The Bruised Gardener

"What happened to your knee?!" Dad asked with a bit of shock.
"Wha-?" I mumbed, being roused from my sleep at 5:30 in the morning.
"What happened to your knee?" He repeated.
Not even bothering to look at my own knee, I pulled the comforter over my head. "I dunno.", I answered carelessly.
"You don't know?! You should know." He was getting angry.
"Look, I know it looks nasty but I have other three bruises on my right arms alone. And I don't remember how I get them. They're just there." I sleepily mumbled.
"Okay then. I'm going." He said.
"Okay. Take care." I said.

I'm impossible to get back to sleep after having conversation with dad. Later Nana and me found ourselves going downstairs to eat breakfast before six. Then because of sheer boredom, we watched Ghost Delivery. Then Nana and Ate Rose went to sleep on the couch while I went out and cut a lot of plants.
While it was drizzling.
I hacked the santans to half their size, almost balded the Song of India, and sawed the inner tree with any tools neccessary.
While Faulkirk did her rounds around the village on her own.

Corpse Bride

Oh my God.
It was exquisite.
I wanna watch it again.
Cinema 6 sucks tho. They should put it in Cinema 1.
I love Tim Burton. But not as much as I love Johnny Depp.

An Overdue Reunion

"Where are you going?", dad asked suspiciously seeing that I'm all dressed up. All in red too.
"I have a date." I replied grinning then I held my hands palms out,"Could I have some money?"
"With whom?"
"With Ruth."
"And where will you meet her?"
"In UP."
"What will you be doing there?"
"Lunch. Movie. Chat. Not precisely in that order."
"What time will you be back?"
"After seven. Color coding."
"Okay. My wallet is upstairs."
"Thanks."

I have a lunch date with Ruth at Chocolate Kiss at UP by 1:30. So I left the house by one. It takes about twenty minutes to get to UP. The extra ten minutes is for the time I get lost. Which always happen.
Fortunately, finding the Alumni Building wasn't so hard after all. So I waited for Ruth outside Chocolate Kiss. But she said that she needed to pass by the library first. I said okay and to help pass the time, I brought out my cellphone and played Five Stones.
A bit later, she came bringing with her a huge bag.
Smiling, I said she looked academic.
So we entered the restaurant and chose the table farthest from the door since there were lot of unoccupied tables.
After ordering we started chatting non-stop. In the middle of our conversation, there was a group of four people who came into the shop. I was sitting facing the door. My eyes went directly to the tallest guy. He was staring at me and I was staring back at him. After a couple of seconds I jerk my eyes off.
I stared at our table. Then I started thinking why he looks familiar. The first thing that entered my mind was is he a basketball player of UST? He reminds me of Gori, Haruko's older brother in the anime Slam Dunk. But that's impossible, I hadn't watched a basketball game during my UST days.
And anyway, I'm in UP.
And I'm never good at remembering people.
After that, the new arrivals chose the table beside us. And our food arrived.
Being a curious girl, I whisperingly asked Ruth if the guy beside us is an actor. Ruth just looked at him and resumed eating and chatting.
"Ah, I thought he's an actor." I told her in my normal voice, which most people say is more than the modulated level, while digging into my lasagna.
Then we just continued on talking about her lovelife or shall I call it sexlife? Which was hilarious. After stuffing ourselves full, we asked for our chit. Ruth paid my lunch. Weeeee.
Then we rode on her car, where we planned what we will be doing next. And where she told me that our dining companion was Jomari Yllana.
So after little discussion we decided to go to SM North.
I bought tickets for the movie Dark Water. Which is a horror movie. We missed the start of the movie by five minutes. Since we want to watch it starting from the beginning, we decided to go bowling.
Walking towards Annex, we resumed our chat about Ruth's loverboy. Mwuah.
Reaching the bowling alley we rent some shoes and socks for Ruth. Then we were given a lane.
I was doing better than Ruth at the beginning. During the second game, I had more gutterballs than I wanted. Ruth, on the other hand had a more constant score while mine went downward. I was like, "No... more... power..."
Mostly, what we did was pat each other's back or laugh at ourselves.
After the second game, we decided that we have no more juice to roll a bowling ball. So we got our shoes and headed for the main building. Along the way Ruth said that she need to check something on the net. I said sure, we still have like half an hour to spare. So we went into Netopia.
Where I found out that she was about to check her economy on some game. She was playing Mafia. It reminded me of my Utopia days. Tsk. Birds of the same feather...
Then after she killed some guy from another Mafia family, we went to watch our movie.
It was a dissappointment. It was like the time we both watch The Exorcist, where we were so ready to pee in our panties but all we did was stiffle a yawn.
But that doesn't stop Ruth from grabbing my arm.
After the *yawn* movie, we went to Sak-0-beads, where Ruth bought a birthday gift for her boy-- hmm. Because the gift shouldn't be obvious. Yes...
After buying him a present, Ruth chose wild stones to make a bracelet for herself.
After that she drove me to my car in UP where set up a date for our next Majhong session.

Yellow Seaweed Rocks!

Acquiring ticket for the UAAP Cheering Competion was hell.
If it was left to me, I would be watching it on screen. Because technology is supposed to make our life easier.
And our seatmate had a very strong body odor.
Roy, who I suspected had an ulterior motive, said that we must watch it live.
"It's tradition." he said. He said this with his eyes roaming.
"You mean to tell me we will be doing this tradition of yours for the next couple of years?" I asked painfully.
"Of course." he replied.
I looked at the sea of young and naive-looking students surrounding us. Feeling old and jaded I said "There should be an age limit to this tradition."

