Gajeel and Levy

“Gajeeeeeel!!!! Get out of there and face me, you metal-braced idiot!”

Under any other circumstances, people of Magnolia would laugh at the absurdness of the idea of Levy McGarden shouting in rage. But since they know the story, people watched as the blue-haired pixie stormed her way to Gajeel’s apartment and nearly tearing the door down. People of Magnolia, under normal circumstances, would also cringe in fear, because a girl is shouting at the metal dragon-slayer and is asking for a fight. But this situation, the whole of it, can’t be considered normal, since the said metal dragon-slayer is her boyfriend. Yep, you heard err read it right and I haven’t mistyped or whatever. BOYFRIEND. It has been months now, just after the tournament and Gajeel realized that he can’t afford to lose her and all, but that would be another story. It all started yesterday, or was it the other day?

“Levy…”

“Just wait okay? This is the best part.”

A # formed on the left side of Gajeel’s forehead. This is just too much! Even for him. He is used to ignore people, heck, even being ignored but that rarely happened ‘cause of his build, or aura, or just his menacing look. So why is his girlfriend ignoring him, HIM who does not talk much? Another # formed, this time on the right side of his forehead. Just because of a damn book. What’s in it anyway? Another boring teen fiction that would make you bawl your eyes out and then pretend that you have learned something so unpractical, it would remain as it is, a theory?

He never did have the patience to read books, unlike his Edo-counterpart who is a writer. But back to the problem at hand, Levy is ignoring him just because of a stupid book. “Stupid Book,” he muttered, only to be boxed in the ears. He cursed in friggin’ annoyance.

“Aren’t you even going to listen to me?”

“I told you to wait; I’m nearing its end.”

He brightened up, and looked at the book she is holding and another # popped. She’s nearly halfway done, and she’s going to finish it first before listening to him? He created a metal frame with spikes on the four sides, and while Levy is so engrossed into reading it, he snatched the book away, put it in his frame and threw it on the wall.

 “So, what now bookworm? Care to listen to me already?”

“Ugh, what is it?”

“I want to kiss you.”

Her jaw dropped, then her eyes widened. She turned red then her eyes squinted, ever so slowly, as if she is absorbing his words rather gradually.

“Pantherlily…” she whispered. The Exceed suddenly became alert, as if awaiting her orders. “Can you get me a knife? I’m just going to slice this man into pieces!!!” she said, coldly. He just laughed. Yeah, the masochistic Gajeel laughed, which seemed to fuel her irritation more. She had him down on the floor in an instant, trying to punch him or anything, to no avail. He is still smirking, as if enjoying her distress. She screamed, but was immediately cut off by his kiss. The silliness of love. She was fighting it at first, but couldn’t do so, for this was Gajeel kissing her, the man she loved. She surrendered and they were kissing until Natsu and Gray’s noise interrupted them. They broke off the kiss and stared into each other’s eyes, he on the floor and she kneeling beside him. Now, Gajeel is satisfied, because he had her whole attention all by himself. Sadly though, it was short-lived, because Levy stood up and wrote ladder using her script magic, and went up to get her book. He groaned. He hates her books. He does.

“You are soo jealous over her books.” It wasn’t a question as Pantherlily sat down beside him.

“Who the hell said so? I am not jealous! Just… just…envious!”

Lily remained poker-faced.

“I just hate it when she is reading; it’s as if I don’t belong to her world anymore, as if I don’t even exist. I hate that.”

His cat smiled. This was the first time was able to listen to Gajeel talk, and it’s kind of refreshing. Like they are closer now.

“Then think of something, steal her books, burn them-----“he was cut off as Gajeel sprinted for the door, a brilliant idea crossed his mind.

“Hey! I was just joking!!” Lily shouted after him, no chance of him hearing it. “Oh dear, if he’s going to do what I think he’ll be doing, this is going to be a war.”

And now, we go back to the present, Levy pounding on her boyfriend’s door.

“Get out of there, you moron!!! Why did you burn all of my books!!! I’m going to kill you!!!”

He woke up, disoriented. Was that Levy shouting outside his apartment? Wait, is Levy really shouting? He was still sleepy because he hasn’t gotten much sleep last night. But he’s still smiling, his project is done. He opened the door to find a flushed Levy, almost red in anger, and his breath hitched. Exquisite. Truly, marvelously, beautiful. His moment of admiration was destroyed when he analyzed her face. She is angry to tears.

“Wh-at… What happened?”

“I hate you!!!”

His heart stopped. He never thought that hearing those kinds of words from her would hurt him this badly.

“Levy! What the hell? What did I do?”

“You burned all my books!!!”

“What?”

“From now on, we’re… *sniff* we’re---“

“Stop it! I won’t hear it. Listen to me, who told you that I burned them? Why in the world would I do that?”

“I don’t know! Maybe you’re jealous, maybe you hated books, maybe you don’t love me anymore…”

He grabbed her by her shoulders and almost dragged her inside.

