MOVING ON

"Life is too short and beautiful to be wasted on nonsense."
-Fly on a dog's poop.

"Starting all over is better than fretting over what can't be undone."
-Wasp on rebuilding its destroyed hive.

"Living in the shadows of the past is like forgetting there's always tomorrow."
-Caterpillar in its cocoon, can't wait to become a butterfly.

"What makes moving on difficult is the fact that you don't want to leave the good memories behind, and what makes it even harder is that you believe you're leaving the best thing in your life."
-Growing-up bird on leaving its mother's nest ('coz it will have to find food for itself now).

"Moving on is always paired with patience and determination."
-Turtle trying its hardest to get back to the water.

"It takes time to move on; and it leaves trails."
-Snail getting down the wall.

One-liner..

"...And stop calling your brother a little wart!"
-Mommy Frog to her toad.

"How on earth could you flunk multiplication?"
-Papa Rabbit on his bunny's report card.

"When I leave home, Mom's turning my room into a briefcase."
-Joey talking to another joey.

"Quit playing with your food!"
-Mother Cat to her kitten, playing jumping rope with two mice.

Keber ni Oscar Wilde

This part is extracted from Chapter 18. (Wel is also Samuel, as explained further in earlier chapters.)

Ethan was supposed to meet a business client but he changed his mind. He took the other elevator down and rode in his car. Speeding off on the road, he reminisced the special times he and Wel had spent together—Wel crying in a comfort room cubicle, that first kiss in his office, the incident in the comfort room at the hotel in Baguio, the night he had cried to Wel, the afternoon when Wel had opened up his true feelings, and the night he had lied to Wel. All those combined were not just worth half-a-million. It was too priceless just to forget.

Upon realizing that, he made a quick U-turn and headed back to Sunspot Hotel.

Meanwhile, at the bar, Kenneth broke his promise. He showed Wel a tiny box with a silver ring in it.

“Engagement ba `to? Sinasabi ko na nga ba, wala kang gagawing matino, eh.”

Sitting opposite Wel, Kenneth moved himself closer to the table. “Mahal na mahal talaga kita. At least, ‘di ‘to kontrata. Bumalik ka na sa’kin.”

“Heller! May tiwang ka na talaga sa utak, ‘no? Alam ba ng jowa mo ang kataksilan mong ‘to?”

Kenneth lowered his head. “Hindi.” Then he straightened on his seat. “Pero ipapaalam ko rin sa kanya.”

“Na ibe-break mo s’ya o pagsasabayin mo kami?”

Kenneth knew he couldn’t choose the latter. “Oo na. Ibe-break ko s’ya.”

Wel took time into consideration. “O sige. Makikipagbalikan ako sa’yo kung ibe-break mo s’ya—pero now na.”

“Huh? Sa susunod ko na lang ibe-break si Brando.”

Brando pala, ha! Wel took a mental note of it. Fortunately, Kenneth’s phone was on the table. “Hindi mo kayang gawin ngayon? P’wes—“ he snatched the phone—“ako ang gagawa.”

“`Wag!” Kenneth tried to snatch back and failed.

Too late Wel had already dialed up. “Hello. Is this Brando? Anyway, ako nga pala ang ex ni Kenneth. Alam mo bang nagtataksil s’ya ngayon? Isa lang ang dahilan kung ba’t ako tumawag: Turuan mo s’ya ng manners ‘pag nagkita ulit kayo, ha. Ikaw din—baka i-break ka n’ya informally. Wanna talk to him? Here he is.” He handed the phone to Kenneth.

Kenneth had been worrying but it aggravated when he found out that it was a real call.

“O, ba’t ‘di maipinta ang mukha mo?” Wel teased more.

Kenneth pressed the end-call button. “Ba’t mo ginawa ‘yon?”

“There. Malinaw ang usapan. Hindi ka nakipag-break so hindi ako makikipagbalikan. May formal closure ka pang nalalaman. Manloloko.”

“Bakit mo’ko binigla?”

“Binigla mo rin ako, eh.”

If Kenneth had just lost Brando, he couldn’t let this moment pass away and be partnerless. He calmed himself and sat beside Wel.

“Sam, minsan sa buhay n’ya, sinabi ni Oscar Wilde ang ganito: Nagpapakasal ang lalake out of boredom; ang babae naman, out of curiosity.”

“Eh, sa’n ka do’n? ‘Di ka naman babae. ‘Di ka rin lalake. Sa palagay ko, may personal na galit sa’yo si Oscar Wilde. At ‘di ka naman magpapakasal, eh. ‘Pag tumuntong ka sa simbahan, tiyak na bubuka ang lupa.”

