InscriptionsThe Official Literary Folio of The DolphinVol. 55 No. 2 March 2016

Zodiac

1 Prelude

sHORT sTORY

3 Far Below

7 His Brother’s Blood

11 A Pair of Hope

13 Chasing demons

17 All I Can do

21 The Wingless Angel Chapter 3

23 The Withered Soul

27 The Other Face Of The Ball

POETRY

31 Hers

32 Ang Adlaw

33 daw Kang Kan O lang

34 Baon Muna Bago Hugot

MAIKLING

KWENTO

35 Sa likod Ng Matalim Na Sungay

39 Akala

43 Sapin sa Paa

45 ekstrang Kromosoma

49 Hudas

53 Perang Papel

MALIP OT NGA

sUGILANON

55 Mercy!

MUGOT NGA

IsTORYA

59 Sultero

MUsT REAd

63 Siguroscope

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PRELUDE

Song In the Skyby Mdpn. John Michael G. Londres

Embark not on thy luck nor misfortune,But on the boat thou craft on thy bare hands.From where thou stand, hearken the faltered tune:Thy long voyage is not just a mere chance.Sail across the astrological sky;The assemblage of stars shalt guide the way.Their light will show the road less traveled by,But let not their dimness lead thou astray.Let not the stars silence fate, plea by plea;The cloud before them hide the why and howIf they define thy soul, they cheat on thee;If they see the future, thou hold the now.Sail, trace thy path in the starry ceiling;Stars escape from thy grasp in the morning.

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3

Short Story

By JCDG

Far Below

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Far below the cirrocumulus clouds were the cottony waves playing the gradient orange and purple sea. At first, all was like a usual afternoon. Motor vessels would come and go, picking up passengers and leaving the port.

Far below the cirrocumulus clouds was a distracting pattern of the banca’s track. It carried two similar faces. Both featured a short curly hair and sunburnt skin. Their long pitch dark eyelashes flapped like crows’ wings. One of them raised his head to the sky. His smile gleamed as he followed the coin tossed by the stranger twenty nine feet above the water. It danced as it placidly dived into the bottom. The boy that followed the coin wagged his shoulders and giggled. He plunged himself unto the sea. His orange shirt was soaked with saltiness.

Far below the gloomy sea, the boy extended his short arm. His first attempt to reach the coin made him uneasy as the coin dodged away from him. His muscled leg kicked the water, pushing his entire body closer to the coin. Then, the coin stopped dancing, and it glided directly at the bottom of nothingness. It didn’t discouraged him rather triggered his excitement. The boy doubled his force and dived straight to the coin. He felt an icy metal slipping from his palm. He jolted and grasped it.

Far below the gloomy sea the current grew strong and the vibration of the engine passed his flesh. He felt the current pulling him deeper. He fought the power of the current and lost his air. He babbled wildly and the oxygen escaped his mouth. He lost his grip to the coin; together, they were eaten by the angry abyss.

••••Far below the cirrocumulus clouds, the boy stared at his rippled reflection. He saw

his brother’s face. It was round and filthy except that he was wearing a white stained shirt with a text that said “Buy more, spend more”. He paddled around the area where his brother dived. Fright stirred inside of him after he heard the vessel sounded. Panic grew. The three short blasts of the vessel itched his eardrums. Part of him urged his guts to throw himself on the water, but he remained still. His vocal chords modulated, crying for his brother’s name.

Far below the cirrocumulus clouds, tears and seawater blended. Forlorn wails broke the waves. In a split of second, various vessels surrounded the vicinity. On his right side, a guy wearing a bright life jacket pleased him to stay calm on his banca. The boy followed. Divers, one by one, searched the gloomy sea. Their flippers flapped enthusiastically like a dolphin tails. They glided smoothly under the water, fading as they went deeper.

Far below the twilight’s bluish ray, one by one the divers appeared. Water dripped

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from their foreheads. Half an hour later, they dredged the sea looking for the missing boy. One of them spoke unclear words to the guy wearing a life jacket, and shook his head. Then, the guy shone his flashlight on the sea and turned it off.

Far below the twilight’s bluish ray, one of the divers approached the boy. He comforted him and explained everything. He asked if the boy had parents, but he just nodded and continued weeping. So, they decided to let him spend the night on the Boys Town.

Far below the obsidian night, a Chinese band beat the drums beside the street. Red fire dragons roved under the illuminating cool lamp post. Faces of strangers were covered by angry and smiling masks. The boy inside the van peeked outside his window. His wet eyes made him see a kaleidoscopic colors of fire and light escaping from the costumes of the performers.

Far below the obsidian night, the boy in the van got electrocuted by what he saw. It was very familiar to him. It was the face that made him remember why he was on the van, why he was alone. The same short curly hair and sunburnt skin, smiling eyelashes and the orange shirt soaked with the sea’s saltiness. The boy was standing confidently beside the couple who were enjoying their ube flavored ice cream. He raised his right hand and waved joyfully to his brother. It was his innocent eyes and smile that pulled the trigger of his brother’s sadness and longing. The boy in the van burst his tears. He read his brother’s message. In his lips, he uttered, “You don’t have to go.” He collapsed. He lost his air and all his energy got drained. He passed out.

••••Far below the warm fluorescent light, they catered and groomed him. His body

felt an unusual tinge of softness and relaxing massage of the couch as he rested himself. His weary eyes scanned the room and what he found was a set of colored pencil and a drawing book. The playful colors tempted him to play it.

Far below the warm fluorescent light, he adjusted himself on the chair of the study table. He placed the drawing book and chose a blank page. His forefinger ran on the vibrant colors of the pencil. It made him to choose hard because he wanted to use all of them on his first stroke. But then his forefinger settled on the black pencil. He wrote his name. He spelled the first the word T-A-N, and after the next space a correct spelling of his brother’s name came into the page. D-A-N was clearly written.

Far below his magical imagination, pieces of outlines appeared. He channeled what he saw to his pencil and created a connecting black lines and curves on the white paper. First, there was an ambiguous shape like a cloud. Beside it, a single stick man stands. Then, he reached for the green pencil and drew grasses besides the clouds. There was a tree blooming, too. Slowly, a picture of a field started to have a life. Then he used the blue pencil and made ripples on it, and suddenly it made sense. The ambiguous clouds was a pond.

Far below his magical imagination, a rainbow of pencil jazzed. Inside the pond, two similar objects faced oppositely. He filled the outline with orange colors and white and

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black uneven spots. After he shaded the last white space, two fishes chasing their tails made him grin.

Far below his right shorts’ pocket, his hand reached an imaginary silver coin. He wrapped it with his fingers and in his mind, he wished.

“In the name of a thousand fireflies, in the favor of the bird’s chest wishbone, I ask Dan to knock on my door. I’m calling his name in behalf of my sorrow. I can’t sleep without his snores. I can’t cry without his teases. I don’t know where to hide my scars if I will be wounded. He’s been there since I found my feet and walked barefooted on the grass. Dan is bad because he left me alone. Dan is bad because he made me cry. Dan is bad because he never gave me a chance to say I’m sorry for being a burden. I hate him so much because he didn’t want to hear my thank you’s and I love you’s. Dan is bad, but I miss Dan now. I wish Dan will hug me this time and never leave me anymore.”

Far below his right shorts’ pocket, he pulled his hands. On the pond that he drew, he tossed his imaginary silver coin. The coin that kept his wishes danced between the two fishes. Then the water on the pond dimmed. One of the fishes followed the coin to save Tan’s wish and was buried in the darkness. The other one survived, but it got lost.

••••Far below the mosaicked ceiling, Dan sat beside a magical pond. Flowers bloomed

in every second. They scattered im the corners. Thousands of lively sparkles hovered above the water. It was serene and harmonious. A group of friends passed beside him. They were all wearing white fabric belted by a golden leather. Smile projected from their faces and Dan replied the same. There were no happiness in his eyes; however the people understood what was behind it.

Far below the mosaicked ceiling, the serene water transformed its transparency into moving colors. It was like a memory to him. His brother played a drawing book. He mixed different hues to form fancy shapes. But it was not a memory. It was really his brother currently working on his masterpiece on the living world. Dan let his brother finished what he was doing until sadness boiled in his heart after Tan delivered his wish. Then, he answered.

“Brother I know you can’t hear me, but I will always be in your dreams. It isn’t you who miss the snores and teases, it is me. It is your crumpled lips when you cry that makes me smile. When you’re wounded, it hurts me, too. I’m not bad Tan. It is you. It is you because you made me feel worthless. I can’t aid your sorrow anymore.

But don’t let me include in your grief. Let me be part of your happy memories. The world has too many things to make you happy. Explore. Every smile you make is a portrait of bliss.

Parting is painful. I am the new ship that is set to sail and journey in the infinite sea. I may not come back to see you in the port where we once played but I will watch over you up above here.

Now, I can’t even say goodbye and I love you. But I know, when the time comes, I can hug you again and let these hugs warm your heart. For now please fight and live your life.”

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His Brother’s Blood.

LEO

Short Story

Brother’s Bloodby Tam Tam Marianilo

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“The rule is simple: stay alive,” said the Merinian lieutenant in a white field armor as he reviewed his platoon under the hot dessert sun. “Once you’re dead. . .”

A couple of knives flew like bush sparrows and blew off his head from behind.“Once you’re dead, you’ll surely be honored, and I’m glad to help you,” said the masked

man who threw the knives as he plucked out his weapon stuck on the dead man’s left eyeball.He pulled up the knives from the lieutenant’s corpse and flicked those daggers in a

continuous spin-and-slash. Blood sprayed once more, and the shocked Merinians fell, lifeless and headless.

••••Glaston’s dreams still haunt him in his deepest sleep.“Brother, in this world where strong prey upon the weak, we will be strong,” Glaston promised

his younger brother.“And we will protect the weak!” replied the younger boy. They drew the swords from their sheaths as moonlight shone on their blades. Loras gave his

weapon to his brother, and Glaston did the same. In a split of second, whips of fire kissed Loras’ face and melted the young and innocent cheeks of him. “Brother! Brother!” Loras yelled as fountains of fire pulled him into the pool of death and agony.

Glaston reached his arm, yet he was too late. All that’s left of his brother is consumed by the dark and burning void.

••••“My lord!” The soldier awakened his commander. “You’re dreaming again! Wake up!”Glaston swung his left arm and knocked the sentry out of his tent. Realizing his harsh

reflex, he apologized. “No harm done my lord,” replied the man. “Minister Euphry is here to see you.”“Let the minister in and gather the troops for review at midday,” the commander said as

he rose from his bed.The tall, skinny, and pale-faced minister entered the quarters while clapping his wide hands

adorned with jewels of assortment. “Gaeal Plain is just another feather in your cap, General.”“Nah. It’s just another graveyard for my men,” Glaston motioned.“Perhaps, another stage to showcase your prowess. ‘The Lion’ is indeed a suitable title.”“Just a moniker for a despised brother, I say.” The commander paused to tighten his

breastplate. He drew his sword and saw his reflection in the sword Loras gave him. His men perceive him as a master strategist, but all he can see in the sword was a bearded man, still chained in his failure decades ago.

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He turned around to see the Minister’s wide smile. “So, what’s the purpose of gracing me with your presence, my lord?”

“The casualties are higher than the previous battles,” said the Minister. “Reports from the troops say that they’ve seen Sir Tramly in the field.”

“Finally, the Masked Menace has shown himself to me!” The Lion sheathed his sword in excitement.

“The war killed your brother Glaston, and slaying Arloscians is a reasonable payback,” Euphry supplemented. “The Arloscy Peninsula is to be mine, general!”

“Yes, it is to be yours tomorrow. You want land. I want retribution. Those men want honor and glory. Land, retribution, honor, and glory, they’re all on that Peninsula and we will grab them with our hands!”

Glaston called the sentry once more. “Summon my generals, tell the men to sharpen their swords and water the horses. When the first star appears, we’ll march to Arloscy.”

••••Everyone who came close to him was stopped by arrows. He tried to escape in a hidden tunnel as

the smell of death fills the room and he is the only human to smell it. He ran and ran until one of the shots struck his cheek and roasted it up until his nose.

••••Sir Tramly lost his memories the same time he lost half of his face a couple of decades ago.

He was found and raised by an old Arloscian knight. Still, there are memories that remained in his mind that he can’t even puzzle up. He saw arrows, squirting blood, intestines drooping in the soil, and ferocious fire.

“Sir Tramly, the Masked Menace of Arloscy!” says the portly man who entered the tent to see Tramly wash himself off with dust and blood. “Thank you for being here in such a short notice.”

“As you wish, Joria, Baron of Arloscy,” Tramly said. “This is far worse than I expected.”“The Merinian army are positioning to launch an assault, probably tonight. We need you

in the frontline,” said the Baron.“Face the Lion, you’re saying?” the Menace questioned.“No one else is brave enough to cut his head and place it in a spear,” replied Joria. Lord Joria tapped Tramly’s shoulder and turned around. Before leaving the tent, he spoke

something to the wind.“You know nothing, Lord Tramly. You know nothing.”

••••“We will be strong. . . protect the weak. . . strong. . .weak. . . Brother! Brother!”Those were chilling voices that rang in Glaston’s ear as he scanned the field as far as he

could. He knew that land before his eyes will be watered by a rain of blood and will be a haven for vultures scavenging for rotten corpse’s flesh.

“Enemies are closing, riding from the walls of Arloscy to meet us! The Masked Menace seems to lead their forces,” said the scouts who rode back to The Lion’s side.

“Very well,” said Glaston. “Let us bath our swords with their blood, shall we?”

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Glaston, like a lion roaring a battle cry to his pride, faced his army and spoke. “Men of Merinia! Honor and glory lies on that field, upon the dead bodies of our enemies. Crush them, smash them, slice them, do what it takes to earn the prize you deserve! Triumph is out there. All hail Merinia!”

“All hail Merinia! All hail Merinia!” The men shouted in chorus as they marched to meet the enemy. They wielded the swords stronger for they thought that their hearts became the same as The Lion, but they never knew that on his heart lie no glory, no honor, no land, and no triumph, only revenge, only a shower of revenge.

Flaming arrows started flying above the battleground as limbs start to tear apart. Heads are being chopped of and ribs are being crushed. Heart, liver, stomach, kidney, they don’t think whatever they pierce as long as they cut open the enemies’ armor. Merinians slashed Arloscians. Arloscians slashed back. The bloods, the gore, the dismemberment of limbs, all of them were casual views of the battlefield. It was really not enough to stay alive. You must ensure the enemy’s dead as well.

From the bloodied and slaughtered Merinians, Tramly, the Masked Menace walked in a momentous pace, stepping the carcasses, and making his way towards the Merinian commander. He thought of throwing his knife, but a fast kill won’t earn him much glory.

“Lion! I challenge you to face your doom.”Glaston turned around and raised his sword, signaling the acceptance of the contest. “It is

your rotten corpse that I will be facing later.”He rushed with a chopping drive whilst Tramly counters with spinning slices. The

commander’s sword could hardly pass through the evasion of the contender. Yet, the knives of the Menace couldn’t even slice a hair strand of the Lion.

Slice. Chop. Spin. Drive. Slash. Rip. Every step was counted. Every move was carefully calculated. Vengeance is indeed a remarkable driving force; yet, even The Lion himself can’t control that enormous power. A missed left slice gave an opening in his left breastplate, on the straps, on his ribs. The Menace saw the opening and immediately struck three blades with precision. The lion landed on his knees and spit blood on the ground.

“The lion sleeps tonight!”Just when the mask man pointed his dagger to his prey, Glaston was able to clutch Loras’

sword and struck it right into the chest of the Menace! As the knight slowing laid down to the battlefield bathing in blood, Glaston weakly whispered on his ears.

“Not- not today! I-I promised my bro-brother that i-in this world where the strong consumes the weak, we-we will be strong. . .”

“And we-we will p-protect the w-weak.” Tramly reflexively said. Unconsciously, those words flowed out of his mouth. Those lines, those promises, those aren’t just words. They were lines inscripted at the back of his heart that were somehow awakening the man he was before.

The flaming arrows continued flying above their heads, just like what happened twenty years ago. The tide of war was still unstable, yet on that battlefield, on that peninsula, on that God-forsaken land, Glaston drew the blood he never knew still flow. It was his own blood, the Masked Menace’s blood, Loras’ blood, his brother’s blood.

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Dear Dodong,Wherever you may be now, I know that our memories will always be with us no matter

when our mouths get tired of laughing. You were the first and only friend that made me pee in my pants and made my tears fall in joy when we were young.

