Believe

Prologue

Prologue

Kuya is sitting beside me at the backseat right now. We're from the mall. We brought gifts for Daddy. It's almost Christmas and before we'll go back to the Philippines I need to give my gift to my Dad.

Christmas lights and Santa decors are designed in every houses were passing by. Giant Christmas trees were there too. The essence of Christmas really is feel here.

"Oh no! I lose again." I heard Kuya Leo mutter after he lost his basketball game on his phone.

"You did it again bro!" I teased him then laughed.

"Ikaw Jacob, inukutya mo naman ako." Natatawang sabi ni kuya habang kinikiliti ako.

"Knock it off!" Natatawang sabi ko.

I'm just on my freshmen year when my Dad decided us to transfer here on Boston. Kuya Leo was on his sophomore year that time. I was so sad to leave Lolo alone on our house Daddy given him. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit nag-iba ang isipan ni Dad ngayon at gusto niya kaming bumalik sa Pinas. I'm on grade eleven now and Kuya is grade twelve. Good thing it's not that hard for us to adjust here so far.

As we passed through the highway, I saw a billboard with a quote saying We walk by faith not by sight shining brightly because of the lights. Gabi na kasi. Almost seven o'clock na.

Kunot-noo akong nakatitig sa billboard na 'yun. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng words na 'yun?

Imbis na itatanong ko sana kay kuya kung ano ang aking nakita pero hindi ko nalang itinuloy. Busy kasi siya sa cellphone niya eh baka mabatukan niya ako. Basta he's busy I never thought of having a conversation with him dahil mabilis siyang mainis lalo na kapag basketball na ang pinag-uusapan.

Until we get home I was so silent. The guard opened the gate and our car went inside the garage. Lumabas na ako sa kotse at naiwan si kuya Leo na still naglalaro parin ng cellphone niya.

I saw dad on the sala watching news on the television.

"Hey Dad," bati ko rito.

"Hey son. Where's Leo?" Tanong niya sa'kin.

"He's still on the car Dad playing his cellphone." I said. "Oh! By the way, I have some advance gift for you!" I smiled as I give him my wrapped gift.

"Thanks son!" He exclaimed. "Para saan 'to? Anong meron?" He asked confusingly.

"Dad, ano po ba kayo? It's almost Christmas that's why I bought you a gift because we're leaving you here sooner." I explained sadly.

"Oo nga naman." Tugon nito. "Let's eat dinner after you'll change your clothes okay?"

"Yes, Dad."

"And I almost forgot, tell your brother to stop playing his phone or else I'll get it from him okay?"

"Opo!" I answered and hurriedly went to my room.

Nakita ko naman na pumasok si Kuya. We're on one room but different beds. Mayaman naman si Dad dahil he got a big company here. Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit ayaw niya kaming paghiwalayin ni Kuya?

Ever since bata pa ako ayaw na ayaw ni Dad na humiwalay ako kay kuya. Lalo na noong iniwan ni Dad si Mommy. Nakipaghiwalay si Dad kay Mommy dahil nakita niya ito na may ibang lalaki. Sakto nga 'pagdating niya eh, naghuhubaran palang silang dalawa. After n'on hindi na ni Dad pinatuloy si Mommy sa bahay. Mom also made her choice. She went to his new man rather than giving her apology to Dad.

I hated her. It's like hindi niya lang man naisip na may mga anak siya na kailangan niyang alagaan. Dahil sa nangyaring 'yon Dad decided to transfer here. He told us that we'll only go back to the Philippines to take a vacation but not to stay there. Pero tila hindi na 'yon naalala ni Dad. His promise to make sure we'll never see our screwed mother ever again.

Kuya sits on his own bed then rest his back on the walls. He look tired of playing his phone. Gustong gusto ko na siyang tanungin tungkol sa billboard na ngayon ko lang napansin.

"Kuya Leo," I started.

"Hmmm?"

"Dad told me that you should stop playing your phone because he'll get it if you don't." I told him what Dad said.

"I wasn't playing Jacob, I'm reading." Aniya.

Reading? Reading what?

"Anong binabasa mo?"

"Just a wattpad story." Aniya. Tumango na lamang ako.

"Kuya..." I started to feel the race of my heartbeat.

"Ano 'yon?"

"I want to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"What does we walk by faith and not by sight means?" Nanlaki ang mga mata nito. Ewan ko ba kung bakit.

"Where did you get that?" Tanong niya.

"On the billboard we passed by earlier." Sagot ko.

"It's for Christians Jacob." He said. "They believe in what they called Christ even if they don't see it. It's their God." Natawa ako nang marinig 'yon. God? Who is that Christ?

"Oh... So who is that Christ?"

"I don't know." Tipid niyang sagot.

"Okay. Bilis kuya, Dad is waiting for us downstairs for dinner." Sabi ko na nagmamadaling lumabas ng kuwarto at sumusunod rin naman siya.

Christ? God? I heard few about them during my elementary but when I asked Lolo about that he told me it's not true. They don't see it so why would they worship such invisible God?

My Lolo took the only little Bible away from me by burning it to the flame. Dad is also not believing that what they called Jesus is true. But if God were true, Dad won't be miserable if he stopped mom doing her dirty things. But he didn't and he made them separate ways. Is that what their God can do?

And the most weird question is "Does God really exist?"

[To be continued...]