A Study in Bliss

Fiction by | June 14, 2009

It is youth’s felicity as well as its insufficiency that it can never live in the present, but must always be measuring up the day against its own radiantly imagined future.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald, “A Diamond as Big as the Ritz”

For now, Rico is rinsing the soap out of his freshly-washed sheets. He puts on a particular effort into wringing each blanket and bedcover so that the muscles on his arms become perceptibly taut and sinewy. He is aware that his guest, a Jane, is nearby and is giving him as much concentration as her sideway glances would allow her. Sitting on a monobloc chair, she is making a show at pulling a hangnail using her teeth.

The fact that he is earning a comfortable income writing online had given him the confidence to invite her over to his apartment; that he has never spoken to her before – except to remind her of a deadline – made her accept. As the inviting was done via text messaging, prompted by Jane’s unpleasant lunch with another boy, they are now at the rooftop of Rico’s apartment while on the none-too-romantic task of laundering.

Continue reading A Study in Bliss

Empty Spot

Fiction by | June 7, 2009

I went back to her house and banged on the door. She opened it a little. She looked surprised.
“I’m a woman,” I said, lifting up my shirt and risking the catarrh.
She smiled.“I know.”
I didn’t go home.I stayed.

– Jeanette Winterson, “The Queen of Spades”, The Passion

Empty Spot

She finally came into my stall that first night of May, wanting her future to be foretold. She wore a soldier’s uniform, stolen from a man’s wardrobe, hiding the soft form of her body. When I revealed to her that she would meet a love she would regret, she reached for my mask and peered into my eyes.
“Green,” she said, “like turbulent body of water.” She walked away without paying.

When the fairground closed down, she was waiting outside the cobbled street. She didn’t mind the cold air. She followed me home, tailing distances behind me, hiding in dark alleyways. On my door, she knocked only once, twice. I opened it. I asked her to leave if she was only looking for fun.

“The carnival has ended,” she said.

That was when the real night began. She entered and she stayed.

But she won’t stay that long. Her body says so.

Continue reading Empty Spot

Love Letter for No One

Fiction by | June 7, 2009

I’ve been waiting for a long time.

I used to imagine that when I’d meet the one, I’d be dumbstruck and helpless. I’d be gaping at her as she’d say, “Thanks for waiting. I’m home.”

And then I met you.

I thought it wouldn’t matter. That things wouldn’t change. That maybe I need to wait just a little longer to find the one. But then, things have gone strange lately. I’ve been thinking about you a little bit more today than I did yesterday. And I’m sure you’ll visit my thoughts without permission tomorrow.

That’s not all.

Continue reading Love Letter for No One

Inip

Fiction by | May 24, 2009

Kahapon, ito ay isang tulang pag-ibig. Isinulat ko ito para sa’yo. Hinintay kita ng matagal, pero hindi ka dumating. Ayan tuloy, nainip ito at naging isang hamak na litanya. Makinig ka ha? Mabilis lang ‘to.

Kahapon, ito ay isang tulang pag-ibig. Binanggit ko ang lahat ng mga bagay na bumuo ng araw ko. Binanggit ko ang mga makukupad mong ngiti, gaano ka kabuti sa pamilya mo, at ang katangi-tanging paraan ng paghawak mo ng bolpen. Binanggit ko rin gaano ka kagaling gumuhit; pinuri kita hanggang nagtampo ang mga kaibigan ko at hindi na rin nila hinintay na dumating ka. (Nakakapagod raw kasi makinig sa mga himig kong puro ikaw, ikaw, ikaw.)

Continue reading Inip

Flutter

Fiction by | May 17, 2009

Patches of sunlight dance at her feet, and on the pavement she stands on as the branches above her sway with the summer breeze.  She looks up and sees a brown butterfly hovering closely above her, its paper-like wings glinting with the jagged rays emanating from the tiny spaces between the camachile leaves above them.  She holds her hand up
and watches it perch momentarily on her rosy little fingers before it flutters off towards the black sedan across the street, towards the man standing by the door of the passenger seat.  Slowly, the man turns around and he looks back at her with eyes like her own.   

Continue reading Flutter

Adviser

Fiction by | May 9, 2009

Dako ang kahikurat ni Mrs. Luz Cuevas dihang kalit lang midaus-os gikan sa iyang gilingkoran ang iyang estudyanteng si Lily ug nalup-og sa salog.  Sa iyang kahikurat, wala dayon siya makalihok. Ang ubang mga klasmeyt sa dalagita nakuratan usab ug nagduha-duha sa pagduol. Ang unang nakalihok mao si Ariel kinsa misapwang kang Lily.

“Naunsa man ni siya?” pangutana ni Mrs. Cuevas.

“Mikalit ra man ni siya, Ma’am.” tubag ni Ariel.

Gipahigda ni Mrs. Cuevas si Lily sa iyang lamesa ug gisugo ang usa sa estudyante sa pagkuha og tubig. Pagbalik sa gisugo, iyang gipatuloan og white flower ang tasa sa tubig ug gipainom sa dalagita.

“Naunsa diay ka? pangutana ni Mrs. Cuevas dihang naulian ang dalagita.

“Nalipong ko, Ma’am. Lain akong tiyan,” tubag ni Lily.

“Basin naa kay sakit? Maayo pang mopahulay lang una ka karon,” ni Mrs. Cuevas.

“Sige, Ma’am, mouli na lang ko. Salamat, Ma’am,” tubag sa dalagita.

Continue reading Adviser

The Wall

Fiction by | April 26, 2009

the-wall
If my malicious stares had been able to do him some damage, he would have fallen a long time ago…

That wall has stood there for as long as I could remember. I don’t know why, but the other people do not seem to be even remotely bothered by his presence. I, on the other hand, am driven to what one might surmise as insanity by that accursed structure of brick.

Continue reading The Wall

Ang Pangarap Kong Langit

Fiction by | April 19, 2009

Malakas ang simoy ng hangin kasama ng amoy ng usok galing sa mga kotse sa ilalim ng overpass. Sobrang ingay dahil sa dami ng kotseng bumubusina at sa mas maraming taong nakapaligid. May narinig akong sumisigaw. Nararamdaman ko silang lahat na nakatingin sa akin. Parang ngayon lang sila nakakita ng lalaking naglalakad sa kable sa itaas ng magulong kalye.

“Kalma lang kayo diyan… di naman titigil ang mundo ninyo kung mamamatay ako.”

Labimpitong taon na akong nabubuhay, tila iisang tao lang ang may pakialam sa akin. Hindi si Itay na binubugbog kami dahil lagi siyang lasing. Hindi si Inay na laging pinatatawad si Itay kahit laging lasing. Wala namang nag-aalala sa akin kundi si Kuya.

Continue reading Ang Pangarap Kong Langit