The next day, Yana finally sent unanimously the complaint letter to the school president. Concerned teachers were called and what we desired came a reality—they were suspended a day after the letter was sent. “You know me, Amina.” Yana grinned, depicting how triumphant she was. “What about our final project? Aren’t we going to submit it?” I wondered. “What I heard she is suspended, so we still need to submit it because that is part of her academic responsibility to submit as well our summer grade. She should learn her lesson.” Yana spoke the language of satire. It’s Friday and we did not have schedule class today and my mother Elianna allowed me to stay one night with Yana’s dorm. I felt elated on staying away momentarily from my mother. “Did you bring the camera?” Yana asked. “Of course, sis.” I shelled out from the bag the cam we were going to use. “I also brought food and drinks.” “Please, get in.” Yana s
It had been a month since Yana had taken her life away. She did not deserve to kick the bucket for she would still be heard. Perhaps it was really a tremendous shame that devoured her. However, it was not the real reason to do that after jumping off the building. I had to do something but I did not know exactly how to do it. The bell rang and everyone started to get up and went to their respective classes. I checked my phone and I realized I still had my class this 2:30 P.M. It was still early. It was still 1 P.M. Maybe I just needed to go to the coffee shop and made my assignment. A notification popped out of my phone. A throwback memory I had with Yana. My heart still ached in the absence of my best friend. Until now, speculations rumored that she was depressed or broken that was their thoughts of her death. I was not true. I was thinking that it was due to the shame she got from the viral scandal spread by the disgruntled pelican. Instead of going to the coffee shop, I decided
In life, there are times you have been challenged to identify the mysteries of how people spread the message and how it significantly affects the way they live because of what they hear and how they believe in. No one knew exactly why each of us has the perception that varies from one another and to the point this becomes the reason of agreement or misunderstanding. No one knew exactly why each of us has the perception created inside about how we embrace the belief that either break us or make us. Let me tell you my story and how my life has changed in the way how gossip ruled the progress in the narrative arc of my journey and how my choice leads me to where I would be and I will never forget the pain who becomes the reason of becoming a nun.&nbs
4:30 A.M. Reaching towards the clamoring alarm clock to snooze, I stretch my arms upward in a yawning manner. I stood and went near the window, staring at the dimly lit street with an echoing silence in its every corner. It is Monday, and we have to prepare for the whole-day chores waiting, and wake up my 17-year old daughter, Amina, to help me cook viands that serve as our daily small-scale business. In the kitchen, a lizard rapidly puts out its tongue to catch the diminutive swirling buzz of flies. The ignited fire slowly lick and heat the pile of woods inserted inside the made-up cemented compartment where the concave metal container can sit upon the reigning ember, glowing wildly. Onions, garlic, and a string of vegetables are evenly cut into pieces before mama place them in the different recipes; some sautéed, and some simply drowned into the boiling water. Different meats like chicken, por
Two months after. My tears had kept falling in the middle of the night as I vividly recalled the incident I had encountered with Abdul. Shame and fear became my constant companions to the memory I had lost my innocence. I noticed I had missed my monthly period for months now. Mom and dad would really condemn me for what had happened. My hands were now trembling and my sobbing insisted to flow out from my mouth. “Eliana, are you crying,” my mom in the room must have heard my cry. “Nothing, Ma, I am just reading this book which made feel the tragic in the story,” I lied as not to make her know what the real tragic happened to their daughter. “Don’t be too melodramatic. You might become insane by reading too much,”
It had been three years since I was sent by my parents to study Bible school and I knew it would be a great opportunity for me to take the footprints of my dad to become a pastor in our congregation and I would be having my internship this semester which one of the requirements was to immerse ourselves to the community. This was a boarding school where students were taught the fundamentals of Christianity and would love our lives in selfless availability on the mission to serve Christ to His people. Here I was serving the purpose and dream of my parents. Obedience to their words had become the guiding rule which I needed to follow. I had met a lot of challenges to be here and I had to finish this course so I could proceed to my secular education which I dreamed to become a nurse.&n
My conscience made my heart feel dragging and I could not concentrate doing my Sunday sermon tomorrow morning. My thoughts still lingered on that night I confronted Elianna that I was not single but a married person. I would be liable to God the things I had done to her especially to her family which I had already established relationship since I was assigned as intern pastor in their community a year ago. I did not expect that I was able to meet Eliana and her family again since I was transferred to another high school. After my graduation in theology, I was assigned to be the youth pastor in one of the local churches in the city. Eliana and her family members were devoted Catholics yet I was able to invite them in the church. Though his father was firm to remain to his faith, Eliana and her mother became regular attendees in the
How would I tell Miguel that I am conceiving to our child? I asked. I bought this pregnancy test which turned out to be positive. I was so supposed to tell him that day he confessed me that he was not single where in fact he was a married person. How could he ever keep such lies to me and even to the people he was dealing with. No one knew about this except my sister Aileen whom she was surprised but I was happy that she could be trusted. It’s Sunday and for sure Miguel would be having his preaching today. Wait, I smelled something. “Eliana!” my Mudra had called me, “the rice you cook on the pot smelled burning!” Without responding to my mother, I hu