Continuation.DEVYANI'S P.O.V.That very day, I laid out my plan as smoothly and concisely as possible inside my hidden house. The only creatures who would about it would be me, Orion, and perhaps Father since he knows all of the things happening in the world. I decided I would execute it at around 8 o'clock in the evening. Whether it will work or not, that will be entirely up to me and to the people around me. Seconds later, I heard a knock outside the door. I muttered a chant so the things that are lying on the table about the plan would be concealed. Matapos ay tumakbo ako papunta sa pinto. Alam ko naman na kung sino ang tanging gagawa noon. "Coming!"When I opened the doork, I saw Orion with a wide grin on his face. "Dinner?" tanong niya. Sa isang kamay ay hawak-hawak niya ang dalawang isda na tig-isang nakatusok sa dalawang pirasong kahoy. Naguluhan ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Tumingin ako sa labas saka siya tiningnan muli. "Ha? Hapunan na? Anong oras na ba? Hindi ba at parang ma
It was rainy in the town of Sentiniente City, the place where Ella resides. She and her co-teachers were still inside the school, finishing the checking of papers that were due that day. Malamig na sa labas ngunit dumagdag pa ang lamig sa loob ng kuwarto dahil sa bukas na aircon at mga electric fan. "Excuse me po, sino po ang gusto ng kape sa inyo? Papa-order ako sa canteen, baka gusto niyo pong sumabay," magalang na tanong ni Ella sa kaniyang mga kasamahan. She was known in the school as a kind and soulful woman. In her nearly five years of service in Sentiniente High School, neither students nor teachers and school staff has ever complained about her. In fact, she was the most praised person in the whole department. She achieved high feats at the age of 25, and that says something about her. "Ms. Ella, paki-add ng coffee sa akin!" tawag ni Anne sa kaniya. She was her best friend among all her other co-workers. "Ako rin, Ms. Ella!" dagdag p
"You... you are a grim reaper?" naniniguaradong tanong ni Ella sa lalaki. She didn't know that a man with a gorgeous face like him would be a grim reaper. Ang akala niya, o ang akala nilang mga tao ay naka-takip ang mukha nito ng isang mask at naka-suot ng mahabang kulay itim na damit habang may dala-dalang scythe. Pero itong lalaki sa kaniyang harap ay naka-suot lang ng hooded jacket at jeans na para bang isang tao at walang dala-dalang kahit na anong armas. Her expectation was very different from the reality. "I'm THE grim reaper, not just A grim reaper. Know the difference between the two, Miss. English teacher ka pa man din," said Eric nonchalantly, his hands in his pockets, looking straight at her. His body posture and the way he stood reminded her of those many supermodels she saw in magazines and tv commercials. Ella blinked once, then twice, trying to comprehend what the man has just said to her. When it finally sinks into her mind, she felt embar
Mabilis na napalingon ang limang kawatan sa direksyon ni Ella. Ang kanilang pananakot ay panandaliang naudlot sa kaniyang kagagawan. Ang iba pa sa mga ito ay nakita niyang nanlaki ang mga mata. Marahil, hindi inaasahan ng mga kawatan na mayroon ngang maglalakas loob tumulong sa sitwasyong sila ang nakaka-angat. On the other hand, Ella herself was somewhat bewildered by what she did. The moment the situation sunk into her head, she realized she dug her own grave. Gustong-gusto niyang bawiin ang kaniyang sinabi at sambitin ang salitang "charot". She bit her quivering lips in order to prevent herself from uttering words that might lead to her death for the second time around. "At sino ka naman?" - kawatan #1. Hindi sumagot si Ella at nagpatuloy lang sa pakikipag-titigan. "Ha. Ang tapang ng isang 'to pre, oh." - kawatan #2. "Oo nga. Akalain niyo, may isang chix na maglalakas-loob umeksena." - kawatan #3.