Those were the words that the ink of my pen wrote and wanted to tell to my friend Dodong. I was ten years old and he was eight when we first met. His Nanay used to leave him in our house because she worked in the town selling vegetables for a living. We had shared a lot of memory when we were innocent about what the world could bring us in the near future. Those memories were the thoughts in my childhood that I would never forget.

I was never able to see the universe when I was a child. I was blind when my Mom gave birth to me. But my friend had helped me have a glance of the world even just once. I never experienced being alone ever since I met Dodong as his presence made me feel like living in the same world as his. I got excited every morning waiting at our sala for her mother and him to come.

Dodong only treated me like this because I knew lately that he also had disabilities. Dodong had a cleft palate and had no legs when he was born. But Dodong never let me feel that he was helpless. He found means in doing what makes him happy and thought

A Pair of Hopeby Mdpn. Donnito P. Cuatchon

Short Story

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about other’s happiness, too. Dodong and I always went to the only place where we could always go, and it was

on their vegetable farm. We went there every time we wanted to breathe fresh air. He used to cling on my back and gave me directions to anywhere we wanted and I just follow whatever he says.

Beside of his happy-go-lucky approach, he also had with him the attitude of playing tricks with me. Sometimes he made me step to things that were wet and stinky. I would be surprised every time he would laugh as loud as he could and, he would say that I already stepped into a poop of a cow. Even though I didn’t know how fool I looked like, I just joined and laughed with him as he shared with me the so-called “happiness”.

Several weeks passed that became the loneliest hour of my life. It had been a week since Dodong never came to our house. I asked my Mom what’s the reason why Dodong don’t go to our house anymore, but she just replied in a pale voice and said that she knew nothing.

Days had passed when my Mom said that I would be undergoing an operation. Someone with a kind heart decided to give me the opportunity to see the world and donated a pair of eyes to me. I felt delighted that time because I would be able to see and look for Dodong.

I counted for a month and the surgery went successful and I was able to see. My mom and I went to Dodong’s house because I made her promise to go there after the operation and she couldn’t resist.

When we reached their home, I didn’t feel any presence of Dodong, but instead, I discovered something that made me drown in my tears. Dodong died a month ago. I went home feeling dry, lonely and dreadful. I couldn’t sleep nor keep my mind at peace. But behind those pains, behind those tears were the smiles of bliss of what Dodong had gave me.

Glow. You became the light that I longed to see. You were the lamp that lit up the darkness behind the sorrow. You led my feet as I traversed the darkest street I couldn’t escape from. I didn’t know that you were sick. You radiated unfathomable strength that your weakness was overshadowed. Until your last fight against the world, you didn’t forget me.

Thank you for your bright eyes that see the happiness in everyone and give smile for every person here and there. I give you my deepest gratitude for leaving me a hope. This is the hope I know that shows not only the beauty of everything, but also what I can do to make things more beautiful. I will use these eyes to give strength to anyone who is in need of hope, too.

Until I see you again.Until we meet again.

Your friend,

Iking

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Short Story

by Mdpn. Keem Cathlene A. Tugublimas

Chasing Demons

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“Baaang!” Crank. “Baaang!”My soul leaped as I was awakened by the shots and cranks of a revolver held by a

familiar man. My mom was sitting right next to me in bed. Hugging me tight with her hand covering my eyes, she tried to hide the world from me, but my eyes were never blinded by the darkness of the room which was pooled with terror. My dad fell off the floor lifeless with his eyes wide open.

“Spare our life Dante, I am going with you. Just don’t kill Jonas. Let’s… Let us live and we will be together, Dante. I will, will give anything you desire,” my mom said as her lips were trembling.

“It is too late for your illusions Theresa. Raphael is already dead. You have betrayed your filthy husband and I have already gotten what I want. There is no need for you to be on Earth now. Go to hell!” said by the merciless man as he cranked his revolver and pointed the tip at my mom’s head.

On a split second, my mom got her hand off from my face and threw me away from her grasp. The time on the clock stopped. There was no sound I could hear. She distracted the man and signaled me to run. I ran for my soul as fast as I could before the clock went back on its track. But the man had two eyes and no heart. He shot my mom. Blood sprinkled and reached me. Time was never on my side. I heard another crank of a revolver and I looked back. All I could see before me was a bullet flying straight towards me giving me no chance of escaping.

••••“Kill or get killed, I must be free of this misery. That demon will pay,” I said as

I washed my face remembering my only goal since then. “In short time I will have freedom. I will murder that fool who killed my parents and took away my childhood.”

I touched the scar on my chest that was once been opened and been shot with wrath that grew along with me. After I got shot, I didn’t remember anything. Authorities said that mom and I were sent to the hospital, yet mom died upon arrival and I went several operation in order to survive. The killer was set free of justice because he cleaned his mess immediately that night. Of course, why couldn’t he escape the crime that he planned perfectly? Dante was my parents’ partner in business. He came to destroy my parents’ relationship by having a secret, yet unproven relationship with my mom. He made it up all. All of it went under his plans.

I went to my secret room where I stored the secret files of my family’s murder case. Every picture was hung, all data pasted on the wall, all information were kept and

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connected into every piece. It was all thanks to Detective Sam who was hired to follow the killer. Every day, I send Detective Sam to track down his path. He might be on the darkest part of the corner or in the most private room but he would be under my sight. “Sam, my plans are all set. Tomorrow will be the day. Your job may end tomorrow, but success will be owed to you. I want you to prepare tomorrow Sam,” I said as I talked to Sam on the phone.

“Freedom must be yours, Jonas. I owed your family a great service. It is payback time. Revenge is for us to keep,” he said.

“Keep his coordinates at Chiron Business Hotel, room A329. By 2200H, he must be dead,” I said with great confidence.

“Copy. I’ll be there,” he said assuring. I, then, hung the phone and reviewed the plans that I made to kill the demon. I had been saving the courage and strength that I had now. All I need was the drive to keep me going and not to fail.

I put on the picture of my complete family on the table. The picture was a bit faded, but I could see a happy child with his dad on his side and his mother on the other. I could see the hope in them. Killing their murderer was the only way to set me free from sorrow. “I will avenge you both.”

I fell asleep on my bed with the picture beside me. I slept good and tight. In the morning, I prepared my revolver and wore my suit. I put on the gloves on my hand. I wore black glasses and got myself ready to go.

I planned how to kill him and I also planned an escape way, just as the way the killer did when he killed my parents. It was not easy as it should be, but I believed my plans would succeed. The demon must not get away with my revenge. If anything would happen, I had prepared my back-up plan. That demon would have no way to escape.

I went early at the location as I prepared my hiding place inside the room and let Sam shut off all CCTV Cameras that could cover the scene and my escape plan. After that he would be the look out. I would stay inside the room waiting for Dante to enter the room and let him fear the justice’s voice.

Time check 2130H. Sam must report to me by now. Ten minutes had passed but he hadn’t called. I dialed his contact information on the phone, and he answered immediately.

“Jonas, our target just comes in the area. He is checking in the front desk. No one is with him,” said Sam.

“Sam, why haven’t you called ten minutes ago? What happened?” I asked.“I was distracted and occupied. I’m sorry for that. Everything is okay,” Sam reasoned

out.“Keep an eye on him and keep your GPS on,” I said. “Target is 5 meters away from the room A329. Target will be on the location in 1

minute 30 seconds,” Sam reported.“Kill or get killed, I must be free of this misery. This is the time, the demon will pay.”

I hid behind the door, 2200H on the clock. Flashbacks of the past ultimately came inside my mind, the hands, the dark room, the dead man, and the revolver cranks and bullets.

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The door creaked as Dante opened it. My heart beat heavily as my most prepared time caught up with me. He went in, and I immediately pointed the revolver on his head.

“Close the door, move slowly,” I said trying to compose my voice, strong and low.“What if it isn’t Jonas who comes to kill me? You can get in anytime you want now

and tell him how fool he is to point a gun on me,” he said as if talking to someone outside. But Sam said Dante was alone.

By the time that the person went inside, all of my plans went failed. The person outside was no other than Sam. Was he with Dante from the start? I never expected this to happen. I trusted his service and words of loyalty, yet he payed me with a treacherous act.

“Surprised, don’t you, Jonas? Why would you think I would let you live after knowing that you survived after I murdered your family? I know how sad it is to be alone. That was the reason why I sent Detective Sam to take care of you, Jonas,” Dante said with a grin on his lips.

The wound on my chest went in pain while Dante was talking. My vision went red just like it was tinted with blood. My hands got wet and shaky while holding the revolver. I had felt this pain before, but why is it coming back again? I didn’t want to feel this again. I must pull myself together and see for my success. I must kill them both.

I looked into Sam’s face and saw something weird in his expressions. He raised his hands. Each was carrying a pistol. He spot one pistol at Dante, and the other, he pointed at me. He held the pistol firm, ready to shoot anytime he wanted.

“One shot to take revenge for my brother Raphael. The other shot is to end your suffering Jonas. I’ll kill you both,” Sam said as tears fell down his face.

“You can’t do this Sam. I can give you enough money you want. Just stop this stupidity. I know you can’t do this,” said Dante as he fell into the floor.

“I can!!!” Sam shouted as he shot both pistol. As I saw that he was pulling the triggers, I also shot him aiming for his head.

The time on the clock stopped. There was no sound I could hear. I thought it was like in the past that I would run for my soul as fast as I could before the clock could go back on its track, but this time, it was different. Time was now on my side. Another bullet wounded me. I could still managed to stand. I was shot in my left arm and could not able to move it. Two men fell on the floor, lifeless. I should stop my wound from bleeding, change clothes, and get out of here to escape.

Three months passed, and police reports said that Sam killed Dante and commited suicide. No one knew that I was involved in the crime. I never expected that Sam was my uncle and was going to take revenge for my father. We have the same goal and we both succeeded, but he died fighting. It was indeed a success owed to him and his job ended that day.

I am now walking into a mission. Help those who want to take revenge. Help people who have experienced pain especially those who have seen their loved ones killed before them. I will hunt demons, kill and slay them all.

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Short Story

by Mdpwn. Jubille Amor B. Pedroso

All I can do

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“Hey! It’s been three years since that incident happened. Sorry if it took that long before I fully recovered. I was so weak and hopeless. But look, I can walk on my own now. Thanks to you.”

I am swiping the leaves off the grave when my tears involuntarily flow. Supposedly, I should be happy but the memories of my past still hurt me. And even when I choose to be happy, my past still haunt me. Well, how can I ever forget such happening?

••••It was Saturday night when my Kuya Aries came home late again. He had many

bruises, his left cheek had swollen and his knuckles were broken. I wasn’t surprised anymore for I already knew what had happened even if he wouldn’t tell me.

Kuya and I lost our parents on a car accident five years ago. Good thing he already had a job, therefore, money was not a problem for us. He was a registered pharmacist and at the same time an underground racer.

“Kuya, let me help you.” I picked the first aid kit and offered him to dress his wounds. “You should be sleeping by now,” he said in a deep and demanding tone. I sensed he

was not in the mood tonight. I gently applied pressure while I was cleaning his bruises. “Would you please be careful, Aimee?” His voice raised. I just looked at him and finished what I was doing.

After I helped him with his wounds, I immediately took a rest. Kuya and I were open to each other. We did many things in common. We both loved racing but he never let me join any of the game again. Every time he had matches, I was all alone in the house waiting, feeling uneasy and nervous.

One morning, while we were having our breakfast, I managed to ask Kuya a favor which I knew would catch him off guard. “Kuya, since I’m turning 18 next few months, please let me race again. I know you know how much I love doing it,” I pleaded.

I had been driving cars since I was 12. Kuya was behind all this. He was the reason of my passion in driving. He was the one who first taught me. He introduced me to the world of racing, but when the accident happened, he never let me race again.

Tracing back the past, we were there when we lost our parents. Kuya and I had a race to some guys. They were taking the lead when the incident happened. They didn’t notice a car coming and bumped on it. We immediately approached them and to our surprise, we saw mom and dad inside the car, breathless and full of blood. From then on, Kuya became so strict when it comes to me.

19

Kuya looked straight to my eyes and without hesitation, “No, you won’t. You’re the only one I have. I can’t afford losing you anymore.”

“It’s so unfair. You’re racing, why can’t you just let me join you?” My voice raised in irritation.

“I have reasons why I still race.” He stood and left the table. I hadn’t controlled my emotions. I got so irritated and tears started to flow. For many

hours, I had been crying until someone hugged me from my back. It was Kuya.“Please stop. I don’t want to see you crying,” he whispered as he tightened his hug. I fell asleep on his arms, and when I woke up, I was on my room and I saw a note

beside me. Meet me at the garage.

-Kuya. I got so excited after I read it. I stood up hurriedly, bunned my hair and washed my

face then I went off. When I arrived, I saw Kuya checking the engine of my car. After seeing me, he

lowered the hood and started the engine. “Here you go Aimee, let’s see if you can still beat me.”

Happiness occupied my heart, uncontrollable smile painted on my face. Finally, I would be racing again. Kuya rode his car and started his engine. With his wink as a signal, we started our race. It was an awesome feeling when you were doing the thing you had been wanting to do. I was so happy and grateful that Kuya had given me the permission again.

As months passed by, our relationship and bond as brother and sister strengthened. It was Friday, when Kuya and I were busy preparing. We were conditioning our cars for an underground race. It was my nth time already, but I was still getting nervous.

We arrived at the old airport, thirty minutes before the race. Kuya was so serious. He was really into this. Many people came, and everyone was excited. We could hear their cheers and chants. Twenty minutes before the race, I went to the comfort room. I was looking my reflection at the mirror when I heard the chatting of the two ladies coming from the comfort room. “This is going to be a bloody race,” said the blond girl. “I heard the Cruz brothers are planning to kill Aries Santos.”

I was stunned after I heard it. I barely can say a word. I was shocked and I didn’t know what to do. I returned to my car, when a ten-minute warning was announced. Kuya approached me and hugged me tight. “Please, Aimee do me a favor. Please stay alive and no matter what happens be alive. Ok?”

I hugged him tighter and said, “Ok, same as you are Kuya.” It seemed like Kuya already knew what would happen. I trusted him, I knew he

would do everything. “Start your engine. Ready. Set. Go!” And the race started. It was a close fight. Kuya and the elder Cruz were taking the

lead. I acted as a support for Kuya. During our race, I could not erase on my mind what

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I had heard from the comfort room. But I needed to focus. I shouldn’t mind that. Kuya could handle this. I believed in him.

The run was too exciting and unpredictable. Sometimes Kuya and I took the lead and sometimes the Cruz brothers did. It was the last two laps. Kuya was in the lead, when I noticed something. The Cruz brothers always cornered Kuya and never left his back, then, I remembered what I heard from the two ladies at the comfort room. Now they were bumping the back part of Kuya’s car which gave him a hard time to control. Before they would totally destroy Kuya’s car, I already did it with my first move. I bumped forcefully the rear part of one of the Cruz’ cars which lost control and off the track he went I hadn’t seen the other coming, and just a second, both of us tumbled and our car, was destroyed. Then, everything went black.

••••Aimee was rushed to the hospital, together with the Cruz brothers, but one of them

was already declared dead on arrival. The accident on that race left a terrible mark in the underground world.

Three days after the accident, Aimee was still sleeping. The doctor found a complication in her heart causing the delay of blood supply to her body. Aries never left her side and never stopped crying. He always blamed himself for what happened.

“Her heartbeat is slowing down. If the declination continues, she won’t make it. You must find a donor as soon as possible,” the doctor said.

Again, Aries burst out crying. Desperation had filled his mind, his faith was slowly fading and possibilities were dropping out of his sight. But something came up to him, giving him the conclusion to make his decision.

“Happy Birthday Aimee. Thank you for everything, for your love, the memories we made, the joy you gave me. I’m sorry if I let this happen to you. I’m sorry if I wasn’t there to protect you. I’m sorry for all my imperfections and mistakes. I hope that before this day ends, you’ll be okay and you’ll once again hit the road. I wish you the best Aimee. You know how much I love you,” Aries kissed her forehead as tears flowed through his cheeks.

••••I was awakened with the same scenario as if in the movies. White walls, white

ceiling. Everything is white. “Aimee! Thank God you’re awake. You just have undergone a heart transplant and

been sleeping for five days,” the doctor explained to me. “Where is Kuya?” I murmured.Instead of saying a word, he gave me a letter. I am sorry , Aimee. It is my fault. It is too hard to say goodbye, but this is the only way

I could make things right, and this is the only gift I can give to you. I hope you will take good care of it.

