Category: Fiction

Ang Kwento Ko

Fiction by | April 3, 2011

Nakilala ko si Cobi noong anim na taong gulang pa lang ako. Kaklase ko siya sa kindergarten at siya ang pinakamalapit sa akin. Bata pa lang ako noon, pero may nararamdaman na akong pagtingin sa kanya. Iyon bang pag di siya nakatingin sa akin ay sa kanya ko pinapako ang mga mata ko. Tapos pag nahuli nya ako ay dinidilaan ko siya sabay sabing “pangeeettt!” Tapos tatawa lang siya. Ganoon kami dati at namimiss ko ang mga pagkakataong iyon kapag walang pasok. Kaya naman parang parusa sa akin noon ang bawat araw ng Sabado at Linggo.

Keychain na sapatos. Oo. Isang keychain na sapatos ang iniabot ko sa kanya sa araw ng paglisan niya. Ibabalot ko sana iyon ng papel pero baka di ko na siya maabutan sa paaralan. Matulin ang takbo ko para lang maihabol ko ang regalong ito na bigay pa sa akin ng nanay ko noong umiyak ako sa palengke para mabili lang ang nakabiting keychain na iyon. Ngumiti siya. Dahan-dahan. At isa pang sandali ay niyakap niya ako at bumulong na ang pangeeett daw ng bigay ko at halatang luma na at may kagat pa ng daga. Iyon lang at bumitaw na siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin.

Continue reading Ang Kwento Ko

Edi and the Riddle of the Lady

Fiction by | February 13, 2011

Adapted from Greek Mythology. Illustrations by Juan Carlos Tejada and Kevin Hiram Tejada+

When Edi reached the city’s gate
all was quiet and sedate.
So Edi called with his voice out loud
“HEY MONSTER, WHEREVER YOU ARE, COME OUT!”

Suddenly there was loud flapping of wings
And a large, dark shadow loomed over him.

The winged creature was large and furry
With the body of lion
And the head of a lady.

Continue reading Edi and the Riddle of the Lady

So Real

Fiction by | February 6, 2011

As the song goes, “If I can make it there. I’ll make it anywhere. New York! New York!” 

But Tricia was barely making it.

Carrying what seemed like ten watermelons inside her belly, she willed her brain to suck all the tears back in.  She knew that even a sigh would place her in danger of losing her very fragile control.  It was a good thing her neighbors, John and Mayen, offered to drive.  If it weren’t for the waves of alternating intense fire and knives that radiated from her abdomen, she would have felt deep humiliation.

Continue reading So Real

Sometimes She Forgets

Fiction by | January 17, 2011

Demi felt quite lucky with her job at the gym. It was relatively easy although there were, of course, the occasional problems with the members (a missing baggage, a terrible schedule). It was sort of boring too as one had nothing to do but sit down behind the counter and watch the same types of people go by. The beefed-up, the obese, the bony, and the curvy. Nevertheless, it still turned out beautiful. A pretty job where pay, privileges, and chances of meeting cute guys were all high. What else could top that?

She deserved this, she had always thought. And she worked hard to maintain all of it.

Everyday, she would come to the workplace with a frappe in one hand and, on the other, a fresh bouquet that she had bought from Agdao. She would then boot up the computer, check each itinerary—the services that had been bought, the fees of the members, the other important schedules—and rechecked them again. She had to make sure that throughout the course of the day she accomplishes her schedule so that she wouldn’t have to postpone anything.

Continue reading Sometimes She Forgets

Two Pesos

Fiction by | January 2, 2011

The rain starts to pour as daylight chases the fleeting light of dawn. The idea of having to leave my work now that I am hearing rumors of promotion in the advertising company puts me in a hysterical state. But mother insisted that I must return so I could see the house.

It has been six years since I left the country. I worked as an advertising agent and a private tutor and at the same time finished my MBA. It felt like I was strangled with a barbed wire. For all that hard work, I was able to build my mother a house which had been completed five months ago. But she would never have a house blessing in my absence. She would never understand that one week of my work is more important than rituals. I’m sure the priest’s incantations and throwing of coins will ward off evil spirits even without me. And the holy water will do all the tricks.

Continue reading Two Pesos

What Eddie Boy Really Wants for Christmas

Fiction by | December 12, 2010

Eddie Boy is turning five years old. He does not like his birthday — December 22! As far as he can remember, everybody is always busy celebrating some other Baby’s birthday!

Eddie Boy’s parents, Maria and Karlo, work in a small bakery. The owner provides them a small room where they stay. Business is not doing well, so the owner has had to let the young helper, Tonio, go.

Even worse, the owner tells Karlo that if saled do not pick up, he might even have to close down the bakery! Both Karlo and Maria are worried about what is going to happen. They are planning to send Eddie Boy to school next year, but the money they have saved is not enough.

Continue reading What Eddie Boy Really Wants for Christmas

The Most Beautiful Princess That Ever Lived

Fiction by | December 5, 2010

Behind the Chinese warehouse, Carla and Agnes gathered metal scraps and any trash worth selling.

“Look!” Agnes pointed at the mountain of rusty tin cans and containers. “We hit the jackpot.”

Their eyes sparkled, overjoyed at the trove. As they carefully loaded their valuable items in their cart, they discovered a big backpack lying underneath.

“Who do you think the owner might be?” Carla asked. She never had a bag before, and she longed to have it.

Continue reading The Most Beautiful Princess That Ever Lived

Dangoyngoy sa Suba

Fiction by | November 7, 2010

This story won 1st Prize in the 2010 DWG Fiction Writing in Bisaya. It will run in Dagmay through the rest of November.

Hubog na pod siya karon. Ug sama kaniadtong mga niaging adlaw, pirmi siyang gayawyaw sa iyang pagkatulog. Samtang kaming tanan ginaduyan na diha sa among mga damgo sa kabugnaw sa kadlawon, makamata mi sa iyang siyagit og “Intoy!” Usahay, mokalit lang siyag dangoyngooy diha sa iyang pagkatulog. Ingon ana gyod nang mga hubog, murag walay buot kon matulog. Makahuna-huna ko usahay nga gadamgo siya kang Manoy Intoy o di kaha ga-uromon siya. Apan puydi pod tingali nga diha sa iyang pagkahinanok, iyang gakakit-an ang mga panghitabo kon kanus-a wala siyay nabuhat kay adtong higayona nakiglambigit man siya sa demonyo nga namugna sa bino nga naghari sa iyang pangisip.

Dili to nako malimtan nga takna kay didto nagsugod kining gawi nga akong ginabuhat kada mahubog si Papa . Sabado. Tulo katuig na ang niagi. Kilomkilom tong adlawa, apan si Papa desidido nga moadto mi sa siyudad aron among ibaligya ang kopras nga bag-o lang namo gigang-gang aron kini mauga pagdali. Pipila pod kagabii nga nagbilar si Manoy Intoy ug Papa aron magpadayon ang siga sa kalayo nga gapa-uga sa kopras. Kon adlawan, ako ang gabantay didto sa ganggangan aron ang kalayo dili mahutdan ug sugnod. Gikinahanglan kaayo nga amo dayong humanon ang maong bulohaton. Gasakit si Mama og dili maayo nga iyang ipatutoy si Inday Nika nga pipila pa lang kabuwan. Basin unyag matakdan siya ni Mama. Kinahanglan namo mopalit og tambal didto sa siyudad.

Continue reading Dangoyngoy sa Suba