After four hours of standing in line and watching what could be the next Edsa rally, Roy was able to get hold of four tickets, even if it means he has to pay double for them. And the only tickets available were the bleachers.
Yeay...
Entering Araneta Colliseum, we headed straight to the group who were madly waving yellow ballons. From afar they look like a live yellow seaweed. Sitting ourselves the top most part, we waited for the show to begin.
After four hours, UST won. Yeay for us.
Exiting the colliseum, we accidentally ran into Ruth and her gang, were we gave loud shrieks and hugged each other.
Later after saying goodbye, we headed for home after buying DVD and a shirt for Roy.
At home, Roy ordered pizza. Then we watched the two DVD horror we bought. Played tennis on the Xbox then waited for Alain.
Who was late, so we were unable to go out and gawk at naked male bodies.
Later, Isnit suggested, actually it was more of a need, that we should go out and buy drinks. So me and Isnit went to 7-11 and bought some booze.
Then later we played scrabble where I and Isnit were already dizzy from drink against the sober Nana and Raymund.
Tallying our score, I lost, due to me having an extra tile of the letter Q which has ten points.
For punishment, a shot of gin, again.
Then later we played Top Spin again.
The drunks versus the sober ones.
The drunks won! So let's drink to that!

The Prodigal

There's a new lead in the "Missing Cat" Investigation.
Nana and, her faithful aide, Ate Rose went around the village asking every house, where they got a break in the almost stagnant case.
It seems that the laundry maid of our neighbor caught Cookie and placed him in a box.
The backgate guard saw her.
The culprit maid, Nancy, brought Cookies near Grist, where cheap quality soaps are sold, where she lives nearby.
So the Nana and Ate Rose went there. But they where too late. Then Nancy, the theif, who had Cookie said that her children can't stand the stink [the natural smell of Cookie] and said that the cat was too thin that they released him into the street.
Looking at the streets, our Nana burst into tears, seeing it was hopeless for now she doesn't know where to start her futile searching.

Luckily by some scam or being a good Samaritan that he is, a guy who brought Cookie back, said that he found Cookie littering by the bridge near G-Mart.
So we paid him for being Cookies' hero.
But I still smell a scam.

A Stone to the Roof

It was past ten in the evening.
I was just standing by our gate glaring at every male, who is dark and have short hair, evilly.
I was hoping I could see Cookie. Or his catnapper.
Later I heard the Accord. Opening the gate, I saw Tito Gil, our former neighbor and one of dad's closest friend, alighted from the car.
Nana went down too asking me on any developments on the search. No such luck, I told her.
Then I saw Tito Gil screaming and banging the gate of the house in front of ours, real hard.
Later he was throwing stones at the roof. And shouting and cursing drunkenly in Pangalatok. Dad put his arms around my shoulders and laughed at him.
I found that both of them were drunked.
Tsk.
Later more stones were thrown.
Later the Barangay Tanods were called. And more shouts were exchanged.
During the confusion, our dogs made good of the situation and escaped.
I went the other way, so I could meet them in the middle of the village. Later, walking home with the dogs, I saw a bystander watching the fight. Coming up behind him I said, "Yan ang teleserye ng totoong buhay."
Big Brother is nothing compared to this.

My Cookie's M.I.A.

Cookie was kidnapped.
Catnapped actually.
We just noticed that he was missing for three days now. He never missed a meal. The last we saw him he was licking himself clean underneath some pickup, after one of his torturous bath.
So after doing some errands for dad, Nana, Ate Rose and Ate Nida went around the village teary-eyed looking and asking neighbors if they saw a brown furry cat.
I was left at home, overseeing our two Kuya's job around the house. And giving spending money if needed.
I suggested to the three that they should ask the vilage guards first.
Sure enough, one of the guards saw Cookie. He said that one of our neighbors caught him.
So after investigating and a lot of angry tears were shed, we put the story together.
Cookie, the victim of a hideous crime, started the day by trying to enter our house and bumping our legs to let the humans know that he needs to eat too like any other breathing creatures.
After eating and being satiated, he lazed around the kitchen unsuspectingly being checked by his human for bath qualification.
He was found wanting.
After some unheard wailing from him during his bath he was left in the sun to dry.
Later the said sun was gone, thus he was freed.
Later he was seen licking his balls. The last time he was seen by the owners.
Before dusk came, the victim was seen strolling around the village.
A group of unknown quantities of humans chased the said victim, thinking of keeping him for their own.
If, no one claims him, the suspects defended.
So the harassed and panicked victim went to find sanctuary.
Went to a house. Which is owned by the current main suspect.
Main suspect's accomplice said that his little brats got scared that he have to take the victim hostage.
Bull, said the victim's owner.
The Guard, the star witness of this case, was there when the heist happened.
The star witness said that he saw what happened when it all came down, Saturday night.
Sunday morning, the victim did a Houdini, said the main suspect's croony. Doing an escape a reknowned escape artist could be proud of. Victim's family went to the crime scene and investigated the cage that was used. Escaping the cage was near impossible that the victim should do a "passing through the bars" act to escape that deathtrap they call a cage.
During the interview the main suspect was sleeping due to drug usage.

After the investigation, it was assumed that the main suspect, by no small intellectual deductions, sold the victim into bondage.
So he could get high.
The fucker.