Isang nag-aalalang Peter ang mabilis sumaklolo sa tabi ni Ella. "Ella! Ayos ka lang ba?!" Ella blinked at least twice to confirm whether what was happening in her life right now was a current manifestation of what Eric did. She scanned her surroundings and searched for the five men who were harassing her and the other customers as well. Policemen were rushing in and out, escorting the customers out of the coffee shop. Amidst the hysterical crying of the people around them, she couldn't find the female cashier not to mention the bad men who incapacitated her. "Peter? Nasaan na ang iba?" Hindi siya pinansin nito bagkus ay nagpatuloy sa pag-alala sa kaniyang kalagayan. Ipinatong ng lalaki ang mga kamay nito sa balikat ni Ella at marahang niyugyog. "Ayos ka lang ba? Ung totoo?" sabi ni Peter nang hindi nag-aalis ng tingin sa na-hostage niyang kaibigan. His eyebrows were drawing together and his eyes painted with a worried g
A shrill cry escaped from Ella's mouth. She didn't waste a second and immediately ran away from the creepy house. Tumakbo lang siya nang tumakbo hanggang sa narating niya ang kalye malapit sa kanilang tahanan. Hingal na hingal niyang itinukod ang kaniyang mga kamay sa kaniyang mga tuhod. She thought she looked pathetic. Actually, in the first place, she didn't expect herself to scream and run away like a chicken being haunted by a dog. Although in her case, she wasn't haunted. But then there was an eerie feeling. She felt a killing intent that came from the creature with a pair of red eyes. She was suffocated by its gaze that she scampered away like a scared mouse. Good God, bakit parang sa tingin ko palala nang palala ang mga nararanasan ko? Is this your way of goodness so I can experience a fantasy life that I have always dreamed of? Ella thought she was crazy. Well, she might have been already real crazy. If this was to test her sanity then she fail
"Diyos ko, Raphaella Morales! Saan ka nanggaling? Paggising namin ng papa mo wala ka sa kuwarto mo!" bungad ng mama ni Ella sa kaniya nang makauwi na siya sa kaniyang tahanan. "Pasensya na po, ma. Masyado ata akong natuwa ngayong araw at napag-desisyunan kong mag-ehersisyo sa umaga. Nakalimutan ko pong mag-iwan ng sulat o magsabi lamang sa inyo. Hindi ko na po uulitin ito muli sa susunod," magalang na tugon ni Ella. Napayuko pa siya sa kaniyang mga magulang dahil sa sagasang aksyon niyang ginawa. Making them worry was the least thing she wanted them to feel. Lalo na at kakagaling niya lang sa isang sitwasyon na mapanganib. For sure their worries were 10 times the usual worry. "Huwag mo na talagang uulitin 'yon, Raphaella! Naiintindihan namin ang kagustuhan mong mag-ehersisyo sa umaga. However, going out and not saying anything to us makes us worried about you! There are so many bad people out there and unexpected circumstances happen once in a while. Hind
After the encounter Ella had with her student, Lily, she went to the Principal's office. Hindi malayo ang opisina ng kanilang Head mula sa entrance. A few walk would suffice. Nasa may bandang unahan na gusali kasi ito kaya di na kailangan pang maglakad nang masyadong mahaba.Ella knocked three times on the door before she went in. Their Head Principal, Mrs. Lumasan, wasn't surprised to see her. She was expected to come because of the resignation letter she sent early in the morning."Good afternoon po, Mrs. Lumasan," paunang bati ni Ella. She sat on the chair in front of the Principal and smiled at her. Pinagmasdan niya si Mrs. Lumasan at nahinuha niya na mukhang may pinagdadaanan ito. The aura she was giving off was heavy. Medyo haggard din kung tingnan ito at halatang-halata ang wrinkles niya. Mrs. Lumasan was already old but her wrinkles before wasn't this evident. She wondered what might have happened."Good afternoon din, Ms. Ella. Hindi na ako
