The Voyage Back Home

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Warning!
Foul Language

Venice's POV

"Father, maniwala ka. 'Di ko man nakita ang mga mukha nila pero sigurado ako. Sila ang mga lalakeng  'yon. Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang malakas na tawanan nila. Maniwala  kayo." Nanginginig ang boses ko habang nakatitig ang mga mata sa mga sakristang nakatayo sa gilid ni father. Animo'y mga anghel sa unang tingin pero ang tunay na pagkatao ay mas malala pa kay Satanas.

"Sigurado ka ba diyan, iha? Hindi kapani-paniwala ang mga sinasabi mo. Kilala ko ang mga sakristang ito at lahat sila ay lumaki sa puder ko. Nasaksihan ko ang bawat sulok ng buhay nila mula pa sa unang yapak ng mga paa." Pilit kong pinigilan ang pag-iyak ko sa harapan nila. Maging si father ay hindi naniniwala sa akin. Dahil lang ba sa sila ay mga sakristan hindi na sila makagagawa ng kasalanan?

"Kung sinasabi mong sila ang bumaboy sayo, para mo na ring sinabing ako, ang padre ng simbahan, ay nabigo sa pagpapalaki sa kanila nang may takot sa Panginoon. Marahil ibang grupo ang gumawa sa iyo niyan. Humayo kana at mag-report sa mga pulis." dagdag ni father. Nabalot kami ng katahimikan ng ilang minuto at sa huling pagkakataon ay lumingon ako sa banda kung saan naparoroon ang mga demonyong nagbala't kayong anghel. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili at napahagugol.

"Walang hiya kayo!" sigaw ko.

"Cut!" ani Direk Troy. Nagpalakpakan naman ang iba pang mga tao sa set.

I wiped my tears and immediately stood up as Fiona, my personal assistant, headed my way and handed me a bottle of water. She's with Roma, my manager. As soon as I sat on my chair, I heared Direk Troy's voice.

"Perfect shot, Venice." Direk Troy commended. Nagpatuloy lang si Fiona sa pagpapaypay habang nag-uusap kami ng diretor na parang ignorante sa pinakita kong galing kanina. What's wrong with these people? Aren't they used to these excellent performances of mine?

"Is there anything new 'bout that? You know me, Direk. I never settle for anything other than a perfect performance." Nakita kong napalunok siya and smiled bitterly before leaving.

"Nagsasalita pa kase. Naku! Anyway, Madame V, here's your schedule for tomorrow. May meeting ka with the CEO of Walters. They want you to endorse their products." Roma uttered with excitement on his voice. He is a member of the LGBT+A community and I love him just as he is. Religious people are just so homophobic for quoting homosexuality as an abomination in the eyes of God. Roma showed me my schedules and I nodded as a reply.

Fiona remained silent beside me as the usual. This is why I chose her over those people who possessed better skills than her during the application for my PA. She's doing great anyway and I guess that's enough. She handed me my favorite meal from Lemuel's Restaurant. As I was eating, I looked around the church and laughed silently. It is just so ironic to find an atheist acting as a religious woman in a film. Yes, heard that right. I'm an atheist. There are lots of evidences that an intelligent Designer does not exist. One is that why would a good God allow evil to exist? That makes me pity these Christians who spend their lives believing in literally nothing. They pray and serve an illusion. I've done that for the entirety of my life. Thanks be to the universe I was awakened from the foolishness of Christianity. After my meal, I rested for 30 minutes before the taping continued for more hours. Buti nalang all went well and errors were minimized so it ended on 2 PM.

Fiona was packing my things up when my phone suddenly rang. I looked at my phone and read the name on top.

Gideon.