ROSEI dropped the phone beside my pillow and hugged my blanket as the DJ continued reciting the titles of all the songs. ‘... ‘The Spring Within You’, ‘Magic Dust’.... I must say that your agency is the most honest agency in the world.’ And Rum laughed. ‘They described the album right.’ ‘They did. ‘Light and darkness of human emotions’. That can’t be more accurate… so what’s the source of all this?’ Rum chuckled slightly and hummed a little. ‘Well, I’ve met tons of people. Seen a spectrum of emotions… good ones, bad ones… the fact that I’m even calling them good and bad makes me a hypocrite, you know… Emotions are merely vessels of our reactions to the world around us… who’s to say that they are good or bad? It’s alright to feel anger… or sadness… or even jealousy… we can’t expect ourselves to be—well, to be happy all the time…..’ ‘This seems to come from the heart,’ said the DJ. ‘The heart of mankind indeed.’ Something swelled up in my chest and burned the back of my eyes. I s
ROSE Roseb? The woman’s name is Roseb? The name sounds weird. I already didn’t like it. I disliked it more because it has ‘Rose’ in it. It made me feel low… second grade…the pirated version of a GIOIA lipstick. So this was why Rum picked me (and he dared say that he didn’t choose). It was all because my name is Rose, which reminded him of his love! That’s why he was nice one minute and then nasty the next! That’s what he meant by keeping me close to control me and he hated me more by the minute. I remind him of the love he could never have. A sniff told me that I was tearing again. Gosh, I’m so useless when it comes to Rum. I can never keep my emotions in check. Another sniff and I pulled up Joy’s number. She answered after five rings. ‘What is it, Rose?’ she whispered, and then I heard her footsteps—she was moving somewhere to take my call. ‘You’re crying again. What happened?’ I wiped my nose with a Kleenex and asked, ‘Can I borrow some money again, Joy?’ ‘Wait is this ab
RUMIs this a prank? Rose hadn’t contacted me since that day on the roof, and it had been five days. No calls. No text. As though she was a figment of my imagination. A part of a long forgotten dream. Then all of a sudden, I get this. Someone must’ve taken her phone and sent this as a scam. I stared at the shophouses reeling outside the van window. But why do I feel stuffy? ‘The AC’s low,’ I muttered. ‘Oh. Sure,’ David replied and a stronger breeze gushed in from the front. ‘Better?’ I couldn’t care less to reply and covered my lips with my knuckles. What if this wasn’t a prank or a scam and Rose is in danger? Ha! That would be the least of my problems, wouldn’t it? The girl had basically slapped my kindness in my face and told me to mind my own business. I can take care of myself very well, wasn’t it what she said? Even before I showed up in her life, huh? That arrogant girl. Just months ago, she was this stammering, weak human who looked like the ghost of a drowned vict
ROSE Why is he laughing now? Jesus Christ, where’s the friendly Ambrose I used to know—has that all been an act? But Rum enjoyed his presence. And they really acted like buddies. ‘He really tried his best, the Alpha.’ Ambrose chuckled some more, the sound of it was getting to my nerves. ‘He really told you nothing.’ That pricked my pride. I dare say that I know things about Rum more than anyone in this world. ‘I beg to differ,’ I rebutted. ‘You, on the other hand, is the one he keeps the most things from. So how the hell did you know so much?’ Stupid Rose. Of course, the dark whims must’ve told him. The grin he was wearing made me feel lower and frustration rose in my chest once more. ‘He told you nothing. The things that he shared with you… they’re nothing. And because he told you none of the important stuff, you think my plan will fail.’ I glared at his stupid face. ‘I think your plan will fail because you’re stupid.’ Great, Rose. Stooping down to the means of four-year-ol
RUM Rose. She looked frightened as hell, trembling. Yet, she faced the threat head on, not backing away. And that made me angry. How many times have I run away, just because I think it's unfair? It's unfair that I have to face such shit. Then again, who gets to choose the shit they want to face in life? Everyone faces all kinds of mess. Rose did. So why did I think I should get a free pass? 'Run, Rose!' Run, you stupid girl! But I could tell she was bound to the ground as much as I was. Hmm? The pressure on my feet vanished—I can move again? CLICK! The sound of instant death struck the air and my decision was as clear as glass. I leapt forward—knock Goldie out first, then get to Rose. My hand swung a crescent curve, then something struck me in the chest—pain exploded inside me, and a chill streamed in and fused with my blood, killing it. Fuck… I should've known why the binds around my feet were removed. I was meant to take that bullet. ***** ROSE The fog cleare
ROSE The superstar looked dumbfounded, which greatly puzzled me. Then, it slapped onto me. ‘A-Are they back?’ I whispered fearfully. ‘They’re behind me, aren’t they?’ He swallowed hard and said in a low whisper, ‘Rose…is that you?’ What kind of a question is that? Of course, I’m me. My eyes narrowed into a frustrated glare. ‘Are they back? Tell me, Rum!’ I hissed. ‘They’re gone.’ He gulped, his blue eyes continued staring. ‘But we’ve got a bigger problem.’ ‘What is it?’ Then, it slammed into me. I knew it! It isn’t over! That much silver, he can’t suddenly be alright! ‘You’re not alright, are you?’ I lunged forward, wanting to grab his shoulders and check his body, but instead of my hands, two white furry paws appeared at my will. And I halted. Dumbfounded. I raised my right hand closer and the white paw moved closer, greeting me like a newfound friend. My chest clenched. A fearful realisation seized my face as it shot up, and I looked at Rum, hoping he could give me s
RUMI laid her down on her bed and then waited to make sure she was really alright. For the hundredth time, I traced her face with my eyes, drowning myself in the contours and forms of her features, getting drunk in the happiness I felt from being familiar with them and being able to discover something new about them. My thumb brushed across her brows, trying to sooth them. ‘Don’t worry, Rose.’ I heard my whisper. ‘I’m here.’ Stop frowning, cub. And a sigh left her lips, those slim brows relaxed. My own lips spread into a genuine smile. ‘You’ll be fine.’ Without thinking, I leaned in and kissed the corner of those fine brows then pulled back to study her some more. Of those times we made love, she’d always fall asleep first, and I would draw her in and wrap her in my arms, and listen to her peaceful breathing until the moon sets and the sun rises. Strangely, the wait for that darn moon to set seemed much, much shorter than before. ‘When you wake up, Rose, I’m not going to push y
ROSE Flashes of lights from cameras are blinding me. Bustling murmurs of eager reporters are giving me a headache. But amidst them all, I felt a sense of achievement. 'Thank you. This is all put together by Cintilar,' said the woman with a tiny waist and long slender legs. The man holding a mic laughed proudly. 'Cintilar? It's hard to get her these days! Everyone's gonna be jealous. How did you manage?' 'I begged her for months! Then finally her assistant put me on the waiting list a year ago.' 'You gotta catch this, guys. An ensemble by the mother of styling herself, Cintilar,' cheered the host of the annual movie awards ceremony. Me? Are they talking about me? Cintilar? 'There she is!' An explosion of gasps and sounds of awe, then the brightest spotlight shone on me. I look down and I'm in the softest, whitest gown that flows like water from a waterfall. The black bulb of a mic shoved into me and the host asked in a loud, enthusiastic voice, 'So Cintilar, your inspira