TOURISTS

AN UNEDITED ARTICLE

JED ADRIEL BERENGUER

III BOHR

“If only I could take it back…” said I.

I was standing in the threshold of the enormous NAIA 3 airport. With my bags on my shoulder, suitcase I was pulling, I was having full of regrets of what had happened.

“If only you could take what back?” asked Joe. Joe was with me along with other friends of ours who seems late again for our flight.“If only I could take back my ICE CREAM!” I shouted. Apparently, houseflies either like ice cream to not make me eat it or they really don’t to push it away.

“Ice Cream?”

“Yeah,” I snorted. “Stupid houseflies were bugging me then ‘Bam!’ my ice cream splats on the floor.”

“That’s just ice cream, Chandler. What you’re about to experience is a lot like paradise!” Joe explained.

I didn’t reply, I still am bummed about that delicious ice cream, so I plugged the earphones of my MP3 and listened to my favorite song: The Long and Winding Road.

Finally after a few minutes, the others came. Joe was about to finish his 3rd burger, not knowing of motion sickness.

“It’s about time you guys came.” complained Joe.

“Well, somebody here has a hard time saying goodbye to her dog, La Pooh.” said Monica, circling her eyes on Rachel, the dog lover.

“My goodness Rach, it’s just a dog!” I shouted. But still not losing my temper.

“’My goodness Rach, it’s just a dog!’ What about your ice cream, Chandler?”
Joe copied my remark and teased me.

“Whatever, you’re lucky you didn’t have a 4th burger”

“So, where’s your dog?” Joe asked, ignoring my statement.

“Oh, outside with my mother” replied Rachel.

“You brought your dog with you?”“Just to say goodbye…”

“Oooh!”

And so after that pointless conversation; Rachel, Ross, Monica, Joey, Phoebe and I showed our boarding passes to the lady and went inside the plane and sat inside in our respective seats. I’m guessing that Joe now regrets eating three burgers, the size of Big Mac, as I saw his uneasy expression in his face. I saw dolphins diving in and out of the ocean and maybe because of vertigo, I think I saw an angel flew by the window beside me. But I guess it was just motion sickness.

I slept throughout the flight.

We arrived at Los Angeles Airport or LAX by evening. Joe rushed out the plane to go to the bathroom, I guess not only motion sickness played with him, nature’s calling him also. It began to rain as we went out the airport; we haven’t any umbrella so we rushed to the Taxi stand. We were divided into two and we both directed the driver to a certain hotel, I won’t tell what. Just for no reason.

I guess I had a little case of being homesick, I don’t know, I loved the food around here. And it’s not my first time to go here; it’s my first time to go here on vacation. It always meant work, work, and work. I remember the fishball vendor at home when I saw Joe again, eventually he has stopped going to the CR. Joe again had this case when he ate a lot of fishballs and again, LBM.Phoebe, now, pulled her sneakers off after touring the hotel. It reeked, I smelled it, it was so bad but who cares I opened the windows anyways. Ross decided to play his guitar, while we’re at vacation; swimming, tanning and drinking smoothies in Sta. Monica Beach, he’ll be playing in a concert to be held on Hollywood. It was his choice, his only gig, so he grabbed the opportunity.

The next day after breakfast was served; I went to the city to see if I could still remember the place. And I still do, I went to Starbucks for a while and then I saw the guys excluding Ross buying donuts at Krispy Kreme. I left the coffee shop and went to them. It seems our plans of vacation will be advanced, early that morning, we went to the beach.

Monica’s the one who really knows the place, for her friend, Janice, owns a store by the shore. We swam, played beach volleyball, drank shakes, laid down and did Frisbee on the beach.

We were all tired that afternoon, so we rested. When we woke about an hour later, we were on a boat. We were all surprised; Janice was awake and told us to calm down. She’s with a guy she introduced to us as Richard. I don’t like Richard from the start. We had no choice but to stay on the boat or sharks will have had early dinner that night.

Finally we went to a deserted island. It seemed deserted, no tourists, no stores, no anything. We went down the boat and Richard advanced to the forest. Janice told us she was also preoccupied when she was brought onto the boat. It’s a good thing there was volleyball on the boat. So we played a little while to get our minds off that peculiar event.

A few minutes later, we rested. We heard strange noises and footsteps from the forest. Maybe it was just Richard hunting an animal for food. We ignored the noise and waited for Richard to come back. It was twilight already and I was getting hungry and sleepy. Others were grumbling already, they went back to the boat but as soon as they stepped on the boat, they heard a shout. I heard it louder, it was Rachel. There was a black figure pulling her towards the forest.

I rushed to grab Rachel’s leg but I was late. I dove for nothing; she was gone in a blink of an eye. The others by the boat ran through the shore and went near the forest. We were all shocked by what had happened. We were staring blankly at space at what had just happened. We couldn’t think. We couldn’t act.

And then suddenly all of us were grabbed by the hands and our heads were covered with duffel bags, we couldn’t resist, the people who held us captive were strong. They pulled us towards the jungle like what they did on Rachel. And that was the last of what I can remember. We were done as TOURISTS.

Missing Somewhere

AN UNEDITED ARTICLE

Annicalou Cruz Tañaquin

III- Ernest Rutherford

If only I could take it back, I would not let myself to be anywhere close to him; I would never let him take a piece of me. If only…

Walking on a long and winding road, I got tired so I decided to sit on a bench. I realized that my goody old sneakers are already untied so I tried to fix them up. When I looked up, suddenly it came to me that I was already lost. Maybe, I am still being chased by my thoughts of him but my mind has already given up. In this place where nobody is around, when nothing can remind me of anything about us, why is that song he played on his guitar perceptible to my ears. You’ve always been my angel but why did I run away from you?

