Freefalling

The tempest is gone.
Stay, let's wait for a shooting star.

Moonwalk

"Namatay na pala si Sin..." I was surprised when you said that all of a sudden. "Ngayon mo lang ba nalaman?" I asked, still wondering, as we walked inside the UP chapel. "Matagal na, kaso parang di lang kse natin napag-usapan." Hmmm, good point. We missed out that one. Pano nangyari yun-- we talk about almost everything? I was trying to snatch a valid excuse when the mass started. My thought was just in time: maybe we were too busy talking about something else when it happened. =)

******
thanks sa stress ball. at sa melon-banana smoothies.
at sa sizzling pusit. at sa stay. nga pala, don't worry too much.
sabi ko naman syo, just let things happen.

Translation 101

COWARDICE (kower-dis) n. - (1) The fear of hurting and making someone hate you for telling the truth. (2) The fear of starting all over again. (3) Deciding to stay only because you think you're safe with what you've already had. (4) Opposite of guts.

*****
I watched CLOSER. Reality pierced. OUCH.

Kwentuhan Na

blessing in disguise yon, buddy. para kasing nakisama lahat.
wala sya sa plano, but the timing was perfect.
peak hours na yon, but that crowded place still had vacant seats.
kahit nga yung ulan pinagbigyan tayo.

it was really meant to happen.

*****
thanks for the coffee. the best.

"Why can't you see me like I see you? Can't you feel me like I feel you?"

She borrowed his pen
to put a period on their
last conversation.
The moment he saw it, he
added two more dots---

and said

"THIS is worth a better ending."

*****

thanks to sponge cola
for letting them chase the dragonfly.

Crash Pad

Mid-May.

The late-lazy-afternoon setting was perfect for a stroll or whatever (I imagined Zhang Yimou or Robert Zemeckis grinning for yet another breathtaking film finale).

Two kids playing distracted my already restrained contemplation. One of them was sitting on a wooden swing while the other was pushing it. They went on and on, taking turns in what it seemed like the ride of their lives. Kids.

I was ready to veer my engrossment to another scenery when their game was cut short. It looked like one of them had given the other a harder push. The boy on the swing grappled in reaching for the rope and keeping hold of the wood. The girl, on the other hand, frantically chased the rope, which by then had been swaying away from her as if feeling the sky. Panic reflected on her eyes but, just like before, she managed to give him an assuring look that everything would be fine. At length, everything simmered down. The two continued playing as if nothing had happened.

I caught myself wondering-- no, wanting. Wanting for us to be just like them.

And how I wished I could be like her--
so that I could still push your swing
no matter what
until you touch the stars.

*****
senti mode na naman, hehe. pero seryoso,
when the wall breaks down,
it's hard to find something to hold on to.
yun lang.

Closure

Then, they forgot the small things.

Decaf

The coffee has been unappealing lately.
I'm not so sure whether it's because of less sugar or less talk.

*****
here we go again.

Sand-castle Fate

Their stories begin

To moderate your sadness

As sudden gap in

Bareness takes place and lets you

Sway to the tune and

Momentarily evade.

*****
"My faith is like shifting sand
Changed by every wave..."

Serenade

I’m listening to our song.

But, sadly, with him.

What's my Score?

Hi there, BIG GUY.

It's been more than a year now. I guess, I've lost in touch with you. I'm embarrassed, very embarrassed. Remember the list I wrote? I think, if we're going to rate my performance, I failed without a doubt. And I don't want to go through the details because I know it will only take me so far.

But you know what? Despite the bundle of shortcomings I've done, my heart has still that reserved space for you. I maybe a lousy performer but I've been trying to improve every single day. I guess, the criteria I've set for myself aren't enough. That they need polishing. That I need to demand myself for more.

I'm getting there, don't you worry.

*****************

A faith refresher. Some extra effort.

One Day

You will miss holding my hand,
Wonder where I am,
And feel so sorry that you
Let it all happened.

The Story of a Fish and a Bird

Version 1:

"If a bird loves a fish, where would they live? Who gets the fins and who loses the wings?"

Version 2:

"If a fish falls in love with a bird, could they live together? Could one fly with fins? Could one remove its wings? How pathetic…love can’t change what’s not meant to be."

Version 3:

Let's say a bird and a fish fall for each other. Let's say one learns to fly with fins or the other learns to remove its wings. Then, they live together and, somehow, get use to it. But could they really last? For how long would that be?

What if the bird suddenly misses its wings and craves for the sky? What if the fish realizes that it's losing its breath and the need to dive?

