Wind (a novel)

Chapter Three - Face To Face

I didn't imagine I would be going to a conference in Cebu City.

I thought it would be a small gathering or a classroom lecture. But when I entered the huge auditorium, I realized the event was more formal than I had expected. Paulo's face was plastered on a small billboard outside the main hall, announcing that he was one of the guest speakers tonight. There were far more people than I anticipated—hundreds, maybe. He must be famous, I thought. He hadn't mentioned anything about this in his emails.

Standing in front of the billboard, I received a text message from Paulo.

Paulo

Hi, Annie. Did you make it?

Annie

I'm already here.

Paulo

Great! I'm on my way.

So you're making me wait, I whispered.

Feeling a little anxious, I wandered around and checked out the different stalls. There were plenty of kiosks offering all sorts of things. Photo booths, snack bars, and souvenir stands lined the back wall. As I watched the hustle and bustle of people walking, running, shouting, and chatting, I began to feel a little dizzy. Then, I spotted a bookstall at the end of the row and felt a rush of excitement, like finding an oasis in a desert.

Of course, one of the titles was Paulo's. I grabbed the paperback, closed my eyes, and smelled the pages—something I did with every new book I read.

As I was paying for the book, I realized people were starting to file into the main hall and find their seats.

I walked quietly down one aisle, looking for a place to sit, and noticed several guides on every corner. I think they're called "ushers," like in my uncle's church back home. One of them approached me and gestured to a seat in the fourth row from the front, which I gladly took. Eavesdropping, I overheard two older women in front of me talking about him. Paulo.

"It's exciting to hear Pastor Boyet speak tonight," one of them said. Boyet was Paulo's childhood nickname, and it seemed he still used it here. I'd always called him Paulo—it was his given name, and I liked being different.

"He's talking about inner healing and deliverance, right?" her friend asked.

"Yes, and I really feel the power of the Holy Spirit when he speaks. He's truly anointed," the first woman replied.

Power of the Spirit? Anointed? I'd heard these words before from my uncle.

"You'll see," said a young woman sitting next to me. "When the worship starts, you'll hear him speak in tongues." She smiled warmly at me, so I smiled back, though I didn't understand what she was talking about. "When Pastor Boyet gives the altar call, you can go up front and he or someone from his team can pray for you." I just nodded, unsure how to respond.

Speak in tongues? Altar call? Those were new terms for me. But I stayed silent for another reason. I was still wondering—are they really talking about Paulo?

A few minutes later, the program began. The first speaker delivered his message, and I fought the urge to leave the auditorium. I glanced around, searching for Paulo, but I couldn't see him anywhere.

Half an hour passed, and I texted him again.

Annie

Where are you?

Paulo

I'm here.

The lights dimmed for a few minutes as an interlude for the next speaker. Cell phone lights flickered in the darkness, and for a brief moment, there was an eerie silence.