Puzzle Piece

Ever since I was a child, i have always been fond of collecting jigsaw puzzles of various designs including Dragon Balls, Ghost Fighter, Flame of Recca, Fushigi Yuugi and many more animes. Siguro, sa bawat bagong labas ng design, bumibili ako. Ganan ako kaadik. Ha-ha.

One time, I went to the National Bookstore to buy a puzzle again. This time, nature ang design. Wala lang. For a change. Pero ang ganda rin kasi eh. Japanese style. Natuwa lang din siguro ako.

Pagkabili ko, I immediately went back home and started to set everything up. Pero nung patapos na ako, I was disappointed na kulang ng isa yung piece. Hinanap ko na sa buong kwarto pero wala talaga. Sayang naman. Tsk. Kinabukasan, I decided na bumalik sa NBS para ibalik ang puzzle ko.

Pagdating ko sa customer service are, may nakasabay akong isang babae. From De La Salle. Maganda sya. Maamong tingnan. At mabango. (Nadagdagan na naman ang kasalanan ko nito.) Siguro magka-age lang kami. Ayun sa I.D. nya, na hindi ko naman sinasadyang makita (Promise!! Haha), Myrtle ang name nya. napansin ko na may dala rin syang puzzle. At mas nagulat naman ako at natuwa na pareho kami ng design na napili. I approached her and then asked kung anong problema sa puzzle nya. I learned na labis ng isang piece yung kanya. I checked the piece and poop!! Gotcha! Ganun yung nawawala kong piece. Nagkasundo kaming huwag na lang magreklamo sa NBS since solved na rin naman yung problem.

At kinuha ko na rin yung number nya. Hmm. Crush ko na sya. Since then, we started texting each other. Minsan, binibisita ko sya sa may La Salle. Mas naging close kami. And eventually I totally fell for her.

I was very happy. I realized na hindi lang puzzle ko ang binuo nya. Kundi pati ako. I learned that I am a puzzle myself. And she was the puzzle piece that completed me. The most important puzzle piece.

I told myself that it would be okay to lose all my puzzle pieces except her. She alone was the only piece that could complete my puzzle-like life.

Akala ko talaga, wala nang magiging problema. I told her that I was going to start courting her. Pero hindi pa man ako nakakapag-umpisa, talo na ako kaagad. She confessed to me na may mahal na syang iba. In fact, sila na nga eh. Just hours before my supposed courtship. Sad.

Siguro nga, puzzle talaga ako.

Upon knowing the truth from her, I felt incomplete again. I was a nonsense puzzle for the second time. Shattered. One piece missing. No more chance to be whole again.

February 17

1676 – Kings Charles II and Louis XIV signed a secret treaty. They engaged in a brokeback mountain relationship.

1753 – In Sweden February 17 is followed by March 1 as the country moves from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Many were angry when they were not able to celebrate their birthdays and did not receive any gifts.

1872 – Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were executed in Bagumbayan, after a mock trial found them guilty of leading the Cavite Mutiny. Some believed that the three priests were the leader of the People Power Revolution in 1896.

1874 – Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician, died when he was not able to solve a simple mathematical problem.

1906 – Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter Alice married in the White House. She was happy she thought she was in Wonderland.

1972 – President Nixon left Washington D.C. for China. He was so poor to go shopping for less expensive goods.

1974 – 49 died in stampede for seats at soccer match, Cairo, Egypt. It was a good thing they were near the pyramids to be entomed there.

1979 – Chinese invaded Vietnam to sell products. China declared a war after they experienced bankruptcy when the Vietnamese did not patronize Chinese products.

1995 – Colin Ferguson is convicted of six counts of murder for the December 1993 Long Island Rail road shootings and later receives a 315-year life sentence. He was wondering if he would still be alive in 2309.

1998 – Larry Wayne Harris and Bill Levitt arrested for possession of anthrax. At first, they denied it and said that they left the anthrax at their respective houses.

2006 – A massive mudslide occurs in Southern Leyte, Philippines; the official death toll is set at 1,126. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made an address on television stating that “help is on the way.” All the Filipinos prayed and hoped that the “help” was not just a lie.

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Thanks to wikipedia and brainyhistory.

Happy birthday Siela Villa.

Ina

Rinig na rinig ang panaghoy niya,

Ang mahinang ina sa kanyang kama.

Nanunuot ang sakit sa buo nyang katawan

Pawang hinagpis ang nararamdaman.

