"narahuyo" | YJW

Two

Fans on flapping hands, children in playful ribbons, and a mixture of different perfumes, Jace's palms clasped on her thighs.

Church and religious gatherings may actually be a picture of Jace's sundays. She particularly has pending school works she failed to finish the day before under helping trim the bushes around the church's perimeter. Yet, she spent an hour choosing her dress, settling with her favorite calm yellow dress, and combing her hair into a neat half ponytail.

Aunt Loli, her grandmother's younger sister, is fanning herself, accidentally including Jace beside her. Aunt whispers to her a warning to be relayed to Jace's younger cousin Miggy, whose shoes are stepping on the long wood chair, staring at someone from the back. He behaves at Jace's message. On the other hand, his other cousin, Sofia, is not a bother. Also looking back, but only animatedly chewing on her lower lip. She's a year older than him.

For the next thirty minutes, they remain where they are. At least before everyone stands up, those allowed queuing for what represents the almighty's body. They both get back at giggling right at their back. Jace shushes them once more before leaving her own seat.

Deja vu, it's when you experience something for the very first time and feel it already happened. In another universe, maybe under a completely different name.

And there is Jamais vu.

Jace had spent all her years serving the church. Even as a child, she would spend afternoons on bible lectures, her flores de mayo never unattended. She's seen its sacred walls grow and expand all before her eyes.

Yet at that very moment, as she bows before the nun and turns around after whispering amen, she swears the moment felt like a stranger.

Almost three meters across, Jungwon notices her shock, having already finished with his own.

He admits he skips church. When he has ball practice, group work, or in all honestly, when he simply just doesn't feel like going. But when he does, he tries to listen well.

Not today, though.

He couldn't make sense of the priest's words about fate, from time to time trying to catch the woman in front's face, two identical kids watching him do so. It was only until she faces the kids on her right that he was able to figure how the girl in front has the same undeniably haunting face. Her lips that then was holding a cigar now paralleled before her lips, shushing the youngsters.

It has been three weeks. He skipped church in all of them.

When she stood up, he did. This has the kids reacting. And although he does not like kids, but they do and he is just yet to figure out why, he smiles at their noise. Because that has her turning once more.

The first thing he notices as they equal sights is the slight gap on her lips, more defined now with almost natural cosmetics. Then the way her steps halt to an almost stop. He would lie if he said this doesn't please him.

She remembers the same way he does.

So he waits for her to pass his side, unconsciously willing the line to move faster. It does. But before they meet, she reaches her seat, kneels on the fiery lightly worn out foam, clasps her hands before her chest and closes her eyes.

Jungwon never changes his mind.

Maybe the one swimming the crowd right by the exit where a human sized portrait hang on the wall after the mass, and the one whispering a panicky "excuse me" isn't him.

But he sees the way his tongue peeks in the gap between his one-sided upturned lips, something he does when relieved, when she turned to face him. It's almost as if she herself was just waiting to be found.

"Yes?" her right hand flies to cover her lower neck.

Not to be hypocrite, but Jungwon feels robbed by the sight of her in composed hair and empty fingers.

"Hi." he releases a soft breath to not scare her and himself. It's scary how now, he seems to have forgotten disappointments. But looking at her, what could be worse than never knowing her name?

"Ikaw yun diba?" Jungwon innocently raises a hand, two fingers standing on their way.

She glances around and with the world still moving outside the chat, nods. This is enough for his hands to land higher, pass his lips, and smoothly brush his black healthy hair. He nods in understanding, smile now turning into an amused smirk.

On special dates, moon would cover the sun. Jungwon has seen it first three weeks ago.

And this is him crossing his line.. and staying for more.