LOGINShare
CORNERED
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Third person’s POV
Napatunayan na naman ng isang tulad ko na malupit ang hagupit ng mga mababait. Loko-loko din to si Abe, ang bilis mainis sa mga tao na bumabangga pagdating sa half-sister nya. Oo half sister nya si Ciek. may isang what you see what you get samantalang yung isa ticking bomb yet living saintly. Pfft. Hypocrisy.
Ano kayang gagawin nya don sa babae? Sayang fiesty pa naman, type ko sana pero mukhang may makaka-una na.
Papalayo na ako ng HQ namamataan ko na ang bulto ni Asterio. Kupal naman Abe bat ngayon ka pa nagloko?Madadawit ako neto ng di oras eh. Oh I need to buy time, para di mahalata. Sumaludo ako kay Asterio, habang sya’y nakangise sa akin.
“At ease.” he said with a hint of happiness. Siguro pasado to, effective ata mga pinagsh-share nitong chain memes sa f*.
“Pre, may kukunin lang ako HQ andon pa ba si Abe?” He asked. Ang loko mabubuko agad si Abe nito ng di oras.
“Di ko alam pre. Pag labas ko wala naman sya bukod sa kadeteng babae dun.” I said half truth.
“Babae? Sino?” He inquired.
“ Oo pre, may kailangan ata, pero bago muna yan samahan mo ako, kina-usap ako ng Ma’am Estalion, mas mabuti daw na pauwiin na ibang studyante para sa disiplina mamaya.” I know white lies, but I need to bargain time. I owe Abe one pero kung di pa sya tapos sa oras na sinakripisyo ko, ilang palo din matatanggap ko dito ng dos por dos eh, bahala na sya.
I looked at Asterio. He’s still a mystery to me too. He acts tough yet softy. He’s intimidating yet bubbly. He acts like a real gentleman yet commands the PL to get the number of the ladies when he spotted a beaut.
Basta ako isa lang gusto ko, naghahanap lang tamang timing.
Hah! I guess no one could keep and restrain everyone’s nature. Pare-parehas lang kami dito. Mas baliw nga lang si Abe.
Isa-isa naming pinaki-usapan mga studyante, may iilang wait lang daw kasi may hinihintay din sila. We then spend minutes clearing out the area until we heard a half whimper half shout of a girl.
Sht.
Bahala ka na sa buhay mo Abe.
“Tol mukhang naging demonyo na naman si Abe. Pasensya na, I just owe him one. The girl I told you about earlier, she’s in trouble. Mauna na ako.” He then runs towards the HQ not wasting time.
Wala eh, bata lang din ako. I smirked.
++
Abe’s POV
Pagkatapos kong maitulak ang ulo ng babae sa pader bigla nalang itong nawalan ng lakas habang hawak ko. Napangise ako habang kinakapa na ang switch ng ilaw. The perks of training. Our five senses are heightened.
Pagkabukas ng ilaw, natulos ako sa kinatatayuan ko.
It’s her.
The lady that I liked.
Sht.
Sht.
Darn, you Ciek!
What did I do to the girl that I like?
Damn.
Fck this.
Papalapit na sana ako sa kinaroroonan ng babaeng gusto ko ng bumukas ng pabalang ang pinto.
“A-asterio..”
Bigla nalang tumilapon ang suntok nya sa pisngi ko. Sht do it, I deserve more than this. I deserve heavy punishment for what I have done.
“Gago ka ba Abe? You did really hit a girl huh? You won’t get away with this, you hurt the wrong girl dude. And don’t skip the punishment later. I’ll deal with you myself. “
Asterio fixed the girl's clothes. They then left right there.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry love.
++
Angelie’s POV
Unti-unting gumigising ang diwa ko ng dahil sa amoy ng white flower. White flower? Biglaang pagbalikwas ang nagawa ko, kaya agaran akong sinalakay ng sakit sa katawan. Lalo na sa sikmura.
M****a!
“Easy. Don’t move.” said the deep voice. Napaistatwa ako. Who’s this man again? Sht.
“relax. I am Asterio and I am mending your wounds and bruises.’ He then said as he noticed I am not breathing.
He’s mending my bruise in my arm and as I looked around our surroundings, we were inside a car. What just happened? Ang alam ko nasa HQ ako nung huling malay ko.
“How are you feeling? Should I put some patches on your stomach?” He asked as he moved on leaning on me to put the patch on my damaged tummy. I moved to avoid further close proximity.