—-

Tila may hinahanap na hindi makita

Pangarap na ipinagkait sa kanya ng tadhana.

Pangarap na inasam sa loob ng ilang taon,

Pangarap na sa ngayon ay isang patapon.

—-

Inang nagtiis para sa kanyang anak,

Pagkatapos mapalaki, tuluyang iniwan.

Pakiramdam niya, siya ay itinulak

Sa malalim na bangin ng anak na haragan.

—-

Namumutawi sa mga mata ang kalungkutan

Sanhi ng hindi maipaliwanag na pang-iiwan

Ng mga anak na inaruga’t minahal,

Ng inang ang sarili ay halos di na makilala.

—-

Tuluyan ng iniwan ng ina ang mundong ibabaw,

Hindi na nahintay ang pagsikat ng haring araw

Hindi na nahintay ang pagbabalik ng anak

Di man lang naramdaman ang sigla at galak.

—-

Nakalulungkot isipin ang nangyari sa ina,

Na nagpalaki at nagpakain sa anak na walang kwenta

Buhay ay isinakripisyo, mapagtapos lang siya.

Kay pait ng tadhana, pinaasa lamang siya.

Advice From Someone Who Doesn’t Love

TO ALL —>

1. the SINGLE in the worLd:

- Be patient. Time is the best expression of love. Sooner or later, you will find your true love. Hindi mo pa nga sya natatagpuan sa ngayon. Pero who knows, baka bukas ay kapiling mo na sya.

2. the SINGLE loving silently:

- Be vocal. Be expressive. Huwag mong solohin ang pagmamahal. Spread it. Walang mangyayari nyan sa’yo. To love is to risk. Aminin mo sa kanya na mahal mo sya. Malay mo, mahal ka rin nya. Pero kung hindi ka nya mahal, ahm, eh, hmmmm, Think positive ka na lang. Haha.

3. engaged in a COMPLICATED relationship:

- Complications? It’s nonsense. If you really love each other, try to fight for. Shout it to the world. Overcome all the problems that make you life miserable. Those that hinder you to be legally accepted by all. Sayang naman kasi.

4. engaged in an UNCOMPLICATED relationship:

- Trust is the primary foundation of a true and passionate love. In a relationship, you should trust each other. Suspicion kills. don’t let your doubt ruin everything. Take care of your relationship.

5. HEARTBROKEN:

- You love. Expect to get hurt. Not everyone is engaged in a fairytale-like happy ending. Just think of this: “Fairy tales have happy endings. But still, they have ended.” Just let go. Move on. Learn to love again. In God’s time.

6. MARRIED ( Below 5 years) :

- Don’t celebrate. It’s just the start of the real challenges in marriage life. Pero sa ngayon, just enjoy it. Mag-anak kayo kung talagang mahal mo sya. Para at least, kapag nagsawa na sya sa’yo, may dahilan pa para balikan ka nya. Magtake advantage ka. Ha-ha.

7. MARRIED ( 5 years and above) :

- Wala akong masabi. Ang swerte nyo. He-he-he.

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Naniniwala ka ba sa mga sinabi ko sa itaas? Kung oo, tigilan mo na yan. Kung hindi, huwag mo nang balakin pa.

Malay ko ba naman sa pag-ibig na yan. Wala pa naman akong experience eh. Joke lang lahat ng binanggit ko. Ha-ha.

Oh ano? Maniniwala ka pa rin?

Akala Ko

10:25 p.m. Napaaga pa pala ako ng five minutes sa tagpuan natin. Five minutes na lang at darating ka na Erika. Siguro sa ngayon, ito na ang pinakamasaya at pinaka-exciting na gagawin ko. Mas pinili mo kasi na makasama ako kesa sa iba. I never expected na darating tayo sa puntong ito ng mga buhay natin. Siguro risky. Pero kakayanin ko. For you Erika. I love you. I really love you very much.

10:27 p.m. Da;awang minuto na ang nakakalipas. Tatlong minuto na lang at makakasama na kita. Ok nga pala ang oras ng usapan natin. Wala ng masyadong tao sa paligid. Madilim pa. Kung may tao man, hindi na siguro tayo makikilala pa. Mahal na mahal talaga kita. Alam kong mahal mo rin ako. Kasi, sa kabila ng kahirapan ko sa buhay, mas pinili mo pa ring makasama ako. Sayang. Kung mas expressive lang siguro ako,mas mararamdaman mo sana na mahal talaga kita.

