Category: Fiction

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.

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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.)

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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.   

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Rowing Away

Fiction by | March 22, 2009

My mother told me how lucky I was to be Raul’s wife. Unlike her, I had chosen to marry my husband. “During our time, our parents decided whom we should marry,” she told me.”Teyi bagi kan, you are not a dwey and there is no sign of looking for a second wife in your husband’s face either.” This would always crop up in our conversations about her and my father. Although she never admitted it, she envied my freedom.
rowing
Yes, my mother was right. Even Maria, my high school friend, praised me every time I passed by her fish stall at the market. “You look younger every time I see you, Bea,” she said, waving her hands and inviting me to come closer. “Your husband really loves flesh. Ah, uhm, fresh! I mean, like these fresh tilapias, fresh tomatoes. But you look fresher than them. Don’t you?” And then she laughed in the way that irritated me. “Well, who would love to eat rotten food after all?” I answered, shooing away the flies that might ruin her fresh display.

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Taong Bato

Fiction by | March 15, 2009

Alas nuebe na nang gabi nun. Bigla akong hinila ng magaling kong kaklase dun sa may rebulto na tila sinasamba ng lahat na mga estudyante. Nagtipon-tipon sila, tayo. Imbes na iparada ang mga parol para sa selebrasyon ng kapaskuhan, hayun ang lahat, may dala-dalang plakard. May itim na may puting tinta, at puti na may tintang itim at pula. May nagsasalita sa gitna. Daan-daang mag-aaral ang nandun pero walang mikropono. Tahimik ang lahat. Nakikinig. Nakikiisa. Buo ang atensyong ibinibigay sa sinumang nagsasalita.

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