All Bark and no Bite

Sitting up, I saw that I was the only one left on the room. It's already 8:30. Giving a yawn, I searched for my cellphone which is buried beneath the mountain of pillows and dolls I have on my bed. Hearing the bell of my cellphone's keychain, the others knew that I was already up. Going down to wash my face, I saw someone was using the phone. Squinting hard, I stared at the person's back.
"We need to borrow your phone", our neighbor told me.
"Oh", It took me about a couple of minutes to remember who I was talking to. "Sorry. Not quite awake yet." Then went to the bathroom to wash and brush.
"Atching, I shelled some shells for you," Yen said.
"You can have it. Not hungry." I said.
Patting her belly she said she can't because she just had five platefull of rice with the shell and she's bursting.
So I went to the computer room. Alain was there playing Ragnarok. I just sat beside him and asked what's new.
It seems my character knight has achieved level 99.
Later I told him that we need to get dressed.
Why?
We are going to watch a movie. What else?
While dressing Yen asked me where I got my black peasant skirt. I told her the day me, Na, Isnit, and Raymund went shopping. She told me that she was supposed to buy me the skirt.
Oh. You can buy me another one.
Na-ah.
Putting on my strapping black sandals with wooden platforms. I stood up.
Yen looked up at me and said that I'm too tall.
Yes, with this shoes I'm almost six feet. But it's the only one that goes with my skirt. And I always dressed in one color.
I'm even wearing my big black ring.
Later, when we where in the car Yen found a pack of Macadamia Chocolates.
It seems Dad is eating chocolates on the sly. Of course we gave him one of our sermons about diabetes and stuff along the way.
Five minutes before ten, we were already in Sm. And the doors were still closed. So we just stood there on the bridge and chatted with each other.
Exactly ten, the doors were opened. Alain went to buy tickets while I accompanied Nana and Yenyen to Ideal to have their eyeglasses fixed.
And of course Yen can't helped doing some window shopping, which is why we weren't able to watch the first ten minutes of The Brothers Grimm.
After the movie dad, beig diabetic and all, got hungry that he wanted to eat at Cabalen because they had a eat all you can promo.
So after pigging out. Nana wanted to watch another movie. I of course don't wanna, knowing I'll be watching a movie this week sooner than I wanted to. Yen said that she's going to have her hair cut. Alain gave a go sign to watched a movie. Dad said he'll just come back for us when we are done but changed his mind.
So we went and watched The Cave. Except Yen who's going to get a haircut.
After the movie we went directly home.
When we got home dad said he wants to dye his hair. I volunteered for the job, because I'm wearing black so it doesn't matter if it gets messy.
Later, Nana stood beside me and watched.
"It's a sad day indeed, when you can brush your hair with a toothbrush", I told her with an English accent.
She giggled silently because dad was already nodding off.
After the dye job I went back to the computer room. Later Nana called me to say that we should go out and walk the dogs. I changed into some decent jogging pants and called Yen too.
Nana went roller blading. I just stood there, not knowing what to do. So went back in and got the skipping rope.
After the fourth time the rope went around me in a way that it wasn't supposed to, I gave up and sat at the lawn and just watched the dogs. Faulkirk was skipping and hopping like mad. Inori was just walking to and fro in her dainty way.
Later Yen came out bringing two badminton rackets. She asked me where the shuttle cock is. Pointing, she saw it was stuck at the conjucture of the electric wirings of Meralco where it met it's dreadful fate the day me and Alain played aggresively against each other.
"Well, throw a stone at it." She suggested.
"And have the villagers bat sticks at us when we accidentally cut off the village's electricity? No thank you." I said.
Luckily Nana remembered we have another shuttle cock. I went in and got it.
Later while playing, there came some bunch of kids from our neighbor's party passing by. Seeing Faulkirk, one kids asked me if it's a snowdog. I said yeah. Does it bite? No.
When they passed, me and Yen continued our game.
Later they came back and they where bringing styrofoams containing spaghetti. One kid was saying "Snowdog" in a loud voice and about them not biting. When they passed by, Inori and Faulkirk just stood there and watched them. Then the mischievious bunch goaded Faulkirk. I jokingly ordered Faulkirk to bite them.
Faulkirk just lolled out her tongue.
Then ten meters away one of the kid shouted in a funny English "Bite me baby! Bite me! Bite Me!"
Yen's eyes went wide with laughter. I was weird hearing it from a kid that age.
So I shouted back. "Chowchows are fierce creatures."
Then I sic Inori on them.

Later Yen got tired so Nana was my next opponent. In a heated battle, we exchanged insults and movie dialogues.
She started with her dailogue of the week, "Rasssspberry? I don't see any rassspberry."
"My god man, it's there fighting for it's life!"
"And on that shore, Immmortality. Take it! It's yours!"
"Look at that, you pompous old bag. Do you know her? I've never seen her before."
"I was called here my humans, who wish to pay me tribute"
"Tribute? But you steal man's soul, and make them your slave. Man doesn't need an ill savior such as you."
"Enough talk! Have at you!"
When the game ended, I shouted to Nana. "Well done pig. Well done."
So, how manyof these lines do you know?

The Caller from Hell

"Hello?", I said to the phone.
"Yes, could I talk to Nida please?", said the man on the other line.
"Sorry there's no person here that goes with that name.", I said politely.
"It's impossible not to have a Nida there." The man insisted.
"No there's no Nida here.", I retorted.
"Who's this?", He asked in a demanding tone.
What the... "Wait a minute, you're the one who's calling here. Who are you?!", I asked punctuating the last three words.
"Don't lie. I know there's a Nida there."
Why the pompous ass!
"There's no Nida here and your attitude, sir, borders on rudeness." I told the guy then cut off the line.
Then the man called again.
"Hello."
"Stop hiding her. Don't cover for her." he ordered.
"Look. There's no Nida here." Then I put the phone down again.
He called again.
I pressed the speaker button and pushed it again.
He called again.
I pressed the speaker button and pushed it again.
Then he called again.
I answered the call this time wanting to hear what he wanted to say.
"If you don't know how to answer a phone, better not answer at all!" He mouted off as a form of greeting.
"And you are still rude." I shot back and hanged up on him.
Then he called again.
Ate Rose took it this time.
"Look there is no Nida here." Ate Rose said to the phone.
"And who are you?" He asked in a superior way.
"I'm the maid..." Ate Rose was saying.
"Hey, you're just the maid you..." He cut off Ate Rose's explaination.
What an asshole!
I took the phone back.
"Im the owner of this house. I bet you have our address." I said. Not listening to word he was saying. "So sue me!"
Then I hang up the phone.

Top Spin

"Take that!" I screamed at the top of my lungs while pounding the B button of my Xbox controller.
"Rainbow shot!" Roy screamed back, while laughing maniacally.
"Backhand not forehand! Damn me! And stop doing volley, it doesn't help!" I screamed again.
"I can't hit anything! I can't even do a swing!" Nana screamed too.
"That's because Roy is hogging all your shots with his rainbow shots!", I explained to her in a shout.
"Eat this! With my perfect timing you all die!", Raymund exclaimed, nearly rendering me deaf.

Game developers should put a disclaimer. Like this:
This game will make all your sentences end with an exclamation point.

