Sam rushes to the flight of stairs going up to the third floor. She goes into her room and closes the door behind her. She then hops towards the bed and lays flat with her head buried into the pillow.

With a muffled voice, she tries to shatter the glass window, “AAAAAHHHHHH. HAHA HAHA. AAAAAAAHHHHH.”

She might as well join the choir don’t you think?

Sam turns with his back on the bed and covers her flushing face with her hands. She wriggles and giggles along the way, she basically looks like a fish that’s out of the water.

‘I can’t believe I kissed Cesar,’ Sam thinks. ‘I can’t believe I kissed him.’

With a voiceless squeak, she says, “Reeeeehh. Heehee heehee. Reeeehh.”

Then there’s a knock on a door.

“Big sister, are you in there?”

Sam sits straight at the edge of the bed and fixes her hair.

“Yes, Manny. I’m here,” Sam replies.

Sam stands up and fixes her dress as she proceeds towards the door. Opening the door she immediately is greeted by a hug from her brother.

“Oh,” Sam blurts out. “Manny, you’ve grown taller than ever.”

Manny lets go of her and says, “Ain’t I, big sister? I’m gonna be like dad, I’m gonna be a basketball player. And I’m gonna be as good as uncle Cesar.”

“You will be, Manny,” Sam then hugs Manny.

As she pulls away from him she says, “Is there anything more other than greeting me today?”

Manny wanders his gaze shyly and says, “Actually… I want to know why Daheft always wants to destroy Artam I mean Daheft massacred their people while they were celebrating the Completion of the Scripture? Why does Artam always get attacked, big sister?”

Sam smiles at her small brother and messes with his hair. She pulls back her hand and there emerges Manny's gleaming smile.

She puts her hands on her waist and says, "Alright, let's talk about it in your room."

Manny suddenly bolts towards his room and invites his sister in. Both of them sit on the bed while Sam takes her time answering his questions.

"Well…" says Sam. "It's a very sensitive topic, Manny. Are you sure you want to know?"

"Come on, big sister," Manny chuckles. "We've gone all this way to know the truth, there's no turning back now. Haha."

Sam gives him a faint smile, "Ok, I'll tell you why."

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She composes herself and she unleashes, "It's because… of the religion Daheft advocates. And they don't want the Artamites living near them, so they just hate them and they want them dead. It all comes back to the history of their religion.

"Way back in the foundation of their religion, there was nothing but conquests to those who didn't believe what they believed. Especially those who didn't believe what The Head Chief taught."

"Who's… the Head Chief?" says Manny as if trembling.

"His name… is Hamefaqed Roshi."

"What?" Manny says. "What a stupid name for the leader of the stupid religion. May Jesus strike him down, for sure."

Sam just laughs at it.

"So," says Manny. "What happened next?"

Sam composes herself and says, "Roshi wanted the Artamites and Christians dead until they felt subdued and paid the subjugation tax."

"Why did they want to kill Artamites and Christians? Did they provoke Roshi and his followers?"

"No," Sam sighs as she finds the right answer. "There was no provocation whatsoever. Roshi said he received a word from his god Nantax that he should fight against those who don't believe in Nantax nor the Last Day; against those who didn't forbid what Nantax and Roshi forbid."

"So that's why they want to destroy Artam," Manny says pensively. "They're nothing but idiots, stupids, and buffoons. They're doing nothing but displease the true God of the Scriptures. May God's wrath be upon them."

Sam shakes her head and says, "Don't say that, Manny."

"Why not?"

"Even though they want to kill and be superior, they're still made in the image of God. We should pray for them that they will be saved by Jesus because that's his will. And remember what Jesus said about our enemies and those who persecute us?"

"Yes, big sister," says Manny in a defeated tone. "We should love and bless our enemies and persecutors."

"Good. Let's apply what Jesus taught us."

"I'm an inch higher in knowledge, big sister. I now know why," Manny then hugs her. "Thank you, my queen."

Sam smiles widely and says, "You're welcome, my prince."

After their discourse, they go straight to the dining room on the second floor. There they meet their mother and father, Terese and Al.

“How are my children?” says Terese as she walks up to them and kisses them on the forehead. “Dinner’s ready. Let’s eat.”

“We’re fine, mommy,” says Manny. “Big sister really gave me some history lesson today. I’m a bit inch smarter.”

Sam chuckles to himself.

“Is that so?” Terese gives a quick glance at Sam and then to Manny. “Well, tell me what you’ve learned,” Terese says as she leads them to the dinner table.

Sitting down by the table, Manny tells his parents the lessons he had learned from his sister. While they are listening, they dig in with their food as they momentarily pause when Manny prays for it.

Sam is amused at his little brother as she just smiles at him.

‘I’m glad he gleaned the information I gave him. He will make mom and dad proud with his mind.’

They finally finish eating and chatting as they go their separate ways.

Sam goes to her room and lays on the bed. She stares at the ceiling and ponders.

‘I am very blessed to have Cesar in my life. I hope I will marry him someday,’ she giggles and wriggles at the thought of it.

Sam gently drifts into bliss with a smile on her face.

Suddenly, she wakes up and sees herself in the park of Toledo City with a bright light that’s ahead of her.

She sees Cesar in a silhouette amid the light and walks up to him. With enthusiasm, she grabs his shoulder turning him to face her.

“Cesar!” says Sam.

But when he faces her, she is stunned. In front of her, she only sees.

“Mark?”

Mark smiles at her and says, “It’s our wedding, Sam. Why are you surprised to see me as if you haven’t known me?”

And the scenery changes into a place filled with greenery.

She turns her head to the side where she sees a multitude of people on their seats. She then glances at Mark when a voice from Heaven echoes to them.

“I now declare you… husband and wife,” says the echoing voice.

And Sam wakes up but instead of feeling troubled, she feels tremendous peace, joy, and love as if she is being filled with something more than she ever felt before.

“What was that, Lord Jesus,” says Sam.