Or what if the weather changes and their adaptive capabilities are not enough?

Could they still turn back? Is it possible for them to meet halfway? Would they give it another try?

*****

Hey, time to think. We're losing too much air.

The Swan Song

"I'm no angel to you
I have broken my wings
Flying for you
And I'm no angel it's true
I'd trade in my halo
Just to save you..."

********
What's next?

His Scion Sleeps

After finally finding his niche, he was supposed to start a new diversion. Watching clouds and studying their shapes on top of every skycraper that he plans to build. But since not all of us are capable of being genuinely good and staying human, his blueprints gradually collapsed right before his eyes. Everybody knows how much he pleaded. Sadly, the effort fell on closed ears and stoned heart.

He's been fighting for a week now. Bravely.

*****

My HS batchmate and a friend was shot last Saturday. I'm not yet sure how many bullets came out. But the only things that has been keeping his heart pumping up to this day are the breathing apparatus and the voices of the people who care for him.

The person who pulled the trigger is still at large. Hope he'll meet his match SOON.

Stained Ink on Linen

She begins to draw the line,
Heedfully, as if carving

A very refined figure,

A few moments right before

He decides to return from

A long walk and when he gets

There, he marvels about it,

Touching every inch of the streak

A force smile marks her face

A begging glance reflects his

Dream is nearing its end.

*****
Countdown sets off.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.

It Should Have Been This Way

Seeing more out of less.

Considering despite doubts.

Choosing density over convenience.

Waiting whilst moving on.

Flying as you fall.

*****

But...

Brewed

sya: hi. musta na po?
ako: hey. eto..masaya. =)
sya: that's nice. just visited your friendster...
sya: bat ganon status mo? ano yun?
ako: hehe. la yon.
sya: di nga? napaisip ako dun ah.
ako: la nga yun eh. lam mo naman ako...
sya: my point, exactly...

===
sya: anlamig no?
ako: onga eh.
sya: sarap mag-coffee...
ako: =)
sya: coffee tayo..
ako: haha, ok sa segway ah.

===
ako: ba't laging yan na lang ino-order mo?
sya: uy, naalala mo pa pala. *grinning*
ako: why don't you try other flavors?
sya: yoko. sanay na ko dito eh.
ako: di ka ba nagsasawa?
sya: siguro pag tumanggi ka na sa invites ko...i'd probably try machiatto.

===
sya: kayo ba, nagku-coffee kayo?
ako: never ko pa sya nakasama mag-coffee.
sya: ...
ako: tska di naman nagkakape yun eh.
sya: ahh... i love coffee.

===
sya: pano ka na-addict sa kape?
ako: when i started thinking.
sya: ahh..
ako: kaw ba?
sya: when i noticed you thinking.
ako: ha-ha funny.
sya: *smiling*

===
ako: so kelan mo papakilala sa 'kin yung constant date mo?
sya: yoko muna..di pa ko ready.
ako: para 'tong sira.. sige na, kelan?
sya: wag na..baka magselos ka pa..
sya: hehe, joke lang po.
ako: so kelan nga?
sya: pag ayaw mo na ng coffee.

===
ako: kainis ka..
sya: lagi ka namang naiinis sa kin eh..so, what is it this time?
ako: you're so good at this..
sya: explain...
ako: wala. eh kse lagi na lang nagba-backfire sa kin yung conversation natin.
sya: hmm..is it good or bad? *smiling*
ako: pwede ba tayo magkaroon ng isang normal na usap? yung tipong wala lang.
sya: *giggling* wag..boring yung ganon. tska, this is the reason why we click together.
ako: kala mo lang yun.
sya: the thing is, tama naman akala ko.
ako: yoko na nga, uwi na ko. order ka na ng machiatto mo..
sya: you're so good at this.. (mimicking the way i said it earlier)
ako: explain... (mimicking the way he said it earlier)
sya: saying goodbye without really saying so..

Front Act One

The curtain calls arrive. I hear my audience clap; I see them-- one by one-- abandon the place. The precise signal for me to bow and leave the stage has finally come. My fifteen minutes of fame is over. Now, back to being faceless, hushed, and passive. Back to my swivel chair and tapping of fingers. Back to counting days, back to waiting. Sad to say, such ending is anticipated.

***********************
I gave them the show that they wanted.
They gave me my dream.

Stargazing

It brushes the tip of my fingers,

As if inviting me to hold it

And never let it go.

One small step for me to seize it,

One faint move for me to fall.

*****

Darn.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.