Continuation.DEVYANI'S P.O.V.That very day, I laid out my plan as smoothly and concisely as possible inside my hidden house. The only creatures who would about it would be me, Orion, and perhaps Father since he knows all of the things happening in the world. I decided I would execute it at around 8 o'clock in the evening. Whether it will work or not, that will be entirely up to me and to the people around me. Seconds later, I heard a knock outside the door. I muttered a chant so the things that are lying on the table about the plan would be concealed. Matapos ay tumakbo ako papunta sa pinto. Alam ko naman na kung sino ang tanging gagawa noon. "Coming!"When I opened the doork, I saw Orion with a wide grin on his face. "Dinner?" tanong niya. Sa isang kamay ay hawak-hawak niya ang dalawang isda na tig-isang nakatusok sa dalawang pirasong kahoy. Naguluhan ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Tumingin ako sa labas saka siya tiningnan muli. "Ha? Hapunan na? Anong oras na ba? Hindi ba at parang ma
Kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa pinakatuktok ng isang matarik na bundok. Napakatahimik ng paligid. Walang mga away ang nagaganap at ang lahat ng bagay ay naaayon sa panuntunan ng buhay na ginawa ni Ama. Napakaaliwalas at napakakalmadong tingnan ang mga nilalang na nilikha ni Ama sa planetang Earth. Ang mga tao, hayop, halaman, puno, mga hayop, ang tubig at ang lupa, hangin, ulap, apoy, at iba pa ay tamang-tama na nakapuwesto. Sa katotohanan ang lahat ng mga bagay na matatagpuan sa planetang Earth ay nagmula rin sa aming kaniyang mga anak. Pinagbasehan niya ang mga mahika at responsabilidad na naiatas sa amin. Ang kaibahan sa amin at pagdating sa mundo ng mga nilalang na kaniyang nilikha, may kakayahan kaming kontrolin ang mga bagay o ang mga mahika. Habang sa planetang Earth, walang may kakayahan kumontrol ng mga mahika. Ang tanging abilidad lang na ibinigay ni Ama sa kanila ay ang kakayahang mag-isip at magkaroon ng rasyonalidad. "Devyani? Nandito ka na naman ulit?" tanong ng isang lal
Fiction, non-fiction, YA, mystery, thriller, science fiction, anthologies, poems, literature, dictionary, thesaurus, textbooks, at marami pang iba ang matatagpuan sa silid-aklatan. Parang sa mundo ko lang dati. Ang kaibahan nga lang, mas maraming nakakatuwang impormasyon ang matatagpuan sa mundong 'to. Welp. Siguro, biased lang ako dahil mas magaganda ang pagkakagawa ng mga libro rito. Ang mga libro sa mundong 'to ay mayroong mga papel na makakapal at ang mga ito ay kulay light brown. Iyon bang parang pakupas na papel na sa mundo ko dati ngunit dito, hindi siya pakupas. Sadyang ganoon lang ang kulay at hindi nag-iiba. Bago man o luma ang mga libro ay parehas lang ang kalidad ng mga papel. Siguro mayroong taong gumagamit ng mahika upang mapanatili ang ganda ng papel.Bukod pa rito, maraming nakaguhit na larawan sa mga libro. Hindi kada-pahina ay mayroong mga nakaguhit na larawan ngunit ang mga ito ay sapat upang punan ang mga parte ng mga libro na nangangailangan ng visual representat
"Ano na naman iyang mga pinaggagawa ninyo?" inis na sabi ni Ina. Napamasahe siya sa kaniyang noo at umiling-iling pa. Mukhang kailangan na niya muna ng pahinga sa kambal. "Hindi ko na alam sa inyong mga bata kayo." Randam ko pa rin si Mael sa likod at ang pilit pag-alis ni Kael sa kaniya sa aking likod. Patuloy pa rin sila sa kanilang ginagawa kahit na nagsalita na si Ina. Hindi nakatiis si Ama at nagsalita na rin. "Mga bata, magsitigil na nga kayo. Si Meliliana pa talaga ang pinag-aawayan niyo at nasakto pa na tayo ay magkakasamang kumain sa hapag-kainan." Ngunit hindi siya pinakinggan ng aking mga kapatid. Patuloy ang dalawa sa pag-aaway. Parang mga isip-bata para sa mga prinsipeng katulad nila. Hindi ba dapat na kahit parte ka ng isang maharlikang pamilya, sa edad na mag-sasampu ay matured na? Ganoon ang napapanood ko sa mga pelikula at aking mga nababasa sa mga libro. Karamihan naman sa mga 'yon ay piksyonal tulad nito kaya bakit iba sila? Dahil naiinis na rin ako na hinihil
It's been five years since I came into this world, into the novel called "Meliliana". My life has never been this strange yet... warm.Noong una, mahirap isipin at tanggapin ang reyalidad na nasa harapan ko. Sino ba naman ang kaagad-agad maniniwala na totoo ang reincarnation? Hindi naman kasi kapani-paniwala talaga ang isekai o rebirth o kung ano pa man ang tawag dito. Sa mga nobela at pelikula lang naman ang mga iyon nangyayari--- iyon ang akala ko. Akala ko noong namatay ako buhat ng pagsagasa ng truck, makakasama ko nang muli ang mga pamilya ko. Iyon pala, hindi. Sa hindi ko malamang dahilan, at kung paano at anong nangyari, ay namuhay ako bilang ang bidang karakter ng nobelang Meliliana, kauna-unahang international best-selling book na mula sa Pilipinas ang awtor. Iba't ibang mga lahi ang tumangkilik dito, kaya ang libro ay nailathala sa iba't ibang bansa gamit ang iba't ibang lenguwahe. Ang kanilang mga dahilan ay kesyo maganda raw ang romance, kaaya-aya, nakakakilig, at kung anu