I love you, Aimee. -Kuya.

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I pulled her hair down, moving her head away from my face. She squealed in a pathetic way. Christine’s mouth was filled with blood. Her eyes were blood shot red as she cried. I looked at her with a devilish smile as my mouth spattered out her tongue, drenched with our saliva and her scarlet blood.

-The Wingless Angel Chapter 2Published in The Dolphin Vol. 54 No. 2

When I kissed her, she was supposed to say “No.” When I squeezed her body, she was supposed to oppose. But Christine acted strange as she surrendered herself to me. I knew at that moment, she was not the Christine I used to know, not the innocent angel I used to love.

Christine’s voice always resonated through my ears like a sharp needle stuck and twisted to my heart. It kept me paralysed from the strands of my hair down to my toe nails. Every time I heard her voice, there was this spell that crafted me to be weak and tamed. I felt like there was a fog covering my vision and I could hear an angel chanting orgasmic hymns, seducing me to fall in an eternal chasm.

Now, only scarlet blood came flowing out of Christine’s throat. She wanted to scream for help, but she couldn’t utter any word. She only moaned in agony, in great pain, in an existing

The Wingless Angel Chapter 3

by OIC-NW Keft S. Sobredo

Short Story

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hell on earth. “Are you trying to fool me?” I asked while staring at her tongue that fell on the white

tiled floor of my bathroom. She continued whining as her blood filled her mouth.When she no longer had tears to shed, I lifted her from the tub and wiped her whole

body. I got three small cubes of ice and told her to keep it inside her mouth. Then I rested her down on my bed.

Christine laid down naked with no arms, no legs and at this instant, no tongue in her mouth. She couldn’t escape any more nor yelp for help. She remained like that, a lonely, helpless, voiceless Christine lying on my bed.

I stood before her in the dim light of the night table lamp. That night, a sudden rush came through my veins as I gazed at her. I held Christine tightly, feeling her body, heaving with fright through my palms. I clamped my hands to the warm flesh of her back. Then, she murmured and responded pathetically with her pelvis. I knew her body rose and fell forebodingly, her lips poked provocatively through the black untrussed hair that cascaded over them.

I stared incredulously; still not used of seeing such beauty that I almost forgot to take my own pants off.

As I unbuckled my belt and simultaneously pulled my jeans and boxers to my ankles, I found myself in bliss. I stepped up to her and embraced her, my hands enclosing her buttocks. Slowly, joyously. I pulled her pressing myself deeper into her with maniacal ferocity, exulting in the powerful muscles that filled her body and soul with recession. I did it again, and again, and again.

“So now, this is how it’s like to do it with you,” I whispered. Christine’s tears streamed from her auburn eyes once more.

A few hours later, as I was lying beside Christine with all the lights off, I woke up when I heard the slightest rattling sound from the outside. So I stood up slowly and peeked from my window. I saw a couple of men in black bullet-proofed vests holding their guns towards my place.

Suddenly, I heard them destroy my front and back door at the same time. They had entered my house. I quickly hid myself, but I could see their shadows on the floor from the gap. One of them fired the gun at my room’s doorknob to open it. Someone found the switch and turned all the lights on.

At once, they were all flabbergasted to see Christine lying naked on my bed with her sliced body parts hooked, hanging from the ceiling. They all froze to death upon seeing her, very weak, without her arms, without her legs and with a long transparent plastic tube stuffed inside her nose and looped around her ears. The tube led to a metal stand beside the bed. It was her nasogastric tube connected to a transparent plastic bag, a saline solution that supplied food to her, now that she can hardly swallow food without her tongue.

All of a sudden, Christine suddenly woke up from the noise. She wanted to scream for help, but she could only stare pathetically… like a mutilated heart still beating in a lifeless body.

23

Short Story

by C.A. Perez

The Withered Soul

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As the sun kisses the horizon, she eventually falls in faint. The cold floor embraces her weak body. Her kinky hair covers her abusively-spotted face caused by the unlawful act of that ruthless man. I can see the drops of sorrow and fear evaporating and leaving her dreadful soul. Everything goes well from the very beginning, and I never expect that she is falling into the cruel hands of our greed.

I can’t do anything to help her. My heart is caressed by sympathy, but my body is chained in fright. I can’t barely move nor show myself off from this closet where I am hiding. My conscience induces me to help her, but I remain unmoved. I can’t utter even just a word. Only that my eyes go blurry because of the popping outburst of my emotions.

••••Mother’s angelic eyes twinkled like the stunning blink of the stars. Her innocent face

curved the sweetest sparkles of joy toned with her rosy cheeks disclosing her charm. She was a real treasure made for a man.

As a maiden before, the staircase of their house was frequently filled with lads hopeful to bring home her most wanted affection. She was truly sought after by every man in town. Everyone admired her beauty and would even be captivated by her well-subdued nature. Her entity was perfectly casted. She was beyond compare.

Among those die-hard admirers vying for her heart, she had chosen my Father, the man who promised to relentlessly hold onto his promises of everlasting compassion and faith. The man who assured her to stay as loving as he was, from the very start until the end.

And so, the trumpets rang and the angels sang with the rhythm of bliss and melody as two hearts entwined. Mother walked down the aisle as lovely as the dawn. On her lips curved the gladness of the early sky. On the other side, Father in an armor of everlasting compassion patienly waited. His eyes were filled with the beaming array of joy and his hands were as pale as peeled cucumber. He was in mixed emotions that very moment. As they stood close to each other, their eyes met like the opposite poles of the world celebrating the love conspired by the universe. It was indeed a splendid exchange of vows.

“I want us to have lovely children, a huge home and a comfortable life,” said my Father.“If that’s what you wish for, then, I will live my life with you,” Mother answered.As they took their vows in front of the altar, they passionately tasted the sweetness

of heaven. From then on, I, Adam, the first son was born. As they said, I was a great joy for my parents. I was equally molded to the splendor of heaven and grew up well in a cozy life. Lavish as it would seem, but I was given everything I want: the most delicious food, refreshing swills and comfortable room to sleep in.

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Everything was fine until I found myself lonely. I got no one to play with, no one to talk to. So Mother and Father decided to have another child. Mother bore a child. My Father would always look after her and help her as she went through maternity. They really wanted to give me the life I wanted which was to have a sibling. Thus, mother had given birth to a lovely little girl. She was fairly casted with the features of our Mother, with the same beauty and elegance. She got those eyes, nose, lips, cheeks, hair, and everything was greatly alike. She was as lovely as the evening, hence, she was named Eve.

Then, I was so glad to have Eve with me. We grew up with all the comfort and luxury in life. Father would wake up early in the morning and become exhausted as the day ended. Mother would prepare everything for the two of us and would even let Father rest so well at night. All was great in our love-filled home.

Years had passed, we were blessed with more siblings. It was more fun, exciting and cheerful than ever. I looked after my siblings as they grew older. Eve and I were so glad to have them. We had a lot to play with and to talk to, every now and then. We enjoyed the company of one another. It was really life changing.

Growing up with them made me realize life could be even happier if you have people to share your happiness with. I had seen myself comfortable of having them with us. I had considered our family a perfect one, having a warm-loving father and a very consoling mother. Everything was abundant; we grew in pleasure.

But then again, our number went bigger and bigger each year. Our home was rebuilt for multiple times already just to have enough space for everyone. Father needed to work harder. He would even go home late because of work while Mother needed to feed a lot of mouth and cuddle each one of us every day. I could not even imagine how she was able to do a lot of chores and look after us at the same time. I had seen how tears and sweats entwined as they rolled down her cheeks.

Mother went sick of looking after us. She was even hurt by my Father once we disobeyed his orders. Her hair went grey and she even lost several strands each day because of our misbehavior and disobedience. The softness of her skin wrinkled as days passed by. She even lost clarity of her sight. My siblings would tend to turn their back against her and would even be apathetic of the prevailing situation. Mother was truly abused and restless.

“I am tired of working hard! We got a lot of children to feed and you always tolerate them for misbehaving,” Father exclaimed.

“We can get all through this. As long as we are together, we can conquer everything my love. I know our children will understand everything in the near future,” Mother convincingly replied.

I had seen how unfathomable the love they had given us. But in contrary, not all of us had seen it. Some of us became rebels and went helpless. Eve went out to be paid upon after the pleasure she could give to a man. Some of my boy siblings enjoyed the scent of different prohibited herbs and powders. While some had chosen to blow a smoke and drink hard until the last drop. Everything went unwell. Our home went out to be an arena where each cock fought to win a derby.

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“I never expected things would turn out this way,” said Father.“We can stand this fate. Just be patient my love and everything will be fine,” Mother

insisted. ••••

We are now on the year of advancement. As of the latest census, there are now approximately seven billion four hundred million occupants of our home. Some of my siblings have failed to have a decent life. However, some of my ambitious siblings and I turn out to be the best in our chosen fields. We have become great and discovered a lot of things, perhaps may help to ease the conflict.

We have built gigantic buildings quickly like sprouting mushrooms in all the edges of the world. Fast-dashing vehicles on land, air and water never fail to bring us wherever we want to go.

All of us are enjoying the heap of sophisticated gadgets we use anytime, anywhere that lessen our job and leave everything automated. We now live in our modernized houses and we live with our luxurious lives. Everything is in our hands.

“We are in control! Indeed, we had succeeded!” I exclaim.But a fainted and sorrowful voice fills the atmosphere. “My…children…” A woman

weeps.I see a frail woman. She is being hit by a scorching ray of fire coming from the fist of

a mad man. I want to get closer to that woman but I have been locked in a closet. I keep on looking at her only to know she’s my Mother and the vicious man is my Father. He has totally changed. Father become so hot-tempered and out-of-control, often times changing his mood unpredictably. He is punishing our Mother for considering all of our ambitious dreams and desires.

As Father goes out and kisses the horizon, mother eventually falls in faint. The cold floor embraces her weak body. Her kinky hair covers her abusively-spotted face caused by the unlawful act of that ruthless man. I can see the drops of sorrow and fear evaporating and leaving her dreadful soul. Everything goes well from the very beginning and I never expect she is falling into the cruel hands of our greed.

I can’t do anything to help her. My heart is caressed by sympathy but my body is chained in fright. I can’t barely move nor show myself off from this closet where I am hiding. My conscience induces me to help her, but I remain unmoved. I can’t utter even just a word. Only that my eyes go blurry because of the popping outburst of my emotions.

Mother’s angelic eyes lost the twinkles like dimming black holes. Her wrinkled face curve the dreary stitches of grief, and everything faded into pain disclosing her sacrifices. She is really selfless with her overflowing love. The tears and sweats she has given are all bountiful for all of us. She is thirsty. She is dying. But still, how selfish we are not even to spare a drop of water on her withered soul?

“And now I will quench your thirst mother,” my action says and does.  

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Short Story

by Mdpn. John Michael G. Londres

The Other Face of the Ball

28

I have waited for today’s tryout. These past few weekends, I had been practicing from sunrise to sunset or until my arms would get limp and my legs would be like spaghetti noodles. I know that was suicide, but being in the university’s basketball team is a three-point shot for me.

With my new personalized red jersey, I hop to my pickup and turn the stereo. Maroon V blares from the speakers. After turning a curb, the school’s gymnasium looms over me. The gym itself spawns immensely, adjacent to the parking area.

Moments later, throngs of players start to gather in the gym’s entrance. Head down, I slowly walk through the crowd making my way inside.

At first glance, I have thought the tryout is some sort of military exercise. Players are in queue, and it seems every mouth is shut except a deep voice shouting from afar.

“Hey! You can’t stand in the center of this court all day. We will be having our tryout here. If you aren’t a player, warm the bleachers!” A six-foot sturdy guy, whom I suppose is the team captain, howls. At me?!

I look at my right, then to the other side. No one. My face mimics the color of my jersey. After gathering all the exact words to response, I manage to say, “Me?!”

The guy narrows his eyes.“I a-am Alex Fajardo. I a-actually g-get myself here f-for the tryout. I-i-isn’t it

obvious?” I stutter while showing my new jersey to him.He closes his eyes. Then he blares, “The line starts here, dumb skull. Move!”The first phase of the tryout is a one-time opportunity. Each is given one chance to

shoot the ball. If he misses, it’s a disqualification. Series of outs and get losts echo inside. Aside from the intimidation and rudity of

the team captain named Bruno which I have overheard from other players, the possibility to shoot the ball is as slim as a pole especially without focus.

Now, my turn has come. I make my way to the freethrow circle, and wait for the cue. Like what I had practiced, I hold the ball like a fragile trophy; and with sufficient force, I release it.

Every atom goes in slow motion. The ball propels in midair. When it touches the ring, it circles around like forever. But it pauses. And I hold my breath.

“Yes!” I breathe out when the ball invades through the net. Followed by the second and third phases, I have able to top the ball passing and

conquer walls and blocks of players respectively. “I would like to commend all of you who have gone this far,” Coach Rody speaks.

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“After all, we will only be catering six new players, they are...”The small crowd behind me starts to make noise. One by one, the names are called.

I know I did my best, so I keep a tight grasp on the little hope I have. “And the sixth slot is for,” Coach focuses his view. “Fajardo, Alex. Welcome to Blue

Sailors.”I release a long sigh. Turning my face on the left side, I catch Bruno smirking at me.

••••Waking up in the morning is a piece of cake for me. I quickly fix myself and

hurriedly head to school. “You’re late. Give me 120 push ups,” Bruno welcomes my entrance in the gym.I look at my phone. “Seriously? It’s only 07:02.”“Exactly. You’re two minutes late. Now, move, dumb skull.” I drop on the floor and start counting. A copper-haired guy named Copper approach the both of us. “Hey, Bruno. Don’t be

so mean to... Alex, right?”I nod.

••••06:50 AM. Well, I think I get in the court earlier than any one else.“Good boy. But I got here earlier,” Bruno breaks my reverie. “Get the mop and start

cleaning the floor.”I look around the area looking for any proof if he actually sleeps here. Nothing.Other players start to appear and wonder what magic makes my laborious aura

comes alive. Charlie, a freshman like me, draws near to me with a mop.“Do you know the history?” he asks.I turn to face him. “What history?”He says in near whisper, “About Bruno and the team. You know, the past few years

for Blue Sailors had been so crucial. Previous players had turn their backs because of Bruno. And it won’t be unusual for them if we back out. But we will stay whatever Bruno’s blunt personality does.”

“Why would Bruno be so mean to us?” I fire back.“I don’t know. But keep your socks up. They won gold in the SEABUL last year.

And we’ll win it again after three years. And be strong, we observe that Bruno eyes you as his next prey.”

“What? Seabull?”Charlie rolls his eyes. “South East Asia Basketball University League.”

••••“Ppprrrt!”Coach’s whistle reverberates in my ears. Signaling by his hands, he orders us to

assemble before him. Then, he glances at Bruno. “You observe them while on practice.” I run ahead and position myself. Charlie passes the ball to me. Dribbling, I motion from left to right and vice versa. Two of the other team’s players

30

circle around me. My Nike squeaks confidence against the floor. From the corner of my eyes, I see Copper waving his hands. I ignore him. I can shoot

a point in this near-impossible situation. I take a step back and throw the ball. Bingo!“What are you Fajardo? Crazy?” Bruno blares in fury. “But I made it,” I respond.“I don’t care,” he seethes. “I saw your situation. Copper had the best spot to shoot,

but you turned your cheek. We don’t push limits alone because we are a team.”••••

It’s been a month of practicing. And those previous practices were terrible. Bruno kept embarrassing me like I had scraped the worst wound to him. And he keeps doing it.

Last time, I was able to get through his block by faking the direction I was going to. He tried to chase me, but he tripped over. I had also have the chance to steal the ball from his security. I saw him just smirking at me.

After all, if he is trying to drag me down, I will maintain my tight grip onto the ring.••••

At this moment, our team is on the game against its last opponent to qualify for a national league. As what Coach Rody said before the game, I may be new in my team, but I have grown old in basketball.

Energized, I motion across the court. I dribble the ball as I make my way through other players. But the bigger guy on the other team puts me to a quick stop. And the situation is like a jammed traffic. I remember the same scene I had experienced in the practice where I accidentally made Bruno angry.

I scan the area. I take a backstep and throw the ball. But it’s fake. I intend to pass the ball to Bruno. We play as a team. We don’t push limits alone.

Bruno receives the ball and shoots it. Three points! He smirks at me.We are ahead of the opponent. Few more points and we will hook championship.

