SMOKE was a neat trick.
Akira noticed in the past that churches didn’t have strays during mass which was strange, since all religious methods she tried didn’t do anything for her. And then the priest took out his censer and she wondered if that was the reason.
Akira bought frankincense and a metal bowl the first day she lived alone. Tonya, intrusive as she is, showed herself immediately. The woman wasn’t a malicious spirit at all, but boy was she talkative, and Akira needed the quiet for work.
So, one day, Akira whipped out and burned the frankincense right in the living room where Tonya usually appeared. It made her fade – a different kind of fade from when a spirit is finally free – but more akin to paint smeared with a finger. Akira referred to it as glitch.
The only problem with frankincense is that it produced too much smoke and made the whole apartment smell musty, like a wet forest.
Akira occasionally smoked cigarettes in the bathroom only as a personal rule, where there was proper ventilation. But when Tonya pushed her stress one day, she needed it in a jiffy and did it while working. The stray hated it just as much as frankincense to Akira’s delight, buying her at least a day or two of silence. Usually when Akira created smoke to drive strays away from her home, they never come back, but Tonya’s spirit was a special case because she lived there until she died.
Her endless queries and tales aside though, Akira was lucky that she had Tonya as a roommate. The older woman was one of the rare strays who didn’t ask for anything more than Akira’s company, didn’t even try to be hurtful or evil despite the creative methods to get rid of her.
Akira felt that Tonya was simply lonely, especially when the landlord mentioned the woman’s history: miscarriage, cheating husband, husband’s new twenty-something year old girlfriend… which explained Tonya’s obsession with the fountain of youth and cosmetic procedures.
The landlord added that Tonya was a very sociable neighbor when she was alive, so it only took a day before the people next door noticed that something was wrong and reported it. Authorities were phoned to investigate and when Tonya didn’t answer the calling and knocking, they barged in and found her on the bed sleeping peacefully. An officer felt for a pulse but there was none, much to the horror of the whole apartment building.
When Akira and Gian decided to share a home together permanently, Tonya was weirdly inquisitive and even suggested that Gian could move in with Akira instead of the couple wasting money in a new place. It was an impossible feat, what with the new apartment being beautiful and spacious, and was placed conveniently near Akira’s studio and Gian’s workplace. They have already scouted the neighborhood and gave the down payment after lots of research, and Akira realized that the whole time she lived alone, she never really felt alone.
The old stray witnessed everything Akira went through, from joy to gloom to grief to love. The love-hate relationship she had with Tonya grew on her eventually; years of wisecracks, vexation, salty comments every time Akira got a new haircut as if Tonya was proclaimed God of salons. But… there was also advice from an experienced adult whenever Akira faced hardships, someone to speak with when days are downright depressing or overly blissful, a voice of concern and reminder when Akira sometimes forgot to take care of herself too.
Suddenly, it hit her that Tonya might’ve been her first real (and closest) friend after moving to the city.
In the midst of transferring Akira’s things to the new place, Tonya appeared and Akira couldn’t help but finally ask about the woman’s death – something Akira never brought up when communicating with strays in worry that it would bring back their trauma. But Tonya told her everything so easily, smiling in sadness and regret that her life ended way earlier than she expected, and that a lot of questions were left hanging without answers.
Tonya said that when the autopsy revealed she had a botched breast augmentation surgery, her loathsome, adulterer, cockroach of a husband didn’t even bother filing a malpractice lawsuit against the quack plastic surgeon who did the operation. Granted the mortality rate for that specific surgery was low, he didn’t lift one damn finger to give Tonya’s death some sort of meaning, or at the very least pretended that there was still a microscopic part in his brain that cared for his late wife.
Divorce is non-existent in the Philippines, and infidelity – no matter how frequent – is not considered a legal basis for annulment. Her early and unexpected demise made Tonya miss the chance of creating a last will or filing a power of attorney, ultimately giving her husband the rights to her assets regardless of how much her ghost screamed and cursed.
Akira remembered Tonya saying, “That cheating bastard melted everything down and then gave my kin leftover crumbs.”
Tonya’s properties composed of a small house in Nueva Ecija that she inherited from her late parents, and a vacant lot in Bulacan purchased with her own money. The vile husband had both properties liquidated almost immediately after Tonya’s passing. This, together with her life earnings and a separate college fund she saved – that went idle because she miscarried the baby – accumulated an amount so massive, that the bank called and had to verify where the suspiciously large deposit came from.
To top it all off, her husband selfishly kept eighty-five percent of the money, and left the rest for Tonya’s three sisters and their families to share.
After hearing the bitter backstory, Akira empathized with Tonya and volunteered to help with whatever she needed to be free. To her surprise, the older woman firmly declined the offer, stating that no one could fix her situation but herself.