“I said stop it! I do not hate books, and I am sure as hell that I love you still, and yes! Maybe I’m a bit jealous but I did not burn them!!!” he said through clenched teeth. The person who told her that awful news is going to be dead. Big time.

“But… But where are my books?” she cried. And it broke him to see her cry.

He stood up and went to the place beside his window, where a huge square thing is covered with white cloth.

“I stole all of these last night from your room, but not to burn them, as you learned.”

And he pulled the cloth down, revealing a metal bookshelf with intricate dragon designs. He sighed. This was not how he imagined it. The look on Levy’s face is priceless. He smiled. It was all worth it.

“You, you made it for me?” she choked on her words.

“It is the only way for me to remain into your dimension, even when reading.”

“I never throw you out.”

“But I feel like I’m outside.”

“No! Maybe that’s how I look, but when I’m reading, I always see you as the male protagonist. Every love story in that shelf is ours, because I imagined it so. Do you believe me?”

He stared at her for a long time. How he loved this pixie bookworm. Then he smirked.

“Only if you kiss me again?”

“Gajeel!!”

A few hours later…

“So, who gave you that fake information?” Gajeel asked his girlfriend, his arms circling around her reading form. Pantherlily paled. Then shivered. “I’m so dead.”

Jayrol! 7 Pages ito lahat!

Cortez, Jayrol

Alfonso, Imee Florence

Comparative Analysis

Literature 2

9:30-10:30 MWF

March 13, 2012

Breaking Dawn Part 1 Movie

Breaking Dawn Part 1 & Part 2 of the Book

I. Introduction

a.     About the author:

Stephenie Meyer graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in English. She lives with her husband and three young sons in Phoenix, Arizona. After the publication of her first novel, Twilight, booksellers chose Stephenie Meyer as one of the "most promising new authors of 2005" (Publishers Weekly).

Praise for Twilight:

·        A New York Times Editor's Choice

·        A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

·        An Amazon "Best Book of the Decade...So Far"

·        A Teen People "Hot List" pick

·        An American Library Association "Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults" and "Top Ten Books for Reluctant Readers"

·        Has been translated into 20 languages

"Propelled by suspense and romance in equal parts [this story] will keep readers madly flipping the pages of Meyer's tantalizing debut."
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The novel's danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of secret love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive. Realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, Twilight will have readers dying to sink their teeth into it."
— School Library Journal (starred review)

b.    History

Originally, Meyer wrote a book titled Forever Dawn, which was a direct sequel to Twilight. While the basic storyline remained the same, Forever Dawn was narrated completely from Bella's point of view, the werewolves and Jacob were "only sketchily developed", Victoria and Laurent were both alive, and there was an epilogue. Meyer went on to say that she "may post some extras someday if I ever have time to go back through the Forever Dawn manuscript—it's just as long as Breaking Dawn."

The plays The Merchant of Venice and A Midsummer Night's Dream both influenced Breaking Dawn. Meyer decided that Alice would write her instruction to Bella on a page from The Merchant of Venice to give a clue that the final confrontation at the end of the book would be a mental one—not a physical battle—like the one at the end of the play. It also hints that the novel would have a happy ending for the couples, as in The Merchant of Venice. Originally it was Jane Eyre that Alice tore a page from, but Jane Eyre had nothing to do with the story, so Meyer changed it.

II. Summary/ Plot Analysis

The book is divided into three(3) parts, based from the perspective used.

Breaking Dawn picks up just before Bella and Edward's wedding, which of course, Alice goes over the top on. But finally, they are married and off to Esme's private island for their honey moon. Even though Edward is worried about breaking Bella, they do have sex. They both thought it was impossible but she did get pregnant. Edward rushes Bella home to "take care" of the quickly growing fetus, but Bella has other plans.

At this point, Jacob Black takes over the story telling. He thinks that Bella has been turned into a vampire and wants the pack to attack the Cullens, but Sam, the pack Alpha, votes for peace. This all changes when Jacob discovers that Bella is pregnant with a half-vampire. Sam now wants to attack, to kill the monster growing inside her. Jacob asserts his inherited rights to be Alpha and breaks away from the pack. Seth follows him. They rush back to the Cullen's house to warn them and help them defend Bella. Sam's pack decides not to attack now that they have lost the element of surprise and have a smaller pack. Leah joins Jacob and Seth after a while because she is still in love with Sam. Edward and Jacob don't agree on much, but they do agree that the fetus will kill Bella. They both want to save her, but Rosalie is protecting Bella and the baby. Emmet and Esme are on her side too and Carlisle won't help Edward when Esme is against him. Bella has to drink blood in order to nourish the fetus, which is strong and keeps breaking her ribs. Finally, only a few weeks after getting married, the baby comes. Bella's heart stops in the process, and Edward injects her with venom to turn her into a vampire. Jacob believes that she is dead and leaves to find and kill her daughter, Renesmee. But Jacob imprints on her, instead, and his whole outlook on the world changes.

