Above Heavens

First Glitch

V A U G H N

"Oy Luis daw! Tawag ka na ni Sir!" Nagulat ako nang hampasin ni Picolo ang balikat ko habang nakaupo kami sa labas ng room. Hinihintay ang cue ng prof namin sa Ethics kung sino na ang papasok sa classroom. One-on-one oral recitation daw. But seriously, who the f**k will name their child 'Picolo'? Pasabog.

"Luis, Vaughn M. Ikaw na raw!" Pag-ulit pa ni Mia na siyang lumabas ng classroom at katatapos lang mag-recite sa harap ni sir. Tinatali ang buhok pa-bun. Ang akala siguro nila may tunog 'yong earphones na nakasumpak sa mga tainga ko kaya ganyan sila umakto. Pero ang totoo wala. Props lang. I like observing people. Tumayo na ako at naglakad papuntang pinto ng classroom. Halos lahat ng mga nadaanan kong kaklase ko sa subject na 'to may hawak na index card at naka-note doon 'yong ibang lessons namin.

"Wow yabang a Vaughn! Pwede naman daw magdala ng index card wala ka?" Hindi ko na pinansin si Mia. Ang ingay.

"Good luck Vaughn!" My gaze turned sideward. It was Candary who spoke.

"Oy Ezplasa pinapatawag ka sa faculty!" Another classmate called Candary. Noon niya lang ako kinausap. Well, I don't need her good luck. My mind is capable. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin.

"How are you Mr. Luis?" Bungad sa akin ng prof kong si Sir Thomas. A bespectacled man on his Early 30's. Looking young, may mahahabang binti, katatamang katawan, at simpleng pananamit. Gupit binata rin. No wonder why most of my female classmates call him 'sir yummy'.

"Ayos lang po."

"Okay good. Punta ka na sa harap." Aniya habang pinupunasan ang salamin.

Ngumiti si Sir pero 'di ko alam kung pilit ba 'yon o ano.

Sinunod ko naman ang sinabi niya. Dalawa lang kami sa classroom, nakabukas naman ang aircon pero pinagpapawisan ako. Wala rin naman akong nararamdamang kaba.

"Oh bunot na diyan Mr. Luis." He gestured his hands, pertaining to the bowl on the table in front of me. Ang lamesang 'yon ang namamagitan sa amin. Bumunot naman ako.

"Read it out loud." Aniya. Tumama pa ang ilaw sa lente ng salamin niya nang ibaba ang tingin sa akin.

"How does a specific religious belief affects one's behavior?" I read it casually.

"I'll give you three minutes to answer that Mr. Luis. You may now begin." Pipindutin niya na sana 'yong timer ng phone niya nang umalma ako.

"Sir, is this a personal question? I'm an atheist." It looks like he's expecting me to say that. 'Di man lang nagbago ekspresyon ng mukha niya.

"It's up to you if you'll take it personally. You may give examples, kahit hindi mo karanasan." Nginitian ako ni Sir Thomas. Ewan kung nambubuwisit ba siya o ano. He tapped the timer on.

"Okay Sir, 'di na po ako lalayo. I'm a non-believer po. But, I highly believe that I am still a moral being despite of that. You know, if your religion requires you to hate an agnostic or an atheist, then what's the point of the 'love-your-neighbor-bible verse? Ano 'yon pang-bio lang sa f*******:?" I chuckled and continued.

"Hmm, I think religion affects a person's behavior in two aspects. Of course, negatively and positively. Positively, they do godly things, obey the rules of their Divine, resulting some good impact on the people around them. Negatively, because of their belief also, they are unaware about being ethnocentrics. If you act against their moral principles, they will wish you to go to hell. As if, they can finally claim their spots in heaven."

Tumatango-tango lang si Sir. I can't read him if his interested with my answer or not. I don't care.

"Sir, do you think is it a bad or good thing to live in fear? 'Cause you know, it's injected in most of the brains that you'll go to a fiery pit when you've done bad things here on Earth. Who knows? The Bible can be a myth. Imagine, people used to celebrate Christmas during winter season, but the Bible also says that, ipinanganak-si-Hesus-sa-sabsaban. Yeah, sabsaban in winter season. Ayon sir, people act depending on their religious belief. Aside from engaging themselves with religious practices. Imagine, you're a religious person but your judging that one who oppose your sect? Then they will reason out that there's no perfect person at all. Hypocrisy. Some behaviors are habitual, those who judge others, those who are not. Religion brings psychological impact. It cultivates your psyche. Some can have cognitive dissonance, some sect brings culture shock. But it still you who will decide. Maging alipin ng Diyos, o anak ng Diyos? For others, ang pagiging anak ng Diyos ay ang pagpapa-alipin sa kanya. I respect that tho. In the end, respeto lang naman gusto ng karamihan."