When Akira’s last day in the old place came, Tonya appeared and stood in the emptied living room, watching Akira put the last of her things in a box.
“Look at you, hija, all grown up,” Tonya teased, waving her hand at Akira in a sassy manner. “Moving in with a boy.”
“A man, Tonya. I don’t date boys,” Akira corrected. She then pulled out her phone and showed Tonya the screen. “Before I leave, look at this. It went viral last night.”
Freak News: Man in Critical Condition after Girlfriend Finds Him Cheating
“What is this?” Tonya asked, and Akira scrolled down so she could read the article. “Oh my...”
AKIRA was torn whether or not showing the article to Tonya was a smart thing to do, but the dark side won.If Akira’s senses were right, Tonya would react the same way Akira did when she first read about it.“I was shocked too, but then I was laughing.” Akira grinned. The younger woman half expected that Tonya would cry or curse or leave.To her delight, the older woman burst out in teary laughter – the kind of laughter that made Tonya press her hands against her stomach. She couldn’t even read it with a straight face.It was her ex-husband on the article, hospitalized after the woman he cheated on Tonya with, cut his genitals off because she caught him with another woman in bed.“That’s so horrible but so funny at the same time.” Tonya giggled, catching her breath as she wiped her eyes. “Another woman? At his age? Really?”“He’s fortunate that she used a knife. Straight
MIDNIGHTS were usually for editing and non-stop reviewing of photos for Akira, but not on Thursdays and Fridays.Well… not since Gian had known the truth about the eye, anyway.It stemmed from a very unfortunate event of a homeless man lying face-down in a pool of his own blood in the street, after being hit by a speeding delivery truck.Akira could picture it clear as day: she was riding a bus home and the massive vehicle struggled to pass through the bottleneck path caused by the accident. There were authorities, medics, and gossips scattered all over, as if they cared about this man when he was alive and provided him loose change just so he could fill his belly.Akira initially felt sorry for this poor soul. She knew that people crowded around this death not because they cared about him, but because this accident was an inconvenience.The traffic made the bus accelerate slowly. Akira couldn’t take her eyes off the scene not
RINGING in Akira’s ear was the cash register’s unlocking signal, next to the sharp clinking of coins as the next shift began. She hurriedly shoved her things in the bag and pocketed her phone before turning to her coworker Nathaniel – or Nathan – who just walked in, fresh in his uniform. “Boring night?” he asked, and Akira responded with a tiny shrug while she handed Nathan the keys of the convenience store. “Sort of.” Akira let out an uncomfortable laugh and then her eyes glazed over the racks at the back of the counter. “A few call-center people, drunk people, just-came-from-a-wake people… the usual.” “Hey, I know you can see and hear me!” the stray beside her interrupted. He was talking and screaming and whining non-stop, and Akira’s head began to ache. Of the short shift she worked in this 7-Eleven, it sure felt like a thousand days with this tireless, lost soul. Shut up, shut up, shut up! “’Just-came-from
HANDS over her ears, Akira had dropped the box of cigarettes and the lighter on the floor. She shook her head for a moment, and the stray stood frozen a few feet away from her in surprise. “I was just –” “I said no!” Akira shouted. “I don’t care what you need. You followed me home and invaded my personal space despite me obviously not wanting to do anything with you.” “But –” “I don’t care! I don’t want to know your name!” His expression just crumpled like a piece of paper, as if he had just witnessed Akira kick a puppy. Before pity took over, Akira decided that this man had to disappear because knowing his name might strengthen his latch onto her. She swiftly bent down to pick up the lighter and the box, opening it without a second thought. Muscle memory provided useful as her fingers moved on their own, unwrapping the pack and pulling one of the sticks out before placing it between her lips. The stray just stood there dumbstr
TOSSING and turning in bed was what Akira did most of the night. Gian, sweet and supportive as he is, tried to stay up with her for as long as he could. Near 4:00am, they were still telling stories about how their individual days went and it took Akira’s mind off of strays effectively. Under normal circumstances, any other long-term couple like Akira and Gian would end the day like this: talking about what happened with them while they were apart. Indeed, very normal, very long-term… except theirs happened during ungodly hours on Thursdays and Fridays. This is Akira’s favorite part of being in a stable, sane, relationship. Not the dates, or the sparkle, or the grand gestures, but the boring. She loved that Gian and her could be so into each other that their plain conversations and watching television and homemade dinners were a hundred percent satisfying to the heart and soul. Perhaps it’s the eye that made her crave whatever normal is, for y