Bella again takes over the story telling. She almost dies, but remembering her daughter, who she only saw for a second, she forces herself to hold on. Then the pain of becoming a vampire is intolerable. She can't scream or move because she has morphine in her system. When she awakes, she is the most in control newborn the Cullen's have ever met. Because of this, they allow her to see Renesmee. Bella is furious when she learns that Jacob imprinted on her daughter. All of this is soon forgotten, though, when Alice has a vision. The Volturi, all of them including their wives, are coming.

Alice leaves some cryptic instructions and then, with Jasper, abandons the family. The rest of the Cullens recruit the wolf packs and their vampire friends to act as witnesses. The Volturi think that Renesmee is a forbidden vampire child, and they will have to prove to them that she is growing and part human in order to escape the Volturi slaughtering them all. There is little hope, as they believe the visit is really just an excuse to add Alice and a few others with special abilities to their ranks. Bella follows some of Alice's instructions left for her, and buys Renesmee and Jacob fake passports and birth certificates. She is planning on dying to allow Jacob time to escape with Renesmee. Since Bella's mind is shielded, she will be the only one who knows that they are leaving. She doesn't even tell Edward. She also practices extending her mental shield to include others with the other vampires.

At the confrontation with the Volturi, Bella's fury allows her to control her power better and she is able to protect everyone on her side. The Volturi pause when they see the wolves, giving Edward time to explain that Renesmee is part human and her existence did not break any laws. They look for more excuses to attack, and decide that they don't know how she will grow up. They claim she is a threat to keeping vampire existence a secret. They decide to vote on keeping Renesmee alive. While Aro, Caius and Marcus debate, Jane and Alec attack. Soon, they realize that their mental abilities are of no use, as Bella is shielding everyone. Then Alice shows up with Jasper, two vampires and a full-grown half-vampire. He proves that Renesmee will not be a threat as she grows older. The Volturi leave and the Cullens are safe once again. At the end, Bella pushes her shield away in order to show her thoughts to Edward. It only works for a while, but she shows him how much she loves him by bringing up memories of her time with him.

III. Comparison (Breaking Dawn Part 1 movie vs. Breaking Dawn Part1 & Part 2)

a.     What is in the book that is missing in the movie?

There’s not much, it’s like, the movie is the summary of the book, since what is missing would be the elaborations of has been shown on the movie. Like:

·       Charlie and Renee’s reactions with Bella being pregnant and her whole engaged drama, with Jacob missing on the side. It was all shown in the first 5 minutes of the movie.

·       The movie left out the part in Bella’s dream where she saw a child on top of all the corpses on her wedding day.

·       Quil and Claire, his young girl of an imprint. Although it may look somewhat insignificant, the position of their introduction in the story is actually material, it hinted of the possibility of an imprint to be born later than the wolf-mate.

·       The way Jacob assumed the Alpha position unknowingly. That is, when he severed the bond he shared with Sam, it gave the others the choice whether to join him or stay in the pack. And also, Leah didn’t join him just after Seth did, hours passed before that.

·       No explanation on the supernatural biology, like how vampires have 25 pairs of chromosomes, and weres have 24 pairs. There’s a chance that it may be discussed on the Part 2 or not at all.

·       The part where Jacob went out, to clear his mind, and maybe try and look for his imprint.

·       Lastly, Jacob’s interaction with Alice was not shown in the movie.

b.    What is in the movie that is missing in the book?

Mostly, some part of the movie that wasn’t in the Breaking Dawn book is found on the other books, because the movies corresponding those books left out the parts.

·       The reception messages where family and friends deliver speeches for the newly-weds.

·       Irina of Denali clan wasn’t supposed to be on the wedding, but she showed up in the movie.

·       The honeymoon lovemaking. Not that detailed in the book as it was in the movie.

·       When Jacob knelt as his eyes met Renesmee, although that is the best physical manifestation of what went on his head after seeing her for the first time.

·       Sam’s pack attacked the Cullens on the night Bella gave birth, only to be stopped by Jacob who had just imprinted on Renesmee. There was supposed to be no action in the end of Jacob’s perspective.

IV. Characterization

a.     Isabella Swan-Cullen

Officially Mrs. Edward Cullen starting from the chapter 3 of Breaking Dawn, she is the human Edward “the vampire” fell in love to. Eighteen-year old transferee from Arizona, she fell in love with him just the same, and insisted of being turned into a vampire like him. She has this latent talent as a shield when she is still a human, and that talent magnified with her becoming a vampire. She grew from being the spoiled and insensitive girl of Twilight to the slightly insensitive mother of Breaking Dawn, her maturity levels having to have increased a thousand folds during the transition of the 3^rd and 4^th installment of the series.

b.    Edward Cullen

A vampire frozen to his teen self forever, he found love and everything in Bella Swan. Although hesitant in siring her, he proposed the deal of marriage from which Bella never stopped to think about and just said yes. Since he already has a century’s time to mature, his growth as a person is not noticeable. He remained the learned and mature vampire that he is from the very beginning. The only thing that unearthed him would be the experience of being a biological father, one from which at first, he didn’t how.

c.     Jacob Black

He is a half-human, half-werewolf whom Bella turned into a confidante and best friend, and remained as such, even after he confessed how he feels for her. His feelings for her aren’t love, because that feeling is reserved only for his imprint who turned out to be Renesmee, the child Bella would soon be conceiving. He has inherited Alpha genes from his grandfather, thus makes him the legal Alpha of their pack, although he had not assumed the position until the latter part of the story.

