"Ate Vee ikaw naman po mag kwento!" Saad nilang lahat."H-Ha? Ano oum, si Kuya James muna oh, madami siyang kwento sainyo ngayon." Sabi ko. Tinignan naman ako ni James at kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran. "Sige na kaya mo na yan." Sabay bulong ko sakanya."A-Ah, s-sige I mean, oo marami."Prince Yamato Take."The insignia of the great Japanese Empire is composed of three treasures which have been considered sacred, and guarded with jealous care from time immemorial. These are the Yatano-no-Kagami or theMirror of Yata, the Yasakami-no-Magatama or the Jewel of Yasakami, and the Murakumo-no-Tsurugi or the Sword of Murakumo.Of these three treasures of the Empire, the sword of Murakumo, afterwards known as Kusanagi-no-Tsrugugi, or the grass-cleaving sword, is considered the most precious and most highly to be honored, for it is the symbol of strength to this nation of warriors and the talisman of invincibility for the Emperor, while he holds it sacred in the shrine of his ancestors.Nearly
The governor then led the Prince to a wild and extensive plain where the grass grew high and in great abundance. Quite ignorant that the governor had laid a trap for him with the desire to compass his death, the Prince began to ride hard and hunt down the deer, when all of a sudden to his amazement he saw flames and smoke bursting out from the bush in front of him. Realizing his danger he tried to retreat, but no sooner did he turn his horse in the opposite direction than he saw that even there the prairie was on fire. At the same time the grass on his left and right burst into flames, and these began to spread swiftly towards him on all sides. He looked round for a chance of escape. There was none. He was surrounded by fire."This deer hunt was then only a cunning trick of the enemy!" said the Prince, looking round on the flames and the smoke that crackled and rolled in towards him on every side. "What a fool I was to be lured into this trap like a wild beast!" and he ground his tee
"Ohh, ikaw naman Vee ang mag kwento sabi mo kanina diba marami ka rin kwento." Nanlaki naman ang mata ko sa sinabi niya."Gagu kang bakla ka wala akong sinabing ganon!" Bulyaw kong bulong sakanya. "Talaga Ate Vee? Heheh.""Siguro nag handa ng mga magagandang kwento si Ate Ves satin heheh.""Love na love tayo ni Ate Vee heheh.""Wala naman akong sinasabing heheh." Panggagaya ko sa boses nila.Ilang segundo ang lumipas ay tahimik lang sila at ako rin, pati si James. Mukhang may inaantay yata sila eh.Napaisip naman ako sa i-ku-kwento kong bago sakanila. "Okay sige ito na mag k-kwento na ako The king of the ogres."In the land of Annam there once dwelt a man named Su, who sailed the seas as a merchant. Once his ship was suddenly driven on a distant shore by a great storm. It was a land of hills broken by ravines and green with luxuriant foliage, yet he could see something along the hills which looked like human dwellings. So he took some food with him and went ashore. No sooner had he
"The story of the old man who made withered trees to flower."Long, long ago there lived an old man and his wife who supported themselves by cultivating a small plot of land. Their life had been a very happy and peaceful one save for one great sorrow, and this was they had no child.Their only pet was a dog named Shiro, and on him they lavished all the affection of their old age. Indeed, they loved him so much that whenever they had anything nice to eat they denied themselves to give it to Shiro.Now Shiro means "white," and he was so called because of his color. He was a real Japanese dog, and very like a small wolf in appearance. The happiest hour of the day both for the old man and his dog was when the man returned from his work in the field, and having finished his frugal supper of rice and vegetables, would take what he had saved from the meal out to the little veranda that ran round the cottage.Sure enough, Shiro was waiting for his master and the evening tit-bit. Then the old
