BINI ONESHOT AUS

Jhomikha

"Do I deserve sunshine?"

a short jhmk os that contains soft angst (? yan ba tawag)

— start , third person's pov

Jaira— an altar server, who has always been the religious type, following her beliefs into her grandfather who is a priest at her local church.

She grew up listening to sermons, lessons that her grandfather taught. And those lessons made her want to be a better person, to be the perfect child of God.

Aside from being an altar server, she was a very studious girl. If not for her church duties, she'd be at home, reviewing notes and studying advanced lessons.

People gossip about her, and her lack of a social life. But she never cared for any of those gossips because as long as she had her and faith by her side, she was content.

She was done at the church after class, helping clean up after a mass when she hears her grandfather lecturing someone. She knows it was wrong to eavesdrop, but something was just drawing her in to listen.

She made sure to cover her mouth, trying to stay quiet as she listened through the thin walls.

"Anak, sana'y alam mo ang napakalaking kasalanang dala ng pagmamahal ng babae sa kapwa babae. Nasa salita ng Diyos iyan, Anak, Miren. Kaya, ipagdarasal kita na malagpasan mo ang paghihirap sa iyong buhay ngayon. Bata ka pa, marami ka pang hindi alam, kaya't andito ako para tulungan kang matuto nang mabuting gawain." Fr. Ardan stated, his tone firm. Jaira slowly peaked, seeing a girl sat on a chair as Father lectured her. Unfortunately for her, she accidentally slipped, falling onto the ground infront of Father.

"Oh. Andito ka na pala, Jai. I-guide mo na si Miren sa headquarters kung saan kayo natutulog." Father said, making Jai nod and lead the girl to their headquarters.

All of them in that headquarters were the girls who were deemed to be troubled, sent to church to learn how to be 'good'. Jai wasn't troubled though, as she was the one meant to keep everything in order for all of them.

When Miren and her started walking towards the rooms, it was quiet. Everytime Jai moved, Miren flinched.

"Okay ka lang?" Jaira asked, stopping in her tracks to face Miren.

"I- Okay lang ako.. Just muscle memory, siguro." Miren said, her tone almost below a whisper. Jaira nodded

"Don't worry. You're safe here sa sanctuary namin. You'll be safe 'cause you have me, Miren. Or is that your name, 'cause I heard father call you that?" Jaira asked, guiding Miren to the bedrooms that seemed to be empty as everybody was out in the garden doing their own thing.

"Oh, right. I'm Miren Josephine Lim. Family call me Miren, friends call me Mj." Miren stated. Jaira studied Miren's face, eyes darting to the latter's bright red hair as a sign of teenage rebellion.

"Can I call you Mj?" Jaira asked, and Miren hesitantly nodded, because to be honest, Jaira was the only person she could truly trust right now.

When they arrived in the bedrooms, Jaira showed Miren her bunk, and it was above Jaira's.

When Miren sat on her bed, Jaira asked once again.

"Bakit ka nga pala napunta dito..? If it's okay to ask." Jaira asked, slow, careful, trying to be respectful at best.

Miren looked at Jaira who was leaning on the bunkbed's frame, still staring at her curiously. She sighed before finally answering—

"Mom had enough of me. She just simply didn't want me around because of her new family, and so, made up deliberate lies about me, along with having problems with my chosen sexuality." Miren confessed, her eyes darting to the hard wood floor, not sure how to react.