V. Symbols

·       The cover is a metaphor for Bella's progression throughout the entire series; she began as the physically weakest player on the board, the pawn, but at the end she becomes the strongest, the queen. The chessboard also hints at the conclusion of the novel "where the battle with the Volturi is one of wits and strategy, not physical violence.

·       The title, Breaking Dawn, is a reference to the beginning of Bella's life as a newborn vampire. Originally, Meyer wanted to title the book Forever Dawn, but she thought the name was very "cheesy". Wanting to add a "sense of disaster" to the title to match the novel's mood, she called it Breaking Dawn. Another reason for giving the book this particular title is that it matches the book's plot, which centers around "a new awakening and a new day and there's also a lot of problems inherent in it.”

VI. Lessons

·       Stick to the right thing.

A baby is a baby, no matter what race, or kind or pedigree, or whatever. Bella and Rosalie’s stand was admirable, although they had different intentions.

·       Being rational over a lot of things.

Instead of letting you emotions rule your decisions and ending in a hopeless battle, Carlisle tried so much to turn the confrontation between the Cullen and the Volturi a bloodless one. Cauis expected that one when he killed Irina, but thankfully, Carlisle and Edward stopped Tanya and Kate’s outbursts. (Breaking Dawn Part 3)

·       Trying to reach out to others rather than cutting off everyone.

Shown on both the vampires and werewolves sides. Instead of remaining as eternal enemies, because one decided to try and reach out to the vampires and vice versa, an alliance and a friendship was formed.

TFTIESYF EPILOGUE

Pangiti-ngiti pa rin si Karen kinabukasan. Halatang may lablayp.
Pangiti-ngiti rin si Gembong kinabukasan. Halatang siya ang lablayp.

"Ang lame pala ng confession natin kahapon?"

"Hala! 'Wag mo na ipaalala, lame talaga."

"Pwede ko namang i-justify eh."

"Sige nga."

"Because people in love can become anyone that is out of their character. Like how I became a poet, how you became outgoing, how we became lame."

"All in the name of love?"

"Ay, hinde.. "

"Hampasin kita?"

":)"

TFTIESYF

A/N: Last. Last.Last. And sana, na -meet ko expectations niyo.

Verse 10

"Kahit Hindi Sana Ikaw, wala eh, ikaw talaga."

In fairness kay Gembong, never itong nag-falter sa 'panliligaw' sa kanya.
Ilang months na ba ang nakalipas?
At hanggang ngayon eh nagtetext or whatever pa rin sila.
Friendly dates here and there.
Hanging out.
At hindi niya napapansin, during those times ay naipakilala na nila ang sarili sa isa't-isa.
And it felt good. It's like finding a soulmate. Even more than that.

"Kumusta na kayo ni Gembong?" tanong sa kanya ng friend niya. Minsan talaga, hindi na niya alam kung matutuwa ba siya o maasar na. Kasi, eternally na nakadikit ang pangalan niya sa lalaking iyon, at hindi naman nakakatulong 'yung pagsama-sama rin nila sa lakad.

"Anong kami? Kami ba? Hindi!"

"Parang nga, may nababalitaan ako eh."

"Ano naman 'yun?"

"May crush daw siya sa block nila."

That must be the worst thing she ever heard today.
Doon niya na rin naisip 'yung idea na matagal na niyang ayaw isipin, ayaw harapin, ayaw pakisamahan.
Kasi para sa kanya, bawal.
Para sa puso naman niya, "Wala akong Pake!"
Dun na nga nagsimula ang gyera ng puso at isip niya. Kung ano ba ang tama, kung ano ba ang dapat, at kung ano ba ang gusto niya.

"Hindi! Hindi ko siya gusto at never na magiging kami!" paimpit na sigaw niya, para sana paalalahanan ang sariling iyon ang dapat.

"Dapat pala, noon mo pa iyan sina di ba? Para naman at least, hindi ako umasa?" Boses ni Gembong.

At nagulat siya dahil nasa likod pala ito, puno ng hinanakit ang mukha.

"I..I.. hin..."

"Wag na Karen, sa totoo lang, nakakapagod din palang umasa, pero dahil nga nagmamahal ako, umaasa pa rin ako. Pero minsan din pala, kailangan sumuko na, lalo kung abala na lang ako sa 'yo."

