CHAPTER 4
No More Nails
Is what is projected at the front.
"No matter how hard you try to hide your wounds, you can't keep them forever. Wounds turn into scars, and scars are proof of what you have been through. This is not a good way to say it but, flaunt your scars!"
With that, the members of this church burst into laughter. Some were clapping and some even shouting 'Amen'.
How would you flaunt your scars when they are still wounds, though?
I looked at Joaquim who's on my right and saw him scribbling something on his phone.
"Psst." I nudged him. "Wag ka ngang mag-text diyan, nasa simbahan tayo oh." Bulong ko.
He immediately turned his phone off and kept it in his pocket.
"Selos ka naman agad." Asar niya.
"Selos mo mukha mo." Sagot ko at binaling muli ang atensyon kay Pastor Ben na siyang nangangaral ngayon.
"Oh, ang sama sama mo. Nasa simbahan tayo tapos nagsisinungaling ka?" He whispered with a tone of laugh. "Ang sungay mo oh, abot na ang kisame ng simbahan." Dagdag niya habang itinataas ang kamay sa may ulo ko.
Hinawi ko ang kamay niya at binigyan nalang ng masamang tingin.
Linggong-linggo eh nandedemonyo tong lalaki na ito.
Lord, patawad!
"Oh, nakabusangot ka pa." Panimula na naman niyang pagbwi-bwisit. "Kulang nalang talaga tatanungin na kita paano ka nakapasok sa banal na lugar na ito eh." Bulong niya, at mukhang tuwang-tuwa pa ah.
I cannot help myself but pinch Joaquim's side.
He winced, but still has the silly smile. Enjoy na enjoy ah?
Diniinan ko pa lalo ang kurot nang may humawak sa kamay ko.
"Kaelynn, tama na." Ika ni Kuya Jeremiah, kapatid ni Joaquim.
He is already in his second year in college, studying at Ateneo de Davao. Sadyang long weekend daw kaya nakauwi ngayong linggo.
I looked at Joaquim and he gave me a more annoying smile.
"Pasalamat ka." Sabi ko sa kanya at binitiwan ang gilid niya.
"Edi salamat." Balik pa niya sa akin.
Argh! Kaelynn, kalma. Nasa simbahan ka oh. Magagalit si Lord sa'yo niyan pag pinatulan mo pa.
I just ignored him and focused on the sermon.
"Only then will you feel truly free when you have learned to forgive. Not just those who have hurt you, but of course of yourself too." Sabi ni Pastor Ben.
Forgive, huh?
"The hardest person you will ever have to forgive is yourself."
I lowered my head and pondered on the statement.
Forgiving yourself is harder than forgiving others.
I was about to start to pray when a son of the enemy disturbed me again.
What now?
"Anong ginagawa mo?" Bulong niya sa may tenga ko.
I opened my eyes and looked at him.
"Nagdadasal na sana wala nang pipigil sa akin na magdasal." I said with narrowed eyes.
He chuckled, and nodded.
BINABASA MO ANG
SALUTATIONS
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