Fashion Victims

People are diverse. There are some who could directly sense your intentions due to their sharp social analysis and behavioral studies and there are some who would just dismiss things. Most would focus on the things which they could benefit. Others will also grab opportunities to have a sense of being powerful. Freud told us about some basic instincts which motivate us : sex and power, sex and recognition, sex and almost everything which will make us have that sense of being ABOVE... some psychologists term that as the Messianic Complex.

Justine could be considered as a keen observer. He positioned himself on the uppermost part of the gymnasium where a party is being held. This was a sort of a convergence of old friends and new ones. People come home during fiestas and things like that. They would always look forward in coming home for different purposes.

Sheila prepared alright. She bought 5 pairs of dresses for the different parties she wanted to attend. The people from her town must see her bejeweled so that they could see how different she is now from before. She wanted her relatives to feel envy...She wanted to be the main attraction of the event once she would enter the gates of the party place.

Winston wanted a grand welcome too. He borrowed money from his friends in Manila so that he could have a binge with his friends. He wanted to be the center of attention. His friends who are only fishermen and farmers would really admire him for his being "blues" (their own moniker) and generous.

Justine watched them all. Some had big bellies wearing shorts and slippers while they gyrate awkwardly on the dance floor. Others were overdressed, especially the girls. Indeed, extreme things could happen - others were there as if attending a ball and others were like beach combers. Some were also keeling as if they were to stumble due to alcohol intoxication.

He then smiled as he realized their actions were futile. Only the fashion victims were there. There was no audience ogling at them. The bleachers were empty since the party was for a fee. Php 50 could buy the common people the food they need.

It was when the person in authority decided to open the place when the bodies entered the place en masse. Funny thing happened when the fashion victims were being pushed around by youngsters with black shirt paired with tight jeans and uneven haircuts. Justine smiled as he saw those who came from abroad who tried to project an air of being different merging to the crowd as one. "Even with silk, snakes would really reveal their real skin when they would be mixed in a snake den" he whispered...

He was smirking when he went out for air. Other persons who got weary with the display of PROJECTION went out with him. Outside, he saw the real people. Some were there with their families laughing at the antics presented by the "perya" men and women. There were some who hail from far places with their cousins eating those reddish cotton candy. They were dressed normally, like any other human being...

"These are my people," Justine sighed as he saw a boy screaming with happiness when he hit a plastic monkey with his pellet gun.

Inside the gymnasium cum party place, the snakes slithered with their clothes bought in the same store named PRETENSE.

(art:strangedolls.net)

Holy

While the waves lapped on the beach, she contemplated on suicide. But what would be the point of ending her life and not airing her side? And is it worth it? Is he worth it?

All her life, she thought that serving God is the most important thing. She grew up with a devout family. While walking her way to school she would always recite the rosary. She garnered lots of praise for being a good and religious girl. Other mothers envied her mother for having an obedient child like her.

She avoided relationships in high school. Her mother told her that boys are all the same - devilish. They are only interested in sex, according to her. She focused her attention on the sacraments and catechism. She studied the letters of St. Paul and she would always quote the Psalms when she would do her recitations at schools. He would always go to the convent to serve... she would volunteer cleaning the receiving area and the kitchen. She would even go to the wet market for food.

It was when Fr. Tom arrived as the new parish priest when everything changed. She felt a certain thrill when she saw him in the convent with only his boxer shorts. A pang of longing was awakened. Her interest to be at the convent intensified.

Fr. Tom was young. Thirtysomething... Every time her college subjects would be up, she would then rush to the convent to prepare the priest's food. She even volunteered to wash the priest's clothes and...boxer shorts.

It was when the priest asked her inside his room for a massage when she felt her weakness. She could not control herself from trembling when she touched the young priest's skin with the intoxicating scent of chamomile.

"Are you cold, Therese?" Fr. Tom asked in a husky voice.
"Yes," she answered weakly. The priest stood and turned the air-conditioning system to Low Cool. But it was not the temperature, it was something inside her...a monster was awakened near her belly. The hot rush of something went straight to her face she got flushed cheeks...
*****
Their copulation became their habit. It was bliss for her and judging with the groans of the priest, she could understand that it was also blissful for him...

