Category: Fiction

Purple Box, Part 2

Fiction by | September 16, 2012

For sure mother wouldn’t mind if I went to the party as sometimes she herself got home late. I didn’t ask her permission. In the first place, she didn’t care. Unlike my grandparents who’d freak out if I was late and they didn’t know where I was.

Tim’s family was not there and so he was free to do everything for his own party. Even though we were still in high school and minors, he prepared heavy drinks for us. I felt awkward seeing the girls who were invited by my guy classmates. Some of them were older than us. I felt bad for Marco for he had the least good-looking partner…

After a sumptuous dinner, we played some games. Video games, turn-the bottle, and even card games. I was enjoying myself, although I kept wondering if mother had opened the gift I had given her? Even out of curiosity?

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Purple Box, Part 1

Fiction by | September 9, 2012

“Margarette? It’s 6:35, hurry, please!” my mother called out as she knocked on my bedroom door for the third time.

“In a moment…” I replied with a bit irritation in my voice.

I was still sleepy, but after hearing all the noise made by my mother in the kitchen, I decided to finally get up. I rubbed my eyes, walked to the bathroom, and splashed some water on my face. The water in the pail was cold, and I paused for a moment. If I took a bath, it would take time. So I just wetted my hair and washed my face. I had to hurry. I didn’t want to make her angry early in the morning for it was her — special day. Was it really special for her?

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A Coin’s Story

Fiction by | September 2, 2012

Once upon a time, in a coin factory was a one-peso coin. Along with the other coins, the one-peso coin was brought by an armored van from the factory to a very famous bank. The coins were carefully kept inside a nylon bag in a safe. The one-peso coin wondered aloud what the world outside the bag would be. The five-peso coin who heard the one-peso coin replied: “The world outside is full of wonderful things. And I, the five-peso coin, will be treasured by whoever owns me because of my value.”

The ten-peso coin chimed in: “That goes for me, too. I, the ten-peso coin, will go to many exciting places because of my value.”

The one-peso coin, not knowing its own value, asked the higher value coins how much value a one-peso coin has. Both the ten-peso coin and the five-peso coin laughed at the little coin’s question.

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Erebus and the Maiden

Fiction by | August 26, 2012

Erebus the black ogre lived alone at the edge of the forest. The villagers were afraid of him because, as the elders said, “Black ogres bring misfortune to anyone who looks at them.” For this reason, Erebus, too, hated the humans.

One evening, as Erebus hunted for his dinner, he saw a very beautiful maiden walking alone in the forest. He followed the maiden and noticed that she constantly bumped into trees and bushes. Erebus thought it would be nice to give her a scare, but as he came near she asked: “Who’s there?”

“You shouldn’t be here,” Erebus said. “It’s not safe.”

“Thank goodness! I’m lost. Please help me.”

“I can’t. I’m not what you think I am.”

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The Day I Met Juan Luna

Fiction by | August 19, 2012

It was a crappy, crappy day. My client for a vegan website had just requested a revision of all one hundred articles I sent him, simply because we could not agree on two points: he thought eggs were fruits, and I thought he was crazy.

No matter how hard I insisted that eggs were animal-based produce, my client still wanted me to rewrite everything. He wanted to encourage his website visitors to include more eggs in their daily diets. With much gnashing of teeth, frequent head shaking, and finally, inevitable resignation, I inserted positive (though inaccurate) snippets into all one hundred articles about the benefits of consuming eggs every day for all vegans to read.

After that, I felt like creating my own website that would educate the world about the simple truth that eggs are not fruits, and that these shelled products actually emerge from the posterior of chickens, thereby making them animal-based. I had planned on dedicating the website to all vegans and crazy clients alike.

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Nippa

Fiction by | August 12, 2012

On the Calm Sea Beach Resort in Samal stood a charming hut named Nippa. Unlike the other beaches in Samal, Nippa made Calm Sea Beach more enticing. Nippa was colorful and you could easily spot her off the coast from as far as Sasa.

Nippa though, had little tolerance for people. This is particularly because most of them would neither take notice nor respect Nippa, which was very offensive.

“I am one of the reasons why this beach is beautiful” Nippa grumbled. “Couldn’t they give a little more respect?”

But after years of serving the beach with little change, Nippa eventually accepted the fact that people were what they were. It was only because of the help of the staff that Nippa lasted and was on tip top shape every morning.

”Without them I would probably be nothing. They always keep me company and entertain me with their stories. I wish they were the only ones around the beach,” Nippa thought.

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The Breakup

Fiction by | August 12, 2012

I was sitting on the edge of the bed when he woke up. We were in a hotel in Lanang. It was seven thirty in the morning. Five and a half hours before going home to Davao Oriental.

“Hi honey, good morning.” After his warm greeting, he kissed my neck. “Wow! You’re already dressed up and…you packed some stuff. Going on a business trip?”

I didn’t answer. There was a moment of silence.

“Let’s end this,” I finally said.

He laughed. I didn’t expect this kind of reaction from him.

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Hustisya

Fiction by | July 29, 2012

“Dito na lang ako. Mgkita na lang tayo bukas,” paalam ko sa aking mga kaklase.

“Bakit dito ka lang? Parehas lang naman tayo ng ruta na sinasakyan, ah?” Tanong ni Jackie na isa sa pinakamalapit kong kaklase.

“Ay, may pupuntahan rin kasi ako.” Pangiti kong palusot sa kanila. Nakakahiya kasing sabihin sa kanila na kulang na naman ang aking pamasahe. Ilang ulit na rin nila akong pinautang ngunit hanggang panaho ito’y hindi ko pa rin nababayaran.

“Sige! Mag-ingat ka diyan, ha.” Sabay nilang binigkas sa akin.

Nang ako’y humiwalay sa kanila ay binaybay ko ang isang napakatahimik, at walang katao-taong daan sa Aurora. Wala masyadong tao na nagdaraan dito. Napakadilim pa ng lugar na ito kahit alas-singko pa lang ng hapon. Kasi nga naman, walang ni isang poste na magliliwanag kahit sa isang bahagi man lang ng lugar. Kaya walang tao na tumitira sa lugar na ito. Pero ito lang ang daanan na medyo malapit sa aming tinitirhan.

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