Halos mabulunan ako nang marinig ang sambit ni Rhoe. Lalo naman itong humalakhak at inakbayan ako.

"Ayie!" Inilapit niya ang mukha saakin at bumulong. "So totoo nga 'yong sinabi ni Jun? Umamin na talaga si Gabriel sa'yo?"

Napakagat nalang ako ng labi at tumango. Laking gulat ko naman nang bigla siyang tumili. Bahagya akong lumayo sakaniya sabay takip ng tainga. Pambihira 'to, ang OA din ah!

"Ano ba Rhoe?" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Kailangan talaga sumigaw? Pinagtitinginan tayo oh!"

Ngumiti lang siya at muling lumapit saakin, "So paano? Paano ka nagrespond? Sabi nila ipinaalam ka pa daw kay Pastor? Naku girl!!! Sana all!"

Bumuntong-hininga ako at tinignan siya ng maigi, "Pwede isa-isa lang ang tanong? Mahina ang kalaban!" Itinaas ko ang dalawang kamay at umiling.

"So ano nga, Grace?" Inilapat niya ang kamay sa aking braso, "Paano ka nagrespond?"

Huminga ako ng malalim at tumingin sa malayo, "Sabi niya naman, ayaw niya raw ako madistorbo. Hindi rin naman siya humingi ng kahit ano, so we left it at that. Bahala na si Lord. Mas maganda nga rin kapag nasa tamang timing na."

"Gosh," Napabuga ng hangin si Rhoe at muling tumili "Can that get any more manly!?" Iniangat ni Rhoe ang kamay niya sa braso ko at tinapik naman ang aking balikat. Umismid ako at tinapik 'din siya.

"Kanina ka pa, sakit non ah!"

Umiling lang siya at ngumiti, "Ito naman, pasimple ka pa eh. Obvious naman na gusto mo rin siya!" She giggled. "The guy's a budding preacher, for goodness' sake! Angdaming may crush sakaniya sa youth kaya!"

I lowered my head, feeling the warmth in my cheeks as I heard her words. Totoo nga. Bigla ko tuloy naalala; pangatlong Sunday na dalo niya palang noon eh halos siya na usap-usapan ng mga dalaga sa youth. Naging target tuloy sila ng rebuke ni Pastor Melchour. I smiled inwardly. Hay, kapag guwapo nga naman.

"Oops." Narinig kong sambit ni Rhoe sabay tago ng baunan sa bag, "Speaking of which!" Agad siyang tumayo at hinablot ang bag mula sa madamong lupa. "Una na 'ko Sis, and'yan na ang pastor-to-be."

Napasinghap ako sabay tingin sa itinuro niya. I bit my lip, turning to Rhoe as she began to walk. "T-teka, sa'n ka pupunta!?"

"CR lang!" Sigaw niyang kumakaway, "See you sa classroom!"

I swallowed hard, heart in panic as I heard footsteps from behind me. Pambihira naman ang Rhoe na 'yon. Sa lahat ba naman ng pagkakataon ngayon pa ako iniwan ng ganito!

"Grace?" I heard his voice, and with this, I shifted my gaze, forcing a smile as I saw his face. Kasama niya ngayon sila Vince at Noel, both of which are attending the Campus Fellowship. I eyed them one by one, a smile on my face. Hmm, making friends now, are we? "Tara nang classroom? It's seven minutes to one." He spoke with a smile, a genuine sheen to his eyes as he spoke.

Narinig ko ang boses niya, loud and clear I have, but I couldn't come up with a word.

"Grace?"

"A-uh," I blinked back to my senses, frantically fixing my lunch box at his word. "Oo s-sige," Swiftly I slid it inside my bag, standing to my feet when instead I felt the objects slide back out of the confines of the unzipped sling bag. Mariin kong ipinikit ang mga mata. Grace, get yourself together!

Laking gulat ko naman nang yumuko si Gabriel, taking the spoon off the ground and placing it inside the lunch box, neatly sealing it as he did so. Right after, he took my bag, slid the box inside and zipped it.

I could only watch in amusement as he moved, speechless by both embarrassment and awe. He slowly stood up, my bag in his hand as he stretched his other hand towards me. "Tara na, Grace,"

I took in a breath, summoning courage as I lifted my hand to his. I stood to my feet, now only a few inches away from him, and as soon as our gazes met, the memory of our conversation that Sunday was again renewed in my mind.

...

"Tinanong mo na si Pastor, Grace?" He asked.

I gazed at him and nodded, "Oo, natanong ko na."

He only looked at me, eyes intent as though waiting for me to resume. I took in a breath.

"Salamat, Gabriel." Sambit ko. A smile immediately adorned his face, "Thank you for the words you have said, not a lot of men are able to do what you have done. Thank you for recognizing the season I'm in." I smiled, now locking gazes with him. "I can't really promise anything as of now, only this; If you are willing to wait, then I am more than willing to do the same."

The smile remained on his lips, "Grace," He looked at me with a piercing glance, "If Jacob can wait fourteen years for Rachel, then so will I."

I felt my chest heave, taking in a deep breath as I processed his words. My heart began to flutter, and with this I lowered my gaze.

"Th-thank you, Gabriel." I lifted my gaze up to him once more, again enthralled as I met his eyes of almond. "That means a lot."

A sense of peace began to wash over my being, inexplicable calmness dominating my heart.

Is this true, Lord? Is he indeed the man you've willed for me?

Akmang bubuksan ko na ang pintuan ng cubicle nang may marinig na tilian mula sa labas. A group of girls went in the bathroom, glee evident in their voices as they stepped in.

"Grabe!" Sigaw ng isang dalaga, "Ang galing-galing ni Leah!"

"Sabi ko kasi tayo mananalo eh!" Kumento naman ng isa.

Little by little I began to recognize their voices. Shane was among them. Mga kaklase ko ang mga ito. A smile was drawn from my lips. Hay, mabuti naman. At least kahit 'di ako sumali sa singing competition na 'yon ay nanalo parin ang klase namin. No doubt! Leah has one of the most angelic voices I've ever heard.

"Mabuti naman at hindi 'yong relihiyosang 'yon ang sumali." My gaze widened at their word, and with this I was remained upon where I stood. "Baka instead of singing something about our nation she'd sing about her 'God', instead!"

Nagtawanan ang mga ito at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkukuwentuhan. I felt a burden weigh down my shoulder.

"Seriously, ano kayang meron sa babaeng 'yon?" One of them asked.

"Para siyang ... brainwashed."

"Like a Jesus Addict. Ewan ko but its so weird! Kapag meron siya I always have this feeling of guilt. Hay! Presensiya niya palang KJ na."

I sucked in a breath, their words piercing my heart with a painful sting. Umiling nalang ako at itinulak ang pinto ng cubicle. My gaze came in contact with the ladies in front of the mirror. I locked gazes with each of them, putting on my best smile as I saw the shock in their faces.

Paano, Panginoon? Paano po ako magresrespond?

I kept the smile on my face and took in a breath, "God bless you, girls." I breathed, lowering my gaze as I walked out of the bathroom. A verse kept repeating in my mind as I took each step. Napakadaling basahin, pero... napakasakit pala pag ikaw na ang nasa sitwasyon.

Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who insult you. - Luke 6:28