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 fuck 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 Facebook?" 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."