I took in a breath before entering the church building, tensed as I recalled what had happened that Friday evening. Napalunok nalang ako't ipinikit ang mata. The idea of it made me feel so uncomfortable... and worried.

Ano kayang inisip ni Grace nang makita kami ni Leah? I let Janice sit on one of the pews before sitting beside her. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa buong church. Oh, first time yata ah, hindi siya maaga ngayon.

"Kuya, okay ka lang ba d'yan?" Narinig kong tanong ni Janice. "Kanina ka pa parang asiwa eh.

"Ah," I forced a smile and gazed down at her, "Ayos lang ako, Ading,"

"Sure ka, Kuya?" She narrowed her gaze towards me.

"Oo," I chuckled and gazed forward. I released a silent sigh. Nasaan na kaya siya? I don't why, but I feel as though I owe her an explanation, especially seeing how she had reacted that night. I shut my eyes forcibly, the memory flashing through my mind.

...

"Gabriel?" Lumingon ako, taka nang may marinig na boses mula sa likod.

"Oh Leah," I breathed, walking ahead as I saw her come out from the ladies restroom.

"Gab, wait lang," natigilan ako nang maramdaman ang kamay niya sa braso ko. I turned around and gazed down at her. The mere sight of her brought many memories back. Lovely as always. Only God knows how everything I felt for her seemed to have totally faded.

"Ano 'yon, Leah?"

"Wala naman," she lowered her gaze and lifted it again, making me all the more wonder of her strange behavior. "I just-" huminga siya ng malalim. "I missed you,"

I was struck silent at her word, unsure of how to respond.

"A-ah," I chuckled and lowered my head.

She was silent for a while, as though anticipating for a reply. Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Don't you," she anchored her gaze upon me. "don't you feel the same?"

Naka-tungo lang ako habang pinapakinggan siya. Do I? For the months I haven't seen her, I've always thought I have, but now that I see her, why does it seem as though ... it all had dwindled away?

"I'm happy to have seen you again, Leah," I finally said. I met her gaze, immediately noticing the melancholy in her eyes. She lowered her head and took in a breath.

"Sorry nga pala," sambit niya. She lifted her head, revealing her tear-filled eyes as she did so. Wonder filled my mind.

"Sorry saan?"

"K-kasi, ako yata ang rason kung bakit tayo napa-alis sa school." She wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Nakwento ko kasi kay Lola 'yong mga nangyari no'ng first na umattend ako eh. Hindi ko naman akalain na-" she sucked in a breath, words interrupted as another set of tears fell from her eyes.

"Kaya sorry," nanatiling nakababa ang tingin niya, "Sorry talaga, Gabriel. Hiyang-hiya ako sa ginawa ko. Pero ayoko din namang hindi na dumalo. Dito ko lang naramdaman ang Presensiya ng Diyos. Hindi niyo naman ako papaalisin 'di ba?"

Nagbuga ako ng hangin at hinawakan ang mga balikat niya. "Naiintindihan ko. Huwag ka nang umiyak, Leah. Hindi mo kasalanan." Slowly she lifted her gaze, stepping forward as she did so. Napaatras ako.

"Thank you," A smile adorned her face. I took another step back, feeling the wall against my back as she advanced. "How you've changed, Gabriel." Ini-angat niya ang kamay sa aking mukha. "You're truly a different man."

I swallowed hard at her actions, an uncomfortable sense of alarm urging my spirit. This is not right.

"Please, Leah, do-"

My gaze flung side-wards, attention shifting as a woman occupied my perception.

"Grace?"

...

I released a sigh, anxiety doubling as I recalled how she walked away with that man. Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into? Muli kong inilibot ang tingin sa simbahan - still no sign of her.

Tinanaw ko ang entrance at nakita si Rhoe na pumasok. As soon as she saw me, she walked and came by to our seat.

"Good morning." Bati niya.

"Good morning, Rhoe." I nodded in acknowledgement, "Nasa'n nga pala si Grace?"

She shifted her gaze and looked at me, eyes narrowed as she did. "What do you mean nasa'n siya? Hindi ba niya nasabi sa'yo?"

