I made my way outside and saw him sitting at the bench in front of Frances’ house, he immediately stood up and gave me a strawberry flavored ice cream. I raised my left eyebrow, “if you’re here to be mysterious and tell me a bunch of vague things, just leave already. I already called Patricia and asked her to fetch me here.” It was an obvious lie, I wouldn’t bother Patricia anymore. I am planning to end things here. Dadalhin ko na lang sa kamatayan ko lahat ng tanong na gumugulo sa akin, bahala na. “The kiss, it happened.” And just like that another series of questions were queued inside my mind. Ever wanted to hear something from someone but when they tell it straight to yourself, you couldn’t believe it? “The kiss. You’re not hallucinating. It’s not an imagination or an effect of the drug.” I definitely look weird right now. My hair is half-braid, I probably look like a Christmas tree with all the hair clips that Fana put on me, and my make-up – I did not see myself in a mirror
His lips were soft and I could taste a hint of mint and cigar in his mouth. He held my hands and took the camera away from me, putting it on the bedside table without pulling away from the kiss. His lips. It’s intoxicating. It makes my mind go blank and just focus on what we’re doing. It feels exactly the same when he kisses me at the bar. Passionate, full of emotions, longing. “Now I have your attention.” He said as he moved away from me. I was dumbfounded. I even touched my lips to feel it only to realize that this is really happening. “What the hell was that for?” I wanted to slap him, to curse him, to say a lot of bad things to him. But I was still in shock. And my lips responded to him. It responded to his kiss. “What the hell are you doing to me?” Napaupo ako sa kama. I feel so weak and fragile. Much more than I’ve ever felt before. “Tell me that I am just hallucinating.” It wasn’t such a big deal. But it was for me. And I am hating myself for that. “Leira,” he looked at
My voice echoed in every corner of the mansion. There were no other people except a few maids that were almost done cleaning up the mess from the party and some bodyguards. My mom immediately slapped me, “when did you even learn to say such things?!” She was fuming mad. I felt like my face went numb because of what she did but I endured it – I endured a bunch of things from her, this is just a small thing. And the numbness I am feeling right now is the same numbness I was feeling even before and I’ve only realized it now. I have the courage to stand in front of them and shout at them, maybe because of the alcohol or maybe because I’ve kept it for so long that it just piled up. And things that are piled up, like a volcano – would just erupt. You never know when, it would just all come out when it found a way out. I rolled my eyes, which made my mom even agitated. “What? You’re going to hit me again? Why don’t you start whipping me here for your damn discipline?!” I smirked at her. I
I told myself that somehow, I could manage all of the things on my own. I believe I could carry it all by myself – because I have no one beside me. No matter how much Patricia made me feel that I am not alone, I always end up thinking that I am. That I am just a burden for her, that sharing my misery with her is selfishness. Mang Felicito shot my mom. It was the start of a very long night for all of us at that house. The start of my never ending blame to myself. No matter how much I think about it, I always end up thinking it’s all my fault. “Hush.” Chris and I were laying down on the bed. I couldn’t sleep after dreaming about that night and so he told me that he would stay with me and hush me down until I am able to sleep. It’s past 11 in the evening, we’re somewhere near a restaurant in a rented parking space. Never have I ever felt at peace and safe in someone’s arm. It was different from whenever Patricia is trying to calm me. “If you knew me already, why did you ask for my
Most of the time I question God if He really exists. My family goes to church at least once a month – depending on what Sunday schedule my father wanted us to be at. I was introduced to a religion who worship one God – the mighty creator, the mighty being – who created everything in this world. Even though I tried to strengthen my faith and believe that He exists – there are so many times in my life that when I am in a very hard situation, I ask Him. I wanted Him to answer me and tell me why He let those things happen to me. I wanted to ask him if he created suffering as well and why do we have to experience such things just for the sake of Him. I wanna argue with Chris more but he has an answer to everything that I am saying. So I just gave up and shut my mouth. He was so optimistic. “Isn’t this a tourist destination?” We’re walking around, enjoying the place that was ours alone for the meantime. How can something be beautifully ruined? Chris was right when he said that no matter
I always picture my death as something beautiful. It was the time where I would be at peace, the time where I would be able to get away from all the suffering that I’ve experienced in the world. As beautiful as a wide garden filled with different flowers, butterflies flying around, a welcoming soft breeze. It would be as wonderful as the sunset, as mesmerizing as the sunrise. The water was cold and true to what I’ve thought a while ago, it was really deep. I don’t know how long it has been since I jumped but I still haven’t reached the sea floor. The coldness isn’t a new feeling for I have felt cold embracing me since then. I could taste the salt water, bubbles above me – coming from my mouth, breathing halted. I could feel the death that I am wishing for. The first few months weren’t that hard. Patricia offered me to stay with her in her own residence at Cinderella but I refused – not wanting her to be caught up in a mess with my father. And so she helped me find a place to stay.