STOPPING in front a building with bright pink neon lights was Akira’s ride, a red Vios with the front windows down blasting Aqua’s Barbie Girl. It was ridiculous and hilarious at the same time; two words that perfectly described the driver that stepped out of the vehicle.She wore this skimpy dress with a streets-of-Japan pattern, a leather jacket, and pink sneakers, apt for a night of tequila shots and bad decisions. Basically, Akira’s opposite, with a graphic t-shirt and jeans. In a single look, one would instantaneously wonder why Akira was in any way associated with this person.“Really? Windows down in Manila while wearing that?” Akira flashed a grin and took one last hit at the cigarette between her fingers, before throwing it on the asphalt and putting the light out with the sole of her boot.“It’s fine, I have a gun in the glove compartment,” she stated plainly and pocketed her keys after closing her car wi
GREETING Akira’s face was a Monday morning hangover, which she expected, what with Erin drinking like a sailor and her putting up with it. That woman was made of steel, not one complaint about her newly-finished tattoo on the thigh no less, where leather seats at the bar tend to ultimately cause sweating. It was a miracle how her best friend had driven with ease and dragged her bum up home last night, even when they both took the same number of shots and bottles. Despite the intoxication, Akira remembered the night flawlessly, including that weird side trip to a fortune teller. Erin is a fun drunk – not that she got drunk ever – and knowing the future, no matter how unfortunate, is part of her pain-is-an-adventure thing. “You do know that we’re about to get scammed, right?” Akira asked when Erin pulled over at the fortune teller’s shop. The woman in the dress just shook her head in disbelief. “For someone who sees the dead all the time, i
FLOWER markets were a nightmare this time of year.There was a horde of people in every direction, and everyone was struggling to buy last minute baskets and bouquets and garlands… all for people who won’t even be there to see the florals arranged beautifully for them.Akira looked down on the basket of white lilies on her lap before gazing out the window, attention caught by an old lady silently watching a bucket of flowers get sold from the corner. She had her hands on her back, observing the vendors near her like a teacher watching students during an exam.As the car slowly rolled forward, Akira’s gaze dropped down to the old lady’s bare feet. They were swollen, blackened, from the ankles to the toe tips covered in severe gangrene. Akira squinted and could faintly see through the old woman’s body, as if the elder was made of parchment every time the sun hit her skin.“Everything okay?” Gian asked when he saw A
GREETING Akira’s face was a Monday morning hangover, which she expected, what with Erin drinking like a sailor and her putting up with it. That woman was made of steel, not one complaint about her newly-finished tattoo on the thigh no less, where leather seats at the bar tend to ultimately cause sweating. It was a miracle how her best friend had driven with ease and dragged her bum up home last night, even when they both took the same number of shots and bottles. Despite the intoxication, Akira remembered the night flawlessly, including that weird side trip to a fortune teller. Erin is a fun drunk – not that she got drunk ever – and knowing the future, no matter how unfortunate, is part of her pain-is-an-adventure thing. “You do know that we’re about to get scammed, right?” Akira asked when Erin pulled over at the fortune teller’s shop. The woman in the dress just shook her head in disbelief. “For someone who sees the dead all the time, i
STOPPING in front a building with bright pink neon lights was Akira’s ride, a red Vios with the front windows down blasting Aqua’s Barbie Girl. It was ridiculous and hilarious at the same time; two words that perfectly described the driver that stepped out of the vehicle.She wore this skimpy dress with a streets-of-Japan pattern, a leather jacket, and pink sneakers, apt for a night of tequila shots and bad decisions. Basically, Akira’s opposite, with a graphic t-shirt and jeans. In a single look, one would instantaneously wonder why Akira was in any way associated with this person.“Really? Windows down in Manila while wearing that?” Akira flashed a grin and took one last hit at the cigarette between her fingers, before throwing it on the asphalt and putting the light out with the sole of her boot.“It’s fine, I have a gun in the glove compartment,” she stated plainly and pocketed her keys after closing her car wi
TOSSING and turning in bed was what Akira did most of the night. Gian, sweet and supportive as he is, tried to stay up with her for as long as he could. Near 4:00am, they were still telling stories about how their individual days went and it took Akira’s mind off of strays effectively. Under normal circumstances, any other long-term couple like Akira and Gian would end the day like this: talking about what happened with them while they were apart. Indeed, very normal, very long-term… except theirs happened during ungodly hours on Thursdays and Fridays. This is Akira’s favorite part of being in a stable, sane, relationship. Not the dates, or the sparkle, or the grand gestures, but the boring. She loved that Gian and her could be so into each other that their plain conversations and watching television and homemade dinners were a hundred percent satisfying to the heart and soul. Perhaps it’s the eye that made her crave whatever normal is, for y