But now with the waves in front of her, she is wondering what to do next. What would be her parents' reaction when they'd know that she is pregnant with a priest's child? Would they curse her? What about the parishioners who started talking behind her back?

She clutches on the potion the "hilot" gave her and started picturing the baby inside convulsing with pain as the toxins attack the underdeveloped organs... She whispers in prayer:

Hail Mary full of grace, blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb...

(art:grandwallpapers.com)

Hack and Stab

Boy: You like violence...
You: No. I'm interested what propels people to become violent.
Boy: Have you watched snuff films?
You: The closest ones are those Hostel movies. I was able to watch the first and the sequel. I was bothered when I saw that woman who was hanged on top of a bathtub and another one came, slitted the throat of the hanged one and bathed on the blood. What insanity has arrested such minds?
Boy: You got aroused...
You: No, I got revolted!
Boy: What would you do with such knowledge on human behavior?
You: I could tell my friends to guard their kids on becoming monsters due to exposure to violence and to be there in suggesting on what things to deal with...
Boy: You were exposed to Peter Straub's "Julia"?
You: Yes. It's one of my favorite books. I read it when I was still in college. I could not forget that scene when Julia stabbed her doll continuously. She eventually started killing little animals...
Boy: Is this a real-life issue? It seems you're so engrossed with it...
You: There are no records about serial killers of sorts... but violence at home existed long before. There are husbands who see their wives as their properties and some parents are making their children as objects. Violence is universal...
Boy: What do you think is the root?
You: Of violence? I think it's anger rooted from power and selfishness. When people would only consider themselves devoid of empathy... Basically, violence stems from evil.
Boy: Are we capable of being violent?
You: Of course. That's why we have to guard ourselves from immersing to too much anger caused by emotional hang-ups and setbacks.
Boy: So, you'd continue exposing yourself from such...evil? What if you'd see it as a norm?
You: That's the reason films and TV shows are being reviewed by the authorities to be classified if they are for General Patronage, Parental Guidance, Restricted or X...
Boy: So onward violence?
You: No, Stop Violence! We have to constantly monitor the micro and macro activities of our society since we are part of it... then do something about them for the common good.

(photo: wildaboutmovies.com)

Cafe World

It is located at the heart of the town and it's open 24/7. The good thing about the cafe is it has cubicles for private chatting and surfing. One don't have to worry if someone is hovering at his back. Also, one could upload pictures, videos and whatnot of his choice without the screening eyes of the majority.

Carla found Jerson here. She accidentally bumped him when she went out of the cubicle one night as she did her social networking. He smiled and that was the start of it all. He gave her his number and they started communicating. One time, he asked her through text that they would meet at the luneta and she obliged. That night, they had unprotected sex.

She confided this to her friend Alexi and she told Carla about "mental" stuff. She said that these things are the downside of technology and the negative side of parental consent. She even divulged to her scientific studies on how this cafes have become dens of zombie-like creatures. According to Alexi, it has been found out by social scientists that these areas are dangerous for kids. The study on human behavior and communication revealed that people inside these areas converge but don't communicate with each other. They are there but "not" there actually. They have these virtual friends but the real people around them are insignificant.

She dismissed Alexi's discussion. She was just another geek who could not welcome the thrills of being young. Carla shivered in excitement as she remembered the "eye ball" she will have with Bryan. He was cute on his posted pictures and would probably be YUMMY too.

Her teacher who is also connected to the world of social networking told them to behave on their sites since they are linked to the worldwide web but heck, she must be natural. who would tell her what to do and what not to do? She could say what she wants and post what she'd like.

Her night with Johnlie was good. He was true with his "describe yourself" liner: I'm hot and lean...

(photo:commons.wikimedia.org)

Broke

She was slouching on the corner of the classroom indifferent to the movements of the students around her. There were some who wiggled around the room like worms. Some were noisily talking about the season finale of Glee. But she could not be in their world. She is fixated on her financial problems. It was really bothering her - the status of her finances since debts are pushing her inside the cavernous threat of being unstable... both in terms of credibility and even emotionally.

She could not concentrate on her teaching. How could she facilitate learning when in fact she was looking for a way out with the seeming intricate web of debts? She tried to sell ice candy to the students but they are now opting for those fruit shakes outside. Her longganisa was not tasty according to her co-teacher...

The banks could not allow her to restructure her loans. She's in deep shit, indeed...