10:29 p.m. Isang minuto na lang at darating ka na Erika. Makikita na ulet kita. Isang pamilyar na tunog ng sasakyan ang aking naulinigan. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali. Alam kong ikaw na nga yan, Erika. Isang uri ng kasiyahan ang aking naramdaman. Pero, mabilis lang. Napalitan ito ng pagtataka.

10:30 p.m. Tuluyan nang tumigil ang sasakyan sa harapan ko at iniluwal ka nito. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin nito. Wala kang dalang gamit. Pero bakit? Kasunod mong bumaba ang dalawang bodyguards mo. Hindi ka naman siguro tanga Erika para magpaalam sa parents mo na magtatanan tayo. Para magdala pa ng bodyguards sa kasalanang gagawin natin.

10:33 p.m. Niyakap mo ako. “I love you, Ayan.” Binulong mo sakin, Erika. Gusto kitang yakapin. At tumugon sa ibinulong mo. Pero para akong tuod na niyakap mo, santong walang pakialam. Walang galaw. Walang emosyon. Pero napansin ko na tumutulo ang mga luha sa mukha ko. Bumitaw ka mula sa pagkakayakap. “I am sorry. Hindi tayo matutuloy. Nahuli ako nina Daddy at Mommy. Wala akong magawa. Pero mahal kita. Mahal na mahal. At alam kong alam mo yun, Ayan.” Tuluyan na ring tumulo ang kanina pang namumuong luha sa mga mata mo.

Gusto kong pahirin ang mga luha mo. Nasasaktan ako kapag nakikita kitang umiiyak. Pero tulad kanina, wala pa rin akong ginawa. Tuluyan ka nang dumistansya sakin. Lumapit ang isang bodyguard mo sa’yo at pinilit ka nyang papasukin muli sa kotse. Samantalang yung isang bodyguard naman eh naglakad papunta sa direksyon ko. Pagkalapit nya sakin, inundayan nya ako ng suntok sa mukha. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang sakit. Feeling ko na-deform ang mukha ko dahil sa kanya. Pero hindi kayang talunin ng pisikal ang emosyonal na sakit ko. Hinayaan ko na lang ang guard sa gusto nyang gawin sakin. Basta ang mata ko ay nasa iyo lamang, Erika. Isa pang suntok at nawalan na ako ng balanse at tuluyang bumagsak sa lupa. Pinabayaan ko na lang ang bodyguard sa kung anong gusto nyang gawin sakin. Kita pa rin kita Erika. Umiiyak ka pa rin. Yun lang. Yun lang ang ginawa mo. Ni hindi ka man lang nagpumiglas at pumilit na tumakas o lapitan ako.

Isa pang suntok sa sikmura. Sipa sa mukha. Kaladkad dito. Hila roon. Hanggang sa nagsawa rin ang hayop. Dumiretso sa kotse at tuluyang nang umalis kasama ka, Erika.

Naiwan akong nag-iisa sa kadiliman.

Wala na talaga akong ginawa. Nahiga lang. Wala na akong lakas para bumangon. Bakit pa? Para saan pa? Para kanino? Wala ng dahilan pa para mabuhay. Wala ng Erika. Kung mamamatay ako ngayon, ikatutuwa ko mpa.

Sayang Erika. Akala ko, mahal mo talaga ako.

Ipaglalaban ko sana ang pag-ibig natin. Kahit kapalit ng buhay ko. Kaso, sa una pa lamang, sumuko ka na.

Overpass

Kaninang umaga, naglalakad ako sa may kahabaan ng EDSA. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang init na sanhi ng El Niño at global warming. Langhap ko rin ang amoy ng usok na nanggagaling sa mga tambutso ng bawat sasakyan. Siguro, kung may bayad man ang paglanghap sa amoy ng usok na yon, baka ako na ang pinakamayaman ngayon sa buong mundo dahil sa sobrang trapik.

Naglakad ako kasi mas maaga ako makakarating sa lugar ng pinagtatrabahuhan ko kesa kapag nagsakay ako. Ang gaan-gaan ng pakiramdam ko ngayon. Parang walang problema. Walang tinik sa aking lalamunan. Sarap pa rin palang mabuhay sa panahon ngayon.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakakahinga ako nang maluwag ngayon. Hindi naman ako na-promote sa trabaho. Hindi naman ako nanalo sa lotto at lalong hindi pa naman bababa sa pwesto si Gloria. Basta iba ang pakiramdam ko.