The other team does everything they can, but the walls we have built put us unscathed.Now, the ball is firmly secured again in Bruno’s hands. He is swift, but like what

happened to me, the bigger guy pauses his motion. Another comes over and blocks his way. And the time on the screen displays the last ten seconds of the game. He glances at me and smirks. I know Bruno can make his way.

I am about to change my position when Bruno releases the ball on his right side. The ball draws close to me. I grab it like it is my life. I take one step back and shoot the ball. Three points!

The next moment becomes blur. I just realize my teammates are tapping my shoulders, scratching my hair. Hearing bunch of congratulations, my mind settles in a notion that we won the game. A hand appears before me. It’s from Bruno. I shake his hand.

He says, “If you think I try to pull you down, you got it wrong.”I look at him with a shaking smile.Then, he stresses, “I think you’re prepared now to guide your team on SEABUL.”

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Poetry

Hersby Mdpn. Mark Luis S. Sedicol

Hers iselegance, anethereal orb gyratingover the blue planet’s crests.Hers are shared sunbeamsgilded distant discs in a crepuscularnight sky. Hers is the universe in the myriad of t iny minute stars.Wa x i n g. Wa n i n g. I l l u m i n a t i n g.Perhaps the most chased in the high.For hers is the timeless, deceiving visageCapturing Orion’s heart, of dauntless god.Fu l l . H a l f . G i b b o u s a n d C r e s c e n tIn any form her changing moonlight casts,An array of golden shears in the midstO f specta cular spotted ba ckdr op.Ye t , h e r s i s t h e g u i l t , o f h a v i n g abeauty, so deviant, so unnaturally. In every stunning shine, a shadow of g u i l t e n c o m p a s s e s . I n e v e r y glistening moonbeam, dispersing arc of questionable glory. For hers is a wondrous beauty, seems so natural purloined f r o m t h e m i g h t y , p u i s s a n t s u n .

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Binalaybay

Ang Adlawni Tam Tam Marianilo

Ang adlaw daw ang ex koKay di ko matulok diretso.Ang adlaw daw ang crush koKay kung ara gaparamalhas ilok ko.

Ang adlaw daw exam ni ma’amGina-taguan, gina lagyuhan.Ang adlaw daw Loramich nga tyanggeAng kabuhi ko sa iya ga-dipende.

Ang adlaw daw si BoyetKinahanglan sang tanan.Ang adlaw daw ang swimming poolKis-a daw hindi mapuslan.

Oh adlaw! Oh adlaw!Seaman bala ikaw?Kay kinanglan ka sang kalibutanSyempre kay hot and handsome!

Binalaybay

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Daw kang kan o langni MJ

Kung akun turukon kag binagbinagunAng mga nagriligad nga handurawunDaw kang kan-o lang, kadasig kang panahon.

Madumduman ko pa nga katu kami gadapli asinNaga pangutang kag gabaton palabaDaw kang kan-o lang, ang kapigaduhon nga perti ka luya.

Grabe kabudlay ang magtuon nga wara kuryenteAgwanta sa kingki kag sulo nga mitsaDaw kang kan-o lang, nga ang amon balay madulum.

Nami daad mag turog kung aga, ugaring kaySi tatay nagapamukaw nga malabo kuno kang bakaDaw kang kan-o lang, nga kami nagabaka-baka ubra sa uma.

Pero ang tanan nga paghimakas kang pamilyaSa uruhi gid man nagbungaDaw kang kan-o lang, ang pagsakripisyo nanda.

Ang walo nga mga kabataan nga ginakabig kang anda mga ginikananNga mga planeta kang andang kabuhiKadya mga propesyonal kag madinuagon dun, daw kang kan-o lang.

Binalaybay

34

Tula

Baon muna bago hugotni Mdpn. Marfred John V. Jauod

Lahat na lang puro hugot at may pinaghuhugutan;Sasabi na sana naging dumi ka nalang, naging ipis, at kung anu-ano pa.Malimit na ikinukumpara ang pag-ibig o ang kasintahan Sa bagay, hayop o sitwasyon na ‘di naman magkaugnay at magkaiba.Kahit saan ay ating mababasa at masisilayanAng mga sana, bakit, paano at mga kaila,Pero sana bago ka humugot siguruhin mo namanNa may binaon ka at may kakalkalin. Hindi ‘yung sasabi ka ng hugot lines na ‘di ka pa nakaranasNa umibig, umasa, mabigo, matuto at magpakabobo.Katulad lang ‘yan na bumungkal ka ng malalalim na lupa,Umaasang may ginto.Katulad lang ‘yan na tumingala ka sa kalangitan at humiling Pero walang mga bituin kasi makulimlim. Ibaon mo muna bago ka humugot.

Maikling Kwento

Sa Likod ng Matalim na Sungayni Mdpn. John Carl T. Tagulalap

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Galit ako sa aking sarili. Galit ako sa mahihina. Galit na galit.Kilala ako sa tawag na “Benjie the Bully” kaya’t tila mga basang sisiw ang

maaaninag sa bawat mag-aaral na aking nadadaanan. Kasama ang aking mga disipulo, kinatatakutan kami ng bawat mag-aaral.

“Oh pare! Ayan na pala ang paborito mong isda. Ayan na si Sam!” hudyat ng isa kong katropa sabay kindat ng kanyang mga mata.

Bago pa man makaupo si Sam, pinalibutan na namin siyang magkakabarkada. Pinalo ko nang malakas ang kanyang mesa at hinila pataas ang kanyang damit. Halos nakalutang na siya sa aking pagkakapit habang nanginginig.

“Kamusta na ang pinakamamahal kong Sam? Hindi mo man lang ba kami babatiin ng magandang umaga? Hindi mo ba ako naiisip sa tuwing gigising ka?” pananakot ko kay Sam habang nagpupumiglas mula sa pagkakahawak ko sa kanya.

Nagtawanan ang buong barkada dahil sa mga luhang tumutulo mula sa mga mata nito. Napakahina ni Sam. Hindi siya marunong humingi ng tulong mula sa iba. Hindi man lang siya nagsusumbong mula sa mga pang-aaping ginagawa namin sa kanya. Hindi siya marunong lumaban para sa kanyang sarili. Napakalampa niya at napakahina. Galit ako sa kahinaang taglay niya. Kinamumuhian ko siya dahil hindi niya kayang ipagtanggol ang kanyang sarili pati na ang mga taong mahal niya habang hinahamak ng iba. Hindi ko siya gusto.

“Ayan na ang ating guro! Papalapit na!” sigawan ng mga tao sa silid.“Oh, pa’no ba ‘yan Sam? Mamaya nalang ulit tayo maglaro,” sabi ko sa kanya

habang nakaupo sa sahig matapos kong bitawan ang aking pagkakahawak.Hindi nagtapos doon ang aming katuwaan kay Sam. Tila walang kapaguran ang

aming mga kamay sa pagpapagulong at panggugulo ng kanyang buhay.Pagkatapos ng isang nakakabagot na klase, nag-abang kami sa pagdaan ng anino

ni Sam sa may labasan. Hindi nagtagal ang aming paghihintay nang siya ay magpakita. Agad kong ipinatong ang aking mga braso sa kanyang balikat at inakay papunta sa may bakanteng lote sa likod ng paaralan kasama ang barkada.

Ang aking pagtulak sa kanya ang naging sanhi ng kanyang pagbagsak at pagkalat ng mga laman ng kanyang bag.

Tinitigan niya kami ng kanyang nagmamakaawang mga mata na may bakas ng matinding takot sa maaari na naman naming gawin.

37

“Ang dami pala nating baon ngayon Sam. Bakit hindi mo ibigay ang iba sa amin at mabusog naman kami?” pananakot ko kay Sam.

“Huwag ninyo akong saktan. Kunin niyo na ang lahat na magustuhan ninyo at paalisin niyo na ako. Pakiusap,” sambit ni Sam habang nagmamakaawa.

Itinaas niya ang kanyang mga kamay malapit sa kanyang mukha bilang pangharang sa suntok na maaaring ibigay sa kaniya anumang oras.

“Magaling Sam at natututo ka na. Paano ba yan? Kukunin na pala namin yung ibang mga gamit mo munting Sam. Sa uulitin Sam,” mga huling salita na aking ibinigkas sa kanya bago umalis dala-dala ang ilan sa mga bagay na aming nakuha.

Napakahina mo kasi Sam at hindi ka marunong lumaban para sa sarili mo, nasabi ko na lamang sa aking sarili sabay lakad papalayo.

Nakahalik na ang araw sa dalampasigan nang ako ay makauwi sa bahay matapos mawalay sa barkada. Malayo pa lang ay tanaw ko na ang anino ni Ina. Nakaupo siya sa labas at tila naghihintay sa aking pagdating.

Nang ako ay makalapit, tumambad sa akin ang mga nakakalat na bote ng alak na wala nang laman at upos ng sigarilyo. Halos hindi na makaupo nang matuwid ang aking ina at napasandal na lamang siya sa pader sa likod ng kanyang kinauupuan. Kinuha ko ang kanyang braso at inilapat sa aking balikat upang maihatid sa kanyang kwarto.

Hindi na naging bago sa aking paningin ang ganitong pangyayari. Noong araw na nagsimulang hindi na umuuwi si Ama, lagi nalang bote ng alak

at sigarilyo ang hawak-hawak niya mula umaga. Kung minsan, sinusugod kami ng tindera sa kabilang kanto dahil sa tambak na pagkakautang ni Ina.

Kung ako ang siga at kinatatakutan sa paaralan, tila isang basang sisiw naman ako sa tuwing ako ay nasa bahay. Sunud-sunuran ako sa aking Ina na lunod sa impluwensya ng alak at sigarilyo. Ang masaklap pa doon, ako ang naging buntungan ng kanyang galit kaya mga pasa lagi ang naabutan ko.

Malapit na kami sa kanyang kwarto nang bigla akong may naramdaman na sakit sa ulo. Nakita ko na lamang ang mga piraso ng basag na bote sa sahig kasabay ng pag-agos ng dugo sa aking noo. Ginawa na naman ni Inay. Ako na naman ang pinagbuntungan niya ng galit.

“Kung... ‘di dahil...sa iyo, kasama pa sana...natin ang iyong... Ama. Hindi kita kailangan.... dito,” putol-putol na sigaw ni Ina sabay sampal na may kasama pang tadyak.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas sa paghahagulhol ni Ina. Sa bawat galit na kanyang pinapakawalan, sakit naman sa katawan ang aking naaabutan. Hinintay ko siyang matapos at makatulog. Umalis ako sa kwarto pagkatapos.

Tila ilang buwan na ang paghihirap ni Ina dahil sa pag-iwan ni Ama. Ni bakas ng kaunting pagbabago ay wala akong nakita sa kanya. Habang tumatagal ay lalo pa yatang lumalala ang kanyang sitwasyon.

Hindi ko na maasahan ang tulong ni Ina sa aking mga problema dahil siya

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mismo ay isa sa mga ito. Kahit isang kaibigan ay wala naman ako. Barkada lang sa pang-aaway ang tanging nariyan sa akin, ngunit hindi ko naman sila maasahan sa ganitong sitwasyon. Itinakwil na rin kami ng pamilya ng aking mga magulang dahil sa pang-aaway ni Ina. Tanging si Ama nalang ang aking natitirang sandalan sa ganitong mga problema.

Nang masiguro kong nakatulog na si Ina, dali-dali akong umalis papunta kay Ama. Naging maingat ako upang hindi siya magising dahil kapag ako ay kanyang mahuli, sandamakmak namang bugbog ang aabutin ko.

Hinahabol ko ang aking paghinga nang makarating ako sa lugar ni Ama dahil sa mabilis kong takbo. Napangiti na lamang ako nang makita ko si Ama sa dati nitong pwesto. Lumapit ako nang dahan-dahan, suot ang isang ngiti.

“Mahal kong Ama, naparito po ako upang humingi sana ng tulong ninyo,” mga salitang binitawan ko kasabay ng mga luha.

••••Hindi ko malilimutan ang gabi ng Hulyo 22. Magkasama kaming nakasakay sa

motorsiklo ni Ama pauwi mula sa kanyang trabaho. Nasa gitna kami ng biyahe nang makadaan kami sa isang masikot na lugar. May biglang humarang na tatlong taong naka-motorsiklo. Pinatigil nila si Ama sabay tutok ng kutsilyo. Kinuha nila ang lahat ng pera at gamit na mayroon si Ama.

“Benjie, takbo!” sigaw ni Ama sa akin.Hindi ko alam kung ano ang aking gagawin kaya sinunod ko na lamang si Ama.

Kumaripas ako ng takbo na hindi alam ang paroroonan. Natagpuan ko na lamang ang aking sarili na balisang-balisa sa loob ng estasyon ng pulis. Humingi ako ng kanilang tulong kaya dali-dali silang pumunta sa kinaroroonan ni Ama. Naabutan naming mag-isa si Ama, ngunit naliligo sa kanyang sariling dugo.

••••Nakatayo pa rin ako sa isang sulok ng sementeryo sa harap ng puntod ni Ama.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang pag-uunahan ng aking mga luha. Labis ko pa ring sinisisi ang aking sarili sa nangyari.

Kung hindi lang sana ako naging mahina, sana naipagtanggol kita, Ama. Kung naging matapang lang sana ako upang ipaglaban ang mga mahal ko sa buhay, sana kasama ka pa namin. Kung natuto lang sana akong ipagtanggol ang mga mahalaga sa akin, sana ay masaya pa rin tayo Ama, pati na si Ina.

Galit ako sa aking sarili dahil ako ay mahina sa puntong kinakailangan ni Ama ng tulong. Sinusumpa ko ang aking sarili dahil hindi ko siya naipaglaban. Labis kong kinamumuhian ang kawalan ko ng lakas ng loob upang protektahan ang mga mahal ko. Hindi sana nagbago si Ina. Hindi sana nawala sa amin si Ama. Kung hindi lang ako naging mahina . . .

Galit ako sa aking sarili. Galit ako sa mahihina. Galit na galit.

39

Maikling Kwento

Akalani Mdpn. James Oliver M. Furog

40

“Huwag na huwag mo akong matawag-tawag na best kasi hayop ka! Ahas ka!” Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Lucy nang sambitin ang gustong ipahayag ng lumalagablab niyang damdamin. Hindi na niya kayang timpiin ang galit na kanyang kinikimkim. “Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin, ha? Bakit?! Ngayon, sasabihin mong, ama siya ng dinadala mo? Halika ditong hayop ka!”

Ramdam ni Malou ang bagsik ng kamay ni Lucy sa paghila ng kanyang buhok. Halos mapaiyak siya sa sakit. Nabigla siya sa naging reaksyon ni Lucy. Tila napakalaking tanong kung ano ang maling sinabi niya. Pero 'di na niya maalala iyon kasi lalong sumasakit ang paghila sa kanyang buhok na parang makakalbo na siya.

“Ano ba ang problema mo?” Magkahalong inis at galit na tanong ni Malou pagkatapos maawat ng lalaking kasama niya ang gulo. “Sandali lang, magpapaliwanag muna ako.”

“Ahhh. Nagpapaka-inosente ka ba, ha?! Walang hiya ka, hindi problema sa iyo 'to? Paliwanag? Magpapaliwanag ka pa ba? Anong akala mo sa akin, bulag? Bobo?!” Nagwala na nang tuluyan si Leah at hindi na pinapansin ang mga taong naintriga sa kanila sa gitna ng Dominion Plaza sa may fountain area. “At ikaw!” Tumalikod si Leah upang harapin ang lalaki. Nagbigay siya ng isang napakalakas na sampal sa kaliwang pisngi nito. “Huwag na huwag ka nang magpapakita sa akin kailanman. Diring-diri ako sa iyo!”

Hindi mabatid ng kasama ni Malou kung bakit galit na galit ito sa kanila, kung bakit pinagbuhatan siya nito ng kamay at nasabunutan ang sinisintang nagdadalantao. Kung hindi lang sana siya babae baka nasuntok na din niya ito bilang ganti.

“Hey miss,” tinapos na niya ang kanyang katahimikan. “Nandito kami ng bestfriend mo para sana ipakilala niya ako ng maayos sa taong katuwang niya sa mga problema. Kung alam naming ganito ang aming mapapala, sana hindi na kami pumarito pa. Tsaka anong inagaw niya ako sa iyo? Kailan ba naging tayo?” patapos na paliwanag niya na gulung-gulo sa mga sinasabi ni Leah upang hindi na lumala pa ang sitwasyon dahil nauubusan na din ng pasensya si Malou.