He stopped midway. I breathed.
“You’re hurting yourself even more. Just let me. I won’t do anything stupid. Trust me okay?” He assured as he waited for me to raise my clothe to have him see clearly the bruises. I silently cried.
It hurts.
It stings.
I wanna run away.
I let myself cried silently as he mends all my wounds. I don’t think I can still pursue this dream. I just wanna run away. I don’t think I can play dumb when I see the faces who conned me, who wound me and beat me to death. My whole dream crashes the moment they laid their hands and tried to violate me. Does this dream worth disturbing my peace?
“Done. Tell me your address and I’ll ride you home. Just trust me on this. I won’t do any harm, I’ll just have to assure you that you won’t exert too much energy in commuting.” He said as he put my seatbelt on, pagkatapos sa kanya. I told him my address but not my exact address. I can’t trust anybody from Unit 2, sa ginawa palang ng officer na yun sa’kin? I don’t think I can trust him fully.
He opened the radio right after and begin to start the car’s engine.
“...ANG UNANG KASO NG COVID 19 AY NAMATAAN SA LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA NOONG NAKARAANG BUWAN NGUNIT NGAYON LAMANG NAG ANUNSYO ANG PAMAHALAAN NA IPATUPAD ANG TRAVEL BAN SA MGA BANSANG NAGPAPARAMI NG KASO NG NAKAKABAHALANG VIRUS. NAG-ANUNSYO DIN ANG PANGULO NA IPATIGIL MUNA ANG FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES SA KAPAKANAN DIN NG MGA KABATAAN… EPEKTIBO ITO AGARAN KINABUKASAN…”
The news on the radio just coincidentally given me hope. I need a break from all of this. I don’t really think I can face my perpetrators up close. I need this pandemic. I need time.
++
Months of lockdown had past and I use that opportunity to change and make a new account on f*. I abandoned my former account and then I deleted every picture that I had on that account. Time passed already and I couldn’t muster the courage to tell a single soul about it.
I added Peas and essential people on my new account to live peacefully. I had blocked all the people who used to have connections in Unit 2 except for my close friends.
The online class set-up is adopted and I couldn’t say thank you more because I still like how it s. I like how I isolate myself from potential people that could hurt me. I began to hasten my creative side instead. I write for myself, I write to not lose myself any further.
I must heal, even if it takes a long time.
--
After constantly declining opportunities and choosing my own battles for a year already, I began to act cowardly pathetic. Someone says that it is pretty normal at least I know when and where to act. It saves my energy and money.
And everyone stares at me, my family, the neighbours, our relatives wondering why am I, at this age, had no means of earning money?
All my f* friends are individually capturing milestones posted on their days. I’ve been trying everything. Wondering if you’d ask and assume I’m just a salty-salty woman. I have been recommending the companies that I dumbly failed while others are passing it without a sweat.
I’ve read hundreds of my horoscopes, it only gets me excited and overwhelmed. It actually tells accurate readings but funny it just stops suddenly. Like a familiar feeling; I vanished and no hope to rekindle.
Oh how badly, I wanted to live my life to the fullest. But things are just stopping me. My funds are draught due to pandemic, my will are slopping, the game I built is glitching.
I am cornered.
I am still here, in the same place. Lurking in my head, when and where to act practically amid this global pandemic. Everybody easily says I have all the opportunities. But I am haunted.