Aeon

I just stared.
Well, it's pretty unusual seeing your pet python drinking from the toilet. I could have expected it from a dog. But not my snake.
Aeon overturned every pail and dipper in the bathroom. Seeing that there wasn't anything to drink I guess she went to drink in the toilet.
At least nobody pee'd in it yet.
Thank God for small blessing.
After dragging Aeon out by her neck, being more than seven feet in length, I left her just outside the bathroom. Where she started her long journey back to her corner. Actually it wasn't that far, but the way she carry herself... well let's just say that a turtle could move faster.
She doesn't moves sideways like the snakes you see in National Geographic Channel. She pushes herself forward while making little waves with her body. And you can hear her slitther across the marble floor.
One time I thought I was hearing static on the radio.
Sometimes when she comes out from her corner, she'll crawl all the way to the stairs. And when the sunlight hits her, you think you're seeing a gargantuan leach basking in the sun.
Aeon is shape like a leach. Small head, thick neck that connects to a humongous belly then ends with a slim tail.
Yes, she eats a lot. I even have to put her on a diet. Because her shape is weird. Her tummy isn't proportional with her body anymore.
Now, I only have to feed her more than one kilo of chicken every week.
And of course I still have to hand feed her. She could finish it all before my brother finishes his dinner.
And when she has one of her expeditions she sometimes leaves a trail. You know it's her because the dirt stain on the floor has scale imprints on it. And of course when I see this I tell Ate Rose that the house needs cleaning.
She's our dirt indicator.
Then today, when dusk came, she went out of her corner again and went around the stairs, passed the dining room, then the living room then the music room then curled under the corner cabinet she calls home.
But before that, she left a little sovenier for me near the stairs.
Isn't that just nice.

Stoolpee'd

Ching, it's near six so I'm gonna wake you up already.
Nana proclaimed just outside the master bedroom's door.
I rolled over and killed my cellphone's alarm before it goes off. Sat there and stared at my Jack Skellington pillow for a couple of minutes.
Na, just making sure, came back and looked on me.
I stood up and woke Alain up.
Went down just to see what's for breakfast.
I don't remember...
Went up and changed.
Went down and arranged our minions that Alain forgot.
We were supposed to leave by 6:30. We left our house by 7:30... because everybody in the car thought that everbody wasn't ready.
We arrived at the LTO at P. Tuazon by 7:50. Found some parking space and went to the nearest drug testing we could find. Me and Alain filled up the needed sheets, had our blood pressure read, and tested our eyesight by reading the eighth line on the eyetest reflected through a mirror. Even our height and weight were taken.
I'm 160cm... after my 155cm which was written on my old liscence.
Ooohhh... added height... This reminds me of someone who is very touchy about his height.
I didn't bother reading my weight.
Ha!
That was just the medical.
Next was the drug testing which they need us to pee in a miniture Flinstone bottle. Alain breezed through it easy.
I, on the other hand, leaked like a dry faucet.
I peed the same amount of syrup you take when you have a cold.
I'm sooo ashamed of my urinary tract. It failed me!
Failed me...
The lady who collects the urine told me to drink more liquids.
I told Chu to go ahead at the LTO station.
Me and Na bought CO2 Apple flavor. Went back and sat there for a couple of minutes. They told me again that maybe now is a good time to try peeing again. So I went to the loo and waited there.
And then my imagination started rolling. There could be a hidden camera here somewhere... In china, they could be watching an Asian girl taking a leak on a plastic cup.
I'll tell you there are sick people out there.
But when I feel like doing the number two rather than the number one, I gave up.
Went back to the lobby and read about drugs.
Reading, I discovered that I have the symptoms of a Marijuana and Cocaine user.
Wow.
Then the "Urine Taker" suggested again that I should drink more. So, I went back and bought another one. Then came back and sat at the drug test site. Jiggled my legs thinking it could help. And thought about a lot of things.
Like sex.
Thinking about sex helps the bladder fell like you wanna pee.
I have no idea why. It's just is.
Go figure.
But I can't conjure up all the sex scene in this time and in this kind of environment.
Then the Urine Taker asked me to give it a go again.
I stayed in the bathroom for ten minutes, doing different impossible positions just to help me pee.
Hopeless.
The Urine Taker took pity on me and just gave me the go signal.
So I went to the LTO station. Chu was on step 3,after taking his picture on digi cam, which was paying your fee. Then later they took another picture of him.
He asked me why they took his picture twice. Maybe they though Laurice and Augustus Alain are the same person.
I said that couldn't be.
Later my name is called. I took off Nana's huge white sunglasses on top of my head and had my picture taken for my liscence ID.
After taking my piture I put the sunglasses on top of my head.
Later my name is called at the cashier.
Then I passed my receipt back and they asked me to stand in front of the camera again.
Then they took another one.
After fourty-five minutes I too where done.
Then I saw that my driver's liscence picture is the second one they shot.
The one where I was wearing the big white sunglasses.
Well... that's original. Na commented.
Yeah. And this liscence is good for three years. Then we started laughing hard.
Then later we drove to SM because me and Chu need our eyes checked. He was having headaches for four days straight. I on the other hand, have it sporadically.
So we went to Ideal to have our eyes checked.
I have 25/25 vision. Alain have a 50 astigmatism. So we chose an eyeglasses for him and paid it through credit. Since Alain have classes after lunch he took off. Me and Nana will wait for the glasses to be done. Which will take an hour.
So we decided to browse around.
Later I bought another black nail polish and Nana bought a glittery chameleon like color and a liquid blusher too.
Then we went to Stitches and Things and got our framed diplomas. Which we were shocked to see was huge.
Then after that, Nana went obsessing about Zagu again. We searched and found it.
Then we went back to Ideal to claim Alain's glasses.
So what now? I asked Na.
Capitol Medical Hospital for the continuation of my physical examination. Nana said.
So we went back to the car that smells suspiciously of shit.
Nana said that it could be her stool sample or maybe she was getting a bit paranoid.
I told her it was definitely shit.
Her shit to be exact.
Don't tell Caloy, she said.
Oh I won't. He'll read it in my blogger. I told her, smiling.

Ooops I Did It Again...

