LUCILLE parked her scooter in front of the Saint Catherine church, where she will meet her best friend, Steven. The mass was about to end when she stepped inside and found him on the altar, announcing the last words for today’s gathering.

Steven nodded at her simply when their eyes met. Lucille can’t still get over Steven and his decision to be a priest. She can’t believe that he’ll choose his “calling” over her, even she had confessed her feelings for him.

She occupied the seat on the last pew and waited for the mass goers to leave the church before speaking to Steven. And, as she expected, some female churchgoers stayed inside and waited for Steven to stepped down the altar.

Faint squeals from the young girls filled the Marmol made temple as they surrounded Steven altogether. Lucille watched them gathered up around him like fangirls saw their idol.

“Father Steven, can I have a picture with you?” one girl asked and raised her phone.

Steven smiled at the girl and offered to hold the camera for her. The young woman blushed as the handsome priest scooted closer to her for a perfect selfie shot. All the other girls followed what she did and asked Steven for a selfie. Some were also asking for his social media accounts.

Lucille shook her head as she watched her instant celebrity best friend be surrounded by admirers. She can’t blame them. Steven was a real charmer. With his six-feet height, porcelain skin, and good looks, he can be mistaken to be a matinee idol than a priest.

“Finally,” Lucille said as soon as the young woman left Steven. “I thought they wouldn’t leave you alone.”

Steven chuckled and walked towards her. He was about to give her a peck in the cheeks but remembered that he’s still wearing the priest’s suit, and some of the church staff were around. “I forgot,” he said with a laugh as he stepped back.

“Like always,” Lucille smirked. “Go and change first, I’ll wait for you here.”

When Steven left Lucille and went to the altar’s back, one of the female sacristans approached her. The woman wasn’t even smiling. Instead, she’s giving her a scrutinizing look from head to toe.

Lucille smirked. She can’t believe that she’s getting this kind of treatment from a church worker. “Is there a problem?”

“You’re here again,” the woman told her. “Are you aware that you’re disgracing Father Steven’s image in this church with your frequent visits for him?”

Lucille raised from her seat. “Am I?” she asked back. “Because as far as I know, I’m not doing anything wrong or forbidden in your beliefs.”

Another female sacristan approached her, but she didn’t speak. She just looked at her as if she’d done something wrong. Then, she whispered something to the older woman that talked to her, making her brows furrowed.

“One of the residents saw you and Father Steven dining at a nearby restaurant,” she said disgustingly. “Don’t you know what your actions could cause to our church? Father Steven is a priest, and if people saw him with a woman somewhere, they might think that he’s committing a morbid sin.”

Lucille tried not to laugh, but she failed. She covered her mouth and apologetically looked at the female sacristan. “I’m sorry, I just can’t help it,” she said and laughed again. This time a louder laughed that annoyed all of them around. “Sisters, can you hear yourselves?”

The older woman arched her brow at her. “How could you talked to us in that way?”

“Rumors are true that she doesn’t have manners,” the lady behind her added.

“Oh, I didn’t expect that church workers believed in rumors.” Lucille looked at the woman that said it, but she can’t look at her straight. “You know what, sisters? I’ve read a quote on the internet that perfectly described what you just said against me. Do you wanna hear it?” When they didn’t speak, she continued. “It says that rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.”

The younger woman gasped. “Sister, she’s insulting us—”

“Oh, really?” she laughed. “Did I hear it, right? It came from you?”

The older woman cleared her throat, and with an arched brow, she told her, “Miss, I think you better leave this place now—”

“Why would she leave? I asked her to come over here,” Steven said as he walked towards them. He stood behind her and held her shoulder. “Is there a problem?”

“Nothing, Father Steven,” the younger woman replied and smiled at him brightly. “Sister Terese and I are just asking her why she didn’t attend the mass earlier.”

Lucille smirked. “Liar,” she said without a second thought and shrugged off Steven’s hand on her shoulder. “They’re asking me to leave because my presence is a disgrace in your church.”

Both women were shocked by what she said. They didn’t expect that she could actually tell it in front of Steven. But, sorry their ass, Lucille was born to speak what’s on her mind.

“Father… That’s not what we meant,” the older woman defended. “We’re just concern about your image as a priest.”

Lucille rolled her eyes ceilingwards. “Oh, come on. Stop telling black lies—”

“Lucille,” Steven held her arm. “I’ll handle this,” he told her and turned to the two sacristans. “Sister Terese and Sister Mary, I understand your point, and I appreciate your concern about my image as your new assigned priest here. But Lucille is a special friend of mine. I hope you don’t put any malice with her visits here.”

“Father Steven, we didn’t say that you’re having an…” Sister Terese trailed off. “We’re not thinking that way.”

“Really, huh?” Lucille smirked. “Aren’t you afraid to tell lies in front of the altar?”

“Lucille…” Steven warned her. “Please?”

“Can we just go now, Steve?” Lucille asked. “I don’t wanna ruin my day here.”

The younger woman’s eyes widened at what she said. She nudged Sister Terese’s waist. “Ah, Father Steven, may we ask where are you planning to go?”

Lucille made a ‘tss’ sound and rolled her eyes again.

“We’re going to the cemetery to pay my mom’s tomb a visit,” he said. “I’ll be back later.”

When they stepped outside the church, the same stares from other people welcomed them. Lucille glared at them back, but Steven just laughed at her.

“Don’t mind them,” he said and held the rented car door open for her. “Come on in.”

As soon as she hopped inside, Lucille heaved a sigh. “For how long will they look at me like that?” she asked Steven when he got inside. “It’s annoying.”

“That’s what I wanted to tell you after we visited my mom,” he said and started the engine.

“Tell me now,” she said, despite the rising tension inside her chest. “Now and later doesn’t have a difference, except with the time.”

Steven chuckled. “I will miss your humor, Lucille.”

Lucille looked at him with a knotted forehead. “I don’t get it. Spill it out, Steve.”

“I have decided,” he began. “This will be the last time that we’ll see each other.”

***