++
Related chapters
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CRIPPLED
A year of the pandemic, issues had risen and made all citizens feel rage, oppressed, fear, and all then injustices prevail. Politicians now moved their pawns on a chessboard. Ang daming nasasakripisyong buhay dahil sa mga abusadong nasa kapangyarihan.Kaliwa’t kanan ang pagkukundina at pagkritismo sa iba’t ibang social media platforms. Mga pulis na walang awang binaril sa ulo ang mag-ina. Mga kadeteng nag-aaral ng kriminolohiya nakapanig sa pagkitil ng mga pulis sa mga inosente dahil daw ginalit ito.Mga gago.Sa pagkalap ng maraming hate speech online, gumawa na naman ang hakbang ang mga nasa gobyerno. Nagpasa ng batas na patahimikin ang publiko.Youths who oppose the government red-tagged as terrorists. Many people are angered, likewise many turned to idolize the current administration.What the hell.++
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CUP
++I can’t distinguish how am I feeling when I just see first-hand the person I’ve been avoiding from the past. I am grateful yet scared. Sir Asterio leaning on the wall of the guardhouse. I mean, if that’s what is called. He is wearing a tight green army shirt and fatigue on the lower. He has these scrutinizing eyes as ever.“...you smell beer… we don’t accept a person who drunk drive going in here,” he said as I now a law violator. Beats me, there are who’s worst than me yet still enjoying their freedom and sipping from the taxes of every Filipino.“yeah, and you smelled like a mint chocolate, mind your distance or I might puke,” I replied and walkway past him.“why? You don’t like how I smell?” He sneered and equalled my pace as I head towards the office.“As far as
A Plea of Catastrophic Times COUNTERPLEA
++Pagkatapos kong naayos mga gamit ko dumiretso na ako sa public cr. I have encountered a passionate individual kanina. Medyo marami na rin pero ang bali-balita kanina eh may inaasahan pa daw na dumating since ang simula talaga ng training ay hanggang weekend na lamang.I busied myself cleaning my body when a shriek of voice come after me.“JELLLLL IS THAT YOUUUUU?”I peeked on the curtain that only divides the whole shower area and there I saw peas peeking on me as well.We both laughed. Darn, I miss this lady.“Who knew that we could meet in a span of seven years here, naked.” I teased her and we both laughed heartily.“With all those years I’ve been missing you.” Peas as she closed the curtain and resumed cleaning her body. I did too as I enjoy hearing
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CANDY
++ I don’t know how to react. My great grandmother? Isang biktima ng mga hapon. One of the comfort women. Naging topic lang yun nung nagcollege ako tas eto kadugo ko na? Sex slaves of the Japanese troupes. I feel disgusted. For a lady who also nearly suffer from sexual abuse, I loathed them, I pitied my great grandmother with her tough experience. I wonder if she cried in silence too. How did she manage those tough times alone? I picked my phone and called tatay. On three rings he answered. “Hello.” He said. Mukhang nagising ko ata ang tatay. Dis oras na rin kasi ng gabi. Humingi ako ng patawad sa pag-tawag ng gantong oras. “Ano ka ba, ayos lang. Nasisiyahan nga akong tumawag ka. Nabasa ko ang sulat na iniwan mo, masaya akong nakapagdesisyon ka anak.” Said tatay that instantly made me cry. “Pasensya na tay, pero may bumabagabag lang sa isipan ko. Ang lola mo ba tay... isa rin ba sya sa mga biktima ng hapon dati?” Tanong ko naghihinang boses. Katahimikan ang namayani sa kabilang
A Plea of Catastrophic Times PROLOGUE
Do you, too, wonder when this pandemic will end? Do you despise officials who are insensitive to their constituents? Do you despise the military? Are you an anti-activist? Do you despise individuals you meet online? Simply by expressing your criticism on various social media platforms, you will be red-tagged as a member of terrorists or non-governmental organizations (NPAs)? Do you have a sense of hopelessness? Do you have reservations about your ancestors? Do you feel sorry for yourself? How do you establish your identity at this age? When everyone simultaneously feels powerful and hopeless? Hello, my name is Angelie Bayaban. I am an AB Political Science student who has only dreamed of contributing to the betterment of this humanity. The fact is, I want my name to be etched in the history books for how my voice was heard among the thousands of screams and cries of this cataclysmic age. During face-to-face sessions, our professors usually leave us with a message to love the process
A Plea of Catastrophic Times KABANATA 1: CHOICE.