“Sana nga! At sana lamunin kayo ng apoy upang mawala na kayo sa mundo. Makakarma kayo, tandaan niyo 'yan. Pinagkaisahan niyo ako mga hayop kayo!” parang mawawalan na ng boses si Leah sa kasisigaw sa mga bumigo sa kanya na pasulyap-sulyap sa kanilang likuran habang papalayo. Nanghihina siyang lumuhod na halos naubos na ang kanyang enerhiya sa pagwawala at napaiyak na lang. Hindi niya inakala na ang itinuturing niyang sister-for-life ay kayang gibain ang tiwala at pagmamahal niya. Hindi niya rin lubos maisip na tila ba walang maling nangyayari, na hindi ito malaking bagay para paglaanan ng galit. Dahil dito, kinasusuklaman niya ang dalawa.

Nagugunaw ang mundo ni Leah. Hindi parin siya makapaniwala sa nangyari. Ito na yata ang pinakamalalim na sugat dulot ng maling akala na kahit ilang taon pa ang lilipas, hindi ito

41

mahihilom ng kahit anuman. Tinutusuk-tusok ng karayom ang kanyang puso na naghihintay na lamang na tumigil ito sa pagtibok upang maiwasan na niya ang kanyang paghihirap na minsa'y naranasan na. Gusto niyang magpakalasing.

10:30 na ng gabi. Halos hindi na siya makatayo sa sobrang kalasingan. Nilamon na ng alak ang desenteng pag-iisip niya. Bumabangga na siya sa mga mesang puno ng bote at ilang beses na din siya inalalayan ng iba't ibang lalaki sapagkat hindi na niya makontrol ang kanyang kinikilos. Hindi na niya naisip kung ano ang umudyok sa kanyang pumarito at sa katunayan, unang beses niya. Tanging ang sa isip niya ay magsaya. Hindi niya hahayaan ang sariling maglugmok dahil lamang doon. Tuloy pa rin ang buhay.

Tumunog ang kanyang telepono. Kahit medyo naiinis dahil sagabal ito, dinukot niya sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon at kinilala ang nais kumausap sa kanya sa kabila ng duling na paningin. Nagawa niyang basahin.

“Mark?” Natauhan si Leah nang nalaman niya. Si Mark. Si Mark na manloloko. Siya ang lalaking bukod-tanging minahal niya nang ganap subalit pinaasang mahal na mahal siya. Bumalik ang umaalab na galit sa puso ni Leah. Higit pa ito sa galit niya kanina. Desperada siyang makaganti dito upang maibsan ang hinanakit.

“Nasaan ka mahal?” tanong ni Mark.“Sa Ivory 6 Club. Sobrang saya pala,” sagot niya sa kalmang tono at batid sa kanyang boses

ang kasiyahan.“Bakit ka nandiyan? Akala ko ba maliwanag ang naging kasunduan natin? May malaking

problema ka ba? Mapapano ka diyan,” alala na lamang ni Mark.Sa pagkakaalam kasi ni Mark, napagkasunduan nilang bawal silang pumunta sa kahit

anong club habang sila pa. Tandang-tanda pa niya na nagpinky swear pa silang dalawa sa lahat ng kasunduan nila bilang magkarelasyon. Batid niyang maraming insidente na ang nangyari sa club na iyon kaya ganito siya mag-alala. Ang nakakainis lang, ni hindi man lang siya niyaya nito. Naisip niya tuloy na nanlalamig na ito sa kanya.

Sa kagustuhan niyang sumigaw, hindi niya magawa. Mayroon pa rin siyang kahihiyan sa sarili. May problema daw? Hindi ba niya alam ang ginawa niya kay Leah? Tunay bang likas sa kanya ang pagpanggap na nilibing niya sa limot ang sugat na nilikha niya? Lalong umaapoy sa galit si Leah. Kahit ano'ng mangyari, lubhang nanggigigil na siyang gumanti.

Dumating si Mark sa club. Hawak-kamay niyang pinasok si Leah sa palikurang pambabae. Malimit ang mga taong gumagamit kaya doon sila nagdesisyong mag-usap. Ikinandado ni Mark ang pinto.

“Ano ba sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo dito?” alalang tanong niya na may kasabay na inis.“At may pakialam ka pa pala sa buhay kong sinira mo? Anong gagawin mo, makikipaglaro

ka sa akin ng apoy para kapag nagbunga, may responsibilidad ka din sa akin? Tapos ano? Iiwan mo ako dahil may tungkulin ka din sa kabila na former best friend ko pa?!” pumutok siya ulit at nanlalaki na ang mga mata.

“Ano ba ang sinasabi mo?” naguguluhang tanong ni Mark. “Anong responsibilidad sa bestfriend mo? Ako? Teka, hindi na talaga kita maintindihan.”

“Pinagtitripan mo ba ako? Ano akala mo sa akin, baliw? Hindi ka pa nakuntento at gusto

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mo pa talagang ulit-ulitin ang panloloko sa akin ha.”“Teka lang, hindi ko talaga alam ang tungkol diyan. Ano ba ang nangyayari sa iyo? Halika

na. Umuwi na tayo at doon ka muna sa amin magpalipas ng gabi.”Ramdam ni Mark ang galit ni Leah sa kanya pero hindi niya malaman, paano at bakit.

May maling nangyayari talaga na hindi dapat.“Bitawan mo ako!” atubiling sabi ni Leah sabay tulak sa kanya nang malakas sa matigas

na semento.Isang malakas na tulak ang naramdaman ni Mark. Iniisip niyang isang tulak iyon ni

Leah. Isang tulak ng pusong puno ng pighati at suklam. Naramdaman niyang nabugok sa malakas na hampas ang kanyang ulo sa semento. Nawalan siya ng malay.

Namulat ang mga mata ni Leah sa matinding sikat ng araw. Nangalay ang kanyang leeg. “Masamang panaginip lang pala,” ani niya sa sarili. Nagpakawala siya ng isang malalim na hinga at pinaandar ang telebisyon.

“Isang lalaki ang natagpuang patay sa palikuran ng isang club. Dead-on-arrival ang biktima dahil sa internal hemorrhage. Napag-alamang ang pangalan ng biktima ay Mark Montevierde.”

Sumikip ang dibdib ni Leah na pawang hindi makahinga sa balita sabay patay ng telebisyon. Inalala niya ang nangyari kahapon at bawat detalye ng pangyayari ay...hindi pala isang panaginip. Hindi na niya malaman kung ano ang gagawin. Nakagawa siya ng isang krimeng alam niyang magpapabago sa buhay niya. Naninindig ang kanyang balahibo sa takot. Dali-dali siyang bumangon at umalis.

Taimtim na nagdadasal si Leah habang nakaluhod. Pilit niyang sinasambit ang salitang “patawad” habang umiiyak nang lubusan. Iyak ng takot. Mga labinlimang minuto na siyang lumuluhod at nananalangin nang may babae at lalaking tumayo sa gilid niya at sinambit ang kanyang pangalan.

“Leah, kumusta ka na?” masayang bati ng babae.“Malou?” tumitig ang kanyang lumuluhang mga mata kay Malou. “Patawad sa...” Bigla

siyang napahinto sa kanyang sasabihin nang masilayan ang itsura ng lalaki. “... Mark? Mark!” humagulgol siya habang niyayakap ang lalaki sa baywang.

“Teka, teka Leah,” pilit niyang hinihiwalay ang dalawa.“Ano na naman Malou? Mahal ko siya. Kahit maghati pa tayo ng pag-ibig, kakayanin

ko hangga't nasa tabi ko lang si Mark. Aangkinin ko siya dahil akin naman talaga si Mark at hinding-hindi ko makakaya na mawalay sa kanya.”

“Makinig ka sa akin Leah. Naaalala mo ba ang ginawa mo sa amin kahapon? Hinila mo ang buhok ko at pinagbuhatan mo siya ng kamay. Bakit mo ginawa 'yon eh hindi ko naman inaagaw si Mark sa iyo. Ito sana ang gusto kong sabihin sa iyo na...”

“Na ano?” naintriga at naguguluhang tanong ni Leah.“Magkakambal ang iniibig natin. Hindi ko man maipaliwanag pero sila ay kambal. Gusto

ko pala ipakilala sa iyo ang ama ng dinadala ko.”Namumula na ang mga mata ni Leah sa kakaiyak. Parang mababaliw na siya sa mga

sinasabi ni Malou. “Leah, si Menard Montevierde pala.”

43

Maikling Kwento

Pula. Puti. Itim. Dilaw. Bughaw.Halos lahat ng kulay ng sapatos nakolekta ko na. Mula sa shades ng mga pangunahing

kulay hanggang sa shades of black na kasingkulay ng kili-kili ng tindera sa shop. Para na ‘atang Shoemart ang buong kwarto ko dahil sa dami ng sapatos na iba-iba ang kulay na naka-display. Ewan ko ba, mahilig akong magpapalit-palit at hindi magawang magsawa sa pagpili.

Bata pa lang ako, kinahiligan ko na ang magsuot ng sapatos. Natakot kasi noon ang nanay ko na baka matulad ang paa ko sa pinsan niyang halos 180 degrees ang pagkakabuka ng paa na parang sa bibe. Mula sa bahay hanggang sa paaralan, sapatos palagi ang sapin sa paa ko. Hanggang sa nagsilabasan ang iba’t ibang brand at disenyo, sinimulan kong kolektahin ang lahat ng nagugustuhan ko.

Ayon nga sa sabi nila, “Ipinapakita ng sapatos mo kung ano ang ugali mo.” Sabi ko naman, “Ipinapakita ng sapatos ko kung gaano ako kayaman.” Nabuhay kasi ako sa marangyang pamilya. Makukuha ko ang lahat ng gusto ko dahil may pera kami lalong lalo na at anak ako ng may-ari ng isang malaking tindahan ng sapatos sa Marikina. Siyempre, ako pa ba ang papahuli? May signature kick ang sapatos ko. Kailangang stand-out ako lalo na kung napapagitna sa madla. Ako lang naman si Roberto Atarantado Catingkati Jr., kasinlikot ng pangalan ko ang bawat araw na pangungulit kay tatay para

ni Someone like you

Sapin sa Paa

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lang mabilhan niya ako ng bagong sapatos.“Papsy...alam mo nagtop ako sa paaralan. Pwede naman sigurong makapili ng

sapatos sa shop?” palambing kong daing sa aking ama.“Totoo? Ang galing mo naman anak. Dahil maulan ang panahon ngayon makakapili

ka sa mga sapatos na 200 pababa ang presyo at gawa sa goma,” sarkastikong sagot sa akin ni ama.

“Tay, yung sapatos na panggala, hindi yung school shoes na cheap.”“Hindi ba’t kakabigay ko lang sa iyo noong nakaraang linggo? Naku naman anak!

Baka sa sobrang dami ng koleksyon mo ng sapatos, magmamay-ari ka na ng ukay-ukay,” nagkakamot ng ulo niyang tugon.

“Sige na tay. Kanina pa ako hinihintay ng mga kaklase ko. May lakad kami para sa proyekto,” pagdadahilan ko.

“Huwag mo nga akong pinaglololoko, Abril ngayon at walang pasok. Isa pa matumal ang bentahan kaya bantayan mo na lang ang shop.”

Naging mahigpit na si Papsy simula noong pumanaw si Mamsy. Nahihirapan na nga akong makahingi ng bagong sapatos kaya pumanhik nalang ako sa shop at kusang pumasok sa stock room.

“Halos lahat naman nito ay nasuot ko na. Ano to? Paulit-ulit na lang? Unli? Unli? Hmmm...teka...ayon!” Napaturo ako sa isang high-cut shoes na mayroong printed design ng bughaw na buwan sa kanyang itim na tela at puti ang kanyang sintas.

“Tamang-tama ito para sa gala namin.”Ginabi na kami ng gala at nauwi akong pagod na pagod. Natagpuan ko na lang sa

sala si Papsy na natutulog habang humihilik na parang isang galon ng sipon ang bumara sa ilong niya. Nakakadiri ang bawat tunog na naririnig ko. Para talagang sipon na nanigas sa loob.

Masayang masaya talaga ako. Naalala ko ang isa naming tindera sa shop na bungi-bungi ang ngipin.

“Magandang hapon sher!” bati niya sa customer na pumasok sa shop.Naalala ko din kung paano niya binubunot ang balahibo sa kili-kili niyang putok-

putok. Palagi niyang suot ang paborito niyang damit na may print na “This is what hotness is like.” Pak!

“Berto! Anong nagyari sa paa mo?” nakakagising na sigaw ni Papsy.“Nakakadisturbo ka naman Papsy. Ano bang...” napatingin ang mata kong kakamulat

lamang sa aking mga paa at laking gulat ko lang nang... “Jus pursanto... bakit puno ng an-an at nangangamoy bulok na itlog ang mga paa

mo?” natataranta niyang tanong. “Hindi...” wala na akong nagawa kundi ang mapasigaw sa laking gulat ko.“Hoy, Berto! Bakit sigaw ka nang sigaw?” tanong ni Papsy habang kinukuyog ang

aking katawan. Nagising nalang ako bigla.Napayakap nalang ako kay Papsy at napaluha habang amoy na amoy ko ang wild

berries scent ng aming air freshener.

Maikling Kwento

ni Mdpn. Robin John B. Labauan

Ekstrang Kromosoma

46

Parehong dugo lamang ang nananalaytay sa aming mga ugat. Iisang bubong lang at maalagang magulang ang aming pinagsasaluhan. Ate Kambal ang nakasanayan niyang itawag sa akin, pero kinamumuhian ko siya. Uulitin ko para tumagos, kinamumuhian ko siya!

Tulad na lamang ng pagdusa ng mga damong pinagpipiyestahang kainin ng mga hayop na baka, ganyan din ang gusto kong sapitin ni Aurora. Nais kong lapain siya ng mga baka gaya na lamang ng paglapa nito sa mga damong malayang tumutubo sa lupa. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako humantong sa ganitong sitwasyon, pero kumukulo ang dugo ko sa aking kakambal. Siguro, dahil hindi na mabilang ng aking sampung daliri ang mga pasakit na naidulot niya sa akin. Kasalanan ko ba kung isinilang siyang kulang-kulang, at pati ako ay nadamay sa kamalasan niya?

Sariwa pa sa bagong pitas na gulay ang mga alaalang bumabagabag sa aking isipan. Alaalang naibaon ko na sa lupa pero patuloy pa ring nabubungkal. Ang mga gunitang 'yon ay umiikot sa kung paano ginawa ni Aurora na miserable ang pamamalagi ko sa mundong ibabaw. Iginapos ako ng sakim at galit sa taong magiging kaagapay ko sana sa mga hamon na ibibigay ng buhay. Pero ang inaasahan kong mangyayaring tagpo ay nagkabaliktad, sapagkat nabalot ng samu't saring pighati ang samahan naming magkambal.

"A-ate kambal. T-tulong punas pupu...” isang gasgas at utal-utal na boses ang kumalabit sa aking tenga. Napahinto ako sa ginagawang proyekto sa Ingles upang namnamin ang nakakairitang tinig ng kakambal kong may diperensiyang henetiko (genetic disorder).

"A-ate kambal. P-pwede tulong punas pupu?" Nakadungaw lang siya sa bahagyang nakabukas na pintuan at ibinalandra ang namamalimos na mga mata, umaasang tutugon ako sa hinihinging pabor.

"Aurora! Labimpitong taong gulang ka na para ipahawak iyang dumi mo sa iba. Lumayo ka rito at pinapakulo mo na naman ang dugo ko. Abnormal!" Lumipad patungo kay Aurora ang binabasa kong aklat nang wala sa oras. Mula sa malayuang distansiya, nahagilap ko ang pagragasa ng mga likidong perlas mula sa basang-sisiw niyang mata. Napatakbo siya sa kabilang kwarto matapos ihampas nang napakalakas ang pintuan. Hinayaan ko siyang magdrama at tinutukang maigi ang nasimulang proyekto.

"Nais pa sana naming magtagal ka at maging bahagi ng grupong ito dahil sa mala-Einstein mong pag-iisip. Pero matapos mahagip ang impormasyong mayroon kang kambal na kulang-kulang, wala ka nang karapatang manatili pa rito," isang anunsiyong

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may halong tawanan ang sumalubong sa akin sa pagpasok ko sa opisina sa sinasalihang club.