"Wala naman palang silbi 'yung effort ko eh, masabihan lang na ma-effort ako. 'Yun lang. Pero wala talaga eh, sa tingin mo ba, kung natuturuan ko lang ang puso na magmahal ng iba, naks... Sa tingin mo, gugustuhin kong ma-in love sa babaeng masyadong matayog?
Sa tingin mo, mag-iipon ako ng isang drum ng lakas ng loob para lang iparating sa babaeng iyon ang nararamdaman ko? Kung ibang babae ba 'yun, gagawin ko kaya? Ang tingin ko, isang malaking hindi. Sa'yo lang. Pero masyado na akong maraming nasabi, dapat nga kanina pa ako naka-alis eh. Pero ewan ko ba.Parang, all these time, handa ako dun sa idea na hindi mo nga talaga ako gusto. Pero Karen, masakit pa rin pala talaga. Kahit ang alam ko, handa na ako. 'Pag narinig ko na pala 'yun mismo-----"

"Teka lang! 'Wag mo nang tapusin 'yang speech mo! Para ka nang running-for president niyan eh. Wait lang! Wait! Wait lang talaga.. Tutal nagsasabihan na rin tayo ng mga feelings natin et cetera. Let me tell you this."

"Teka lang din! Tara sa labas! Mas maganda ang ambience dun," sabi agad nito, at inakay siya papuntang gardens.

"Para sa isang lalaking dapat eh heartbroken na ngayon, masaya ka pa rin."

"Ayaw ng mga lalaking ipakita ang mga kahinaan nila sa babaeng gusto nila."

Wala na siyang nasabi, somehow, naintindihan niya ito, at tahimik lang siya na sumunod dito.

"Totoo ba yun?"

"Alin?"

"'Yung sinabi mo?"

"Hindi! Nabigla lang ako dun! Hindi naman sa hindi talaga kita gusto."

"Eh ano pala? Nabingi lang ako?"

"Ang sungit mo!" at umasta siyang aalis na lang. Pero agad siya nitong pinigilan sa braso. And yeah, the typical thing. That bumping of lips called kissing. Then Sparks Flew! Past tense ng kanta ni Taylor Swift.

"Hala!!!!"

"Isang tanong, isang sagot, oh, huminga ka." Yugyog pa nito sa kanya.

And for the first time, nag relax din ang kanyang nerves.

"Mahal na kita, kahit hindi kita type." At nakita niya ang pagka bigla sa mukha nito. 'Yung tipong hitsura ng taong naka lunok ng isang piso.

"Kailangan talagang idagdag pa iyong huli? Eh ano ang type mo?"

"Wala! Wala sa isip ko iyan, wala sa panaginip ko, wala sa dalangin ko, wala sa expectations ko.Panira ka nga lang kasi ng plano, sumulpot-sulpot ka pa kasi."

"Wala ka na ring magagawa, I'm here now, and this is for good."

"'Yun na nga eh! Alam kong nandiyan ka  lang, and before I knew it, alam ko na nandiyan ka!"

"Huh?"

"Nasanay na ako sa presence mo, kaya nung feeling ko eh mawawala ka na, ewan ko ba! Parang masama iyong loob ko." This time, naka upo na siya at nakatinagala dito.

"So, ano na? Ilang buwan mo nang pinag-iisipan kung may gusto ka ba sa akin, wala ka pa ring conclusion?" Nakangiti na si Gembong. Wala na sa lalamunan siguro ang piso.

"Matagal na akong may conclusion, hindi ko lang inacknowledge kasi."

"And?"

"Ang engot mo! Nasabi ko na nga kanina 'di ba? Ayoko ng ulitin, bingi kasi."

"-----"

"Kelan mo ako sasagutin?"

"Next month?"

"An tagal?"

"Magrereklamo ka pa."

"Hindi na po."

"Gutom na ako."

"Tara, kain."

Ay hinawakan nito ang nanlalamig na kamay niya, sabay ngiti.

"Next month pa raw, holding hands na tayo. :)"

