Belle Ame: A Beautiful Soul (DS Auxiliary)

Chapter Eight

Warning: Some scenes contain strong languange and brutality. Please be guided.

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Chapter Eight

"So I find that this law at work: when I want to do what is good, what is evil is the only choice I have."

-Romans 7:21

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Year 2007.

AFTER the short vacation with my wife in Tierra Fe, my eyes were opened in to the things I haven't come to realize before.

I have reached the middle age, and I thought I learned the secret of this cruel world already. But there's this underlying truth that although I have experienced things beyond compare to others—I never learned well.

Wala sa lahat ng dapat kong natutunan noon ang ginawa ko. At kung kailan bilang na lamang ang mga oras ko ay saka pa kailangang matutunan muli ang lahat ng iyon.

"Santino, are you listening?"

Binalik ko ang atensyon sa mga kasama ko sa silid. Here I am, again—in Philip Anderson's study room with his brothers-in-law, still doing the weekly gathering.

"My mind's somewhere else," I honestly said. "What are we talking about?"

"Well, so far, we were sharing our experience after receiving Christ."

Pasimple kong nalibot ang paningin ko. Huminto iyon kay Carlitos. "I thought you're the only one who said 'yes' last time?"

Ngumisi siya. "I thought so, too. Ikaw ba, hindi?"

Hindi ako sumagot. I'm still not comfortable talking about my spirituality unless with Aya.

"Do you want to share anything?" tanong ni Philip sa'kin.

Umiling lang ako.

Akala ko ay pipilitin pa 'ko nito, ngunit agad na rin nitong tinapos ang oras ng usapan dahil wala na ring maibabahagi pa ang iba.

Philip invited us for dinner, I refused.

"Uuwi ka na?" tanong ni Carlitos na tumanggi rin sa hapunan.

"Where else would I go?" I opened my car's door.

"Would you like to grab some drink? Ang alam ko ay wala pa si Ysabella sa bahay niyo dahil magkakasama sila ng asawa ko at mga kapatid nila ngayon. Kaya wala ka pa namang uuwian."

"Bakit hindi ka mag-aya ng iba? Like Philip or Israel. You're not my friend."

He chuckled. "Lagi ko na silang kainuman mula nang makasal ako sa pamilyang ito. Sige na, inom tayo at kuwentuhan."

"Hindi ako nakikipagkuwentuhan sa hindi ko kaibigan."

"Kaya nga tayo magkukuwentuhan para maging magkaibigan."

"Ayoko ng kaibigan." Bakit ba nasa labas pa rin ako ng kotse at nakikipag-usap sa kanya? He's an annoying old man.

"Ako, gusto kitang kaibigan," nakangising sabi niya. "At saka matatanda na tayo. Loosen up a bit, Santino."

"Matatanda na tayo. You act your age." Pumasok na 'ko ng kotse.

"Sige na!" He jumped right in-front of the open window.

"What the f—" Hindi sinasadyang nadiinan ko ang busina dahil sa gulat. "Carlitos!"

He smiled. "You called me by my name. Ah, kung babae lang ako, kinilig na 'ko."