"Giauna the beautiful."ONCE upon a time there was a descendant of Confucius. His father had a friend, and this friend held an official position in the South and offered the young man a place as secretary. But when the latter reached the town where he was to have been active, he found that his father's friend had already died. Then he was much embarrassed, seeing that he did not have the means to return home again. So he was glad to take refuge in the Monastery of Puto, where he copied holy books for the abbot.About a hundred paces west of the monastery stood a deserted house. One day there had been a great snowfall, and as young Kung accidentally passed by the door of the house, he noticed a well dressed and prepossessing youth standing there who bowed to him and begged him to approach. Now young Kung was a scholar, and could appreciate good manners. Finding that the youth and himself had much in common, he took a liking to him, and followed him into the house. It was immaculately
"Gusto niyo ba ng Japanese story. Sige yong may gusto taas ang kamay, okay sige mukha lahat naman yata gusto ah.""The stone of five colours and the empress Jokwa."Long, long ago there lived a great Chinese Empress who succeeded her brother the Emperor Fuki. It was the age of giants, and the Empress Jokwa, for that was her name, was twenty-five feet high, nearly as tall as her brother. She was a wonderful woman, and an able ruler. There is an interesting story of how she mended a part of the broken heavens and one of the terrestrial pillars which upheld the sky, both of which were damaged during a rebellion raised by one of King Fuki's subjects.The rebel's name was Kokai. He was twenty-six feet high. His body was entirely covered with hair, and his face was as black as iron. He was a wizard and a very terrible character indeed. When the Emperor Fuki died, Kokai was bitten with the ambition to be Emperor of China, but his plan failed, and Jokwa, the dead Emperor's sister, mounted the
"Princess Haise, a story of old Japan.Many, many years ago there lived in Nara, the ancient Capital of Japan, a wise State minister, by namePrince Toyonari Fujiwara. His wife was a noble, good, and beautiful woman called Princess Murasaki (Violet). They had been married by their respective families according to Japanese custom when very young, and had lived together happily ever since. They had, however, one cause for great sorrow, for as the years went by no child was born to them. This made them very unhappy, for they both longed to see a child of their own who would grow up to gladden their old age, carry on the family name, and keep up the ancestral rites when they were dead.The Prince and his lovely wife, after long consultation and much thought, determined to make a pilgrimage to the temple of Hase-no-Kwannon (Goddess of Mercy at Hase), for they believed, according to the beautiful tradition of their religion, that the Mother of Mercy, Kwannon, comes to answer the prayers of
At the time when the Tang dynasty reigned over the Middle Kingdom, there were master swordsmen of various kinds. Those who came first were the saints of the sword. They were able to take different shapes at will, and their swords were like strokes of lightning. Yet these master swordsmen were men of lofty mind, and did not lightly mingle in the quarrels of the world. The second kind of master swordsmen were the sword heroes. It was their custom to slay the unjust, and to come to the aid of the oppressed. They wore a hidden dagger at their side and carried a leather bag at their belt. By magic means they were able to turn human heads into flowing water. They could fly over roofs and walk up and down walls, and they came and went and left no trace. The swordsmen of the lowest sort were the mere bought slayers. They hired themselves out to those who wished to do away with their enemies. And death was an everyday matter to them.Old Dragon beard must have been a master swordsman standing
May biglang kumatok sa pintuan kaya naitulak ko siya at mabilis naman akong tumayo pero medyo napadaing pa ako dahil sumakit itong likod ko."S-Sino yan?" Nauutal kong tanong sa kumatok. Binuksan ni James yong pituan at wala namang tao.Napakagat naman ako ng labi dahil nanggigilgil ako don sa kumatok. Panira ng moment eh, bwes*t!Nagkatingan kami ni James pero ako na mismo ang umiwas dahil nahihiya akong tignan sya sa mata lalo na napapatingin den talaga ako sa labi niya at naaalala ko lang ang nangyaring pag halik niya sa akin.Tumikhim ako bago nagsalita. "A-Asan ba yong tubig ko? Diba inutusan kita kumuha ng t-tubig?" Nautal pa talaha ako hayst, masyado kang nagpapahalata na kinakabahan ka Vee! Pano ba naman eh, sinulyapan niya ako at tinignan saglit sa mata.Napakamot siya sa ulo niya bago nagsalita. "Ano kase... nakalimutan ko." Saad nito kaya napakunot ang noo ko kase di ako makapaniwala na nakalimutan niya eh, tanging tubig lang naman inutos ko sakanya!"Vee yong kanina nga pa