"Haha. Sure."

~~~~~ end~~~~~~~

TFTIESYF

 A/N: Supposed to be, three parts ito. I've decided to make it one, as the penultimate chappie.

Verse 9

Nag-aabang si Gembong sa corridor.
Wala pa rin ang hinhintay niya.Ano kaya ang nangyari?
Napapansin na niya na simula nung confession niya noong Valentines,
parang lagi nang hindi niya nadadatnan or nalalapitan si Karen. Bakit kaya?
Papasok na sana siya ng classroom ng makita niyang palapit na ito. Ngumiti siya, pero nadismaya rin kasi...

"Anong tinitingnan mo diyan sa... pader?" Nilapitan pa niya at sinipat ng maigi ang tinititigan nito.

"Huh?" Nagbublush pang umiwas uli ito ng tingin.

"Iniiwasan mo ba ako?"

"Huh?"

"Huh na lang ba ang kaya mong sabihin?"

"Huh?"

He sighed. Hopeless na ito. Although, na-dedepress din siya sa ginagawa nito sa kanya,
natutuwa rin siya sa kaalamang nararattle din ito. "May effect..." anang isip niya.

"Time na pala," tumingin pa ito sa braso nitong, walang relo. "Ahaha.."

"Time na talaga... para sabihin mo kung ano ang ginagawa natin ngayon." At humarang siya sa daan nito.

She looked so cute, being like that. Para na silang mga batang naglalaro ng patintero, at siya ang nananalo. Hindi niya ito pakakawalan hangga't hindi nito sinasabi kung anong meron.

"Iniiwasan mo ako eh. Pero hindi dahil naiilang ka." Bumaling siya sa kaliwa, dahilan para mapaatras din ito sa may pader. Cornered.

"Gembong..."

"Whoa!!!!! First time! Tinawag mo ako sa pangalan ko!!!" Tumawa siya ng bongga. Saka na siya made-depress, heto sa harap niya ngayon ang babaeng itinitibok ng puso niya, at kung may mas isasaya pa siya sa minutong iyon, iyon ay ang sagutin na siya nito.

"Sarcastic ba 'yun?"

"Hindi!!! Masaya ako! Pero mabalik tayo." At hinarang pa talaga niya ang sarili sa daraanan nito. Sana nga lang, wag pa mag-time.

"Hindi! Hindi kita iniiwasan, nasa corridor nga lang kasi talaga tayo!"

Gustuhin man niyang i-skip na lang ang confrontation na iyon, kailangan niya itong kausapin.

"Karen naman... "

"Excuse me..." Bago pa siya naka-react ay mabilis na itong nakalusot at dire-diretsong umalis.At 'yun nga, nakatitig na lang siya sa papalayong likod nito.

"Takot ka, sa kung anong pwedeng nararamdaman mo na sa akin... " wala sa sariling bulong niya. "D*mn, why do you have to be so far?"

****

It would've been better if she hadn't heard that last line. Because now, it's creating havoc in her system.

"Hindi ako takot." Pero sino ang pinapaniwala niya? Ang sarili?

"Good morning!"

"Good ----"

Nag-ring ang phone niya.

"Libre ka ba mamaya?"

What should she answer? Iiwas na naman ba siya? "Takot ka sa maari mong maramdaman."
Hindi pa rin mawala sa isip niya iyon. Tama nga kaya ito?

If only she could be a ninja.
Or she could make herself invisible.
Or she can read minds, kasi ngayon, hindi na niya maisip kung ano ba ang dapat na gawin niya.
Ngayon lang na siya naituring na ganito, someone special by someone she had just met.

"Hindi ko pa alam."

Wala siyang standards sa taong mamahalin niya, kung magmamahal naman kasi, hindi parang audition lang na mamimili ka. Although, somehow, audition nga,
pero hindi siya ang judge, ang puso niya.
At ang sinasabi ng puso niya ngayon.

"Ewan."

"Ano?"

"Sige, bahala na."

Napapailing na lang siya kasi halatang masayang-masaya ang loko.Napangiti rin siya, somehow, seeing him so happy makes her happy as well. Saka na uli siya mag-iisip, for now, i eenjoy niya muna iyong kung ano sina Gembong at Karen Grace ngayon. Kung ano man iyon.

A Story's Plight

A/N: I thought I've posted this one here before, I was wrong. This one's the reason I got 97 on Lit1!! Haha. Is that a bad thing or not? Ooohh.. I don't know.

A Story’s Plight

     I am a witness to a variety of emotions. I have witnessed them, ever since I was created. My creator… I will never forget her. A weird lady, one might say, but for me, her brainchild, she is the best. A person with a very clear understanding to what the world is. She first conceived my whole existence while walking along a busy street. She then proceeded to making an outline, and I was born. For 39 nights and days, my creator smiled as she stared at me lovingly. I am her first creation ever.

My first readers were young adults, who just skipped through the pages. I was disappointed, my creator was so proud of me, had she been wrong all the time? Those kids left me alone without fully understanding the depths of my very existence. I was dismayed. Until he picked me up and sat in a corner, first staring at my cover. He opened me and I felt that he is different from my first readers. What he did was not just opening a story and reading it, he opened my trust to them, those who know how to decipher me, but not attempting to. He opened me to the possibility that my creator still believes in. That I can make a change. We were together for a full moon with that boy. He is not that fast of a reader, but I did not mind, as long as he can get what my creator had instilled in my pages. But that satisfaction did not last long for I then realized the reason why he is a slow-reader. His eyesight is leaving him, betraying him slowly, teasing him with glints of vibrant colors, then gone the next. I wished, I wished that he will be, can be able to read me until my last pages, where answers are stated. My wish was not granted, that boy whom I trusted so much lost his sight and with that, his passion, his love and hope. He hated the world, and I belonged to the world. He threw me away. I was angry, but no, I cannot do anything but wallow in self-pity. How cruel. All I wanted was to be read, to be sung to the hearts of the readers, and I was failing, failing miserably.