“Makinig ka muna. Kaya lang naman ako nakipagrelasyon kay Brando, kasi bored na ako. Saman—“

“Ah, gano’n? So na-bored ka rin sa ’kin no’n kaya ka nakipag-break, tama ba?”

“Listen to me first.” Kenneth shifted closer and hung his whole arm along the length of Wel’s back from shoulder to shoulder. “Nakipagrelasyon ako kay Brando kasi bored na ako. Samantalang ikaw, mahal kita.”

Another plan sprouted in Wel’s head. He teasingly ran his hand across Kenneth’s thigh until it reached his crotch, stroking gently and meaningfully. He knew Kenneth was getting aroused because he felt “it” growing bigger and harder.

“May sasabihin ka pa ba?” His tone was cool.

Kenneth’s eyes were deliriously blinking. “Sam, maha—argh!” he silently moaned in pain, mouth ajar.

Wel had just located his nuts and squeezed it a bit hard. “Hoy! Minsan sa buhay n’ya, sinabi ng lola ko ‘to: Ang lalakeng manloloko, manloloko habambuhay.”

“S-Sam, wait,” Kenneth painfully begged, hand cupping his crotch.

“Tama lang sa’yo ‘yan para ‘di ka na maimpluwensyahan ni Oscar Wilde,” Wel said with a sneer.

Suddenly, Ethan came, staring at Wel.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Wel asked.

“Mag-usap tayo.”

“Isa ka pa, eh. Alam mo bang may trauma na’ko sa pakikipag-usap? Gusto mong magaya kay Kenneth?”

Ethan looked down at Kenneth who was crimping in pain. He didn’t care at whatever was going on with that foolish guy. He took Wel’s hand and dragged him out of that bar.

Sweet Revenge

An excerpt from my untitled novel, taken from Chapter 13. The drift was taken from a comedy I dearly loved.

Ethan and Samuel were left alone. They looked at each other and glanced away with sky-high pride. Ethan began by pleading to Samuel to go back to work at Brentford. With a stiff upper lip, Sam turned him down. They spent some moment of a piss-poor negotiating job, though.

“Let’s just talk about it in the car.”

“You think sasabay ako sa’yo? Duh! Mag-isa ka. Mukha mo.”

“Hindi ka yayaman sa pride mo. Malayo pa ang sakayan dito.”

“Balewala lang sa’yo ang pride kase mapera ka.”

“Hindi ka talaga sasakay?” Ethan’s last offer.

“Hindi.” Samuel contemptuously stared then began walking off.

Ethan’s car sped off, passing by him. Anger burned inside him that his whole body raised temperature. He tried to chase but got tired, finally stopping to pant.

“Hoy, Echas, may araw ka rin!” Samuel exasperatedly shouted. Then he put his left palm under his right elbow, with right fist clenched, saying, “Eto ka, Echas, eto ka!”

An hour later, Samuel hopped off a bus. He got off at the same place where Ethan had dropped him off on the day he had spilled coffee on the former. He walked slowly with painful legs and sore feet. Across the road he saw Ethan seated on the hood of the damned car that had left him an hour ago. Ethan seemed to have been waiting for him.

Samuel treaded on nonchalantly. Ethan followed at a safe distance behind.

“Pagod na pagod ka yata,” Ethan teased.

Samuel walked on. “Gago ka ba? Anlayo kaya ng nilakad ko.”

“Sabi ko kasi, sumabay ka na. Aayaw-ayaw ka pa, eh. Adik ka rin, eh.”

Samuel stopped and turned. “Mas adiktus ka. Ba’t mo’ko iniwan?”

Ethan also stopped, distance kept remained. “Ang tigas kasi ng ulo mo. Pinapairal pa kasi ang pride.”

Samuel pivoted and walked up again. Ethan went into motion.

“Bumalik ka na kasi sa Brentford.”

“In your dreams.”

“Okay. I’ll give you a ten percent raise. Or twenty.”

Samuel puffed up some bangs covering his left eye. “How cheap. Sa yaman mong ‘yan, hanggang twenty percent lang ang kaya mong idagdag?”

“Hindi ako waldas. Businessman ako.”

For the second time, Samuel stopped and faced Ethan. Of course, Ethan also ceased from walking.

“Eh ano pa’ng itinatayu-tayo mo d’yan? Businessman ka, ‘di ba? Baka nalilimutan mong Lunes ngayon?”

“Absent ako ngayon pero I’m making a business deal. Kaya pumayag ka na. ‘Wag mo nang aksayahin ang oras ko.”