Mmmmm.
I was mumbling while I was fumbling for my phone which is ringing somewhere in the vicinity of my head.
It’s three-thirty in the morning and Isnit is trying to give me a wake up call. Yeah, we have a date on-game. So I crawled out of bed and blinking back sleep, tried to find my slippers in the dark by the means of my feet. And all it grasp was a hanger.
Damn, one of my sisters kick my slippers under my bed or theirs again. After finding my glass slippers, I went down the stairs and headed towards the computer room. And to my surprise I found the lights where open and I could also hear the subtle whirring of the PC.
“What the freak are you doing?!”, I asked my brother.
“Can’t sleep. Got hungry.” He answered in his usual laconic way.
“Well, Isnit is waiting for me.”
“Ok.”
“Move.”
“Fix the bots first.”
I just gave a sigh.
While fixing the bots I tried to give a private message to AEP. But alas he wasn’t online. Then I heard my cp announcing an incoming message:
Isnit~ Lag ba talaga ng sobra or ako lang? D kc me galaw. San u? Pakshet nag hang ang pc! Naakupoo! Nag auto shut down na! Waaa!! Doomed na me!
“Anu yan? Nagtetext sya habang nangyayari lahat yan?”, my brother asked.
“Seems so.”
So I told Alain that I’ll be going back to bed.
About eight in the morning I heard Alain moving around the room, who bunked down on the bed on my left and got ready to sleep. So I got up and went down and checked on our minions. Yen was already up and watching some Jude Law movie on Cinemax.
Sitting on the counter top I watched it too. Halfway through it Nana came down, went straight to the informal dining table and started breakfast.
After the movie, I told all the girls that we will be doing some grocery today. Taking Bubuchacha we were all out by the gate when Ate Rose reminded us that we forgot the grocery list.
We just said to forget it. We’ll just do what an unorganized person would do.
Browse.
So heading toward the grocery we had some detours on the way. Withdrew money. Got some gas.
Later we found ourselves by the parking area at Cherry. After finding a good parking spot I told Yen to lock her door because it was semi-stuck even with the automatic lock. She turned off the aircon while I grabbed my cell. Then I got out of the car and remembered I’m wearing a cap, which I removed and dumped it on my seat. Locked my door, which automatically lock every other door, and help Ate Nida with her door.
After crossing to the other side. I had this feeling that I forgot something.
Something vital.
Keys.
Ooops…
“Shit, I forgot the keys.” I told the other four.
“And I think you also forgot to kill the engine.” Na added.
“Did not.” I retorted.
We walked back to the car and found out to my horror that every door is locked and the engine is indeed running.
“Damn me.”
“Amazing, this never happened before to any of us. And now Atching, after six years of driving you…” Yen was chortling.
“Arghhh! Who has extra keys?” I asked.
“I do.” Yen answered with a smile. “It’s in my wallet.”
“Don’t tell me your wallet is in the car too!”
“Nope.”
“Yeay!” I said happily.
“It’s in my bag, my school bag, which is at home.” She continued.
My spirit plummeted.
“Give me a ruler. I could open it up.” Ate Rose confidently said.
“You can?” I aked her showing my doubt about her and an Orion ruler.
“Yeah. I did it once with your mom’s car…”
I suddenly had a quick vision of mom’s car.
“Err…”
“Let’s just go to Mr. Quickie and have them looked at it.” Ate Nida advised.
“Yeah, good idea.” I said marching on ahead.
“It’s still closed.” Na said.
“Ask the guard if they know anybody who could open it up.”
And with good cheer the guard told the sweeper the problem… and the lady sweeper was the one who called maintenance and told us that the guy who’ll be opening up the doors will be there in a minute.
Na and Ate Nida that they should go on ahead with the shopping.
Ate Rose , Yen and me waited to the maintenance guy, who came with a steel bar curved like a hook.
After fifteen minutes out there in the sun, the guy got it right and we got the keys. Browse at the food. Haggle over which is inexpensive. Looking the other way, when we where at the desert aisle. And paying it all with Nana’s credit card.
“We bought more than a cart of food. Anu tayo? Patay gutom?” Nana asked.
After paying for the grocery, me and Na bought Nilupak. Ate Nida bought Suman. And Yen bought herself a corn in a cup.
Then we accompanied the guy who pushes our grocery to the car. Gave him a tip. And drove off. Bought coconut juice. Went home. Brought all the groceries inside.
“Hey we are all here. Let’s cook lasagna.” I said.
“Cool.”
So Ate Nida and Nana sliced the hotdogs. Alain peeled the onions and garlic. Ate Rose brought some ingredients that we forgot to buy at the grocery. I was cooking the pasta. And Yen, as usual, is taking pictures herself.
While cooking, we had some signs of fluctuations coming and going.
“Atching, the pc keeps on rebooting.” Alain told me when he found me in the dirty kitchen.
“Turn it off. Seems we are having a power failure again.” I told him trying to give my whole concentration on my pasta.
Later. Al Dente!
And Ate Nida just was just finished cooking the sauce at the house kitchen.
So we arranged the lasagna’s layers and put it in the oven.
“Tong-its!!!” Ate Nida fairly screamed in her excitement to play.
“Yeah!” Yen and Na answered at the same time.
So while they were playing cards, I went to the computer and opened it but every time I got to the botting section our electricity will fluctuate thus rebooting our pc for the third time, a time where I gave up.
“The circuit breaker broke again.” I told the lot.
I got three unconcerned nods from the gambling table.
“This sucks.”
Again, three unconcerned nods.
“Ate Rose! Your cellphone is sucking all the power we have!”
“Hah!” she retorted.
“I’m bored.” While trying on the microwave which keeps on dying because it was fluctuating.
Then the phone rang.
It was dad. He was asking if where we will be eating tonight. I told him that we just cooked lasagna. He said he’s already on the diversion road. I told him to hurry up. He told me he will be still going to Caloocan. I told him that about the electricity. He told me that he shall call an electrician. I told him we should watch a movie.
An hour later he arrived bringing foods. Then ordered the gamblers to stop playing and get dress because we will be watching a movie.
We watched The Longest Yard.
Later when we got home, I saw that only the living room lights was on.
After entering the house I saw the TV was on.
“Ate Rose! Is the electricity OK?”, I shouted.
Getting no answer, I went to the microwave and turned it on, to find the answer to my question.
Then the whole house had a black out.
Ooops…