Bakit parang ang ingay ata sa labas? Taena, aga-aga nagsisisigaw na naman ang mga bata.“Oy, ano ‘yang ingay niyo? Kitang may natutulog.” Lumabas ako ng kuwarto at nakita sa sala ang aking dalawang nakababatang kapatid. Parehas tumitili na para bang chino-chop chop na baboy. Nakita ko ang magasin sa ibabaw ng lamesa. Pinulot ko ito at hinampas sa ulo ng dalawa.“Ano ba, ate?! Panira naman, oh,” daing ni Heaven, labing-dalawang taong gulang kong kapatid na babae. Sumimangot siya saka lumabi.“Oo nga, panira. Palibhasa bitter,” anas ni Nevaeh, kakambal na babae ni Heaven. Inikot niya pa ang kaniyang mga mata saka dumila. Lah, pikon talaga ‘to. “Bakit kasi ang ingay niyo? Wala pa nga atang walong oras tulog ko. May niluto bang pagkain si Mama?” “Sus. Baka nga siyam na oras na tulog mo. Umuwi ka rito kaninang alas-siyete, alas-kuwatro na ng hapon ngayon. Sa isang tanong mo, oo mayroong pagkain diyan. Piniritong talong at galunggong. Nagluto rin ako ng sinangag kasi ang galing-galing ng
Mara was on the guard about the man she was left with. She was still not yet convinced on whether to trust the person or not. She doesn't know a thing about him. The only information given to her by her friends were he was Ana's brother, he was the creepy guy at the convenience store, and he carried her back to her apartment when she felt ill. Aside from all of that, she still hasn't seen his face, and not even entirely sure about his identification.She felt the need to at least start the conversation as it didn't look like the man would do so. Mara walked up to the man who was still leaning on the wall."Uhm, hello, I'm Mara. Nice to meet you." She extended her right hand in an attempt to shake hands."Yeah, I know you. No need for formalities." Mara put her hand away because of what he said. The man took off his hat and mask. "I'm Seth. The Seth you know."When his bare face comes into view, Mara gasped. His perfect face was just too pretty in her eyes. There was not one bit of sca
There were instances in life where people find themselves in a strange situation. The most common reaction during those times was either shock, panic, or distress. But none of those words fit Seth's reaction after the stranger keeling on the floor in front of him addressed his name. While standing still, he remained impassive--- that's what his eyes tell."What?" was the only thing he muttered. Ana thought his voice was colder and deeper than before. Must have been through puberty."I'm asking you to heal my friend. This accident is partly your fault so pay your dues," she said, her voice was strong and confident. Tears were still evident on her face although she has stopped crying."And what are the boons?"She exasperatedly sighed. "You're fucked up. You weren't like this when you were younger. You're much better then. Now you're a straight-up asshole!"Ana can't help but snarl at him and openly say her feeling because of his nasty attitude. The man turned into a 180 - degree versio
It was past 5 o' clock in the afternoon when the three decided to go home. They had fun the whole day; binge-watched a horror movie, bought plenty of food online from various fast food stores, and made wholesome memories."Hey, It's kinda late. Y'all want to call it a day?" Zeke asked when he noticed the time on his golden watch."Okay!" Mara said while Ana nodded."Do you want us to drop you at your house or do you have to go somewhere first?" he asked."Hmmm, can you both walk me to my apartment? Since I think this will be the last day we'll see each other."Zeke threw one arm around Mara's shoulder. "Yep. On the last day we'll see each other for a while. Be a good girl for us, alright?" he teased and Mara laughed in return. She will surely miss his teasing for two years."I have always been a good girl. Expect me to maintain my reputation in Graceville High for the next two years. Since I'm that good, both of you should make me your role model."Her two friends laughed at what she