Tinahak ko ang overpass nang walang pag-aalinlangan. Syempre, doon naman kasi ang daan ko. Nung umaakyat na ako sa may hagdan, paglingon ko sa likod, may napansin akong pamilyar na babae. Maganda sya. Maputi at matangkad.

Pamilyar talaga sya sakin. Napamangha naman ako sa kanya. Maganda kasi talaga sya.

“Andro? Ikaw na ba yan?” sabi nung babae sakin.

Napanganga lang ako. Bakit nya ako kilala?, sa isip-isip ko. Hindiko talaga sya maalala. Ngumanga na lang ako kunwari e gulat na gulat na muli kaming nagkita. Feeling close kumbaga. Kung anuman ang nakaraan namin, wala talaga akong maalala.

“Andro!” sabay yakap sakin nung babae. Naluluha-luha pa. Ymakap na rin ako. Nagtake-advantage. Naku, patawarin sana ako ng nasa itaas.

Hindi pa rin ako umiimik.

“Totoo pa lang nakalimutan mo na ako. Nagbalik pa naman ako para sayo.” Patuloy nung babae.

Oo nga, siguro, sagot kong muli sa utak ko. Hindi nga kita kilala eh. Hehehe. Yan ang gusto ko sanang sabihin dun sa babae. Kaso, baka naman ma-offend.

Kaya ang mga salitang tanging namutawi sa bibig ko eh:

“Hindi ako nakalimot. Ikaw ang nang-iwan.” At tuluyan ko nang inwan ang babae. Nakita ko na lamang syang umiiyak. Pero, nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad. Ayokong ma-late sa trabaho ko.

Pagdating ko sa opisina, nakita ko sa drawer ko ang picture nya. At noon ko naalala ang lahat. Sya nga pala yung sinulot ko sa bestfriend ko nun.

[Kamot sa ulo]

Unholy Trinity

Every night, a gun was kept inside the pillowcase of Nova. Death threats for her family was everywhere.

One afternoon, some armored men attempted to kidnap her son, Dave. It was a good thing that the security guards in the exclusive school where Dave was studying were really attentive and vigilant enough to know immediately what was happening. These guards were able to save Dave.

Another unexpected incident happened at their residence. The window of Nova’s bedroom was shot. At first, she thought it was just a stray bullet. But the policemen found out that the bullet was actually aimed at her.

Though she knew they were in danger, she never planned to hire bodyguards. She was aware that nowadays, it was really hard to trust anybody. Even your long-time friend could be your dangerous hidden enemy.

For weeks, she studied using the gun. She was a fast learner. Upon learning, she was determined she could save their lives. But she could not help herself not to worry about her husband abroad. Gino was a business tycoon. Nova was sure it was the real reason why their family was in peril now. Gino had done every good thing to elevate himself to the zenith of the business world. And now, he was a threat to almost every businessman.

Gino had been in the US for three months now taking good care of their family business. Nova missed him, really. Everything about him. She really loved her husband. And she knew he loved her as well. She just kept on worrying about him. Gino called her one time, informing her that he’d be back in the Philippines after a week or two. And she couldn’t wait for that time to arrive.

Death is really inevitable. Unexpected. We don’t know if we would be dead today, or by tomorrow. We don’t know if we would kill, or would be killed.

One night, Nova woke up because of the chaotic barking of the neighbors’ dogs. She sensed the surroundings. Instinct told her that she was in danger. And her instinct did not fail her. She could see a silhouette of man outside, seemed like spying. Then the man walked towards their gate to their door.

Nova got the gun, hid herself opposite the door and readied herself to pull the trigger, to save her and Dave’s lives.

She was very nervous. She prayed for her husband’s and Dave’s safety. She knew she might die now.

Then she heard it. With a slight click, the door opened. And then she shot the man, twice, through his heart. Her hand was quivering. She was really nervous. Behind her, someone shouted, “Dad!!.” She was shocked, and unknowingly, she shot again. Dave was not able to avoid the bullet. Blood oozed from his head, splashing everywhere.

Nova cried, threw away the gun and approached her dead son. She carried while approaching the dead man at the door. She did not want to believe what she heard. Her heart beat faster when she looked at him. And everything was confirmed.

She was a killer. She was a goon herself. A kind of a demon. Gino. Dave. She killed both her husband and son. Personally. With her bare hands.

She never thought about it. She never expected it. She laid down Dave’s body beside Gino’s. She walked away, picked up something from the tiled floor and sat down between her loved ones’ bodies.

“Bang!!”

She was dead too.

In the arms of the people she loved.