Choco Ate

“Nana. Wake up.” I tapped Nana’s foot. “We need to get ready, it’s seven already.”
It’s Green Hills/ Shopping day.
Today is the day where I shall buy a peasant skirt and top.
My dream shall be fulfilled!
At exactly eight, Raymund came. Bringing with him our chocolate experiment.
Past nine we fetched Isnit by his house. Then we went to Capitol Medical Hospital to accompany Nana with her physical examination. Which we found out when we got there that they don’t do physical examination during weekends.
Yeay, more time for shopping.
By ten we arrived in GH.
Isnit bought some boxer shorts in blue and orange colors. And one in a FEU design.
Go Tamaraws!
Raymund bought wood bracelets.
Nana bought a mini knife for Alain as a birthday present.
I bought a peasant skirt and top which where I was almost strangled by my companions.
Then we went to Circle C to buy Zagu. Isnit bought the complete Lost DVD season 1. I bought Nilupak. Raymund bought Shawarma. Nana bought a dark glasses.
Then we got home and started making chocolate.
It was awesome. Isnit was obsessed with his chocolate Easter Bunnies that I tried to take most of the chocolates and put it in different molders before he could complete his rabbits. Then later the whole house pig out on all the chocolate. I ate so many that I feel nauseous.
Even looking at a chocolate bar in a magazine ad makes me sick.
Then we decided to watch The Skeleton Key, which Isnit left by the middle part because Tita Ini was summoning him. After Isnit left, I slept through most of the movie.
And it was raining.
Then Raymund wanted to watch another movie so we watched Cursed. I have a pounding headache that I also slept through the movie. But hell, I already watched that movie four times now within a month. Then after that the rains wasn’t letting up, so Raymund wanted to watch Seed of Chucky. I told him that I just watched it once so yeah I’m go in watching it again.
I love Chucky.
Then after that Raymund said that he really must be going. So walking him to the gate, we said goodbye.
Then Roy called and asked me to accompany him to Eastwood. All expenses paid. He’ll even pay for my gas. But I told him that I’ll join him if we take a taxi… because I have a pounding headache that seems to have to do something with my eyes. And driving at night is such a strain to my eyes. After that we decided that he should go alone.
After giving him my best in his boy hunting, I called Nana.
I drove her to the hospital.
Then me and Ate Rose went back home talking about how piggish we are.

Skating Through

I was rollerblading around our village this afternoon.
I accompanied Ate Nida and Ate Rose in getting some of our DVD at Ate Nida’s house. Between Ate Nida’s house and ours, they stopped and bought some vegetables at our neighbor's place. I decided to go ahead of them... when I saw Ronald.
I turned around and went back to where Ate where buying some of her vegetables.
And started praying to a higher power that he’ll go straight home and try not to have any small talk with me.
Yes, he went straight home.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know that he lives right where Ate Nida is buying her vegetables.
At the corner of my eye, I could see him staring at me while walking towards me.
Being pummeled since birth to be courteous and polite, I faced him and gave a nod of greeting.
Still staring at me, he keeps on walking.
And tripped at the water drainage.
“Careful.” I said.
Still staring, he keep on walking, and bump his head on the wood which holds the tarpaulin.
Ouch.
I grimaced.
“Nice skates.” He commented, while scratching his head.
“Thanks. I’m trying to get the hang of it.” I said.
“Hey, Ronald!” Ate Rose said in a very loud voice, “You don’t even say hi to me anymore.”
I skated away. Disappear.
Then Ate Nida said that she need to buy something at the other store.
So I again accompanied them, Ate Nida being pregnant.
In about three minutes I saw Ronald again coming my way.
“Here comes Ronald.” I said.
“Why is he coming this way? He never comes this way.” Ate Nida said.
“Hello.” He said when he reached us.
“What are you doing here? You never go this way, you always go the other way around” Ate Nida asked.
“I need to buy something here too.” He answered.
“Right.” Ate Nida said.
“So, this is what love feels like.” He said. “You get excited without any reason as long as you see her.”
There is something phenomenally wrong with this man.
“Do you want me to smack you?” Ate Nida challenged.
“Okay. Let’s go home Ching. I don’t need to buy anything anymore.” Ate Nida said when she found out that the store doesn’t have the ingredients she needs.
“Oh yeah. Me too,” Ronald said, not even asking the store about his stuff. “I don’t need to buy anything yet.”
I just rolled my eyes and skated away.

Clean Bot

5X!
Weeeee.
That means additional watching my life passed right before my eyes in front of my computer. My siblings told me that I should marry my pc.
Yeah I'm obsessed with it. It took me me more than three hours to clean it the other day.
Well, I decided to clean my Mac.
My Mac being white is such a pain to clean. I actually had to use surgical gloves just not to leave dirt tracks that my fingerprints makes.
And my white iPod too.
And it's white mini speakers.
And my white optical mouse.
And my white pallet.
And the Mac's white cables.
And its huge white adaptor.
And the white cable for the iSight.
And the most taxing was it's white keyboards. I had to take a screw driver and remove each keyboard buttons, wipe it with alchohol, clean beneath it, then put them all back. Since I'm in the zone, I decided to tackle the PC too. But our PC, being black is much better off than my Mac. But the problem is, you can see all the dust and dirt between keyboard buttons. So I took up my mini screwdriver and got to work.
When I reached ground zero with all buttons off... I was aghast.
What is this?
Tar? Dust balls? Hair? Bread crumbs? And lo and behold a couple of moth wings [selling for 5k each ro-wise].
I almost depleted half of our cotton too. And Ate Nida's alchohol.
Now that's what you call commitment.

Zelousy and Obssessions

I'm obsessed.
With Jack Skellington.
I wanna collect hordes of Jack Skellington stuff.
Most of all I hope mom finds what I ordered.
A 16-inch Jack Skellington complete with coffin.
A 'll I've got is a hair chopsticks with Jack's oblong face at the end. And a round pillow with his face on it which is given by my friend Kidong.
I hope Corpse Bride comes out soon.