Inirapan ko siya. "Meron naman talaga akong binila ah, Ito oh." Sabay abot sakin ng isang maliit paper bag."Ano yan?" Taka kong tinignan yong paper bag, binigay niya 'yon sakin kaya tinignan ko rin naman ito."Para sakin ba to?""Hindi." Kumunot naman ang noo ko dahil sa sagot niya."Bwes*t ka di ba't mo pa binigay sakin kung ganon ha!" Nag expect pa naman ako ng kunti kainis, mabuti nalang talaga di ako ngumiti kase nakakahiya kung ganon. Akala ko para sakin hayst!"Hindi ko naman binigay ah, inabot ko lang sayo para malaman mo ang laman niyan baka kasw ayaw mo maniwala na may binili ako." Saad nito pero tinignan ko lang siya ng masama.Kinuha niya pabalik yong paper bag at kinuha ang laman ni. In-open niya at nakita ko na isang kwentas 'yon."Biro lang para sayo talaga 'to Vee." Sabi niya kaya mas kumunot ang noo ko pero biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil don."Seryoso? Akin yan? Ba't mo naman ako binilhan ng kwent--" hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko kase mas lumapit si
"Ang saya naman ata nila peste!" Tsk, mukhang enjoy na enjoy ka yata James ah, akala ko ba bakla kang putcha ka! Hmm, baka naman bisexual ano?? Akala ko ba may bibilhin lang sya ha?Sabi niya mabilis lang sya tsk. Kaya pala siguro ayaw niya akong ipasama sakanya eh, dahil pala sa babaeng yan!Nag lakad ako at nag tungo sa gawi nila. "Order-an mo nga rin ako ng coffee." Sabi ko sabay umupo ako sa tabi ni James.Halatang medyo nagulat itong babae na nasa harapan ko nakaupo ngayon at lalo na itong si James na nanlake ang matang nakatingin sa akin."Oh? Ano? Parang gulat na gulat ka ata Mr. James??" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay."What are you doing here? Sinundan mo ba ako?" Medyo nakataas rin ang kilay nito sakin."Of course not! Sino ka ba para sundan ko ha! M-May kikitain lang ako dito ano tapos nakita kitang bakla ka!" Mahinang sabi ko sakanya sa huli."At kanino ka naman makikipag kita? Ba't wala kang sinabi sakin Vee??""Aba bakit may sinabi ka rin bang may kikitain ka ha??" Pabalik k
Lumabas ako ng kwarto kase pag gising ko wala si James. Pumasok ako sa kwarto niya at nakita siyang kakabihis lang ng pantalon niya at sinuot yong polo shift nito. Lumingon ito sa gawi ko at medyo nagulat pa sabay na tinakpan ang katawan niya. Hindi pa kase naka batones yong suot niyang polo. Tsk, ano bang tinatakpan niya e' wala naman siyang dede. "Ba't ka andito?" Tanong nito. Umupo muna ako sa gilid ng kama at tinignan siya. "James san ka pupunta? May lakad ka ba??" Takang tanong ko sakanya. Ba't yata bihis na bihis siya ngayon? Parang iba yong suot niya eh, mukha siyang may date ganon. "Sa mall, may bibilhin lang ako." Sagot nito sakin habang nakatalikod at binabatones ang suot niya. "Ha? Pano naman ako? Isasama mo ba ako?" Matutuwa na sana ako kase ilang araw na rin akong hindi nakakapunta sa mall. "Hindi. Dito ka lang sa bahay niyo po Ms. Vee." Kumunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi nito. Akala ko isasama niya ako kase nga bodyguard ko siya at dapat nasa tabi ko siya lagi par
Flashback_Naiinis kong tanong sakanya. Sino ba naman kaseng hindi magagalit kung may bigla nalang pumasok sa kwarto mo ng walang pasabi diba? Pano nalang kung kakagaling ko lang maligo at hubot hubad ako dito sa kwarto tapos ganyan sya?! Ano makikita niya akong nakahubad ganon diba hindi naman tama yon!Ano mali ba ako, sobrang sama ko pa rin ba ngayon?! Sobrang mali naman talaga ang pumasok sa kwarto ng iba."Pasensya na po Ms. Vee." Nakatalikod nitong sabi sabay sinira ang pintuan."Aray ko naman Vee! Ba't mo naman ako tinulak!" Nilingon ko si James na nakaupo ngayon sa sahig at nakahawak pa ito sa balakang niya."Eh, ano kase nagulat ako kay Keven kaya natulak kita pasensya ka na!" "Okay, mukhang hindi mo naman sinasadya talaga." May diin niyang saad.Sige sabihin na nating medyo sinasadya ko nga 'yon pero hindi ko naman talaga ginustong itulak sya okay. Inabot ko naman sakanya ang kamay ko para tulungan syang makatayo at nong aabutin na niya sana ang kamay ko ay bigla ko itong