HANDS over her ears, Akira had dropped the box of cigarettes and the lighter on the floor. She shook her head for a moment, and the stray stood frozen a few feet away from her in surprise. “I was just –” “I said no!” Akira shouted. “I don’t care what you need. You followed me home and invaded my personal space despite me obviously not wanting to do anything with you.” “But –” “I don’t care! I don’t want to know your name!” His expression just crumpled like a piece of paper, as if he had just witnessed Akira kick a puppy. Before pity took over, Akira decided that this man had to disappear because knowing his name might strengthen his latch onto her. She swiftly bent down to pick up the lighter and the box, opening it without a second thought. Muscle memory provided useful as her fingers moved on their own, unwrapping the pack and pulling one of the sticks out before placing it between her lips. The stray just stood there dumbstr
RINGING in Akira’s ear was the cash register’s unlocking signal, next to the sharp clinking of coins as the next shift began. She hurriedly shoved her things in the bag and pocketed her phone before turning to her coworker Nathaniel – or Nathan – who just walked in, fresh in his uniform. “Boring night?” he asked, and Akira responded with a tiny shrug while she handed Nathan the keys of the convenience store. “Sort of.” Akira let out an uncomfortable laugh and then her eyes glazed over the racks at the back of the counter. “A few call-center people, drunk people, just-came-from-a-wake people… the usual.” “Hey, I know you can see and hear me!” the stray beside her interrupted. He was talking and screaming and whining non-stop, and Akira’s head began to ache. Of the short shift she worked in this 7-Eleven, it sure felt like a thousand days with this tireless, lost soul. Shut up, shut up, shut up! “’Just-came-from
MIDNIGHTS were usually for editing and non-stop reviewing of photos for Akira, but not on Thursdays and Fridays.Well… not since Gian had known the truth about the eye, anyway.It stemmed from a very unfortunate event of a homeless man lying face-down in a pool of his own blood in the street, after being hit by a speeding delivery truck.Akira could picture it clear as day: she was riding a bus home and the massive vehicle struggled to pass through the bottleneck path caused by the accident. There were authorities, medics, and gossips scattered all over, as if they cared about this man when he was alive and provided him loose change just so he could fill his belly.Akira initially felt sorry for this poor soul. She knew that people crowded around this death not because they cared about him, but because this accident was an inconvenience.The traffic made the bus accelerate slowly. Akira couldn’t take her eyes off the scene not
AKIRA was torn whether or not showing the article to Tonya was a smart thing to do, but the dark side won.If Akira’s senses were right, Tonya would react the same way Akira did when she first read about it.“I was shocked too, but then I was laughing.” Akira grinned. The younger woman half expected that Tonya would cry or curse or leave.To her delight, the older woman burst out in teary laughter – the kind of laughter that made Tonya press her hands against her stomach. She couldn’t even read it with a straight face.It was her ex-husband on the article, hospitalized after the woman he cheated on Tonya with, cut his genitals off because she caught him with another woman in bed.“That’s so horrible but so funny at the same time.” Tonya giggled, catching her breath as she wiped her eyes. “Another woman? At his age? Really?”“He’s fortunate that she used a knife. Straight
SMOKE was a neat trick.Akira noticed in the past that churches didn’t have strays during mass which was strange, since all religious methods she tried didn’t do anything for her. And then the priest took out his censer and she wondered if that was the reason.Akira bought frankincense and a metal bowl the first day she lived alone. Tonya, intrusive as she is, showed herself immediately. The woman wasn’t a malicious spirit at all, but boy was she talkative, and Akira needed the quiet for work.So, one day, Akira whipped out and burned the frankincense right in the living room where Tonya usually appeared. It made her fade – a different kind of fade from when a spirit is finally free – but more akin to paint smeared with a finger. Akira referred to it as glitch.The only problem with frankincense is that it produced too much smoke and made the whole apartment smell musty, like a wet forest.Akira occasionally smoked cig
MOST people were at work on weekdays.Gian was no exception; he left for work this morning while Akira reviewed and edited a shoot from home.It started as a simple hobby, until photography became the course of education for Akira. She enjoyed it so much that she practically had to beg her parents for it (they wanted her to major in accounting), invested in it, practiced it, graduated with a degree in arts, and worked several gigs with other jobs on the side so she could move to the city and qualify for a small savings account.When she decided to begin treating photography as a serious source of income, Akira barely got booked and it was extremely difficult financially and mentally. Here she was, living in a cheap crammed dorm with nothing but a single professional camera, a laptop she had been using since college, and a constantly throbbing head thanks to her obnoxious roommates.Akira’s dream of thriving in her craft hung by a thread and she wrac