Somehow somewhere, it’s wonderful to see something more than chaos. More than everything, this moment is something I did not expect. And to meet this man who claims that we know each other from childhood was unexpected. The warmth that he is giving me was intense, I couldn’t think straight anymore like when I was drunk. I know what I am doing, I know what we’re doing but I cannot stop myself because I am too drawn with the situation. All I wanted was to feel the sensation of having his lips next to mine. I want to feel the peace that he is trying to give me and I think – stupidly – that it will be channeled through this. Stupid as it may seem but people does something stupid for their gain. Even did the weirdest things. I wanted his hands to travel all over my body to feel the warmth of his hands against my skin. To feel and understand how I am loved even though I have scars, I wanted him to see how physically unsightly I am. I could feel the hard ground on my back as he laid me
It has been almost a year. I promised myself that I won’t ever come back to Ariel. It was a so-called home for me because it is the City where I was born, the place where I was raised. It was the only place I know where I have a family because since my birth, I’ve never got to know any other City of province outside Ariel. After being away for almost a year, nothing has changed much in this place. From the smell of a usual City, the towering buildings, infrastractures, billboards of my father and his political group, the industries. The economy of Ariel keeps growing and growing just like before. But it was ironic how the streets were still the same – home of many homeless. “I’m sorry if we have to go here,” Chris apologizes. It was late when I realized that Maure’s address was at Ariel, I did not give any attention to that detail because I don’t want to talk about Ariel anymore – no matter how much I missed it. It still brings a pain in my heart and tears to my eyes. I wanted to
Congratulations if you come to this point! You reached the end but this is also a new beginning of something wonderful that is yet to come! Written below is the list of the links where I got some of the information, trivia, and concepts that are part of the book. GLOWWORMS: > https://www.realnz.com/en/blog/glow-worms-facts/ CORPSE BRIDE: >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpse_Bride LITERS OF LIGHT: > https://www.instructables.com/Day-and-Night-Time-Lighting-for-Developing-Communi/ > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQCHvO2H0_0 ABOUT ECLIPSES: > https://www.space.com/15584-solar-eclipses.html > https://www.britannica.com/science/eclipse/The-frequency-of-solar-and-lunar-eclipses BUTTERFLY EFFECT: >https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_effect STRAWBERRY FACTS: > https://blog.aghires.com/25-strawberry-fun-facts/ > https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/what-are-differences-between-different-types-strawberries WEAVING: >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8qvz93B_2c ABO
This trip is getting more weird, exciting, and mysterious. Starting from when we reached the village at Cinderella and the time that we reached Auradon. It’s just that Chris and I kept tracing the mystery people who have the same names as us. Another thing is the pictures that we’re at the village in Cinderella. Those old photos that almost faded, they said that it is someone named Leira and Chris who traveled there along with volunteers who used to help them. Leira told them about the liters of light which they still use until now. There is one photo that caught my attention, the one who resembles Chris a lot which was named Chris too. The man is shirtless and he is holding an axe. According to them they were all shocked when they saw us. They thought that it was too impossible for us to retain our young features that well and there is no such thing as incantations and magic that could do that. “Chris? What do you think about all these coincidences? The names of those two travele
My plan after graduating is to look for a job while working at the cafe that Patricia and I started. It would be as simple as that. If given a chance, I would want to come to my mom’s medical missions in the remote areas of Disney Republic, to help her and the residents that we would encounter with the degree that I’ve finished. Probably propose efficient interior house designs and then coordinate with different engineers and architects, find a funder for the project, and implement it. Mom and Dad loved the idea. But it was a too generalized plan and I have to narrow it down. I have to blend in with the locals and make sure they would love the design that I would propose as it is still a reflection of their culture. But for now, I will be away for a month. “You okay?” Chris asked as he held my hand and gently squeezed it. “Yeah. A bit excited actually.” I told him. Today is the first day that we will travel. He asked for my parents permission even after graduation, that’s why they
