The time has come when students flock to the school to gain knowledge, and Mark is one of them. Their car stops by outside the school and Mark prepares to open the door.

“Bye, dad. Gotta go.”

“Bye, kiddo. Excel well in school.”

Mark opens the door and shuts it behind him. Mark draws in a deep breath and lets out a sigh.

‘Today is a new day of school, learning is fun.’

Mark goes past the gate into the school when a familiar voice echoes from a distance.

“Mark!!”

Mark turns to see who is it and it is-

“Ruth. How are you today?”

“I’m fine, thank you. How about you? How are you today?”

“Same as always, all is well.”

They eventually walk together to their classroom while they’re talking.

“Do you know who will be our class adviser this year?” says Ruth.

“I think it would be Mr. Mag-aso.”

“Mr. Mag-aso? Our history teacher?”

“No, haha. Why would you think that? Ms. Berido was our history teacher and still is. Mr. Mag-aso is our Philosophy Teacher, Philosophy in Christian Thought to be precise.”

Just as they are by the threshold of their room, another familiar voice echoes at a distance.

“Mark!!”

Mark turns to see who it is and it is-

“Justin!!”

Justin holds up a fist and Mark collides it with his fist resulting in an explosion.

“BOOWMM,” both of them say.

Justin hugs him in addition.

“I miss you, best bud.”

“Bro, it’s been for a day. Haha.”

Justin lets him go.

“Let’s go in. We don’t want to be late.”

“Justin, it’s still early in the morning.”

“Well, we’ll be late from unoccupied chairs. Let’s sit beside each other.”

They enter their room and already Mark sees Sam and Cesar beside each other. Ruth sees this and pats Mark’s back.

“You will have Sam at the right time since she’s the one who is in your beating heart,” Ruth says this but deep inside she’s hurt. “Let’s just sit beside them.”

“I’m just gonna sit beside Sam.”

Ruth smiles, “Sure, you can do that.”

Mark sits beside Sam with Cesar beside her. Justin also sits beside Mark and Ruth sits beside Justin. While chitchatting to each other, their class adviser arrives and waves at them.

“Hello, my eager-learning students. Wake up your minds because this is a new day of knaawwledge. My name is Mr. Mag-aso as you would know me, since I was your Philosophy teacher last year. But now I will be your class adviser for you this year. Nevertheless, I will still be your Philosophy teacher this year where we will be discussing the latter half of the Philosophical history until the modern day,” Mr. Mag-aso jerks back. “Oh, where are my manners? Good morning, class.”

“Good morning, Mr. Mag-aso,” the class replies.

“Thank you, students. So, fifteen minutes from now, you will go to your respective classes. But I’m just gonna take an attendance for you.”

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Mr. Mag-aso takes out his attendance book from his bag and starts calling the names of the students. When a student’s name is called, they would say present. If the student isn’t present in the classroom, they can’t say present so they are absent.

“Mercado,” says Mr. Mag-aso.

Mark hears his name so he says, “Present, sir.”

‘I wonder where we would eat at lunch?’

Fifteen minutes pass and Mr. Mag-aso is done with taking the attendance. So, he dismisses them to attend their classes. Mark walks side by side with Justin as they walk to their next classroom.

“Mmm. I’m hungry,” says Justin.

“Already? Haven’t you eaten breakfast?” replies Mark.

“I have. But my stomach wants more,” Justin grins.

“Hahayy. I don’t know what to do with you, Justin. Just wait a little bit and we’ll have lunch.”

And so they wait. They only have orientation class on this first day of school so they are chill. Justin in particular is dreary especially when not much is happening in the class; plus, he is hungry. Mark, who notices him like this, gets infected by Justin’s stomach so he is unconsciously hungry.

“When are we gonna eat?” says Mark.

“Just a little bit longer and we’ll eat,” says Justin.

Eventually, the bell rings for lunch to commence.

“YES! IT’’S LUNCH TIME!!” shouts Justin.

The class looks around him and laughs while he grins. The teacher has a hint of chuckle and Justin just notices her.

“Oh. Sorry, ma’am. I got a little bit excited.”

“It’s ok. You are Justin Banderas, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Well, I’ll report your unruly behavior.”

Justin kneels to the floor, “Please, ma’am. Don’t report me. I’ll be good next time.”

When the teacher sees him kneeling down, she has a knee-jerk reaction and goes over to him and makes him stand up.

“I’m just joking, Justin. Don’t worry.”

Justin stands up, “Oh, thank you, ma’am.”

“Now, go to your meal. They’ll be waiting for you.”