 I  I was at the heart of a library then, when my second interesting reader found me. She is a girl of 15 years, bright eyes filled with curiosity as she eyed the books on the shelf I’m in. I’m screaming, “pick me!” and I might think that she heard me, because as she read my title, she smiled that bright smile of hers and pulled me out, wiping the dust that covered me after staying in one place for too long. She rented me out of that dingy place, and brought me to her majestic home. I can say that she is rich, and must have loved books because her room is filled with my kind. Unlike my first interesting reader, she is fast; she read half of me in one sitting. The reason, I heard, is that she has other books lined up for her to read. She must complete my unveiling. She must read me until the very last line. Only then can I rest, only then can I make my creator proud. Only then can I know what lies beyond the pages that the boy had explored, for I do not know it myself. I will not discover what was written in my last pages, not until someone read it for me. And no one had done that still. I’m getting impatient because this girl, my second interesting reader had stopped reading me. She must have some activities, I thought to myself. I never lost hope that she will see me again and continue where she left off. Waiting is a pain. Especially waiting for something which doesn’t have a definite time.

She arrived at her room with puffy teary eyes. Someone must have wronged her. I want to console her when she turned to me with blazing eyes, angry menacing eyes. It was then that I felt something was off. What did I do wrong?. Why is she staring at me with eyes full of disgust? She picked me up and that was the only time that I wasn’t pleased when someone took me. I’m scared. She picked me and threw me to the wall. It hurts like hell, my pages were falling off. Before I knew it, another book crashed into my lying form in the floor. What is she up to? Why is she trying to destroy us? Her book, books that she spent time with? I wished for her to just return me to the library where she took me from. The worst thing came up next. She tore me, my pages, my whole being. It pained me, seeing my pages scattered. And worse, those are my last pages. Tears were flowing from my soul, I can feel sympathy from the other books, but like me, they can do nothing. My last pages, those pages that I longed to explore so much. If it is possible that I do have a heart, it must have been broken now. If it is possible that I am alive, I must be dead by now. Her parents must have heard her noise and came rushing to her room. They confronted her and she just broke down. She said that her boyfriend dumped her for her bestfriend, they betrayed her, and that she is depressed. So just because of petty issues like that, she destroys? Is that the only reason why I’m now torn to pieces? Just because she can’t handle some of the most normal things in life, she destroyed me? How pathetic humans are. Breaking down from normal problems. I say normal because I’ve been a witness to everyone who experiences them, and she is not the only one who feels that kind of pain. They might not have the same dilemma, but the pain is there. The boy opened my trust to them, and she closed it. Yes, humans are complicated beings. They complicate things that would have been easierif they just looked around and learned!!

             Her mom picked me up and tried to fix me. For that I am grateful. But the fact remains that I was destroyed and was now fixed. Who would take interest to read me now? I was placed in a shelf in the living room where I remained for a years. My wish when I was new had vanished long ago. I now enjoy myself in watching how these humans live. I’ve witnessed a lot of happy times, wherein all these beings do is to smile, they do smile a lot but then, I’m a book, I know how to look into the emotions of humans because that is what I’m created for, to bring out those emotions. They all have scarred hearts, they all have their inner demons they try to fight off so hard every day. I had also witnessed how humans end. Yes, this household had lost quite a few, and I’ve witnessed how they cry so hard, and then laugh the next. I was there, silently watching those happenings unfold before my eyes.

 It was one of those gatherings that I spotted my creator. I was so happy to see her, at the same time, ashamed. I failed her, I did not change anything, heck, no one ever did complete me. But her appearance lit up the fire again. My wish was returned to me. I want someone to at least finish me. To at least make me understand why I am created. My creator noticed me and asked for me. She took me and went to another library. I’m so excited to stay there, because that would mean that someone might be able to read me to completion. My hopes are so high that I nearly missed my creator and the librarian’s conversation. 

“This is the book that has been missing right?” my creator said. 

“Yes, that’s it, it was reported lost a year ago, and I’ve taken interest in it,” the librarian took me and caressed my tattered covers with her gentle fingers.

“Even though I wrote no ending?” 

“We are talking about life here. 20 years from now, 60 years from now, 80 years from now, it will still go on. That’s the beauty of it,” she replied, “stories...” Her last words faded, I wasn’t able to hear them.

Phantom

He loves her.

But he can't talk.

He adores her.

From afar. 

He sighs.

When he sees her smile.

He sighs,

When she just passed by.

Love is such a curious thing.

Mysterious, but clear.

Confusing, but refreshing.

Conflicted, that is.

He watches her.

He keeps on loving her.

The phantom of the dark.

Much like his feelings for her.