Parang nadaganan ng gahiganteng gusali ang reputasyon ko sa mga puntong iyon. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin matapos burahin sa listahan ang aking pangalan bilang kasapi ng debate team. Nilunok ko at ninamnam ang kahihiyan at kusang lumuhod sa kanila, maisalba lamang ang tuition fee discount na ibinabahagi ng grupo. Subalit, imbes na pakinggan ang aking apela, isang mala-demonyong hagikhikan ang inihain nila sa akin. Kinimkim ko ang galit sa nakarehas kong puso.

Unti-unting nasindihan ang nararamdaman kong pagkasuklam kay Aurora, hanggang sa lumagablab ito na parang ligaw na apoy. Pati sa apat na sulok ng paaralan, parang asong buntot nang buntot ang salot na dinadala niya sa aking buhay. Kung bakit ba kasi sa dinami-rami na pwedeng maging kakambal, iyon pang may ekstrang kromosoma (extra chromosome) ang naibigay sa akin. Iyon pang pasanin, pabigat at kulang-kulang!

Sa aming magkakapatid, si Aurora lamang ang nakakabingwit nang mala-asukal na atensyon mula sa aming mga magulang. Siya lamang ang nananatiling bida at prayoridad sa pamilya. Sa tuwing sumasapit ang aming kaarawan, siya lamang ang mababanaagan mo ng mala-Ilog Pasig na ngiti sapagkat magagarbong regalo ang dumadapo sa kanyang mga kamay. Habang ako, nagtatiyaga sa mga gasgas at nakakabinging-linyang, "Anak, ihahabol na lang namin ng Papa mo ang regalo namin para sa 'yo."

"Siguro, masarap din ang magkaroon ng henetikong diperensiya. Sana ako na lang ang isinilang na kulang-kulang at si Aurora na lang ang naging normal." Mga katagang nais kong isampal sa tenga ng aking mga magulang pero nananatiling nakakulong sa bukana ng aking lalamunan. Nakapako pa sa aking memorya at patuloy na nagpapahapdi ang mga hinaing na gusto kong isumbat sa kanila.

Halos habulin ko naman ang aking hininga sa mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa aming paaralan. Kaliwa't kanan ang mga asignatura't proyekto na dapat ipasa bago pa kami dalawin ng deadline. Idagdag mo na ang pagkatanggal ko sa debate team na talagang magdudulot ng malaking problema sa aking pag-aaral.

Napahiga ako sa aking kutson sa sobrang pagod. Habang nagmumuni-muni, nahagilap ng aking paningin ang naumpisahang scrapbook sa Ingles, at bahagyang nakabukas ang iilan sa mga pahina nito. Tinungo ko ang direksiyon ng aking scrapbook at gumulantang sa aking harapan ang mga guhit na walang pangunahing paksa. Napuno nang guhit ang scrapbook na pinagbuhusan ko ng balde-baldeng pawis. Habang binabalikwas ang mga sumusunod na pahina, umusok ang tuktok ko sa nakitang sulat-kamay ni Aurora.

"Mahal ko, Ate Kambal." Malabo ang mga letrang nakapaskil sa papel pero 'yon ang nakasaad dito.

"Mahal ko, Ate Kambal." At meron pang hindi klaro na mga guhit ang nakapalibot dito, parang sulat ng isang batang walang pinag-aralan. Walang bukas kong tinungo ang kabilang kwarto at inistorbo ang nagmamantika niyang tulog.

"Aurora, ilang beses ko na bang sinabi sa 'yo na huwag mong pinakikialaman ang

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mga gamit ko!!" Nagulat siya sa pagkakasigaw ko habang ginugusot ang manggas ng kanyang damit.

"A-ate. T-takot ako iyo," pansin ko na nanginginig ang kaniyang labi at nagbabadya nang pumatak ang pinipigilang luha.

"Natatakot ka? Ha!? Hindi mo ba alam kung paano ko pinaggugulan ng atensiyon ang scrapbook na ito, tapos sisirain mo lang? Palibhasa, abnormal ka! Kulang-kulang!" itinulak ko siya sa pader buhat na rin ng sobrang galit. Doon ko na naibuhos ang lahat ng pagkasuklam na nararamdaman ko kay Aurora. Gusto kong gumanti sa lahat ng mga aberyang naidulot niya sa akin, mula pagkabata hanggang sa natubuan na ako ng ulirat. Hangad kong magdusa siya. Gigil na gigil akong ihampas ang sakit na naranasan ko dahil lamang sa kondisyon niya, dahil lamang sa isinilang siyang kulang- kulang. At nagtagumpay ako sa plano kong pang-impyerno, nagpunyagi akong maghiganti sa aking kakambal.

Napahagulhol si Aurora sa madilim at maliit na parte ng kanyang kuwarto. Banaag sa repleksiyon ng kaniyang mukha na parang ginutay ng matutulis na karayom ang kaniyang puso. Nagkakarerahan sa paghulog ang mga butil ng luha na nanggagaling sa matang tirahan ng pighati. Napatayo siya nang wala sa oras at parang kidlat na sumulpot sa aking harapan. Sinundan ko ang tunog ng kanyang yabag at dinala ako ng mga tunog sa labas ng aming tahanan. Tatawid na sana si Aurora patungong kabilang kanto nang biglang. . .

"Aurora!!!" daig ko pa ang ingay ng kampana sa lakas ng aking tili. "Aurora! Tumingin ka sa mga mata ni Ate Kambal." Iginapos ko siya sa aking mga bisig gaya na lamang ng pag-akay ng inahing manok sa kanyang mga sisiw.

"Patawarin mo ako, Aurora. Patawarin mo si Ate Kambal." Halos iluwa na ng dibdib ko ang aking puso sa bilis ng pagtibok nito. Dahan-dahang tumigil ang pag-ikot ng orasan habang bumabagsak ang mga luhang parang ambon na nagmumula sa maitim na ulap.

Hawak niya ang kamay ko, at hawak ko rin ang kamay niya. "M-mahal ko, A-ate K-kambal." Ang huling naibigkas ng mapusyaw niyang bibig

at dahan-dahang isinara ang napapagod nang mga mata.••••

Kinamumuhian ko ang aking sarili sa mga nagawang kababuyan sa aking kakambal. Parang umaapaw na tubig sa ilog ang nararamdaman kong pagsisisi. Pero kahit nadungisan ko ng kagimbal-gimbal na alaala ang huling pamamalagi ni Aurora, nagawa niya pa rin akong patawarin. Nagawa akong patawarin ng kakambal kong nagkaroon ng henetikong diperensiya. Saan man siya dalhin ng agos ng kapalaran, mananatiling nakakandado ang mga gunitang aming napagsaluhan sa loob ng labimpitong taon.

Mahal ko si Aurora, at nais kong ipagbigay-alam ito sa kaniya. Darating ang takdang panahon, magkikita ulit kami ng kakambal kong may ekstra na kromosoma sa katawan, alam ko.

Maikling Kwento

ni Mdpn. Rodel J. Galvan

Hudas

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Tuluyang sinakop ng gabi ang buong kabahayan, nandilim ang malalaki at maliliit na lansangan, dumampi sa mukha ng mga taong nakikipagsapalaran sa lungsod. Sa ‘di kalayuan ay nakikipagpaligsahan ang matataas na gusali, namumukadkad at nagbubukod tangi sa mga patay sinding mga ilaw. Ngunit ang gabi ay hindi napapansin ng kwarentaysingko anyos na si Adong. Para sa kanya, karaniwan lamang ang gabing iyon sa isang katulad niyang sumusuong sa matinding hirap ng buhay.

Hindi alintana ang pagod at sakit ng katawan, tinitiis pa rin ni Adong ang hirap sa pag-oobertaym bilang isang karpintero. Minsan may pa ekstra-ekstra siyang trabaho sa construction site malapit sa kanyang pinapasukang bahay. Kinakailanagan niyang mag kayod-manok para sa kanyang asawa na si Senyang.

Namumurupot ang kanyang mukha at tila nangungulot ang kanyang noo habang hinahagkan ang tatlong libong pisong buwanang sahod. Nalilito siya kung papano pagkakasyahin ang maliit na halaga sa malaki nilang gastusin, gayong nahihiya naman siyang manghiram palagi sa kumpare nitong si Tiburcio.

May-ari ng malaking pabrikahan ng patis si Tiburcio. Nagpapautang din siya ng pera sa kanilang lugar. Noon paman ay malapit na sa puso ni Tiburcio ang pamilya ni Adong, lalong-lalo na si Senyang.

“Pareng Tiburcio, salamat sa tulong na binigay mo sa amin, malaking utang na loob naming lahat sa iyo ito.”

“Naku, pareng Adong wala iyon, basta para kay Senyang, at sa iyong buong pamilya handa akong tumulong.”

Sa paglaon ng mga araw at buwan, kasabay ng paglisan ng panahon ay tila naninibago si Adong sa kinikilos ng kanyang asawa. Labis ang kanyang pagtataka kung bakit palagi na lamang umaalis ng kanilang bahay si Senyang. Gayundin ay hindi na niya ito makita at makausap man lamang. Minsan ay nadatnan nitong nakasuot ng sleeveless at maiksing shorts ang asawa, puno ng kolorete ang mukha.

Napaupo na lamang si Adong sa gilid malapit sa kanilang bintana. Nakadungaw sa malayo at tila malalim ang iniisip. Pinipilit niyang burahin sa pahat na isipan ang namumuong pag-aalinlangan sa asawa. Natatakot siya sa magiging bunga ng kanyang nakakubling pangamba. Ayaw niyang isipin ang mga bagay na iyon subalit ganoon na lamang katindi ang kanyang imahinasyon at tila nilalamon siya nito pailalim. Ayaw niyang maging totoo ang kanyang hinala. Mabigat ang pakiramdam ni Adong sa mga panahong iyon at bigla na lamang pumatak sa kanyang mga mata ang butil ng mga luhang dulot ng takot at pag-aalala.

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Maaliwalas at madilim na waring namamahinga ang mga anino ng gabing iyon. Wala pa rin sa bahay si Senyang. Nagtatahulan ang mga aso na para bang may kaaway. Si Adong ay mahimbing na natutulog ngunit puno ng imahinasyon ang kanyang isipan. Ibinaling niya na lamang ang kanyang atensyon sa dingding at muling ipinikit ang mga pagod na mga mata.

Maya-maya pa ay may narinig siyang manipis na boses sa labas na humahagulhol, tila nahihingal. Pamilyar sa kanya ang tunog na iyon, boses iyon ni Senyang. Dahan-dahan niyang binuklat ang telang nakasapin sa bintana at diniinan nang kaunti ng kanyang tingin. Isang matangkad na lalaki ang kasama ni Senyang, mas lalo siyang nahimasmasan nang makitang si Tiburcio ito. Hindi siya umimik, hindi siya makapaniwala. Tila sasabog siya sa kanyang nakita.

Tumatakbo sa isipan ni Adong ang nangyayari. Humikbi si Adong at lumapit sa belen malapit sa kanyang kwarto at niyakap. Hindi maipagtanto ni Adong ang nangyari. Hinding-hindi niya matanggap. Kinuha niya ang kutsilyo, pinatalim ito at pagkatapos ay nirolyo ang mga lubid at dali-daling tumungo sa bahay ni Tiburcio.

“Mga walang hiya kayo, mga hayop, paano ninyo ito nagawa sa akin! Ikaw Tiburcio, hudas ka! Pinagkatiwalaan kita dahil kaibigan kita subalit niloko ninyo ako, mga demonyo!”

“Tumigil ka Adong, wala na tayo. Ayaw ko na sa ‘yo, sawang-sawa na ako sa buhay na mayroon tayo. Mabuti pa si Tiburcio, naibibigay niya lahat ng gusto ko.”

Biglang nandilim ang paningin ni Adong. Pinagtataga niya ang dalawa. Sinaksak niya ng ilang beses sa dibdib si Tiburcio at sinunod si Senyang hanggang sa mawalan sila ng buhay. Sa sobrang poot ay tumulo ang mga luha sa mata ni Adong habang minamasdang nakahimlay ang bangkay ng dalawa sa sahig. Hindi pa siya nakuntento at dinala ni Adong sa kanilang lumang bahay ang bangkay ni Senyang at Tiburcio at sabay na binitay.

Punong-puno ng sariwang dugo ang damit ni Adong. Hindi maipaliwanag ang kanyang ekspresyon. Natatakot siya. Sa huli, sumuko siya sa awtoridad.

Nasa loob ng kulungan si Adong. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa rehas. Sa kanyang damit, malapit sa kanyang dibdib hanggang sa kanyang tiyan, nakakurta pa rin ang hurma ng sariwang dugo. Inabutan siya ng isang pulis ng pares ng damit at pinagpalit. Nakasungaw pa rin ang luha sa malabo at tila lagi nang may inaaninaw na mata. Hinaplos-haplos ni Adong ang hinubad na damit na natuyuan ng maraming dugo. Inilagay niya malapit sa kanyang puso ang damit, nakangiti siya at lubhang napakasaya. Mainit ang sikat ng araw na tumatama sa mukha ni Adong, walang umiihip na hangin. Sa kanyang unan ay nakalutang ang nagsasalisod na alikabok.

Mapula ang sikat ng araw kinabukasan. Hindi na ganoon kasigla ang katawan ni Adong upang gumising ng umagang iyon. Wari’y gusto na lamang niyang magpahinga nang tuluyan. Sa paligid niya ay may mga punit-punit na piraso ng mga malalapad na karton. Naka-unat ang kanyang maiitim at hinahalas na paa at nakatukod ang kanyang tila walang butong mga kamay. Malapit sa kanyang kamay ay hindi nagagalaw ang tasa ng maitim na kape at isang pinggan ng kanin. Ayaw niyang kumain. Nilalangaw iyon.

Padahilig na ang sikat ng araw, ngunit mainit pa rin iyon. Nakatingin siya sa labas, sa

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kanyang malabo at tila lagi nang nag-aaninaw na mata ay tumatama ang mapulang sikat ng araw.

“Sir, kailan po ba ako makakalaya dito? Nangungulila na kasi ako sa pamilya ko,” isang tanong na kumubli sa bibig ni Adong.

“Naku, wala ka nang mauuwian doon, iniwan ka na ng pamilya mo, magdusa ka!” inis na sagot ng nagbabantay sa kulungan.

“Alam kong makakalaya ako dito at magiging masayang muli,” sambit pa ni Adong.“Sigurado ka ba diyan? Ngunit natitiyak kong suntok sa buwan ang hiling mong

makalaya dito, Adong. Matagal ka na dito. At tatagal pa,” dagdag ng gwardiya.Ilang taon ang lumisan at muling nabuhayan ng loob si Adong matapos siyang

maabswelto ng hukuman. Sa paghalik ng mga paa ni Adong sa tila nasasabik na lupa ay ipinikit niyang marahan ang kanyang nag-aaninaw na mga mata at dinama ang dampi ng sikat ng araw at simoy ng hangin. Wala na sa sarili si Adong, ibang-iba na siya gaya ng dati. Sa may simbahan sa dakong kaliwa malapit sa puwesto ni Aling Tonyang, doon siya namalagi, nakabukas ang mga kamay at inaabot ang mga mapalad sa mga dumadaan.

Sa simbahan ay may nakahanay na mga pulubi. Naroon ang mga nagtitinda ng iba’t ibang kakanin, makukulay na mga kandila at mapuputing talangkay ng sampaguita. Sa mga hanay na iyon ay nakatunghay ang simbahan, naaawa, nahahabag. At nakatingala naman ang mga hanay na iyon, kabilang si Adong. Napaiyak si Adong.

Naging buhay na ni Adong ang araw-araw na pagbibilad ng luray na katawan sa kanto ng simbahan. Namamalimos, naghihintay ng may mabuting puso na magpapaingay ng latang sisidlan niya. Isang gabi, habang nakaupo si Adong sa bangketa ng kariton, muling umagaw ng kayang tingin ang mga naglalakihan at nag-iilawang mga gusali. Tumulo ang mga luha ni Adong at muling bumalik ang kanyang mga alaala.

Ipinahid niya ang makapal na lana sa kanyang katawan. Ngunit hindi ito nagdulot ng init na kailangan niya–ang init na papawi kahit bahagya sa lamig na bumabalot sa ibabaw ng lupa. Nadulas siya sa isang bangko sa tabi ng bintana. Idinako niya ang kanyang paningin sa pinagbubuhatan ng liwanag sa pinapatungan ng belen. Ayaw niyang lumingon, ayaw niyang makita ang kabuuan ng kanyang tinitirhan, ang loob ng kanyang tahanan. Alam niyang namamasdan niya ang mga silat sa sahig at ang napipigtas na dingding.

