THE UNIVERSITY campus bustled as students hurried to their classes, they were in their fourth year completing their undergraduate degrees. Lucien stepped out of her car, adjusting the strap of her bag on her shoulder. She glanced around, her eyes searching for a familiar face. With a graceful flick, she flipped her hair over her shoulders as she walked gracefully along the pathway. Astrid emerged from the crowd, a smile lighting up her face as she spotted Lucien. She walked over, falling into step beside her. "Good morning, Lucien," Astrid greeted, her voice warm. "Morning, Astrid," Lucien replied, returning the smile and reaching out for Astrid's hand and holding it as they continued walking. "Thanks for walking with me." "Of course," Astrid said, falling into step with Lucien as they made their way towards the main building. "How was your weekend?" Lucien shrugged. "Same old, same old. Just lots of family stuff." Astri
REMNANTS FROM the past echoed in the present times. The path that was supposed to never cross each other had been haunting them all together now. Venus looked at Astrid's eyes as if she could not understand what the director was trying to say. "Director," Venus utters. "If you're saying that you are one of Blanche's mothers, then how could you not know that you are her blood-related?" She then added. Astrid chuckles, her forehead buried in her right palm. "I know from the start that I am related to Blanche. What I meant to say is that I never expected her to carry my bloodline." The Director answered and released a deep sigh as she bitterly smiled. Venus tries to understand the Director. This is also new to her. Blanche did not even mention that she had two mothers. Question after question, Venus had been eaten up by her curiosity. Does her wife lied to her about her story? She shrugs. That can't be. Blanche is never the type of person to lie out
BORN WITH an empty spoon, scraping by in a place they reluctantly called home, their lives a testament to misfortune and destitution. These children are the product of unwanted circumstances, carried into a world where scarcity and hardship are their daily companions. Their lineage has been known for violence - they are the clans hired by influential individuals who prefer to wield power through intimidation and force. The Innokenti lineage had been known to be the family of killers and assassins. They are for hire; however, even if influential people hire them, they are not able to provide a suitable lifestyle which forces the younger generation to live in poverty and filth. Staring out of the floor-to-ceiling window of his hotel room, Nikolai's gaze was unfocused, lost in memories of his sister's betrayal. He held a glass of whiskey, swirling it absently as he stood with one hand in his pocket. With a bitter chuckle, he muttered to himself, "Ah
THE WORLD seems to be a better place to live in, but who is she kidding anyway? The world was silly for her to be able to survive. Consequently, some people, preferred to be called Scientist, has their own explanation about this. Even those great philosophers whose minds are too confused and curious about this world. A suitable example was the late yet still famous Herbert Spencer who once concluded – Survival of the Fittest – whereas the world act as the game board and human are the players. The world is just a big mess, just like this place. The edifice was deserted over a hundred years yet it was highly constructed due to its price which is worth a billion dollars - it shows the literal connotation of the expression "old but gold". Many investors and business capitalists tend to bid over this establishment. People, nowadays, kept on purchasing possessions. But why? To prove to others that they wer
FUNNY how life plays with her as if it is having a satisfactory time giving her mischievous tricks. Just when she was about to start her life anew - just when she is about to start her life to settle, unanticipated and excruciating things will occur. Suffice to say, the world is full of wonder - the world is full of unexpected things. Full of bewilderment for she wasn’t able to find the explanation unless she’ll compromise and take time to scrutinize it. Too bad, people nowadays would rather spend their life doing foolish business; attending parties, and such rather than simply exploring the missing answers to those often called philosophical questions.Oftentimes, those philosophical questions remain unanswered as people remain unbothered by the truth. Blanche was riding her big bike all the way home while Aerith was driving her wheels. She was behind Blanche, following her path as s
BLANCHE has always wondered why people are afraid to lose someone they love. Why losing someone brings people pain; heartache? On top of that, why people are afraid of letting go of someone they valued the most? Perhaps, it is because people are afraid to experience despair. It has been their routine; lose someone and in return, they’ll meet someone much better than the other one. But who knows? Blanche's life has always been a rollercoaster ride for her. She could not even think of any reason as to why she was being treated like this - had she been a sinful individual in her past life? That, she doesn't know. It was in the middle of December, the surrounding was covered with a pile of snow - migratory birds have left towards the south, tree branches are already blanketed with dense snow. People wear sweaters and gloves to evade the co
THE PLACE that they visited was full of stuff. Guns, pistols, and rifles varied in their kind, magazine, and bullets. Target statues, swords, and the like. It was hell-ish. The sound of the metallic sharp objects echoed inside, and the yelp of those people can also be heard. It was a deadly challenge - at least for the recruit. Perhaps, it wouldn't be the military if their training would not involve any firing weapons. Training. It was two weeks since the recruit arrived and since that day, the General ordered them to conduct training, and when they say training, it is not about doing some exercise that will not make your body ache, it is the other way around. The training they undergo made those trainees yelp out loud - almost curse themselves as to why they are still living their lives like this. Punching hard things such as hollow blocks, carrying a sock full of sand, moving fast like a ninja, diving and staying for thirty minutes underwater, making traps and ammo, and
THE SKY was a mixture of black and orange, red-orange perhaps. The dawn just strike on land and early this time, Blanche and her battalion had just arrived at the said training ground, but for the latter, it was more likely a dumpsite. Blanche sees this place as a site of a human who was thrown to die. Blanche sighed as she tried to shrug off the thought of what she had seen earlier. She couldn't argue with herself as she was unsure if what she had seen was indeed accurate. Jeez, why am I being preoccupied with that silhouette of a being? I'm not even sure if that's her! She mumbles from inside. On the other hand, while the Captain is occupied with her previous memory of that someone, the recruits drop their bags on the snowy ground and look around, buzzing like bees can be heard. They can’t believe that they made it! Who wouldn’t be? After facing a snowstorm, staying in an igloo just to keep them warm and walking on a snowy path make them shiver to death. Most