THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC24
IRIS
"Pwede bang matulog muna?" tanong ko kay Joaquin habang unti-unting tumatayo sa pagkaka-salampak ko sa sahig.
Joaquin nodded, "I'll wake you up later," he said while his eyes are still fixated at the screen in front of him.
"Joke lang. Ang sakit lang ng mata ko, kanina pa ko nakababad sa screen," reklamo ko.
Nasa condo ulit ako ni Joaquin. I already started doing their logo while Joaquin was doing enormous things for school, for SC, for their project, and his studies. Kung matagal na akong nakatutok sa laptop—mas lalo siya. Hindi na nga siya gumagalaw e.
I stood u
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC25IRISBaby?What the actual fuckery is this...I feel like water has splashed onto my face when I heard a woman's voice...Not until..."Mom..."Mom?"What are you doing here, Mom?" Joaquin asked. Hindi ko makita angmomna tinawag ni Joaquin kasi nahaharangan niya ito."I'm visiting you, of course!"Hindi sumagot si Joaquin. Nagulat n
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC26 IRIS "I strongly believe that friendships should be 50/50, you tell me the happenings about your love life to me, and I will religiously listen," Kaia said while looking at her phone. Kaia and I were inside the library, nagre-review kami dahil exam namin mamaya sa BroadJourn. Isa lang ang exam namin ngayong prelims dahil 'yung ibang subjects namin ay puro pasahan lang ng Chapter 1 ng research. I was busy reading my reviewer on my phone when I heard her saying those. I initially ignored her because I thought she was just reading something aloud, but when I saw Kaia looking at me from my peripheral vision—which took too long; it immediately sunk into me that she was referring to me.
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC27 IRIS It's already Friday—the last day of the prelim week and I thanked all the gods and goddesses for giving me bomb-ass group mates—they were all cooperative and initiatives! Nakakatuwa silang ka-grupo! Less stress ang research dahil sa kanila. Kakapasa lang namin ni Kaia ng Chapter 1 sa prof namin sa CommRes sa dept at kasalukuyan na kaming papunta sa SVU grounds para sa Valentinian Concert. Today is also Valentine's Day and SVU requires us to wear red—any red clothes basta daw red! Hindi raw papapasukin kapag hindi naka red, nakakaloka! Kaia is wearing a red puff-sleeved body con dress, red vintage sunglasses, a white saddlebag, and oxford Dr. Martens. While I'm w
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC28 IRIS Nakakahilo. Ang gulo-gulo ng paligid. Ang ingay ni Kaia, nakakataranta. "Kinakabahan ako, Ris e..." sagot niya nang sinabi kong maupo siya. "Pa'no kapag hindi ako nakasagot sa tanong ng mga panel? Ligwak na agad research natin?" tanong niya. Kunot-noo ko siyang tiningnan, "Ano pa't by group 'tong research? Malamang sasaluhin ka namin ni Jourdan," sagot ko. I'm wearing a black trouser suit and low black heels. Si Kaia naman ay naka navy pinstriped suit. Initial defense namin ngayon at lahat kami ay naka formal. I
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC29 IRIS Kaia was crying when we leave the defense room. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong maiyak kahit nakakahawa ang hagulgol nilang dalawa ni Jourdan. "Congrats sa atin!" Kaia greeted while hugging me. You heard it right! Nakapasa kami sa initial defense namin sa CommRes! Which means deretso chapter 4 na kami. Sadly, may dalawang grupo ang hindi nakapasa. Kaya kahit gusto kong matuwa ay hindi ko magawa dahil naaawa ako sa mga groups na back to zero ulit. Pagkatapos mag defense ng lahat ng group ay pinabalik kami ni Josh sa room namin dahil may important announcement daw. "Hindi tayo magro-room sa theater next Friday dahil may
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC30 IRIS If it wasn't for Kaia, I wouldn't celebrate my birthday today. Nawala na naman ako sa mood mabuhay. Simula no'ng malaman kong may ibang tao ng nakaka-alam ng history ko bukod kina Joaquin ay parang gusto ko na lang ulit magtago sa dorm...wala akong lakas makipag-socialize. Rational thoughts eventually leave my mind...I was back at being in a hellhole again. But Kaia was determined to celebrate my birthday at all costs. Hinila niya pabalik sa reyalidad ang magulo kong utak. Nagawa niya akong patayuin sa kama ko sa araw ng sabado matuloy lang ang mga balak niya sa birthday ko. Kasalukuyan akong sakay ng grab, binigay
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC31 IRIS You start to really live the day you decide not to let others influence how you live your life... It sounds so easy but in reality, it isn't. I would love to talk to people who were able to do that because that shit so hard to materialize. It takes a lot of push...diversions...and one person that will let you drain the last piece of the devil inside your brain. ...and It's really the person you never saw coming that'll change your life. Meanwhile, while I'm manifesting everything—Kaia, who is sitting beside me, was doing the opposite. She has been praying to God since morning to give her a boyfriend this insta
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC27IRISI woke up with a throbbing headache, swollen eyes, and a shattered heart.Hindi pa muna ako bumangon, hinayaan ko ang sarili kong matulala sa kisame. I am fully aware that I am in Kaia's house, napilit niya ako na sa bahay na lang nila umuwi. Hindi niya ako hinayaan umuwi mag-isa sa dorm sa kalagayan ko. Na kahit hindi naman niya alam, ay nagawa niyang intindihin.One-year.It's been one year since I saw that devil's face. I almost forgot his entire existence. I almost forgot what he fucking did to me. I almost forgot that night. Pero bakit makita ko lang siya bumalik na naman ang lahat. Okay na ako e... masaya na ako. Pero bakit ba pilit iyon binabalik ng tadhana. Can't they just be happy for me? That I pulled through?Nakakapagod na. Napapagod na akong umiyak.But did you know that 17 muscles are activated when we're crying?Yeah I know because fitness is my pass
“Miss Wilson, you may start with your introduction.” Our Prof said. Maingat kong pinasadahan ng kamay ko ang script na hawak ko for this debate. Naglalaman ito ng mga rebuttals ko tungkol sa film na Dancer in the dark. “This counter-argument will be divided into three sections: 1. Psychological aspect; 2. Culture and Economy; 3. Gender Perspective. These are the missing points I sought and heard while I was listening to your argument. I hope you’ll respect my counterpoints as much I respected yours,” was my starting point. I looked at Jacques, tamad siyang nakatingin sa akin. ‘Yung tipong sinasabi na ng mata niya na siya ang mananalo sa debate namin na ito.