She then remembered the news on TV when that man jumped out of the building's 7th floor. Would that end her problems? But what about her children? Her husband would look for another wife for sure when she would be gone. The husband even had a mistress even with her eyes still open...

"Mrs. Reyes?" the Principal's voice jolted her out of her reverie. "Please come to my office after your class."

"Yes Madam," she answered with a slight trembling on her voice.

As she walked the pebbled pathway towards the Principal's office, she heard a slight tinkling on the ground. She did not see the one peso coin first for she got distracted with the peeling part of her shoe... leatherette... She must have joined her companions when they went to the ukay-ukay for a good pair of secondhand shoes...

The principal was outside her office, arms akimbo. Her heart started to pound like mad.

Before she made a step towards the Principal's office, she bent and picked up the coin and absently placed it on her pocket.

(photo:printliberation.com)

Roasted

It was scorching, the sun. He has to endure walking under it for an hour or so. The 6-km distance of the school from their house could be that hot... He had to or else, he would spend about 20 pesos for tricycle fare. His mother could afford only 5 pesos per day. That would be for his lunch... 2 pieces of bread and an ice water.

He would envy Mark. He is his neighbor who was bought with a motorbike recently. Mark has a sister and they would be riding together. He could not ask Mark to let him ride because the sister must be prioritized...

During the times when there is rain, he would cry a bit since the downpour hides his tears. They don't have an umbrella at their house and the owners would scold him if he would cut banana leaves for protection.

Jolito cajoled him to stop schooling and join them in the "bangka". The owner of the "liba-liba" is recruiting young boys to become helpers. But his teacher told him not to do it since, according to him, it is an illegal trade. But there were times when he would think otherwise. Especially when hunger would arrest him like mad at lunch time...

One time, his teacher in Chemistry scolded him for dozing off. He had this funny feeling at one in the afternoon, a feeling as if he would pass out. He could not understand how those atomic numbers are taken out from the periodic table since his head would feel like splitting. But he would feign an expression of interest to avoid more embarrassments.

Now, it's so hot. The road showed a mirage of being wet due to the heatwaves. His head seems to sizzle with the perspiration on his scalp. He could probably use his textbook to cover the heat...

Chester fell on the ground as Mark sped by with his motorbike. A classmate rushed to where he was and called out his name.

He tried to open his eyes and he saw a platter of roasted chicken instead of Kim...

"Now, I could not be hungry..." he passed out when the roasted chicken lifted him on its arms towards the nearest house.

Dusk

It's empty. The catacomb was as quiet as death... The name on the epitaph was dreamlike... Friedrich C. Reyes... "

"HERE LIES A MAN WHO THOUGHT THAT LOVE COULD HEAL ALL PAIN"

He was wrong, you thought. He died when some holdup guy stabbed him to death when he refused to give the laptop he was carrying. The killer is still at large.

You shed some tears. You were close with Rich (that's what you called him). You still remembered how he told you his dreams. He wanted to be known as the best sound engineer here in Asia. He had some music clips emailed to you and you really thought that they were good. You also remembered how he hugged you when you told him how wonderful his compositions were...

Ah, such a waste of life... You could not imagine the pain his parents has gone through with his demise. You, as a friend had even suffered a great sense of loss... how much more with them?

"I brought you something Rich..." you whispered as you placed TRYK, his favorite comic book. You said a little prayer and turned your back from his tomb...

Your foot steps echoed as the afternoon turned to dusk. You arrived at the gate and that was the time when you saw him.

"You're Liza?" he asked with a sad expression. After your nod he continued, "How are you related to Friedrich?"

"He's...was... a close friend..." you choked.

"I"m sorry," he said and handed you something. He left hurriedly as you opened the envelope. There was key inside and the name ROSE PENSION HOUSE was etched on the key's side. You tried to call the man but he vanished...

You arrived at the pension house with Kim. You asked him to accompany you. The front desk personnel said the name of the person who is registered to the room was Marvin Tan. You suddenly knew it was a fake identity...

The door opened and on top of the bed was Friedrich's laptop.

You moved closer and saw a note posted on it: GHOST!

Was the killer haunted by Rich's ghost? Or there was something else... You cried as you looked at the object of your friend's death.

(photo:jeremylent.wordpress.com)