The class is dismissed and the students flock out of the school to eat. Mark elbows Justin gently as they are going out of the school.

“Your mouth almost got you into trouble,” Mark chuckles.

“But I didn’t get into trouble. Haha. Besides, it’s lunch, we were already dismissed from class when the bell rang,” Justin replies.

“Whatever, bro,” Mark chuckles again in disbelief.

Mark goes to eat along with Justin, and Ruth. They go to the eatery just opposite their school. The eatery is packed with students but Mark and his companions manage to wiggle themselves in. Mark picks Filipino Picadillo or Ginamay in Cebuano, Justin picks Spring Rolls or Lumpia, and Ruth picks Braised Pork or Humba’; they also buy some rice as their main meal.

They pick a table not taken, place their meals on it, and sit on the chairs by it.

“Woo, what a delicious lunch,” says Justin.

“Grab some of mine if you want some,” says Mark.

“Grab some of mine too, Justin, if you want,” says Ruth

“Oh, thank you my dearest friends. Your meals are welcome to my domain, my organs welcome them dearly. Haha,” says Justin.

“My stomach organ is also welcoming this braised pork, she is awaiting for its coming,” says Ruth.

“Ruth, can I ask you something?”

“Justin, don’t you say anything disrespectful to the lady,” says Mark.

“Oh. Come on, Mark. It’s nothing disrespectful.”

“Fine, go ahead. Let’s see if it isn’t.”

“So Ruth… You’re a Jew, right?” says Justin.

“Yes, I am. Why?” Ruth replies.

“I don’t like the way this goes, Justin,” interjects Mark.

“So, why do you eat pork? Isn’t it Kosher?” says Justin.

“Oh, that is a valid question. Why do you eat pork, Ruth?”

Ruth smiles, “Well, in the old testament, we Jews are forbidden pork but some of us don’t follow them.”

“And why is that?” says Justin.

“Some Messianic Jews eat pork because of the encounter Peter had when he’d been presented all kinds of kosher and unkosher animals to eat. So we interpret that we can eat unkosher foods as much as kosher foods, except we don’t drink the blood.”

“Okayy. I don’t understand,” says Justin.

“What she means,” says Mark. “Is that some Jews still follow the law of not eating unkosher food but some don’t follow it because of the encounter that Peter had.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that when Peter was presented with all types of animals, kosher and unkosher, God told him to eat them. He refused to eat them three times but God said ‘What God has made clean, do not call unclean.’ So basically, giving them a green light for unkosher foods. But as I said, some Messianic Jews still keep the law of not eating non-kosher foods. But whether you eat or not eat unkosher foods, your salvation shouldn't be by what you eat or not eat but by trusting in Jesus Christ.”

“Hmm. That explains a little. Thank you, Mark,” Justin nods.

“Thank you for explaining it for me, Mark,” says Ruth.

“No problem,” says Mark.

The three of them eat their meals. Mark would give some of his Filipino Picadillo to Justin and the latter just takes some. Ruth on the other hand would offer some of his Braised Pork to Justin and Mark. Mark would not accept her offer but Justin welcomes her meal.

Eventually, their plates are empty and their tum-tums full. They simultaneously rub their tum-tums while closing their eyes.

“Mmm, just as I desired,” says Justin. “Couldn’t be better than this.”

“You betcha!” says Ruth and the three of them laugh.

Mark looks at the time, “Owp, it’s ten minutes for one PM. We better move.”

“Maarrk, could we just stay here for a while? My tum-tum’s full,” says Justin.

“It’s better if you get up so that you’re belly won’t get big. Haha.”

“Alright, alright. I don’t want my belly to be a ring of Saturn.”

Ruth laughs hysterically.

“Oh. She laughs. Haha,” says Justin.

Ruth suddenly gives off a serious face, “No, I didn’t.”

“Whatever, gal. Your smile is all I need.”

“Yiieee,” Mark and Justin says.

“Eugghh,” says Ruth. “I rather barf.” She walks off ahead of them.

While Justin is still laughing, Mark says, “Be careful teasing her, bro. You might fall in love with her. Haha.”

“In love? With her? Nah, bro. That’s not gonna happen. I was just joking. Come on. You don’t think I’m serious, are you? That gal likes you, bro. Yiieee.”

“Oorr, she might like you. Haha.”

“Whatever, Mark. Let’s just go to school. Haha.”

“Hey, dummies. What’s taking you so long?!” says Ruth at the other side of the street by the gate.

“Hey, wait up!” Mark and Justin reply.