“…BUONG MUNDO AY HUMAHARAP SA MALAKNG PROBLEMA DULOT NG PANDEMYA…”Napabuntong hininga ako. Kakagising ko lang at ito agad ang bungad na balita sa telebisyon. The world is getting worst and the days are becoming perilous. Kalian kaya ito matatapos? Ilang buwan na din ang lockdown na nagawa ng Pilipinas, nag isang taon na nga ngunit nahihirapan pa rin ito sa pagkontrol ng mga nahahawa ng virus.I pity my own country. This nation and the innocent people don’t deserve these scums enjoying their position doing nothing but complications and massive debt that will burden the Philippines for how many years. If only Filipino citizens are wise enough to pick the right leader for the position.“…if only I had the courage to protect my own country from those assholes…” I bitterly smiled as I reminisce the memories that snatch out my courage an
A Plea of Catastrophic Times COMMITMENT
I was welcomed by an afternoon breeze. I got out from the school bus not minding how awful I look at the moment. The noon ambience of every province attacks with the feeling of familiarity. I closed my eyes as the wind blows on my face, the younger Angelie welcomed me, smiling proudly, wearing her signature intense look; teary yet can devour a whole dragon. It seemed like she’s rooting on me today; I guess I just have to give my all yeah?As I set forth onto the lands of Cavite. my eyes started to wander and immediately look for peas."Peas!" I uttered like a cry baby and eagerly grabs her hand to join the crowd heading towards the big shed.It has a wide and huge bench made out of cement accelerating upwards. Oh darn, I knew I'm bad at describing things but hence it was like a huge shed with rows of huge cement to be sit upon."San tayo jel pupwesto?" asked Peas as other cadets are also owning their respective seats."sa
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CONDITIONS
I once had a companion, oh no, not that close but an online friend who told me to stop butting in my nose to someone else's life. To not cross the line. Unless you're ready to take responsibility. I never once assess things as it is and I never once weigh crossing the lines could be this heavy. And who would know, just a day right after the firing event, this dreaded assessment would happen? He's sick and he does not ping his family about it. He is keeping it to himself, alone, suffering. I know, I must respect where he is coming but I just had to act unless I want to repeat such a painful past. I looked up his family members on F******k and miraculously I found it. I found her older sister on F*. I immediately sent her a message regarding Awe's sickness. His sister immediately replied and assures me that they will give Awe with full care and assistance he needed. Hence, later at night, Awe told me he resents me fo
Latest chapter
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CANDY
++ I don’t know how to react. My great grandmother? Isang biktima ng mga hapon. One of the comfort women. Naging topic lang yun nung nagcollege ako tas eto kadugo ko na? Sex slaves of the Japanese troupes. I feel disgusted. For a lady who also nearly suffer from sexual abuse, I loathed them, I pitied my great grandmother with her tough experience. I wonder if she cried in silence too. How did she manage those tough times alone? I picked my phone and called tatay. On three rings he answered. “Hello.” He said. Mukhang nagising ko ata ang tatay. Dis oras na rin kasi ng gabi. Humingi ako ng patawad sa pag-tawag ng gantong oras. “Ano ka ba, ayos lang. Nasisiyahan nga akong tumawag ka. Nabasa ko ang sulat na iniwan mo, masaya akong nakapagdesisyon ka anak.” Said tatay that instantly made me cry. “Pasensya na tay, pero may bumabagabag lang sa isipan ko. Ang lola mo ba tay... isa rin ba sya sa mga biktima ng hapon dati?” Tanong ko naghihinang boses. Katahimikan ang namayani sa kabilang
A Plea of Catastrophic Times COUNTERPLEA
++Pagkatapos kong naayos mga gamit ko dumiretso na ako sa public cr. I have encountered a passionate individual kanina. Medyo marami na rin pero ang bali-balita kanina eh may inaasahan pa daw na dumating since ang simula talaga ng training ay hanggang weekend na lamang.I busied myself cleaning my body when a shriek of voice come after me.“JELLLLL IS THAT YOUUUUU?”I peeked on the curtain that only divides the whole shower area and there I saw peas peeking on me as well.We both laughed. Darn, I miss this lady.“Who knew that we could meet in a span of seven years here, naked.” I teased her and we both laughed heartily.“With all those years I’ve been missing you.” Peas as she closed the curtain and resumed cleaning her body. I did too as I enjoy hearing
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CUP
++I can’t distinguish how am I feeling when I just see first-hand the person I’ve been avoiding from the past. I am grateful yet scared. Sir Asterio leaning on the wall of the guardhouse. I mean, if that’s what is called. He is wearing a tight green army shirt and fatigue on the lower. He has these scrutinizing eyes as ever.“...you smell beer… we don’t accept a person who drunk drive going in here,” he said as I now a law violator. Beats me, there are who’s worst than me yet still enjoying their freedom and sipping from the taxes of every Filipino.“yeah, and you smelled like a mint chocolate, mind your distance or I might puke,” I replied and walkway past him.“why? You don’t like how I smell?” He sneered and equalled my pace as I head towards the office.“As far as
