Horseless

AN UNEDITED ARTICLE
Psejhan

Of all the places found in our school, I find this very spot where I am right now as the most serendipitous, comfortable and memorable. It is a prominent figure for the grounds, it is an unusual bench. The "kalesa"--a wooden bench derived from a traditional, Filipino rickshaw with a horse to move it. Of course its structure is a bit different.

If I guess correctly, it used to be very beautiful, back then--when its varnish was still untarnished, its wood still solid and smooth, its metal pieces still in a color of the right condition, and its cleanliness was still a reality. Now, pieces of the wood have chipped off, there's an array of vandalism etched deep into its bark and a plastic burger wrapper is lodged into a tight space at an intersection of its braces. Alas! Its purpose and function has not withered with time. I can sit under it while remaining a stable and nice position, rain or shine, thanks to its roof, and the benefits do not stop there! I can still lean on its sturdy backrest.

There is a subtle homey feeling, and a Filipino charm at the said place. The dark wood, curved edges and authentic origin magnetizes me. So, sitting here I see many pictures. Looking up there's the plastic burger wrapper I mentioned earlier, the letter B, a few more character and a reminder that I wasn't the first one to stay here for a good deal of time. I look to the right and see the pond that has changes its decor with the changing of principals. The moss, the flowers and the fish remain in a burgeoning manner. It gives me something so natural to look at, to be interested in, to be not bored about...

The best time to go here is when it's raining and after. You get to appreciate the cold breeze of rain, the blur of your surroundings, and yet, remain dry. After the rain, I admire the diamonds hanging at the edge of the rood just waiting to fall. That alone is pretty for me.

Here, I remember a myriad of memories: bonding with my friends, watching a basketball game with my crush playing, getting eye contact from an unexpected person I admire, getting called over to be recommended to a contest... There is definitely a fine, concrete reason why this place has come to mean so much to me! This is true beauty in silence!

The best feature about it is, it is what it is; "a kalesa with no horse". There is only one thing a horseless kalesa can do, it's to stay there.