I want a peasant skirt too.
No. Not just want. It goes beyond that. I need a peasant skirt. Bah! Anything will do. I just wanna have a bohemian outfit when my mode calls for it.
I already have a list of what I have:
::Sporty~ when I'm in a testosterone mode.
::Metal/Rocker~ when I feel antagonistic and rude
::Street Urchin ~ when I feel like my casual self; mostly big shirts and long shorts.
::Girl~ when I feel sexy or thin
::Eccentric/Unique~ when I'm feel fat, or in an undefinite mood.
::Skirts~ when I'm bored
::Bohemian ~ when I feel flighty
::Sexy/daring~ when my hormones gets the better of me.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I went to Lemon Square today.
To apply.
I went there by jeep. I arrived there by past nine.
The Cipher Solutions [I did a research on the company but I misheard the guard and thought it was cyber and not cipher] was located at the third floor. When I got there there was this two skinny girls at the front desk who asked me if they could help me with something.
Yes. I'm applying for customer care. Then she said something which I wasn't able to catch. Then she look at me questioningly. She talked faster than me on that part.
Trying not to look like an actor who forgot her lines I just said yes. Judging by her expression I choose the right type of answer.
Then she asked me to take a seat.
Taking a sit, I looked around on what could be possible my working environment.
Hmmm. Different colors for each wall. Like in a nursery where you put all the color so that your kid would know the color's name they are facing. And all of it in bold colors and not pastels. Oh my, who was the decorator who picked the colors? I hope he's colorblind so that he has an excuse for his ghastly taste.
Anyway, skinny girl 1, asked me what name do I preferred to be called. Thinking back on the Convergys episode, I said that my real name will do fine. After ten minutes she called me inside and did a preliminary interview. The place was deserted.
Where are all the people?
Then we sat in front of the PC's and the interview started.
Later after answering questions in a mild pace, she told me I passed. She said that I should go back in the lobby [which consist of four uncomfortable chairs] and wait for her supervisor, who will handle my second interview. Who, may I add, she didn't know what time will be coming in.
So I sat there. Sat in a ladylike way. Which lasted for only ten minutes because my ass was getting sore. My bones are hitting the hard seat.
The hell with it, I said. I spread my legs, took a candy, and brought out Garfield's Easy Crossword Puzzles which is the only crossword book that I tried answering out of Khaloy's some twentish crosswords books that he gave to me.
Because it isn't fucking easy.
I mean, what's so easy about this? Some of my brain cells died in the line of duty just so that I could answer this... "_____ got no strings."
Is it Pinochio? Is it something to do with relationship and money?
Come on.
Later, looking at my watch, I discovered I've been there for more than an hour.
And skinny 1 is asking skinny 2, who is surfing her Friendster account, to check about Pinoy Big Brother's new update.
Don't they have any work to do? Any papers to push?
Later a guy, who I wished could be the surpervisor, came in.
After another ten minutes, he called me in. Taking my bag with me he let me sit in a seat facing his. Again, in front of the pc, which led me to think if they have their own offices.
And I also noticed the whiteboard written behind him consist of names and different amounts of dollar signs.
Hmmmm.
Sitting facing each other with no table between us, the interview started. Which is almost the same as the first one.
"Tell me about yourself blah blah blah."
I just droned on with my answer.
Then he sprawled on his seat with his knees a kilometer apart each other. And my knees where between the proximity of it.
Oh my what big balls you have to be sitting like that.
"You have no family?"
Do I resemble one of the Baudelaire orphans? But I explained that I have my siblings, where he cut me off saying that he was asking if I have my "own" family.
I said no.
Then he sat forward in his seat, stared at me and asked me in a meaningful tone, "Single?"
"Yes"
"How fortunate, that means..." he droned off apparently looking for a better choice of word.
"No attachments."
"Yes. That's it." He exclaimed with a snap of his fingers. Then he sat back and spread his knees again, impossibly wider than before.
Then he started to swivel his chair.
Then he told me that I have passed for the third phased interview. He'll be passing my resume to one of the department and they will be calling me sometime tomorrow.
And dropped the unfortunate news.
It seems I have applied in a Telemarketing company.

Body of Christ...

Today was a lazy day.
Woke up late and did nothing special.
Later after lunch we saw that it was kind of windy outside. So we decided to sit inside the gate.
I was talking to Ate Rose when she hailed a guy passing by.
"Ronald!" She waved, "Ronald si Ching. Ching si Ronald."
Giving her a killing look, I said hello. He on the other hand said hello and a lot more, which my brain muted out.
Leaving both of them, I played with Faulkirk.
After their chatting session, I went to Ate Rose and asked her why she did that.
She said it was just a harmless joke.
Yeah, I told her, as harmless as the Tonton joke.
I told her that, she should stop doing that, or else I'll do something so weird that her boyfriend will think that being crazy is contagious.
Later still playing with Faulkirk and talking with Incar who was sitting at our lawn, Ronald came by over. I was petting Faulkirk when he looked at me and said something to me.
Which of course, my ears tuned out again.
Incar giggled.
"What did he say?" I asked Incar.
"He said you're beautiful," She shouted.
"I said you really are beautiful." He said the same time with Incar.
"Is that so? Ok. Thanks." I replied still petting Faulkirk.
Then he keeps on telling me about stuffs. I just nod when there was a break on the conversation, while my mind drifts off.
Later I told him that I need to go in.
Later, still bored, I told Nana and Ate Nida that we should sit outside the gate and enjoy the air. So we were sitting there when there was this two guys who passed twice by us. Nicolo, the four year old child of our neighbor who knows all the capitals of every country ran in front of them, stopping them in their tracks.
Taking this as a sign from above, they introduce themselves and told us that they want to teach us something.
Looking at the book he's holding I asked him, "Dimsum?"
But he started talking about faith and God. The three of us just sat there. Ate Nida on the other hand had some bonding with them, being religous and all.
Ah yes, feel it.
Then Nicolo ran towards the assistant of the guy and hug his right leg.
Aw, isn't that sweet?
Then he bared his teeth and dug it deep unto the leg he's hugging.
Well done kid.
Nobody saw that coming.
I just looked the other way and snickered. Look back at the assistant rubbing his leg and said, "I hope you're vaccinated."