"Ha? Nasabi ang alin?" Taka akong humarap sakaniya.

"Hala, Gabriel," she gazed at me in panic, "uuwi na si Grace sa Ifugao ngayon!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang sambit niya.

"Ha?" Singit naman ni Janice, "Bakit po siya uuwi, ate? Wala pa naman pong bakasyon ah,"

Bumuntong-hininga si Rhoe at muling nagsalita, "Naku naman, akala ko nasabi niya sa'yo! Pinauwi siya ng atheist niyang kuya. Nahuli kasi siyang nakikijoin sa services at ministry dahil sa naging issue natin sa school kaya naman pinauwi na siya."

Moments passed, but the words didn't seem to process quick enough in my head. Ano?

"Kakahatid ko lang sakaniya sa Terminal," pagpapatuloy ni Rhoe, "10:30 ang biyahe niya."

10:30. I snapped to my senses, my gaze now anchored towards Rhoe.

"Saang terminal?"

"Doon sa slaughter. Bakit, pup-"

I gazed down at my watch in haste. 9:51. In split of a second, I stood to my feet and ran, advancing towards the church door as I arranged in my mind the things I need to do.

"Gabriel!" Rinig kong sigaw ni Rhoe, pero hindi ko na ito nilingon.

No. This can't be. She can't just leave like this. She can't.

I frantically scattered my gaze around the people filled terminal. Saan kaya dito ang biyaheng papuntang Ifugao?

Once more I looked down at my watch. 10:22. My heart raced in apprehension, and with this I took more steps, glancing to each side as I advanced. I saw a man in Driver's uniform and approached him.

"Kuya, nasa'n ang bus papuntang Ifugao?"

"Ah, idiay baro'k." He pointed to the bus which is now preparing to leave. "Bilisan mo't bibiyahe na 'yon."

Without another word I ran towards the bus, my gaze in search of her familiar face through the bus' window. Dali-dali akong pumasok at inilibot ang paningin. I walked to the very edge of the bus, but soon found out she wasn't there. Nangunot ang noo ko. Where could she be?

Oh Lord, at least give me one last chance to see her.

Swiftly, I walked toward the bus' exit, and as soon as I reached the steps, familiar rounded eyes met my gaze.

"Gabriel?"

A relieved sigh escaped my lungs. I took hold of her shoulders, pushing her off the bus as I stepped down. "Ano 'to?" I panted. "Uuwi kang Ifugao?"

I saw her head lower, releasing a sigh as she did so, "Wala akong magagawa, Gabriel," I saw her wipe the tears that escaped her eyes. "Kung hindi ako papa-aralin ni Kuya, bakit pa ako mananatili dito? At isa pa, saan naman ako titira? Believers aren't welcome at my cousin's home."

I felt as though all life was drained from my being. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. As much as I tried, I couldn't seem to imagine my life without her. I looked away in defeat. What now? God... what do I do now?

I gazed back at her as she lifted her head, a smile on her lips despite the tears that flowed upon her cheeks. "Bye na, Gabriel." She placed a palm on my arm, "You've been a blessing to me."

Another tear flowed down her face, and with this I felt pain engulf my heart. "Grace," I took hold of her hand, "there must be a way."

She took in a breath and gazed down, "I prayed for one. I asked God for it," she pulled her hand from my grip, "Pero mukhang sa oras na 'to, ito ang will Niya."

"Banawe, Banawe!" Our gazes shifted as we heard the dispatcher speak, giving a last call for the passengers as the bus' engine roared to life.

"S-sorry Gabriel," She stepped back, "Ipagpatuloy mo ang pag-seserve, ha? I will never forget you."

Tumalikod siya at nagsimulang maglakad. I felt my whole being protest, and as though responding to instinct, I reached for her hand, pulling her towards me and wrapping my arms around her shoulder. I shut my eyes, feeling a tear flow as I felt her warmth. Her back was against my chest, and I could feel her tense inside my hold.

"G-gabrie-"

"Just for a while," I whispered, "Just for a while, let me stay like this."