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGESC#3JOAQUIN – Iris’ birthday.“Joaquin…”Damn, if there’s one thing I want to hear for the rest of my life, it would be Iris’ voice. It is just so soft and tender and enchanting.“Yeah?”But she didn’t answer.“My love…”“I’m scared, Joaquin…”I looked down at her face only to see her teary-eyed eyes. She’s already looking at me.“Scared of what?”I a
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGESC#2IRIS – Revelation day. When Joaquin sleepover at Iris’s apartment.It’s so quiet.I feel like I’m inside a theater and I’m watching a horror film and everyone is silent because the scene is about to scare the shit out of us.That’s me and Joaquin right now. With Jacques in the middle, sleeping quietly.“Hey–”“You know what…”Yes, we open our mouths to talk at the same time. Cheesy as fuck, right?“Talk first,” I initiated.
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGESC#1JOAQUIN – Finals. Last day. The day Iris flew to Paris.“Pres, pinapatawag na raw kayo ni Dean sa office niya,” Matt informed me after I entered the SC office.I nodded at him.When I reached my office, I immediately call Iris because we decided to go to Dean’s office together. And she still not texting me.“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later.”My forehead creased. Iris would never shut off her phone just like that. Especially today that is very important for her.&
THE GOOD EQUAL | TGEEPILOGUEPART3KAIAFlashback“Alam niyo, may na-realize ako dito sa trabaho ko.”“Which one?” Iris asked.“Creative writer. Ano pa ba?!”“Diba tatlo work mo?”“Yup!”“That’s why I asked which one. Baliw!”“Ugh, Iris, hater. Buti pa si Mags nakikinig lang at hindi nangi-interrupt.”Mags laughed.
THE GOOD EQUAL | TGEEPILOGUEPART2IRIS"Hello, Joaquin?" I mumbled when I picked up the phone without looking at the caller."Anong Joaquin? Si Kaia 'to!"I instantly looked back at my phone to confirm it. Shit, I freaking thought it was Joaquin."Oh, bakit?""Wow! Ganyan na tono mo porket hindi ako si Joaquin? Grabe Iris, magkasama na kayo't lahat sa iisang bahay atat ka pa rin sa tawag niya?"I took a deep breath. Jusko talaga 'tong babaeng 'to!"Shut up! Sinabihan ko kasi siya na tawagan ako kapag may emergency—""Edi si Joaquin lang talaga katawagan mo? Kasi for sure hindi Joaqu
THE GOOD EQUAL | TGEEPILOGUEPART1JOAQUIN"Jacques, where's my kiss?" Iris called out our son. She's about to leave for work but Jacques is keeping her stilled in her spot. Iris then gave me a look."Where's Jacques?" she mouthed.I shrugged, which made her roll her eyes."Pakikuha na siya please, mala-late na ako," she pleaded. I crooked a smile before I rose from the couch and fetch our son from his room.It was already a routine. Iris always had a hard time going to her work early because our son is keeping her late. I wouldn't blame my son though, I would rather have Iris give me a look forever but at least I can see her every day and have her around with me and Jacques than see her for 5 hours a day.
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC42JOAQUINI'm already certain about my life: my dreams, my career, my needs, my wants, everything. It's already listed and all I have to do is to execute them. But Iris turned my world upside down. She crumpled my list and throws it in the nearest garbage.She's such a plan pooper."Pres nasa hall na," Clarence informed me."Ilan sila?""Tatlo, Pres. Pero isang band pa lang ang nasa hall. May klase pa 'yung iba e," she clarified and I nodded.I requested my org mates to hunt do
THE GOOD EQUAL | #TGEC41JOAQUIN"Pres, pinapatawag ka ni Dean," Angela peaked at the door."Office?" I asked and she simply nodded.I stood up from my seat and closed my laptop. I exited my office and I saw my officer's busy doing something on their laptops. And then I call out Matt."Who's attending the ID?""Sina Akin, Pres," Matt answered. "Umalis na ako kasi hindi naman ako pinapansin ni Akin kasi dumating 'yung mga magagandang SA. Kaya umalis na lang ako," he dramatically narrated.