Convey This

My first job interview!
That's what keeps running in my mind over and over again, when I woke up.
I have two more hours to spare before I leave. So, I took my sweet time in everything. Trying for a casual office type of outfit I wore a black slacks, my top was a one-piece that looks like a white polo with a three-fourths topping it, and not to look like an intimidating giant I wore my flat black Nine West doll shoes. And put all my nicessities [papers, two pens, candy, napkin, and a Christina Dodd book] on my black sling bag. Trying not to look like a student, I biasedly halfed my hair and pulled it back at my nape and put some hair cream on it to avoid frizz when I get to the jeep later on.
I also took out my tongue ring.
Then I was already dressed with another hour to spare. Talk about being excited.
Later Ivy came to fetch Nana, Grace and Anne to play badminton at their subdivision court at Saint Charbel. I came along with them. They dropped me off at St James, where I need to get a jeep going to UP.
Then blasted jeep that I rode on was doing more like a crawl, rather than the usual speed which you need to go to second gear.
Every stop possile or impossible, the driver tries to get riders. And I haven't even trecked the half of Tandang Sora.
Later, I went down at Commonwealth where I took a FX. In ten minutes I found myself walking towards the entrance of Convergys. I was fourty minutes early than my scheduled appointment which is ten-thirty.
I went to the receptionist's table, who may I say doesn't speak good English, and gave my name and my ID. Sat down at the lounge that look more like a classroom to me and took out my book and read. It was a quiet environment.
It was already ten-thirty and my interviewer haven't shown yet.
And the guy behind me started singing at the silence.
Fifteen minutes later our interviewer, Joy, called our names. We went inside a small room where we squeezed ourselves. There were six of us. Girls, except for the guy who was singing at the reception room who was seated at my left.
The interviewer excused herself for a moment and left the room. The moment the door closed the other four girls started talking on how tense and nervous they are. It seems the only people relaxed on the room was me and the guy, who complained that he was cold. I told him that at the least he has his jacket while I don't have one.
After a couple of minute, Joy came back.
She introduced herself and started the interview with Maricel, who stammers a lot. Poor thing. She's really scared.
Then next one to be called was the guy. He's speaking skills are good. He didn't stop and stammer. He spoke in a clear and quick sentences.
Next was the other one who's still studying, Rochelle, twenty three. She keeps on saying ummm and she has a lot of hand gestures especially the one where she puts her hand on her heart as if on a plea.
Next one was the girl beside me who took up four courses. And is still studying. She does a lot of aahhhsss.
By then I was getting bored. The table was made of clear glass. I noticed that the three girls except for me and Maricell where all wearing those killer pointed shoes. The one was wearing a conventional black one, the other one was wearing a black with beads and the last one was a Hindu design with more beads than you can count.
What's with the shoes?
Then the next one called was me. Yeah.
Joy asked what name do I prefered to be called.
Ching.
Why Ching?
So I explained. After my explaination, the other interviewees and Joy chuckled.
"What?", I asked them, chuckling too. "Do I speak very fast?".
At least after that the tension on the air lighten up.
But my interview only lasted for four minutes. The others lasted for eight minutes.
I asked myself if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Then the last one was Keren Hope. She just quit her last job last night which was a call center too in Makati. She resigned, because the guy who was courting her at the office for a long time secretly have a kid.
She just found out this week.
So she slapped his faced and resigned. Good for her.
But for someone who worked for a call center for ten months... the guy can speak way better than her.
Then the interview ended. It was already eleven-thirty. We were ordered to come back by twelve thirty for a test.
So the five of us [excluding Maricel] went down and ate at Rice Box. We had a little get-to-know-each-other. Rochelle keep telling us stories of people we don't know. And her boyfriend, was the bald guy riding on the jeep at the "Coke ko to" Coca-Cola commercial.
The other girl is getting married this Friday.
To another woman.
Which will cost five grand.
Twleve-twenty. We took the elevator and went to the lobby and waited for further instructions. Keren then asked me if I have a boyfriend. It seems to me she's still pretty bummed about that guy at her office. It also seems she's asking if what she did was the right thing. Then, we were ordered to go up on the third floor. There where like twentyfive of us.
Then they they let us choose a booth.
Wow nice computer.
But then they gave us a questionare and an answer sheet.
How outdated.
Then one of the candidate forgot to bring a pen. Sheesh. And I'm the only one with an extra one.
Ha! Grade Two. Girl Scout. St. James of Quezon City.
Then reading over the questionaire I found out it was all technical questions. Is this right? I applied for Customer Care.
But, oh well. Breezing through the exam I put my pen down and munch a couple of Kendis.
Later, the "Examinator" came in and took our sheets away saying she'll be back with the results. So me and my new found friends just sat there and chatted. Were we went back to the topic of Keren and her officemate. Our guy friend is playing Devil's Adovocate were he keeps on telling her that maybe the guy she left is now contemplating death. She said that yeah that may be so.
I just rolled my eyes.
After half an hour Joy came back with some papers that were folded and stapled.
She said that the people she will be calling should get the papers she's holding and proceed to the reception desk. The second one to be called was my guy friend. I was fourth.
I was then thinking if we got laid off. Then after that there were bunch of people coming right behind me. While we were waiting for the elevator, someone from behind me was singing Sandara's "In or out?".
Opening the letter I told her were out.
Ahhh the bitter taste of defeat.
Then Maricel came out too. I said to her that half of our batched were eliminated.
Then the elevator gave it's customary ping.
We all squeezed ourselves into it. Right after the elevator doors closed, the guy on the middle of the lift, opened his letter and sang a woeful My Way by Frank Sinatra.
We all laughed.
I went back to the receptionist and got my ID back. Me and Maricel trecked together to the other side of the highway, drizzle and all.
Then saying our goodbyes, I climbed up the jeep that will take me to Marcos Highway.
What a bummer my shoes are all muddy.
Then I remembered the other three who made it.
I should have worn a pair of pointed shoes too!