Flashback_"Bumaba ako rito para kumain, hindi makipag chikahan po sayo." May diin kong sabi sakanya.Pano ako kakajn kung makikipag chikahan lang kami dito sa isat-isa. Tsk, wala rin naman akong interest na makipag usap sakanya o kahit makipag man chikan ng kunti.Tumikhim naman sya bago nagsalita. "You can start eating now then." Saad nito.Hindi na ako nag salita pa. Nag simula lang akong kumain at napansin ko namang ni isang kutsara ay hindi pa sumusubo si James ng pagkain."Ano pang inaantay mo? Pasko? New year?" Mahinang tanong ko tama na kami lang ang makakarinig sa boses ko.Mabuti nalang nandito si James, nandito si James makikisabay rin sa amin kumain kase kung wala sya ay di ako makikisabay at pigilan ang sarili ko "Kakain ka o susubuan pa kita?" Medyo napalakas ang boses ko at mukha narinig nilang dalawa 'yon kaya nabaling pareho ang paningin nila sakin."What?" Bagot kong tanong at ilang segundo lang ay bumalik na sila sa pag pagkain."Oo, kakain na po." Tanging sagot n
Flashback_Tulala ako nang umuwi kami sa bahay.Nandito ako ngayon sa kwarto nakahiga sa kama habang pilit na inaalala yong nangyari noon. Sa pagkakaalala ko ilang beses na akong nakidnap pero di ko talaga maalala saan don eh, at saka marami akong mga nakalimutan na nong mga nakaraan ko. Tanging si Bellie nga lang nagpapaalala sakin sa mga bagay-bagay na nangyari sakin kase ewan alangan namang tanongin ko si dad na mag kwento sakin eh, hindi nga kami close.At saka mukhang wala siyang balak ipaalala sakin yong mga nangyari noon. Ewan ko nga ba ba't nakakalimutan ko? Este ba't hindi ko maalala?? Agad akong napabangon ng may biglabg pumasok sa kwarto ko. Inayos ko yong paa ko at tinabunan ng kumot. Nakabukaka lang kase akong nakahiga at naka short lang ako, malamang nakikita na ang panty ko."Oh, James ikaw pala." Tanging nasabi ko."Wag mo na ako pansinin, humiga ka nalang ulit dyan dito lang ako sa sofa manonood ng movie." Wika niya.Napakurap-kurap ko naman siyang sinunod. Unti-un
Flashback_"James anong ginagawa natin dito?"Nag tatakang tanong ko habang nililibot ang paningin sa paligid.Bakit dinala niya ako dito sa sementeryo? May bibisitahin ba sya? Sino naman??Nag lakad-lakad kami at huminto sya kaya huminto rin ako sa paglalakad."Well, dito nakalibing ang mommy ko."Medyo nabigla ako sa sinabi nito.Napakamot ako sa batok. "Ba't mo naman ako sinama dito?""Because I promise to her that--" hindi na nito natuloy ang sasabihin dahil may biglang nag ring na cellphone."Cellphone mo yata yong nag r-ring." Sabi ko."Sasagutin ko muna to." Saad niya at tumango lang ako. Kinuha nya ang cellphone sa bulsa nya at sinago yong tawag, nag lakad sya palayo sakin ng kunti at nakipag usap don sa tumawag sakanya sa telepono.Nagtataka ko naman syang tinignan mula dito. Napapataas ang kilay ko kase panay ang tawa at ngiti nitong si James yong para bang kilikiliti sya ng kung sino dyan sa gilid."Hmm, sino kaya yang kausap niya?" Takang tanong ko sa sarili.Ilang minuto
Flashback_"Alam mo umagang-umaga nambu-bwesit ka James!" Inis kong sabi sabay alis sa kama."Joke lang ito naman hindi mabiro."Inis ko syang tinignan."Tsk, kala ko ba friends na tayo tapos nang gaganyan ka sakin ngayon!" Nakakainis sya! Swerte niya pumayag ako sa gusto niya tapos mang gaganyan sya sakin ngayon! Sobrang feeling close nya yata sakin kung ganon ah!"Bakit hindi ba nang gaganito ang magkaibigan?""Hindi!" Pabulyaa kong sagot sakanya."Ang tunay kaibigan parang kapatid nag dadamayan!" Wla nga pala akong kapatid pero feeling ko naman same lang yun este tama naman siguro ako? Diba?"No, may mga kaibigan den namang na ganitong klase na kaibigan. Yung nag iinisan, nang-aasar minsan, yong kasama mo kapag masaya o malungkot ka man. Yung maasahan mo, mapagkakatiwalaan at higit sa lahat handang damayan ka.""Okay, ikaw na ang tama ako na yung mali!""Alam mo Vee hindi naman masama kung minsan aminin mo na mali ka, na ikaw ang mali okay. Just take it as a lesson kapag nakakagaw