A/N: Aww, I don't think it made any sense, but well, if ever the "phantom" had read this one, it's for him. Ganbatte!!! I was reading his story and before I realized it, I was writing this one and posting it.

Laws

A/N: Dec. 5, 2011 : I don't know if I posted this one before? But everytime I watch Bleach and see Byakuya, I remember how life was for him. This is how much I cry for him.

Disclaimer: The names, the setting, all of the Nippon terms are owned by Tite Kubo. Only the story is mine.

Byakuya Kuchiki, the 6^th Division Captain, rarely smiled. In fact, he never did, except for a few smirks that are not qualified as such. He has a stoic nature, poker-faced even at times of great pressure. He never shows remorse, any kind of emotion. One would deduce that personality to be caused by never-ending wars he witnessed, or caused by maturity. But that is not the case.

A man who follows the law experiences no pain. That has been instilled in him ever since he was born.

He is now that man. But once in his life, he experienced pain. For him, there is no greater pain than that of losing a beloved. The woman who saw and brought out the real him. The woman he cherished and was the reason he broke rules. He never regretted it. The day he made his grandfather, the patriarch of the Kuchiki clan at that time, submit to his wishes, and accept her as his wife. Hisana, who was of no noble blood. She was from Rokungai, but that didn’t hinder him from making her his. If that isn’t love, then love itself doesn’t exist.

And it all ended so soon. Three years is too soon for people whose love for each other transcends worlds, societies, status. For Byakuya Kuchiki, those three years were years of bliss, with his wife on his side. He could still remember everything clearly. From the first time day met, a smile was formed from his ever-tight lips, to the time when he was cradling her dying body, outside the comforts of their home, at the streets where Rukia is supposed to be in.

The succeeding days witnessed Byakuya as a man bound by the rules, by the laws. Never had anyone saw his smile again. His wife’s existence has been everything to him, and that everything has been taken away. But he must live, for there was a promise. He is going to search for his wife’s long-lost sister, and take her under his wings. And even if that is the last thing that he’ll do, he will. Because Byakuya Kuchiki honors promises, especially those he made in respect to the one person he loved the most.

His advisors were right, after all. A man who follows the law knows no pain. Letting yourself be ruled by your emotions will only be your downfall. The head of the Kuchiki clan is now that kind of man. Nevertheless, along with that belief is hope. He is not scared of death, for he is a shinigami. He might not acknowledge it, but there is still a tiny flicker of light in his heart. He is waiting, hoping. For that day when he’ll meet his Hisana again. Until that time comes, he would live, for that is a promise.

TFTIESYF

Verse 8

            “Day After Valentines Part 3”

A/N: Ang haba kasi ng araw na ito! Haha!!!

Sinalubong niya ang mga mata nito. Kahit naiilang siya, nangingibabaw iyong tuwa at kilig. Ngunit parang gusto niyang pagsisihan ‘yung ginawa niya. Nabasa kasi agad niya sa mga mata nito iyong pagmamahal na isinigaw lang nito kanina. Hindi siya makagalaw, parang may mga paru-paro sa sikmura niya, at habang tumatagal ang paghihinang ng kanilang mga mata, ay ang paglalim din ng espasyo sa kanyang puso. Nakita niya ang sariling nahuhulog sa bangin na iyon, at wala siyang nakakapitan. Ang ipinagtaka lang niya sa imahen iyon, ay hindi siya sumisigaw habang nahuhulog, at walang bakas ng takot ang kanyang mukha. Falling. Falling.

Lumapit ito at may iniabot na isang bagay… “Seryoso ako sa sinabi ko kanina.”

Wala sa sariling inabot niya iyon, pero biglang nagdalawang-isip at ibabalik na sana niya ng mabingi na sila sa lakas ng tilian ng mga babae sa classroom nila.

“Hindi ako mangungulit, pero hindi rin ako tatahimik lang. Ipaparamdam ko sa ‘yo na ‘andito lang ako, at hindi na magbabago kung ano man iyong sinabi ko kanina.”

Napangiti siya,pero bigla ring lumungkot. Marami pang nagtatali sa kanya, at hindi pa niya kayang dalhin kung ano man ang meron sila mula ng araw na ito, dun sa susunod na kabanata. Sa dami ng gusto niyang sabihin nung mga oras na iyon, walang  narinig ang sinuman mula sa kanya.

TFTIESYF

Verse 7

            “Day After Valentines Part 2”

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang uunahing gawin, ang ngumiti dito, o ang ipagpatuloy ang paglalakad. Mahirap mag-multi-task sa mga ganoong senaryo. Ito na yata ang pinaka- reckless na nagawa niya sa tanang buhay niya, maging sa buhay ng lahat ng kalalakihan. Ang mangharana, at sa ayaw at sa gusto niya, nanginginig talaga siya. Gulat ang lahat, as in lahat… Alam niyang overwhelmed si Karen sa mga pinag-gagawa niya, pero hindi ito ang oras para bigla na lamang siyang umatras. Tutal, marami nang nakahalata, lubus-lubusin na. Ang nasa isip niya sa mga oras na iyon ay ang ipakita lang kung ano ‘yung nararamdaman niya para sa babaeng rason kung bakit wala pa siyang absent ni minsan. ‘Yung babaeng rason kung bakit hindi siya makatulog sa gabi. Ang babaeng rason kaya siya napalaro ng CityVille. Heto na talaga… Ipaparamdam niya dito ang mga gusto niyang sabihin sa tanging paraan na alam niya. Ang musika.

Just the Way You Are

Mabuti na lang at nasa likod lang niya iyong mga kaibigan niya, hindi siya nangniming tingnan ang kanyang ultimate sa mata, kahit ba umiiwas agad ito ng tingin. Hindi niya malaman kung natutuwa ba ito o naasar. Bahala na.

“Karen Grace Palisoc… I love you.”

This time, hindi na lang hangin ang nakarinig. Buong klase na, nag-echo pa.