The days passed by quickly. And just like how our lives move at a fast-pace, Chris has been hitting on me expeditiously. It’s seems like yesterday since he thought that I was going to kill myself at the pumpkin bridge but it was already three weeks ago. And that three weeks had been eventful. Of course I consulted my best friend by that time and I’ve got Chris’ note on my note app. I screamed so loud that night and muffled it all by hugging my pillow since I don’t want to wake up my parents. Patricia was screaming with me. She said that I should just wait a bit – like for an hour before responding to Chris, “so that you won’t be too obvious!” She reasoned out. And I followed her because she’s my best friend and she’s my great advisor when it comes to theses things But this one is really different. Surely I had crushes and the feelings got reciprocated but I don’t go any further than that. It’s like I am looking for something else and I am waiting for it to come, for it to be found on
Chris chuckled at me, he said that his mom loves old and odd names that’s why his name is Crisostomo and his sister is named Odessa. “It’s not that weird though. My name is just the backwards spelling of Ariel, since my mom and dad met there.” I explained with a smile. After I was born at Ariel my mom and dad decided to live here in Cinderella. I grew up here with my neighbor and best friend Patricia. I had the best life with my caring parents, understanding friends, and living my life to the fullest ever since. I didn’t know what I did to deserve this kind of life but I am grateful for the life I have now. I believe my parents made me become who I am right now and all these are the product of my everyday choices in life. Chris stopped walking when we got near Octavius Subdivision, “you’re living near here?” I nodded, “then we’re just one subdivision away! I just moved here recently.” He was surprised and even told me that he’s happy he chose that subdivision. My brows raised, “you’
I walked straight to my favorite eatery that resides at the end of the pumpkin bridge. Gosh! Tita Q must have been waiting for me. I had to go to Patricia to bring her the gifts from our family outing. And there I spend a little too much time at Patricia’s house. Patricia was so happy, contemplating how the hell am I able to go out on an outing when it is our final week and we would be graduating in less than a month from now. I went inside the eatery. Like usual, there were lots of people that were eating and everyone was enjoying their meals. Tita Q greeted me with a tight hug, “saan ka ba nanggaling na bata ka?” She held my hand and pulled me to a seat. “I prepared your take-outs na. Hindi ka ba kakain muna dito?” Tita Q is one of the best women I know, aside from Patricia and my mother. She has two kids which she raises alone but she’s great at doing that. She focuses on her children and hands-on with them even when she has to handle the eatery alone. When it is my free-time –
Leira is the kindest girl I have ever known. Although she says otherwise, I could see her heart that isn’t selfish. By the time we were at the village, I felt that it was the real her. She had become her true self. She teaches children, she lets me court her, she communicates with us, and shares her life. I was able to see her carefree self again and swear, everytime she let people in her life and connect with them – I feel more so happy. I haven’t felt this happy and proud just because of someone’s happiness. Then we had to leave and face the problem we left. I had a bad feeling because of the storm. I didn’t wanna leave the village and if possible that we could just stay there – we would. But I know Leira, as kind as she is – she wanted to face the mess that the other Chris had made. The storm intensified my bad feeling. More when we have to find Dr. Carval and Levy only to find Dr. Carval and his lab alone. She even did a great sacrifice of pushing me away to burn down the lab.
Seeing her in this situation has brought so much emotion to me. It was more than just a dream. She’s here. In the middle of darkness was her soul, standing in front of me. I don’t know what to say. My tongue got tied. As I let go of the hug, I didn’t know why she told me to just forget her. Unlike me, she doesn’t seem happy. She just stood in front of me. She wore the same dress on the day she died. Her body is glowing – emitting a blinding light – but I don’t care as long as I can see her. “Leira?” With a confused look, I asked her. I wanted to get near her again but she didn’t let me. Although her body appears like a soul, I was able to touch her. It feels like a dream to see her – the real her. “Let me go, Chris.” She’s pleading. Her voice had become that sweet voice that I could hear of everytime we would have an argument and she would use that mellifluous voice in order to deceive me and get whatever she wanted. I looked at her, wanting to talk with her. Like how she is,
Fvck him! I don’t need saving but he’s proving to me that I do – that I just cannot admit it to myself but everything about me screams for a six feet under help. “Are you listening?” He told me about his plan. My father contacted him a while ago. He’s now with Dr. Carval and Andrei. They were trying to see if the other Chris was gone. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?” I shook my head as if he could see me. “Leira…” His voice is pleading for me to answer. “Yes.” From all the shouting and what I told my father, I felt like my throat was now dry and I couldn’t speak anymore. My father wanted to meet Chris so he could exchange my freedom for Dr. Carval. I said no to Chris. That Dr. Carval’s life is more important than mine. But he told me that life is equally important for all, I wanted to rebut and told him that our case is different. “Hush. Just listen to me. Everything will be alright. You’d be free – the freedom you wanted. And I would witness that.’’ I felt him smiling at me