Kahit Kunwari

34

He let go of the hug and looked at his watch.

"Let's go somewhere, Grae." Mataman niyang sambit. Kunot man ang noo ko ay nagawa kong magtanong.

"Where? I want to rest." That's true, I just want to rest for the rest of the day. He nodded and gave me a little smile.

"Yes, you will rest." Aniya at iginiya ako sa sasakyan ko. Naguguluhan man ay sumakay ako dito.

"Follow me." Seryoso niyang sabi at naglakad na patungo sa sasakyan niya. I started my car and followed his like what he said.

"Where are we going?" Tanong ko habang nagmamaneho. It's as if he'll answer me. It was a 15 minute drive and he stopped in a front of a small place. May iilang sasakyan ang nakaparada sa tapat nito. Mabuti na lang at may space pa na tila para sa sasakyan naming dalawa. As I go out of my car, I realized that his car is way too flashy, lalo pa kung itatabi mo sa mga ordinaryong sasakyan dito.

He looked at me so I followed him. As we entered the small place, I stopped and realized where we are. We are in a.....church. Mabilis akong tumingala sa kanya nang may mga matang nagtatanong. I am not always in the church. But I still talk to Jesus.

Naputol ang titig niya sa akin nang may lumapit na lalaki sa amin. There's a soft and soothing instrumental music playing inside. Sinalubong kami ng lalaking iyon at agad na tinapik sa balikat ang lalaking kasama ko.

"Caleb, akala ko hindi ka pupunta." Anito nang may ngiti sa labi. He's familiar. But I can't recall where I probably saw him. He took a glanced to me and extended his hands.

"Do I look familiar? Nakalaban niyo ako sa pageant noon. I'm Daniel." I shook his hands and smiled at him as I remember that he used to be my schoolmate in Meadows University.

"Upo na kayo, lapit na mag-umpisa." We sat and I am still wondering why the air is too unfamiliar. But, it feels good.

"You'll rest here." Napalingon ako kay Caleb nang sabihin niya yun. He just gave me a small smile and looked in front again. Sabay na nagtayuan ang lahat matapos magsalita ng nasa harapan. We prayed and I saw a lot of people raising their hands in the air. Ang lalaki sa tabi ko ay nakayuko lamang at nakapikit. After the prayer ay pinaupo na rin kami.

Ibang iba sa mga simbahan na napuntahan ko na. A lot of people looked at me with a smile, a genuine smile and welcomed me. Kilala nila si Caleb, is he always here?

"Let me share with you guys something." A woman on her, I think late 30's is sharing the gospel of God in front.

All of us were pretty attentive to all of the words she's sharing.

"Back when I was 23, I was so lost. So lost to the point that I no longer want to prolong my life." She stopped and smiled.

"Every night, I was dealing with my anxiety. Limang taon na ganoon. I was taking medications that time. Pero alam mo yung lungkot tuwing gabi? Punong puno ako ng takot noon. Pakiramdam ko kasi mag isa lang ako."

Naramdaman kong hinawakan ni Caleb ang kamay ko at marahang pinisil iyon. Nanatili ang mga mata at tainga namin sa harapan.

"I was always asking, "why do I have to suffer every single night?" Why do I always have to ask when will I have the real happiness I was looking for so long." Nang marinig ko iyon ay tumulo ang luha ko.Marami rin sa mga nakikinig ang nakayuko at umiiyak. Preaching of the gospel pa lang pero busog na ang puso ko.