gave a slight smile at her. Then I hopped into the passenger's seat with Brint on the driver's side.

"Let's go!" The moron turned on the car's engine and stomped on the gas pedal.

Umandar ang sasakyan sa gitna ng kalsada, palabas sa malaking gate ng aming subdivision. As Brint is driving the vehicle, nilabas ko ang aking phone at kaagad namang m-in-essage si Meera.

- - -

Me:

- We're coming. Ready?

- - -

Wala pang ilang segundo, I received a reply from her.

- - -

Meera:

- Yup! :)

- - -

That smiley emoticon... I can't help but to secretly smirk. Imagine her smiling through that message. How stupid of me.

Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana. The neighborhood is still in deep slumber, with houses per block that are still close and in silence. The street's empty and flickering lampposts were down the lane.

From the morning sky, the sun glimpsed behind the horizon. Dawn is breaking. Golden rays stretched out through the orange and pinkish space.

5:33 am on my wristwatch.

The serene atmosphere gives me chills. I can't remember waking up this early. It feels like half of the world is still asleep, and it's a privilege to be awake at the moment just to witness the beautiful sunrise.

***

Good thing that Meera messaged her residence's address to me last night.

Huminto ang camper van sa isang 'di kalakihang bahay. Kumpara sa bahay ni auntie, mas maliit ito pero desente naman ang architecture style. May maliit na gate at isang garahe sa gilid ng main house.

Lumabas sa tarangkahan ang isang babaeng mahaba ang buhok at medyo mataray ang mukha, may dala itong maleta.

"Oy, Meera! Tara na! Nandito na sundo natin!" ani ng babae.

She must be Narri. Meera mentioned that she can't go to a road trip without the assistance of her family relative. So she told me about her cousin, Narri, that will join the trip, the same as Brint did.

Siniko ako ni Brint habang nakatayo kami sa labas ng van.

"Uy, chicks!" bulong n'ya.

I threw a glare at him. Ngumisi ang ungas, saka lumapit sa pinsan ni Meera.

"Lem'me help you, miss." Pa-gentleman na kinuha ni Brint ang dalang maleta ng dalaga.

Show off, moron?

Kumunot ang noo no'ng pinsan ni Meera, ngunit hinayaan na lang niyang dalhin ni Brint ang maleta sa compartment ng van.

Maya-maya pa't lumabas na si Meera sa gate. She's wearing a simple fitted jeans and oversized sweatshirt imprinted with a 'cross' and words: God Loves Me.

Nagtama ang mga mata namin at ngumisi siya sa'kin. "Good morning."

"Morning." Napalunok ako at kunwaring inayos ang aking salamin.

Keep it cool, Khel.

Tumunog ang pinto ng compartment nang ito'y isarado ni Brint. BLAG!

"All done!" The moron exclaimed while dusting off his hands.

Meera stood beside her cousin. She, then formally introduced Narri to me and to Brint. My moron friend casually smiled as a response, while I just coldly nodded my head.

Eventually, we hopped inside the van. I sat on the passenger's seat, Brint at the driver's seat, and the cousins are at the backseat. Binuhay ni Brint ang makina ng sasakyan, saka kami nagsuot ng seatbelts.

"Maaga pa pala," wika ni Meera habang nakasilip sa kaniyang orasan. "Pwede bang dumaan muna tayo sa malapit na church?"

Church?

Napasulyap ako sa rear-view mirror. I saw Meera's face staring at us. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin at bumaling sa bintana.

Bahagya namang natawa si Brint habang 'di pa niya pinapaandar ang van.

"Church?" ani ng ungas at sumulyap sa akin, saka lumingon sa backseat. "Para sa'n naman, miss cutie?"

"Mago-offer lang sana ako ng dasal. Pray for our guidance," Meera answered.

Gusto kong matawa sa sinabi niya. But I remain pokerface as I folded my arms against my chest.

"Oo nga. Why don't we? It's still early. Daan muna tayo ng church?" Narri added.

"Uh..." Brint trailed off. I can feel his stare at me. "Kasi..."

I hate going to church.

There's a few seconds of silence. My instinct told me to lift my gaze and when I did, nagtama ang paningin namin ni Meera sa rear-view mirror.

Sh*t. Those mesmerizing eyes.

So I immediately diverted my eyes back to the window, then bit my lower lip. D*mn those eyes.

"Is there a problem going to church?" Narri's voice.

I can still feel Meera staring at me from the mirror's reflection. Why is there sadness in her eyes? I can't breathe.

Brint finally answered, "Khel is... he hates church."

"Huh? Why?" Narri asked. "Hindi ba kristiyano si Khel? Is he a muslim? Uh... Buddhist?"

May pagkamadaldal din pala ang babaeng iyon.

"Hindi sa gano'n." Umiling si Brint. "Kasi ang totoo n'yan, si Khel ay isa sa mga hindi naniniwala sa--"

"I'm an atheist," I cut in. "I don't believe in god."

_________________________________________