NOTE: The languages are not suitable for everyone. If you've been my reader for a while now, my characters often make green jokes and use profanity words and such.
Please read at your own risk.
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Prologue
I loathed him so much. He made me feel inadequate because he was the reflection of my insecurities. He had everything I desired: good looks, privilege, and popularity. Sobrang gustong gusto siya ng mga tao. Kahit ang mga instructor namin, gustong gusto siya. Gusto siya ng lahat.
Except me.
God, he holds the world under his feet.
That was why I was eager to be at the top of the class. It was something I was good at. At least, I was trying. My favorite hobby was studying. I couldn't sleep without doing a matter loading. I wouldn't eat without finishing my activities. But that piece of shit was born intellectually smart. Simula grade school at ngayong senior high school, magkaklase na kami. Kaming dalawa lagi ang nagpapalitan ng pwesto sa ranking. Pero kahit isang beses, hindi ko siya nakasama sa mga hangout.
I was so irritated with him because he did things effortlessly and yet the world still worshipped him. While I had to put in a hundred percent effort, he was there, doing less. Hindi ba ang unfair?
"Is religious pluralism, which argues for the coexistence of several acceptable religious routes to truth and salvation, superior to religious exclusivism, which affirms belief in a single true religion, in terms of creating world peace and understanding?"
No one raised their hands and so I did. Nakahinga nang maluwag ang mga kaklase ko samantalang ngumisi lamang ako. I did a matter loading last night. This was a piece of cake.
"Ayan na naman siya," bulong ni Gabe sa gilid ko.
"Go Matienne my loves!" si Lorie, isa sa mga kaibigan ko.
"Villaruz?" tawag ng instructor.
I stood proudly with a smirk plastered on my face. "My answer is yes."
"How do you say so?"
"Because when the government promotes religious plurality, it means that it is okay for people to hold differing beliefs about religion. That's great because it lets everyone feel like they belong, even if they have different beliefs. It's like saying, 'Hey, it's alright to be different, and we can all be friends even if we have different beliefs'."
Tumango-tango ang instructor kaya nagpatuloy ako.
"The government preserves people's freedom to think anything they wish without fear of repercussions. They can't be cruel to you or penalize you simply because you think differently than them," I said. "Also, there's a such thing as interfaith discussion wherein the government encourages individuals of various religions to communicate with one another and comprehend each other's beliefs. And this is important because when we understand each other better, we are less inclined to quarrel over our beliefs."
Napangiti ang instructor sa sagot ko kaya umupo na ako. Humalakhak ako nang pumalakpak ang mga kaklase ko. May ilan pang nag-cheer ng pangalan ko.
"Iba ka talaga Mat!"
"Magtira ka naman ng utak!"
"Ano raw sinabi teh? Nag-i-i-scroll kasi ako sa tiktok."
"Ewan ko rin teh, wala pa akong tulog."
"Be, may pulbo ka?"
Nilingon ko si Lorie na nasa likod ng upuan ko nang tapikin niya ako. She blew a kiss to me and I immediately shove it away. She held her chest, acting like she was hurt. I chuckled. But my chuckle slowly diminished when my eyes pierced right through her — only to see his eyes staring at me. Siya lang ang walang pakialam. Kahit natatakpan ng makapal na salamin ang mata niya, kitang kita na walang kabuhay-buhay iyon.