Maya-maya pa ay muli siyang tumayo at nag-isip. Hindi siya mapakali sa paglalakad, wala siyang tigil sa malalim na pag-iisip at tila nalilito at hindi alam ang gagawin. Makikita pa rin sa kanyang expresyon ang takot, lungkot, at pangungulila. Marami siyang naaalala mula sa unang haligi ng kanilang lumang tahanan hanggang sa pintuan kung saan malapit siyang nakatayo.

“Pangarap kong muling makapiling ang sinisinta kong si Senyang. Nais kong mahawakan muli ang malambot niyang mga kamay. Kailangan ko siyang makita at makasama kahit saan man siya naroroon.”

Kinuha niya ang matalim na kutsilyo at idiniin sa kanyang malamig na leeg. Dumaloy ang dugo, napakaraming dugo, hanggang sa dumilim ang paligid.

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Maikling Kwento

ni Mdpn. Ric Harold O. Songcayawon

Perang Papel

Ang huling naaalala lamang niya bago pa man siya umalis ng kanilang bahay ay planado na ang lahat. Ang anggulo kung saan siya pupwesto, kung saan tatamaan ang biktima, ang tamang tiyempo sa pag-atake at ang daanan para sa pagtakas ay naayos na bago pa man niya sisimulan ang misyon.

Naging paboritong hitman na si Ariel ng kanyang boss. Ani niya, malinis raw si Ariel magtrabaho at walang anumang ebidensya ang magdidiin sa kanya bilang salarin kung sakaling humawak siya ng kaso.

Ngunit kanina lang, sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ay sumablay si Ariel. Hindi man niya lubos maisip kung paano nangyari ang kapalpakang iyon, isa lang ang tiyak ngayon sa kanyang isip at iyon ay lagot siya sa kanyang boss.

Ang perang sweldo niya sa trabahong ito ay napupunta sa kanyang anak na si Isabel bilang pambayad sa matrikula. Si Isabel ang dahilan kung bakit pilit na kumakapit si Ariel sa patalim.

Habang nililinis ni Ariel ang baril na kanyang ginamit ay biglang pumasok sa kwarto niya si Isabel. Walang kaalam-alam si Isabel sa trabaho ng kanyang ama, basta ang sabi lang ni Ariel sa kanya ay drayber siya sa isang kompanya.

Nang makita ni Isabel ang hawak hawak na baril ng kanyang ama ay nanlaki ang mga mata nito. Napatunayan ng kasalukuyang eksena ang dating tsismis lamang na sa

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kanilang kanto na mamamatay tao si Ariel. “Anak, hayaan mo akong magpaliwanag,” ang wika ni Ariel. Kung anu-anong mga

salita ang lumabas sa bibig niya para lamang mapahinahon at tumigil si Isabel sa pag-eempake ng kanyang mga gamit. Hindi umimik si Isabel sa kanyang ama sapagkat di niya matanggap na ang perang pinalaki sa kanya ay mula pala sa mga ilegal na gawain.

Nang tuluyang nilisan ni Isabel ang kanilang tahanan ay ipinikit ni Ariel ang kanyang mga mata. Sari-saring imahe ang sumagi sa kanyang isipan. Una, ay lumabas ang kaawa-awang mukha ng kanyang mga biktima. Pagkatapos ay ang pagmamakaawa nilang huwag silang patayin sapagkat mahal nilang lubos ang kanilang pamilya at ayaw nilang iwan ang mga ito.

Nang binuksan ni Ariel ang kanyang mga mata ay basa ang kanyang unan ng mga luha. Ayaw niyang tanggapin ang kalambutan ng kanyang puso.

Habang kumukuha siya ng panyo sa kanyang bulsa, aksidente namang nahulog ang natitira niyang perang singkwenta pesos. Hindi namalayan ni Ariel na ang natitirang pera niya ay lumabas na pala sa kanyang bulsa. Naging marumi na ang papel dahil lingid sa kaalaman nito, kanya na itong inaapak-apakan. Basang-basa na rin ang panyo na ipinunas niya sa mga luhang umagos mula sa mga mata niya.

Naging malakas ang pagluha ni Ariel. Ngayon na lamang niya napagtanto ang mga kasalanang kanyang itinuring na hanapbuhay. Sumagi sa kanyang isipan na mali at napakasama ang pagkitil ng buhay ng iba.

Kaya’t sa bawat pagpatak ng luha mula sa kanyang mga mata ay siya ring pagkabasa ng perang papel sa kanyang paanan. Ilang sandali pa’y napunit na ang kanyang pinagkakaingatang perang papel.

Kinaumagahan, naisip niya na panahon na upang ituwid ang baluktot niyang buhay. Kumuha siya ng papel at lapis at nagsimulang magsulat. Pagkatapos ay iniwan niya ang kanyang nabuong liham pamamaalam sa higaan ni Isabel.

Aalis na sana si Ariel sa kanilang bahay nang may isang bagay na biglang tumambad sa kanya–ang perang papel. Dali-dali niyang kinuha ito, pinatuyo, pinalantsa at linagyan ng pandikit para mabuo ulit. Nang matapos itong gawin ay napangiti na lamang siya sabay sabing, “ang singkwenta pesos na ito ang magpapabago sa buhay ko. Ito ang sagot sa lahat ng mga paghihirap ko.”

Bahagya siyang nakaramdam ng saya nang masilayan niya sa kanyang harapan ang dambana ng simbahan. Aniya sa kanyang sarili, panahon na para ipaghingi ng tawad ang mga kasalanang kanyang ginawa.

Nang matapos ang pangungumpisal ni Ariel ay wari isang malaking tinik ang nabunot sa kanyang puso. Una siyang nakaramdam ng bahagyang kaginhawaan. “Hindi pa ito tapos, kailangan kong pagbayaran ang lahat ng mga kasalanan ko,” wika ni Ariel.

Ang natitirang pera mula sa kanyang singkwenta pesos ay ginamit niya bilang pamasahe patungo sa presinto. Doon, isiniwalat lahat ni Ariel ang sindikatong kanyang pinasukan, ang operasyon nito at ang lahat ng mga taong kasangkot.

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LIBRA

Malip-ot nga Sugilanon

ni Mdpn. Gerardo T. Manzano Jr.

Mercy!

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Noo Tah. Ini ang pangalan sang pulo nga nagtuhaw sa katubigan sining kalibutan dos mil ka tuig na ang nagligad. Bag-o pa man natabo ang paglinapta sang supercontinent, nakakita na sang mga proweba ang mga eksperto nga may nagakabuhi na sang una pa nga mga panahon.

Sa paglakat sang mga inoras, nahibaluan sining mga eksperto nga ining mga tumandok nga ila ginatawag nga fidi ra shone ang daw kaangay sang mga ati nga nagasinaylo halin sa isa ka lugar tubtob sa piyak. Ini bangod sa pagpadayon sa pagsaka sang lebel sang tubig tungod sang mabaskog nga pagbutong sang puwersa nga ginadala sang bulan sa kalangitan.

Nagpadayon ang mga inadlaw nga ining mga tumandok ang wala permanente nga ilistaran. Ila ginatabok ang mga baybayon kag ginasaka ang mga kabukiran. Madamo nga mga lugar ang ila nga ginkadtuan kag adlaw-adlaw ang ila pagpangita sang mga kalan-on.

Nakalab-ot sila sa isa ka duog kag ila ini ginhingalanan nga Gorra nga nagakahulugan pagpanglakaton. Ini bangod sa pila ka adlaw nga pagbalhin nila sang ila nga ilistaran, nakit-an na nila ang lugar nga bugana para ihatag ang ila nga mga kinahanglanon.

Isa ka adlaw, ang fidi ra shone ang nagpili sang ila nga mangin lider agud nga mamuno sa ila nga asosasyon. Ining lider ang ila ginatawag nga Manenay bangud siya ang maalwan nga nagahatag sang tanan nga ginapangayo sang iya nasakupan.

Matapos mapilian nga mamuno sa yadto nga lugar, nagdesisyun si Manenay nga ang ekonomiya sang Gorra ang iya pabaskugon apang bag-o sina iya ginsuguran sa kada pamilya ang mga proyekto nga iya gusto nga i-implementar.

Nagpatindog sang ila mga puluy-an ining mga fidi ra shone gamit ang mga materyal sa ila palibot. Ang mga dalagko nga bato ang ila gingamit para sa pamusod sang ila mga balay kag ila ini gintawag nga home for the mercy tungod sa diri nga duog nila ginabuhat ang ritwal nga ginatawag mercy. Ang mga puno sang niyog nga ila gintroso amo ang gingamit nga baratiya para tungtungan sang atop kag ang nabilin nga troso amo nga gingamit sa pag-ubra sa ila nga pirtahan nga ila ginatawag por. Sa amo yadto nga panahon, hambal sang mga eksperto, nagagamit na ining mga tumandok sang door knob para nga mabutangan sang seguridad ang kada pamilya kung gani gintawag ini nga por knob.

Matapos nga maubra ining home for the mercy nga ila kabalayan, nagtugyan si Manenay nga maghatag sang trabaho ukon mas kilala sa ginatawag nga booking sa kada isa sa fidi ra shone. Duwa ka sahi sang booking ang ginahatag ni Manenay sa ila. Una ang handy job. Ang ini nga trabaho ang nagakinahanglan sa pagpangamot. Sa idalom sini ang

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pagpamanday, pagpangisda, pagpanakop sang nayon kag iban ipa. Ang isa ka sahi amo ang ginatawag nga blue job. Ini nga sahi sang trabaho ang ginaubra maliban sa paggamit sang kamot. Radio reporter ukon broadcaster ang isa sa mga halimbawa sini.

Wala man ginkalipatan ni Manenay ang magpatindog sang eskwelahan ukon ladlaran bangod iya ginatan-aw sa ulihi nga ang ining iya mga ginasakupan ang may makahangop man kag may nilung-ong. Ang ila nga madam ukon maestra ang nagatudlo sa ila sang kultura, lenguahe kag relihiyon.

Kaupod sang ila mga sisteret, ang mga estudyante ang ginatudluan sang kultura. Sa idalom sining kultura amo ang maragtas sang ila nga pungsod nga ginatawag Gorra.Parte sa ila kasaysayan ang ining mga maragtas kag may ara sila sang ginatawag nga National Hero. Base sa mga pagtulun-an, Agila ang pangalan sang ila nga maragtas. Siya ang nagsalbar sa pungsod kontra sa isa ka pangayaw nga sobra kaalam sa math- si Agimath. Si Agimath ang nag-gamit sang mga numero sadtong wala pa napatindog ni Manenay ang eskwelahan rason nga ang iban nga mga fidi ra shone ang naga-inanga, tawag sa mga fidi nga blanko ang paminsaron. Si Agila ang pagsulundan sang tanan nga mga fidi ra shone bangod ang iya nga mga inagyan ang ginatudlo sang mga madam sa mga fidi nga estudyante. Ang iya mga binuhatan kag mga sinulatan ang nagpakita sang iya maayo nga mga pamatasan nga naghatag sang rason agud nga siya pagatawgon nga Gorra’s National Hero. Sa sulod sang kasaysayan, ginapakita kung paano siya ginbaboy, ginhatok-hatok kag ginhampangan. Apang wala siya nagpatublag kay bangod ginbaton niya ang iya nga kapalaran. Sa iya pagbaton nakakita siya sang kasadya. Ang iya sikat nga mga pulong amo ang “Have mercy on me!” Kag sa sining mga pulong nag-ugat ang ritwal nga ila ginabuhat sa ila mga kabalayan bilang pagdumdom sa mga binuhatan ni Agila.

Ginagamit sining mga madam ining lenguahe agud nga mas mapalapnag pa gid sa Gorra ang ila nga kultura. Kaangay na lamang sang pagtamyaw. Sa pagpatigayon sang maayo nga pamatasan, ginatudluan ang mga fidi ra shone nga magpanamyaw “Kiber!” ang isa ka halimbawa sang pagpanamyaw nga nagakahulugan sang “Maayong aga!” Kung ang isa ka fidi ang magpangayo sang pasaylo sa iya isigkatawo, “Cheka!” ang tinaga nga iya nagakaangay nga mitlangon. Kay bangod kultura na sa Gorra ang pag pangutang, duwa lang ka tinaga ang ila ginamitlang, “Wis Datis!” kag kung ini mabatian madali nga makuha sang ginautangan ang buot silingon sang nagapang-utang. Apang sa piyak sining pagtudlo sang Giring-giring, tawag sa ila nga lenguahe, ginatudlo man sa gihapon ang English bilang universal language.

Tungod sang grabe nga debosyon ni Manenay kay Mamang, ang diyosa sang mga fidi ra shone, iya gusto gid nga ipalapnag ang Kamang Kamang nga relihiyon. Kung ikaw ang nagakinahanglan sang kasanag, ikaw ang libre nga magpangamuyo kay Mamang nga mas kilala sa tawag nila nga pangamang. Imo nga kamangon ang banal nga duog bilang simbolo sang pagpaubos sa mahal nga diyosa. Magasindi ka sang kandila sa atubang sang altar kag magasinggit “Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!” Ang Kamang-kamang nagapati nga ang isa ka fidi ra shone naga tinlo sa panulukan sang diyosa kung sa makapila nga sulit niya gina ubra ang mercy nga ritwal kag ini isa sa mga pamaagi agud nga si Mamang ang indi mag-

58

untat sang pagbugay sa bilog nga Gorra sang ila nga kalan-on kag mga kinahanglanon sa pagpangabuhi. Ang espirito ni Mamang ang nagapabatyag sa oras nga ang balahibo sang isa ka fidi ra shone ang nagatindog kag amo man ang iban nga bahin sang iya nga lawas. Idugang mo pa gid nga naga kuba-kuba ang iya nga dughan nga daw siya ang ginakulbaan. Isa lang ang gusto ni Mamang nga iya paga himuon, ang magbuhat sang ritwal. Si Mamang man ang nagahatag sang bendisyon sa tanan nga mga fidi ra shone nga wala pa naga ubra sang mercy nga ritwal. Ang ining pagbasbas ang nagatugot sa mga fidi ra shone nga mag conduct sang ila una nga mercy nga ritwal. Kag ini pagatawgon nga Baptism ukon ang pagbunyag.

Suno sa ila banal nga kasulatan, si Mamang ang diyosa nga sarang mahulog ang buot sa isa ka mortal. Matapos niya nga maporma ang bilog nga kalibutan, iya gintuga si Jun-jun, ang una nga lalaki nga makatapak sa Garden of Mercy. Wala ginhatagan ni Mamang sang kaalam si Jun-jun kung gane wala ini nakabalo nga wala siya sang panapton. Nagtugyan si Mamang kay Jun-jun nga indi pagsuksukon ang antipara sang kasanag apang naglalis ini kung gani nakita niya nga nagalibot siya sa hardin nga wala sang bayo ukon boxers man lang. Tungod sang natabo, nahuya si Jun-jun gani nagpanago siya sa panulukan sang diyosa.

“Jun-jun? Jun-jun! Diin ka nagkadto?”“Banal nga Mamang, magpahilayo ka kag baya-i ako bangud indi ako takos sa imo

nga panulukan,” nagasinggit kag nahuya si Jun-jun.“Indi na maghuya-huya Jun-jun ah. Sultero ka na. Isa pa, wala guid sang problema

sa akon.”Nakita ni Mamang nga epektibo ang antipara sang kasanag kun gane gintilawan

niya man nga susukon kag iya nakita si Jun-jun.“Jun-juuuuuun!” nagpanagitlon sang laway si Mamang.Sa pihak sining mga inagyan ni Mamang, siya ang ginatublag man sa gihapon

bangod sa wala paktan nga pag atake sang mga shumit kag shupa. Sila ang mga malain nga espirito nga wala naga-ugyon sa kabubut-on ni Mamang. Sila ining mga manugtublag sang mga fidi ra shone nga nagapugong sa ila nga pag mercy. Kung amo ni ang matabo, may posibilidad nga ang mga fidi ra shone ang indi mabatian ni Mamang kay bangod indi na putli ang ila nga kasing-kasing kag paminsaron sa pag-ubra sang ritwal. Maga resulta ini sa pag untat sang inflow sang grasya halin kay Mamang.

Bangod nga una nga pinili nga lider si Manenay, indi niya gusto nga ang legasiya magadula na lamang. Iya nga gingamit ang iya nga gahom bilang isa ka lider. Iya ginhangkat ang tanan nga fidi ra shone nga ipadayon ang ritwal samtang wala pa naga-abot ang tanan nga shumit kag shupa.