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CRIPPLED
A year of the pandemic, issues had risen and made all citizens feel rage, oppressed, fear, and all then injustices prevail. Politicians now moved their pawns on a chessboard. Ang daming nasasakripisyong buhay dahil sa mga abusadong nasa kapangyarihan.Kaliwa’t kanan ang pagkukundina at pagkritismo sa iba’t ibang social media platforms. Mga pulis na walang awang binaril sa ulo ang mag-ina. Mga kadeteng nag-aaral ng kriminolohiya nakapanig sa pagkitil ng mga pulis sa mga inosente dahil daw ginalit ito.Mga gago.Sa pagkalap ng maraming hate speech online, gumawa na naman ang hakbang ang mga nasa gobyerno. Nagpasa ng batas na patahimikin ang publiko.Youths who oppose the government red-tagged as terrorists. Many people are angered, likewise many turned to idolize the current administration.What the hell.++
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CORNERED
Third person’s POVNapatunayan na naman ng isang tulad ko na malupit ang hagupit ng mga mababait. Loko-loko din to si Abe, ang bilis mainis sa mga tao na bumabangga pagdating sa half-sister nya. Oo half sister nya si Ciek. may isang what you see what you get samantalang yung isa ticking bomb yet living saintly. Pfft. Hypocrisy.Ano kayang gagawin nya don sa babae? Sayang fiesty pa naman, type ko sana pero mukhang may makaka-una na.Papalayo na ako ng HQ namamataan ko na ang bulto ni Asterio. Kupal naman Abe bat ngayon ka pa nagloko?Madadawit ako neto ng di oras eh. Oh I need to buy time, para di mahalata. Sumaludo ako kay Asterio, habang sya’y nakangise sa akin.“At ease.” he said with a hint of happiness. Siguro pasado to, effective ata mga pinagsh-share nitong chain memes sa fb.“Pre, may kukunin lang ako HQ andon pa ba si Abe?&
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CONNED
Disclaimer: This is fiction. Unless otherwise specified, all names, characters, businesses, locations, events, and incidents in this book are either fictitious or based on the author's imagination. This story has absolutely nothing to do with anyone who is alive or who has ever existed.+++Our instructor in ROTC announced that Mayor Abueva is requesting ROTC unit 2 to be part of the event the city is commencing. She informed us that the event will be held first on our campus and we will escort the mayor along with the places of the city the mayor appointed to show its presence, para sa fiesta.The instructor didn’t push everybody to attend but to those who just wanted to have extra points and to those who are not complete in the attendance every Sunday. Pambawi lang daw sa mga kulang namin.So did us three enlisted our names to attend. Wala kasi kami nung first meeting. Tsaka palang kami nun nagpalipat pagk
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CHASED
I have been living like this the whole time. Push and pull towards every potential people I have met, whether online or in real life. I had interest yet I don’t dare to involve myself in such great responsibilities and obligations.And looking back, I had missed opportunities to love and to be loved. I cannot just afford them to have access to me, without me knowing their real motives. To manipulate me or to love me genuinely.Since childhood, elementary days, I am picked out of five other grandchildren of our grandmother on my mother’s side to attend and be a companion, acting like a real daughter to my Lola. I received all the obligations. I am so focused on how hard obliga
A Plea of Catastrophic Times CONDITIONS
I once had a companion, oh no, not that close but an online friend who told me to stop butting in my nose to someone else's life. To not cross the line. Unless you're ready to take responsibility. I never once assess things as it is and I never once weigh crossing the lines could be this heavy. And who would know, just a day right after the firing event, this dreaded assessment would happen? He's sick and he does not ping his family about it. He is keeping it to himself, alone, suffering. I know, I must respect where he is coming but I just had to act unless I want to repeat such a painful past. I looked up his family members on F******k and miraculously I found it. I found her older sister on F*. I immediately sent her a message regarding Awe's sickness. His sister immediately replied and assures me that they will give Awe with full care and assistance he needed. Hence, later at night, Awe told me he resents me fo
A Plea of Catastrophic Times COMMITMENT
I was welcomed by an afternoon breeze. I got out from the school bus not minding how awful I look at the moment. The noon ambience of every province attacks with the feeling of familiarity. I closed my eyes as the wind blows on my face, the younger Angelie welcomed me, smiling proudly, wearing her signature intense look; teary yet can devour a whole dragon. It seemed like she’s rooting on me today; I guess I just have to give my all yeah?As I set forth onto the lands of Cavite. my eyes started to wander and immediately look for peas."Peas!" I uttered like a cry baby and eagerly grabs her hand to join the crowd heading towards the big shed.It has a wide and huge bench made out of cement accelerating upwards. Oh darn, I knew I'm bad at describing things but hence it was like a huge shed with rows of huge cement to be sit upon."San tayo jel pupwesto?" asked Peas as other cadets are also owning their respective seats."sa