Disdainfully, Samuel folded his arms. “Abusado ka, ha. Ikaw ang may kailangan, ikaw pa ang reklamador.” He noticed something in Ethan’s grasp and asked about it.

“Isang box ng chocolates. For you.”

“You bribing me?”

“Peace offering. I know you’re mad at me, so I bought chocolates. Sabi kasi nila, ‘Choco latte makes the pain go away.’ Nice rhyme, ain’t it?” Ethan stretched his arm, giving off the box.

“Ayoko n’yan. Walang katambal.” Samuel pretended he was thinking of something.

“Anong katambal? Don’t tell me, gusto mo ng roses? Babae ka ba?”

“Kalahati.”

“Kaya nga kalahati lang ang ibinibigay ko. Chocolates lang. Choosy ka pa?” Ethan shook the box in front of Sam’s face.

“I’ll take that in one condition: lumuhod ka sa harap ko.”

“What! Nangangarap ka na naman ba? Tanggapin mo na lang kasi ‘to!” Ethan furiously demanded.

“Ayaw mo?” Samuel waited awhile then turned to leave. He walked slowly.

“Sandali.”

Samuel briskly turned around. “Ano—luluhod ka na? Kung ayaw mo, aalis na’ko.” He pretended to pivot.

“Sandali nga!”

“’Wag mo nga sayangin ang oras ko. Gagawin mo ba o hindi?” Samuel repeatedly tapped his shoe on the ground, mimicking a ticking clock.

Glaring, Ethan exhaled audibly. He flipped his head and flipped back with a sigh. He did it again with a louder sigh. Then again with a clearer sigh.

In hidden amusement, Samuel was waiting, giving Ethan a prompting stare. Ethan had no choice. He badly needed a designer and he needed to do Sam’s foolish idea. He scanned around the area. Fortunately, not a soul was lurking out under the summer sun. In half-hesitation, he knelt on one knee, head ducked down, hand with chocolate raised towards Samuel.

Kumakagat talaga si Engot! Samuel thought. He made a big flattered smile and waited for a few seconds before finally spoiling the fun by taking the box of sweets.

Ethan immediately sprang to his feet. He scanned around again and wiped his perspiring forehead with the back of his palm.

“Ayan. Ginawa ko na, ha. Mag-report ka tomorrow sa office,” Ethan demanded.

“Pag-iisipan ko pa, ‘no.” Sam glanced at the box.

“Tsk. Anong pag-iisipan? Tumupad ako sa usapan kaya tumupad ka rin.”
“Hala! May usapan ba tayo?”

“Meron. Nagbigay ka pa nga ng kundisyon na lumuhod ako sa harap mo.”

“Tanga. Peace offering lang ‘tong chocolates, ‘di ba? May pinirmahan ba ‘kong kasulatan na babalik na’ko sa trabaho?”

Ethan irritably scratched his head. “Pinaghirapan ko ‘yon tapos pag-iisipan mo pa?”

“Tigilan mo nga ako. ‘Pag ako nainis, ‘di ko na pag-iisipan yun.”

“Gano’n? Gimme back the chocolates.” Ethan tried to snatch the box.

Samuel hid it behind him. “Lelang mo. Ibinigay mo na, eh. Alis na. Bumalik ka na sa office.” He turned around and walked homewards. Knowing Ethan couldn’t see him, he closed his eyes and smiled brightly.

Ethan stayed put. “Pumasok ka bukas, ha?”

Sam didn’t answer. From an irate look, Ethan’s face suddenly switched to a blithesome one, with a smile undoubtedly authentic.

Ready fer stitching:)

...ouch to the nth power...

The First Cut Is The Deepest - Sheryl Crow

I would have given you all of my heart
But there's someone who's torn it apart
And he's taken just all that I have
But if you want I'll try to love again
Baby, I'll try to love again, but I know...

The first cut is the deepest
Baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
But when it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed
When it comes to lovin' me, he's worst...

I still want you by my side
Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
And I'm sure gonna give you a try
If you want I'll try to love again, (try)
Baby, I'll try to love again, but I know...

OOHHH,
The first cut is the deepest
Baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
But when it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed
But when it comes to lovin' me, he's worst...

I still want you by my side
Just to help me dry the tears that I've cried
But I'm sure gonna give you a try
Cuz if you want I'll try to love again
(Try to love again, try to love again)
Baby, I'll try to love again but I know, OOHHH....

The first cut is the deepest
Baby I know
The first cut is the deepest
When it comes to bein' lucky, he's cursed
When it comes to lovin' me, he's worst

OOHHH, the first cut is the deepest
Baby I know (baby I know)
The first cut is the deepest
Try to love again...