"Care to explain your answer Miss Ngatiyon?" Mr. Lee stood, "Among all the students in this class, I've noticed that you're the only one who answered in the negative."

Silence overcame the classroom, and with this felt my heart begin to race.

"Ano kasi Sir," I took in a breath, "I don't believe that evolution is scientific."

He leaned against the teacher's table, "And why is that?"

"First and foremost, Sir, one of the founding principles of Science - the law of biogenesis to be specific- states that life can only come from life. The theory of evolution, unfortunately, goes directly against that principle. Isn't the Big Bang theory a 'Life from Non-life phenomenon'? So I think assuming it as a scientific fact is erroneous."

"Hmm," He nodded, "Interesting answer. But don't you know that by stating such you're going against the big minds that have contributed to the development of this theory?"

"That's the thing po, sir," I bit my lip in apprehension, "I don't know why by having such 'big minds' they'd come to an erroneous conclusion about how the world began,"

A wave of mixed remarks was heard in the classroom. I scattered my gaze, tensed as I saw displeased expressions from a few of my classmates. Ini-angat ko ang paningin kay Sir, he seemed equally appalled.

"Take your seat, Miss Ngatiyon," He ordered, shaking his head in disapproval. I released a shaky breath and sat back down. Hay. Some things will really cost you when you decide to stand up for your faith.

"Wait lang, Rhoe!" Tawag ko, "Hindi mo ba ako hihintayin? Cleaners kasi ako ngayon, sandali lang 'to,"

Nagtaka ako nang makita ang reaksiyon niya. "'Sensiya na, girl. Kailangan ko nang umuwi." Without another word she turned and walked away. Nangunot ang noo ko. Bakit siya ganon? Ilang araw nang parang ayaw niya akong kasama. I lowered my head in thought. Nagmula no'ng hapon na pinag-usapan namin ang Diyos, parang nag-iba na ang tingin niya sakin.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at ipinapatuloy ang pag wawalis. Lord, bakit ganito? You've empowered me to speak for Your glory, but I'm afraid I wasn't prepared for this.

"Una na kami, Grace," My fellow cleaners spoke, returning the cleaning materials in their hand to the bin. "Fix mo nalang yang row sa tabi mo and we're done."

"Ah, sige sige. Ingat kayo!" Paalam ko.

"Bye, Miss Religious!" my gaze shot up at their word. Religious?

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa mga upuang nasa harap ko. Hay, Lord, tulungan mo po ako. I need You more than ever.

Ilang Segundo ang lumipas at na-ayos ko na rin ang mga upuan. I went for my chair and grabbed my bag, lifting it in haste as the guitars left in the back of the class came into view. Iniwan na siguro nila dahil may Music performance pa sa Contemporary Arts bukas. Wow. Ang gaganda naman ng mga guitar na ito. I can almost hear how pristine they would sound if played.

With a shrug I turned and began to walk, but instead I found myself looking back at the instruments once again. Hmm, just a few minutes perhaps? Wala naman sigurong magagalit kapag hiniram ko ang isa. Mag-iisang buwan na rin ako hindi nakaka-tugtog ng gitara.

With a deep breath I turned around and reached for a guitar, taking it in my arms as I sat on one of the chairs. Nice. Nasa 4,000 siguro cost ng guitar na ito. I mused.

I positioned the instrument in my middle and began to strum. Immediately, the sound of strings mingling in harmony filled the room. Hay, namiss ko 'to!

Water you turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like you...

The memory of all that had hapenned flashed in my mind, and I couldn't resist melancholy as it gripped me. Lord, I know You've sent me here for a purpose, You've instilled in my heart a desire to win souls. So please, help me through this. If this is what it costs to follow You, then here goes everything.

Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You!

Pinagpatuloy ko ang pag-kanta, indulging in the borrowed moments of worship. My strumming gradually increased in volume as I sang, and before I knew it, my eyes clasped shut, singing my heart out with each word.

Our God is greater!
Our God is stronger!
God You are higher than any other!
Our God is healer!
Awesome in power!
Our God, Our God!

Every word seemed to come to life, setting an assurance in my heart that no matter what happens God would be victorious. Oh God, You are truly awesome. Pinagpatuloy ko lang ang pagtugtog, savoring the moment as I listened to melody the strings created.

Wow, it sounds so good. That lead guitar plucking is very impressi-

My eyes shot open, the realization gripping me as I processed what I heard. Lead guitar? I turned my head in haste, now shocked as I saw a man behind me - a guitar in hand.

"G-gabriel?"

He gazed down at me with his signature stoic expression, "Bakit ka tumigil?"

"Ah," I forced a smile, "N-narinig kasi kitang nagpeplay ng lead nitong- sandali," My gaze narrowed as I looked at him. "Paano mo alam ang lead melody ng kantang 'to?"