Sir Thomas cleared the lump in his throat and finally speak.

"May I know Sir Luis what made you an atheist?" He asked.

"Ironically Sir, si God din po." I stifled my laughter.

"You still believe in him. I think agnostic ka lang. Just like Ms. Ezplasa."

Sino nga ulit ang may apelyidong Ezplasa s**t sa mga kaklase ko? Hirap 'pag open enrollment wala lalo ako maalala sa mga kaklase ko. Oh! Ah si Candary.

"I think sir, 'di po ako anak ng Diyos. I'm not his favorite." I know I sounded sarcastic.

"Oh?" He doesn't look bothered. I don't know, It's hard to read him.

"Anak po ako ng Science." I proudly announced. Sakto namang tumunog na ang timer pagkasabi ko noon.

"Okay. Thank you Mr. Luis. Kindly call Ms. Mañalac, siya na sunod." A small smile plastered on his facade. I nodded and walk towards the door. I was about to open it when Sir Thomas called me by my first name.

"Vaughn, if you have leisure, we can talk sometime. I believe that you can still gain your faith. It's a gift. Ganyan din ako noon sa edad mo until I studied Theology." He seriously uttered. Wow. Gain my faith huh? Nilingon ko siya.

"Thank you sir." I don't want to look rude.

Sumapit ang lunch, ang mga boring na subjects, ang major subject at normal naman ang lahat. Walang bago. Sumapit ang alas singko at wala na akong klase. I decided to go in a school supply shop to buy some Unipins. May plate kaming ipapasa sa susunod na araw. Ayoko nang mag-engineering. I want to finish it later so that I'll not result to procrastination.

Walang masyadong tao ngayon dito sa Pilar's Bookshop kahit oras na ng uwian ng ibang college students, isama mo pa mga highschool. Nakapagtataka.

Ibang brand ng pens na ang nakalagay doon sa may counter kaya naisip ko baka nilipat na ang pwesto ng Unipin doon sa hanay ng calligraphy pens. 'Di naman ako nabigo. Kumuha ako ng tatlo na iba't-iba ang point sizes. I remembered, paubos na rin pala vellum board ko kaya bibili na rin ako. Someone caught my attention while walking in the aisle. Nakatalikod pa kaya 'di ko sure kong saang subject ko siya kaklase. Lumingon siya sa direksyon ko. Iiwas sana ako ng tingin. I don't want her to get the wrong idea. Pero 'di ko nagawa nang mapagtanto kong si Candary pala 'yon. But I noticed something weird about her feautures. O hindi ko lang madalas makita ang mukha niya kahit kaklase ko siya sa dalawang subjects? It was her but have more developed body and facial features. Mas mahaba rin ang buhok niya. Hanggang baywang ba talaga 'yon? Parang kanina ang alam ko hanggang balikat lang ah? Did she get hair extensions? Ah whatever. Why am I thinking those? Wala rin naman akong pakialam sa kanya kahit parehas pa kaming anak ng Science.

Kumuha na lang ako ng dalawang pack ng vellum board. Mas mainam kung mag-stock na ako for emergency purposes. Papunta na sana ako sa counter at nang makauwi na nang magulat akong nasa harapan ko na si Candary. Seryoso she's creeping me out now. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin.

"Hey." Tamad kong bati. Seriously? I approached her?

"Vaughn!" She shouted while smiling.

"May kailangan ka?" I asked 'cause this is awkward. Seryoso ayokong nag-eentertain ng classmate.

"Finally nahanap din kita!" She beamed. Wait, what? Pinagsasabi mo.

"What now?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa babaeng 'to.

"Pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" Shhe held my hands. I quickly pulled my hand from her's. Baka may makakitang kakilala ko at ano pang isipin.

"Busy ako." Iiwan ko siya roon at tumungo na sa may counter para magbayad. May tatlong nauuna sa akin kaya pumila ako. Paglingon ko sa hanay ng mga papel, wala na si Candary doon.

"Vaughn saglit lang!" Dito niya pala ako inabangan sa labas ng Bookshop. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad at 'di siya pinansin. Naramdaman kong sinusundan niya ako. Nahinto ako.

"Ano?!" I strongly said. Nagulat siya sa reaksyon ko. "Kung may sasabihin ka sabihin mo na!"

"So-sorry Vaughn." Pautal-utal at nayuko niyang sambit.

"Vaughn, ma-may gusto ka ba sa akin?" She asked while having an uncomfortable facial expression.

"What?!" What the hell is going inside her mind? Seriously Candary? I didn't expect that she's a typical girl begging for romantic love.