JAKE FREEMAN

"It's Moriah's turn now!" John exclaimed after answering his question. "So, who has a question for her?" He added before diverting his eyes on us.

Here we go again. Having this game wherein one person in class would be asked a question and then answer it honestly and then so it goes. Since, I have no choice but to stay in class, perhaps I'm going to waste a minute or two listening to these fools talking about things I didn't care of.

"Anyone?"

Suddenly, a deafening silence surrounded the room as everyone's eyes landed on Moriah.

Oh no. I hope they're not doing this. I mean, no harm to ladies. I respect them even if some says I'm a badass guy. I don't care. It's just that in Moriah's case, I don't think so.

Well, Moriah? She's just a transferee student in our school, Brokenshire High School and we barely even knew her. Honestly, my classmates have been so curious about Moriah's and why she is like this and that. Actually, I am a bit too. But not that much.

As I've observed, she's so calm and petite and joyful. I don't know. They say she's an orphan. Well she doesn't look like one. According to them, her whole family died on a tragic car accident years ago. She's the only one who survived, "miraculously". She's now living with her Grandma near the church where she usually attend to.

Thinking of her life, I can't imagine where she could still find that joy and peace every time she talks in class, sharing how this man named Jesus saved her and the entire universe. We couldn't understand her attitude and the way she was every day. She's somewhat peculiar. Set-apart perhaps. We couldn't even grasp how she was so deeply in love into this Jesus even after all she has been through. Usually, people who have been in that kind of situation were depressed and lonely. But Moriah? She's totally the opposite. All I can say is, she's weird. Insanely weird.

Nah, I don't have any problem with her Jesus yet I don't have plans knowing Him either. I'm more contented with my life now, more than ever.

I'm an Atheist. Yes I am. I don't care what others believed in but all I know, the All Powerful and Mighty Being that these skeptics believed in is a hoax. Yes I respect them. But no man earth could ever make me believe that this Jesus is real. Haven't prayed for years since that day. It's a long story to tell. I don't have much time for that.

Going back to Moriah, I can't explain her briefly. As a man, I've known a lot of girls out there but this one, Moriah, she's really out of my league. The way she dress up, nah, no comment on that. Well, she looks good but too feminine, too formal. As if she's going to her church every single day. I'm glad though we are in the same classroom, we never talked because I really never wanted to associate with such die-hard believers.

I diverted my gaze on her. I noticed how her deep brown eyes were now intimidated as she played with the fabric of her peach floral dress. Maybe she's nervous.

"I have one question for her!" Anna shouted so everybody could hear what she's trying to say. These people are really trying to get on my nerves. They knew I hated these kind of stories about this Jesus stuff. I couldn't help but pretend I'm doing well. Like as if I will never know the question they would throw at Moriah.

"Why do you love this Jesus so much?"

And I was right. The Jesus stuff again.

Another moment of silence echoed the room as everyone was waiting for Moriah's response. Of all the questions in the world, why this one? John and my other classmates are really making fun of me and it's pissing me off. They often call me allergic to Jesus. It's just that, I can't stand conversations about God and those stuffs. I looked at John and our friends, they were holding their laughter looking at how I would respond in this very uncomfortable situation. I need more patience to bear this. I'm silently wishing that Professor Williams would be around so these thing would stop. I badly want to leave the room before this girl would spurt out about her Jesus.

So again, I went on pretending I wasn't paying attention to their game. I opened my phone and scroll my Facebook. In my peripheral view, I noticed how Moriah couldn't help but drew a smile on her face. I noticed how her face lit. It seems like she wasn't even surprised when they asked her about Jesus. Instead, it seems like she's been waiting for this moment the whole time.

She took a deep breath and smiled again, setting her gaze on me. Holy what! I diverted my eyes away. I don't like that look. It's giving me goosebumps. It feels so hot here. I don't like what's going to happen next.

"Just tell us already, Jake wants to hear it from you," John teased. Crap! Never in my life that I would be eager to hear about those stuffs. I texted John, "Cafeteria. After class. Kill you all dude."

John read the message and burst out laughing. Because he's in the front row, as much as I wanted to kill him right away, I just can't. Instead, he mouthed "It is okay dude!" while giving me a thumbs up. Great! They are really my great friends.

"Share it to us Moriah, Jake's waiting here," Brian chimed in, accompanied by "yeah" and "exactly" of the other boys in the class. They begin laughing at this awkward situation.

"Okay," Moriah nodded. She then quickly pushed the curly strand of her ash brown hair behind her left ear before allowing the words to come out from heart mouth.

As all eyes were on her, and Moriah? Her eyes were on me. I looked away and I heard her say these words…

"I love Him because He first loved me even when I couldn't love myself."

Again, silenced devoured the room. Perhaps it was a moment no one was expecting to. Some boys begin to chuckle, but everything was still a little serious for that.

I was still looking at my phone, pretending I haven't heard what Moriah said. Love? Still don't believe in that thing either. If it's real, I have to ask Him why allowing such thing to happen! Damn that Love and that God of Love!

Okay! That's enough. I stood up and left the room. It's very suffocating. I walked down the hallway. It's my usual scene in the classroom: walking out at any circumstances. Whatever they'll think of me, I don't give a damn care.

But the thought I can't get over...

Did she really love Him that much?

Why?

Too bad I forgot to bring my phone with me. I went back to get it until I was close enough the door when I heard her soft voice again.

And then I found myself, leaning behind the door. Couldn't even move my feet away.

What's happening to me?