He lowered his head and began to speak, "Narinig ko lang,"

"Saan? Saan mo 'to narinig?" Usisa ko.

"Sa church noon," Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang matapos siyang magsalita.

"Talaga!? Nagchuchurch ka noon?" Nangunot ang noo ko, "Pero bakit-"

"Si mama noon ang nagchuchurch. Sumasama lang kami ng kapatid ko dahil sakaniya,"

"Ah ganon ba," I remarked with a nod. "Eh ngayon? Wala ka bang planong... pumunta sa church ulit?"

Bumuntong -hininga siya at nagsimulang tumayo, returning the guitar to its place as he stood.

"Gabriel?" His gaze shifted towards me as I mentioned his name. He lifted his bag and began to walk. Dali-dali kong ibinalik ang gitara sa kinalalagyan nito at sinundan siya, still waiting for his reply.

"Bakit ko naman sasayangin oras ko sa mga ganyan?" Sagot niya, his tone low as he spoke. "God doesn't exist. Why worship a non-existent entity?"

I knit my brows, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes, "Hayan ka nanaman sa 'God doesn't exist' line mo. You know He exists, you can deny it all you want for who knows how long, but that nudging in your heart that tells you He does will never leave you."

"Give me proof that God exists and I'll consider that church thing," His gaze remained forward as he spoke, oblivious of the looks that the ladies we passed are throwing at him. Ano ba 'to, ako pa yata ang na-co conscious! Inangat ko ang paningin sakaniya. Hay, sa kung sabagay, sa guwapo niya ba namang 'to, sanay na sanay na siguro siya sa atensiyon. I shook my head and refocused on his word. I placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to stop in his tracks.

"You want proof?" I faced him, "Be still, and listen."

I locked gazes with him and prayed in silence, allowing the Spirit to convict him as he stood idle.

"See?" I gave his chest a gentle tap, "That sense that you have in your heart of His existence is proof enough,"

Umiling siya at muling naglakad, "At paano mo naman alam? How are you sure that I'm feeling whatever it is that you're saying?"

"I know because God has placed an awareness in everyone's heart of His existence," Paliwanag ko, "You have the same heart as I have, I know you have that awareness too. Hindi ko man alam kung bakit ganyan ang pananaw mo ngayon, I know full-well that God still greatly loves you..."

I lifted my gaze up to him, immediately noticing how his expressions altered. Lord, please have your way in his life.

"Sige, dito na ako," Sambit niya. Andito na pala kami sa intersection.

"Okay," I replied with a smile, "Nga pala, if ever you want to go to church again, invite kita don sa amin. Malapit lang siya dito," I offered.

"Uhm," He scratched the back of his head, "We'll see," With a nod he took a step and began to walk away. I lifted my watch. Hala, ten minutes nalang mag-sastart na yung prayer meeting. With this thought I lifted my gaze and began to walk, taking the next curve in haste.

Sana hindi ako malate. I lifted my watch once more, 5: 53PM, seven more minutes. I took longer strides as I advanced, and was slowly gripped by wonder as I saw four men wearing the same uniform walk towards me. Sino kaya ang mga ito? I narrowed my gaze, squinting through the fog as they approached.

Hindi nagtagal nang magsimula ko silang makilala. I took a step back. Ito yung mga lalake noong ikalawang araw ko sa school. I swallowed with difficulty, nervosity gripping my being as I saw them walk towards me.

"Oh, kamusta ka na, Miss?" Sarkastikong tanong ng isa.

"Namiss kita ah!" Singit naman ng isa, "Nabitin kami nung huli dahil sa asungot na yon," A sinister smile adorned his lips, "Pero ngayon mukang wala ka nang bantay."

He took a step and reached towards me. Napa - atras ako. Oh Lord. My chest heaved in apprehension as I watched their lascivious stares.

Another moved towards me with his hands before him, taking my arm. "Huwag mo kong hawakan!" Bulyaw ko sabay hila ng kamay ko mula sa pagkaka-hawak niya.

"Sus! 'Wag namang masyadong masungit Miss!" Sambit ng isa habang papalapit. My lips instinctive began to move, praying in tongues as I saw them encircle me. Hala, ano ba 'to?

My eyes widened, heart racing as I saw them advance in unison. Takbo na, Grace! I heard my mind beckon, but my feet seemed to have frozen in it's place. They came closer, evil smiles widening with each step. My eyes clasped shut. Help me, Lord.

"Valdez!!!"

My head jolted upwards, my ears filled with a familiar voice. In an instant I felt a wave of relief, air flooding back to my lungs as I recognized the denim jacket that clothed the man I walked with earlier. Naglakad siyang patungo sa kinatatayuan namin at dumeretso sa lalakeng nag ngangalang Valdez.

"Leave," He ordered, "Or there will be consequences,"