I stood to find anybody near, maybe an ice cream stand or a fishball vendor, but nothing existed. Even a small housefly that tends to bug me is in sight. I have always wondered what will happen to my life if I’m not around you, if you are not beside me. And now, I can feel it, the suffering that I needed to receive just to regain everything we lost. But nothing’s worth it. I checked on my mp3 and tested if it is still working. Unfortunately, I am already low bat.

Walking further, I saw a dolphin… Or maybe not. I know I’m just hallucinating, a dolphin in the pond… Never. I started walking again, I knew that I was missing something but I didn’t care. All I can think about is him, I know I’m making no sense so, I’ll tell you what happened.

He was the guy I have always dreamed of, tall, fair-skinned, good-looking and smart. I was always happy when I’m with him and we never cared about anything except for ourselves. I was mesmerized to the fact that he always brought an umbrella with him so we never got caught in the rain. He is a funny guy, sometimes misunderstood but I’m always here to understand him. I never knew why I did that to him. I will never know why. He never told me what I did wrong. He is always that sensitive guy who only cares about what he feels and never about what the others think.

“Ok” I was awakened by the sound of a car; I never knew someone could ever find me here, maybe not this fast. I was disappointed but when I looked in the mirror, I saw his eyes flicker. I was wrong it is better this way. If I never knew him, I will never realize everything, now I know that he is not just a highly sensitive man but he is a very understanding individual, ready to comprehend my actions, even if I always make mistakes; ready to accept me and start over again. I know, my life is better with him, the guy I loved the most. ñ_ñ

One More Time

AN UNEDITED ARTICLE

Anne Marla SM. Villa

III – Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier

How could have I been so foolish? You made me believe we can last. But all you did was broke my heart.

You were this boy who catches the attention of everyone. You were listening to your MP3 while squeaking your SNEAKERS to and fro. I felt that there was no one else but you and me. You were like an ANGEL that set foot on earth just for my eyes to see. And that was the very moment I fell for you.

At first, I thought you were just a pretty face. But all of those changed when I first heard you play your GUITAR. The sound was so heavenly. I approached you and said “hi!” You just smiled at me. Stood up and went away. I sat there blankly with all the words I wanted to tell you. But I guess it wasn’t the right time for our hearts to meet.

It was a rainy afternoon and classes were cut. I went to my locker to get my UMBRELLA. You were there. You asked if I want ICE CREAM. Very weird. Who would want ice cream at a very cold and rainy afternoon? I did. Just to be with you.

But unfortunately, there was no ice cream. All was left was the FISHBALL VENDOR under the waiting shed. “Let’s dig in?” I guess I can take a few bite. All that matters to me is you, me and the raindrops that keep on falling on the waiting shed’s roof. I’ve always loved the sound of the rain on the roof. But I enjoyed it more when I’m with you. We finished eating and went home. It feels so good to feel your body warmth under the same umbrella. We walked and walked. Along the LONG AND WINDING ROAD we walked sweetly. Oh how I wish this would never end. How I wish that you were mine.

Days had passed and we continue to share sweet moments together. The laughters. The emoness. The pains. You’ve always been the sunshine to me. You’re my rainbow after the rain. But still you’re not mine. And you proved it when you told me the sentence I don’t want to hear.

“I love you…but as a friend.” My world crashed. I’m like a DOLPHIN that drowned. A HOUSEFLY that has been slapped. I felt dead inside. How can you do this to me? I thought what we had was special. I thought we had a special connection. Did we? Or am I the only one who felt it? “I’m so sorry…I just can’t love you.” It’s okay. I won’t cry. At least in a way, you made me feel that I’m special. Just remember, if you need me, I’m always here. I’m here broken but complete. Complete and ready to love you one more time.

The Last Words

AN UNEDITED ARTICLE

VANESSA CANDIDO

III LAVOISIER

“Its unfair…Life has never been fair to me.” Those are the last words that he had spoken before he ended his life.

Mon is a good-looking guitarist in their town. After experiencing all the unfortunate things and events in this world, his life, attitude and way of life changed a lot. He serves as an inspiration and an angel to the eye of the town people before. But now, he always wants to be alone without the help of others. His life had been so miserable and his guitar had been his only foundation for all this time. So, let me tell you about his tragic life, I can say that it can be an inspiration to all of us.

Mon did not come from a huge and rich family. He is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Konching. His dad is a fish ball vendor while his mom sells umbrella on the mall. Unfortunately, his mom died while giving birth to him. He grew up without a mother and spent his life with his father. One day, as they were passing on a long and winding road they had a car accident because his eating ice cream while driving and did not concentrate on what his doing. His father died but fortunately he lived and was able to continue his life. But Mon, did not consider it a blessing from above he ruined his life and always do nothing. One day, he found out that his father has a pension, because of that he got some money to buy some stuffs. This money was also used to buy gadgets like mp3, new sneakers and a lot more. Because of this money he also got a girlfriend. But this girl was a money girl he only dates guys with money and when the girl found out that Mon doesn’t have money anymore, the girl immediately leave him.

It was December, the climate was so cold and everyone is in the mood except him. He remembered all the bad things that happened to him. He cried and broke his guitar. Because of his loneliness he drunk a lot of beer and a poison to end all the pain his suffering. One day, a housefly was found dead on his front door. The people in their town believed that if a dead animal was found on the front door of your house it means bad luck and even death so the owner of the house decided to look for him. When they entered, they found his dead body lying on the floor with a note saying,”Its unfair…Life has never been fair to me.”

So this is the end of his tragic life. This story tells everyone that we should take care of our lives and be thankful and consider our lives a blessing from God and if not, nothing good will happen to us and will just end up unhappy and alone.