Asta sa karon nga mga tini-on, wala pa sa guihapon nag-abot para mag-atake ang tanan nga shumit kag shupa. Gane, asta sa ika-duwa nga milenya padayon nga nagasinggit ang mga fidi ra shone sang mga pulong:

“Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!” sa atubang sang altar.

Mugot nga Istorya

Sulteroni Sedi

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Malapad nga ngirit ang nag-atubang sa ispiho. Daw wara te makatupong sa kasadya nga ana nabatyagan samtang ginalantaw ang ana itsura. Daw parehas lang kang imu kasadya kon ikaw nakasulod sa gate kon haircut operation.

Chinito nga mga mata. Not-so-tall nga irong. Pouty nga bibig. Amu ja si Pepito- confidently handsome with a heart. Pay, ang wara naman-an ka tanan nga may kahadlok tana sa tubig ilabi na guid kon sia marigos.

Hydrophobia. Amu ra ang tawag ka doktor sa sakit ni Pepito. Lapsag pa lang sia, nadiskubrehan na kang ana ginikanan nga sia may marayo nga baratyagon sa tubig. Ra bala nga kon ibutang mo sa tubig, dayon nga maghibi like it’s the end of the world. Rason pa ka ana tatay, “Wifey, amu ja guru resulta kon sa taramnan ta ginhimu bay? Ukon basi nga naglihi timu sa kanding wifey?” Pay ti biskan ang siyensya indi makaeksplikar kang ana nga sakit.

Nagligad ang mga tinion kag si Pepito dose anyos na. Dose anyos nga konsistent nga wara gaparigos epekto kang ana hydrophobia. Ang mga perfumes nga made of kopras kag bayabas ang ginagamit na para indi tana madapgan kang ana mga migo.

Sara ka bes, nanghagad ang ana migo nga si Itoy nga malagaw sanda sa suba. “Pets, bati ko may dara nga mga chicks si Caloy, mga klasmeyt na kunu sa siudad. Maadto kunu sanda sa suba. Hunting ta bi ridto, hihihi!”

“Sige lang ‘toy ah, raku pa ubrahon ko.”“F.O. ta guid karun Pets!” medyo gaugot nga sabat ni Itoy.“Masunod na lang ko gane ‘toy.”Wara napunggan si Pepito nga magsunod sa ana migo. Pag-abot sa suba, nakita

nanda ang mga daraga nga nami ang salum-salom sa masinaw nga tubig. Daw mga isda sanda nga nagasipal sa tubig amu nga nabusog dayon ang anda mga mata.

“Pet, Toy, adto kamu ja...” matudo nga singgit ni Caloy sa marayu samtang nagalangoy-langoy imaw kang mga chicks.

“Pets, daw nami mag-imaw kananda kara haw. Langoy ta bi, kon sa bagay rapit lang man balay ta ah. Biskan mabasa ta mag-uli.”

Naglain ang baratyagon ni Pepito. Daw ginhulog ka na ang pira ka balde nga tubig kag daw mabuka ang ana kurason. May mga bagay guid nga hindi meant to be para ka na. Biskan anu pa nga temptasyon, biskan ang mga legs pa nga makinis ang ana masaw-an kon sia indi guid pwede, indi guid. Samtang nagaparigos si Itoy imaw kang mga chicks, nag-uli na lang si Pepito sa sobra nga sakit.

Sa dalan pag-uli, may nakita si Pepito nga poster parte sa pagahiwaton nga libre

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nga pagpaltak sa mga kabataan. Ang amu ja nga pagpaltak, tradisyonal. Ginahiwat sa kilid kang suba kon diin ginapapa kag dayon nga ginapalukso sa suba ang sangka bata para indi magdugo.

Garing nahadluk gani tana sa tubig, ti indi tana magpapaltak. “Nak, ridya ka lang guro namon mapapaltakan kay libre pa kag rapit lang sa baryo.

Imol lang ta daan.” Biskan ano nga pagpamirit kang ana nanay, matig-a man japun ang ulo ni Pepito.

Pagkagab-i, samtang gasirado si Pepito kang anda pwertahan, may mal-am nga babayi nga nagparapit kag namangkot ka na.

“Toto, do you have any water? I need to quench my thirst. Pwede mo ako mataw-an?”“Aba, englishira man ja gale pay indi kabakal kang ana tubig” nahambal ni Pepito

sa ana kaugalingon. Garing, maluluy-on tana, ginbul-an na ka tubig ang mal-am. Nalipay guid ang mal-am kang nakita ang bata nga may tubig nga dara. Pagkatapos

nga gin-inom na ria, nagpalibot-libot tana kag nangin sara ka gwapa-gwapa nga diwata. Amu du lang ang kakibot ni Pepito. Daw magic para kana ang natabu. Dayon naghambal ang diwata, “Kay ikaw mayad nga bata, tugruan ta kaw ka sangka regalo”

“Hala, tuod bala?” excited nga pamangkot ni Pepito.“Absolutely yes Pepito, amu ja ang magic skin. Ikaw tugruan ko kang power nga

kada marigos ikaw, indi mo mabtyagan ang kahadlok. Maisog kaw nga magbato sa imo phobia. Makaparigos kaw run Pepito!”

“Ha? Te panu mu naman-an nga ako may hydrophobia?” nagasampok ang kiray ni Pepito kang namangkot sa diwata.

“Hindi lang ako gwapa-gwapa nga diwata, Pepito. Maaram man ako para maman-an ang problema kang kalibutan.”

Nagparapit tana kay Pepito. “ Kag ikaw, pagbata pa lang kanimu, man-an ko run nga ikaw may hydrophobia. Amazing, di bala?”

Daw mahibi sa kasadya si Pepito. “Sa wakas, nag-abot na guid man ang akun fairy godmother,” hambal na sa ana kaugalingon.

“Garing, sa sara ka kondisyon, indi ka guid dapat magbuhay sa tubig. Ang dya nga power, epektibo lang sa sulod ka lima asta napulo ka minutos. Kon magsobra ikaw, may malain nga matabo kanimu,” ang urihi nga hambal kang diwata kay Pepito.

Dali-dali nga nagbalik si Pepito sa anda balay. Dayon nga nagdiretso sa banyo para testingan kon epektibo guid man ang regalo kana kang diwata. Kang nakabuol si Pepito ka tubig, dayon ginbubo na sa ana lawas kag nagsininggitan.

“Eureka!Eureka! Makaparigos na guidman ako!”Grabe ang kasadya ni Pepito sa regalo nga nabaton niya. Bisan tana, indi magpati

nga nadura run ang ana hydrophobia. Pwede run tana makaparigos sa suba kag siyempre, makapapaltak ron tana.

Nag-abot ang adlaw kang ana pagpapaltak. Pagsirak pa lang kang adlaw, malapad nga ngirit ang nag-atubang sa ispiyo. Halos wara te makatupong sa kasadya nga ana nabatyagan samtang ginalantaw ang ana itsura. Chinito nga mata. Not-so-tall nga irong.

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Pouty nga bibig. Amu ja si Pepito- confidently handsome with a heart. Ang kang-una nga hydrophobic, tulad hydrophilic run. Pagkatapos na nga nagparigos, sia nagdiretso tana sa suba kon diin hiwaton ang pagpaltak.

Pag-abot sa suba, raku run nga mga kabataan ang nagapirila para magpapaltak. May mga mal-am nga nag-iririmaw man sa pila para magpapaltak. Biskan may edad run, ang importante, libre ja nga operasyon.

Gahiribi ang mga bata sa sakit. Ang iban, lollipop ang anda ginakaon para indi masakitan. Kang kay Pepito run tiyempo para magpapaltak, medyo nakulbaan tana. Nagakurudog ang ana mga atay kang nagparapit tana sa nagapapaltak kag amat-amat nga nagbatang sa daw kawayan nga payag. Sa kada sakit nga ana nabatyagan, ginapirong na lang ang ana mga mata. Sa kada pagpwiswit ka dugo, ginakagat na ang ana mga bibig. Rapit na lang guid, hambal na sa ana kaugalingon, kag ako sara na ka sultero.

“Diretso lang ga sa suba, kag magparigos,” ang nahambal ka manugpaltak kay Pepito pagtapos ka proseso.

Gadalagan sia nga nagparapit sa suba, naglukso kag nagsalum sa pagkaramig-ramig kag matinlo nga tubig. Iba ang nabatyagan ni Pepito. Ridto, naligaan na ang ana problema. Sia nanamitan kang kada kapot kang tubig sa ana lawas. Nagpanamit si Pepito sa pagparigos kag naligaan ang ginhambal kana ka diwata.

Kang...“Hala, daw may gaturubo tana ka ja sa lawas ko man?”Paglantaw na sa idalom ka tubig, nakita na nga ga-amat-amat tubo ang mga

garagmay kag kurong nga buhok sa ana lawas. May jan sa ana irok, mga kahig kag biskan sa ana busong. Nagarabong ang mga buhok asta nga nabuta ang bilog na nga lawas.

Dali-dali nga naghalin si Pepito sa suba samtang ginakadlawan tana kang mga imaw na. Naghiribion nga nag-uli tana sa anda balay kag nagkadto sa lugar kon diin na nakita ang diwata.

“Buligi ako! Indi run ako ka ja! Maraw-ay run ako...”nagasala nga hiribion ni Pepito. Mga pira man gawa ka segundo ang ginhulat na kag nag-abot ang diwata.

“Ano ang natabu Pepito? Di bala I told you nga indi ka magpabuhay sa tubig?”Nagaturo ang luha ni Pepito samtang amat-amat nga nagluhod sa tubang ka

diwata. “Please, bul-a run ja ang imu nga regalo nga magic skin. Indi run ko ka ja...”“Sige, bawi on ko ang regalo ko kanimu. Pay magabalik ang imo nga masakit.”Kag nadura ang diwata...

••••Nagbalik sa normal si Pepito. Wara run ang magic skin nga ginregalo ka na kang

diwata. Sa pihak nga bahin, nagbalik man ang Pepito nga may hydrophobia, nga may kahadlok sa tubig. Nareyalesar na nga indi man importante kon sia may magic skin ukon wara, kon sia hydrophobic ukon hydrophilic, ang importante, sia sara ron ka sultero.

SiguroscopeMagmangin alerto ka sa tanan nga mga tinion. May mangtiyansing sa imo. Pwerte sa iya kalaw-ay! Galing kung saho-saho mo man, pwede pa man mamedyosan.

Indi ka gid mag-uyang sang pagkaon maski ano matabo. Kung indi mo maubos ang imo kinan-an, tipuna kag i-ref. Inita lang liwat kung gusto mo magkaon. Indi gid pag-uyangi ukon magahabok inang tiyan mo sa pag-abot sang mga tinion.

Mapikon ka gid sa isa mo nga kakilala kay may i-kutso-kutso siya tuhoy sa imo. Apang mas mayo pa nga batunon mo na lang ang kamatuoran kag tingwaan mo man nga adlaw-adlaw magpaligo para indi ka liwat mapikon kay tungod sa baho mo nga daw bayabas.

Ang imo swerte, indi makita sa adlawon ukon sa kagab-ihon, kundi sa alas tres sang kaagahon. Magsuksok ka sang kapa, ang bato tunla kag magsinggit “Kurdapya!” Witching hour pa more.

Kada pagsulod mo sa eskwelahan, indi na pagsulita ang nagamit mo nga medyas. Budlay na nga magbalingaso kag pagwaon ka sa klase. Gamit ka sang downy antibac kung wala ka na gid may nabal-an nga fabcon.

Dapat makabalo ka na magpugong sang imo balatyagon. Maga abot ang tinion nga kung mag-utot ka, may particles nga magsimpon. Chillax lang.

AriesMarch 21-April 19

TaurusApril 20-May 20

GeminiMay 21-June 21

CancerJune 22-July 22

LeoJuly 23-August 22

VirgoAugust 23-September 22

Siguroscopeby Mdpn. Gerardo T. Manzano Jr. Art by Mdpn. Frenn Aleister T. Decena

Nahisa ka sa iya? Indi ka magka-ibog. Tuluka lang masakit kag kung nagpalanig-a na ang imo nga mga mata buot silingon indi madutlan ang tawo nga na kay taas ang iya dungan. Kadto ka sa Kalinog kag magpabatak. Sang short? Indi. Sang dungan.

Indi ka magkabalaka kung mas dako ang imo buli sa imo nobya. Kay kung kumparahon mas maayo ka magrampa kaysa sa iya. Aminin!

Damo ka gid sang mga malain nga istorya nga mabatian halin sa iban nga tawo. Sige lang istorya man lang to ang nabatian ko nga pwerte sa imo ka pala-utang.

Ang imo nga paskua ang mangin malamig. Maluoy ka man sa kaugalingon mo. Pangita ka to sang abyan mo nga may mga nobya kag nobyo. Himua nga magbulag sila nga duwa agud nga may kadamay ka sa paskua.

Bangud nga una gid nga bulan ka sang Chinese nga kalendaryo kag nasuwertehan man nga tuig subong sang mga amo, mangin masuwerte ka kay naga-ugyon ang imo tsura sa tuig subong.

Makita mo na gid man ang kalinong sa kabuhi nga imo ginapangita. Wala na inugpaandar si nanay niyo kay guba na ang radyo nga ginbakal niyo pa sa babayi nga galibod. Teh nalipay ka na? Kay linong na kabuhi mo? Pag nagka MP3 si nanay mo, who you ka gid sa iya.

LibraSeptember 23-October 22

ScorpioOctober 24-November 21

SagittariusNovember 22-December 21

CapricornDecember 22-January 19

AquariusJanuary 20-February 18

PiscesFebruary 19-March 20

Mdpn. Thomas Richard E. GrazaEditor-in-Chief

Mdpn. John Carl T. TagulalapAssociate Editor

Mdpn. John Michael G. LondresManaging Editor

Mdpn. Mark Luis S. SedicolLiterary Editor

Mdpn. Marfred John V. JauodFilipino Editor

Mdpn. Keem Cathlene A. TugublimasFeature Editor

Mdpn. Carls Adrian B. LibaoMdpn. Gerardo T. Manzano Jr.

News Editors

Mdpwn. Jubille Amor B. PedrosoSports Editor

Mdpn. John Christian D. GuevarraMdpn. Lawrence Van R. Intoy

Photojournalists/Staff Writers

Mdpn. Frenn Aleister T. DecenaStaff Artist

Mdpn. Peter Matthew F. FantilloGuest Artist

Mdpn. Rodel J. GalvanMdpn. Nomar Raimond G. Olivar

Editorial Assistants

Dr. Roderick R. GermoAdviser

Mr. Michael Vincent A. EvidenteSAC Publication/Adviser

Dr. Elnora C. ElizanDr. Rodrigo B. LeonorMrs. Ma. Agnes S. Gil

Critics

Atty. Lorna D. Gellada, DQMRAdministrator

THe DOLPHINEditorial Staff

Editorial PolicyThe Dolphin Policy is published

once or twice every semester by the Publication Office of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo, Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City. Publications are carried online at http://www.arevalo.jblfmu.edu.ph. Articles contained herein are personal views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect official thought or endorsement. These are published to stimulate ideas and provide an open forum for discussion. The Dolphin accepts original articles from students, faculty, staff and department heads. We also solicit comments regarding our issues. All contributions must be submitted to The Publication Office, legibly written, with generous space and margin. You may also e-mail; them to thedolphinaevalo@gmail.com

Mary Hope L. TorrechanteNiño Rey L. Macalua

Mdpn. Charlie P. GayasAmalia G. Londres

Mr. & Mrs. Johnny TagulalapJanine & Jennica SedicolMr. & Mrs. Jose Nilo Graza

Dr. Jaime EsmeraldaMr. & Mrs. Baldimor & Rosa Dangan

Estoce FamilyMdpn. Peter Matthew F. Fantillo

Mdpn. Robin John LabauanMa. Eliza T. Cepe

Mr. & Mrs. Efren T. DecenaMdpn. Tito V. Nuevacobita

OIC-NW Renwil D. FernandezOIC-NW Keft S. Sobredo

Ms. Juneza-Ann M. BorroD/C Francis Dave L. Selorio

Mrs. Mirazol D. DionsonMr. Bernabe A. Basbas

Mrs. Rohena Z. MirandaMrs. Louella A. Bernas

Mrs. Elda BolgosaTito Zafra III

Acknowledgment

Back Cover

The Official Student Publication of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo