Lying to the heart

9 and over.


The Geek and The Girl

The school bus was loud and crowded on the way home from the high school. The engine boomed even from inside the cabin. Students talked about their day full of gossip and lame teachers, making a high pitched screech out of all of the voices. Katrina and Douglas sat cattycornered in the middle of the bus that day. *To continue reading you must be of age*


Goodbye Lullaby

 

First day of class at De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde…

And it was also Cassandra Gomez or Ada’s first day of school, as a freshman of her chosen course – Digital Photography. She’s from the province of Davao, and it was also her first time to set foot on Manila. Thanks to her Uncle based in Canada, because he supports her studies.

The University doesn’t prefer school uniform, so students wear civilian clothes. Ada wears a white blouse, a blue skirt below the knee length, flats, and her hair, just with a hair band.

She entered her classroom. The Professor isn’t there yet. It was the Language Class. She sat on the front chair, since it is vacant. They were only 30 plus in the class. Both, Boy’s and Girl’s.

Suddenly the Professor arrived She looks like very strict. She’s Mrs. Taylor, Professor of Language Class. Maybe, she’s the late 40’s… Ada, told herself.

After Mrs. Taylor introduce herself and about the subject she’s going to teach them, she told the class to introduce themselves too. She called Ada first.

Ada, stand up and before she even start speaking, Mrs. Taylor said:

Mrs. Taylor: Miss, you don’t have to stand up… It’s okay to remain on your seat while you speak, you are in college.

Ada’s classmates behind her started to laugh silently. Then Ada, sit down and introduce herself.

Ada: I’m Cassandra Gomez, I’m called Ada, form Davao City.

But her classmates didn’t stopped whispering with each other and laughing silently. She knows that, she’s the subject matter.

The class began… And after a couple of hours it’s time for a break. Some went in the cafeterias inside the University, some to libraries…

When Ada is on her way to the cafeteria to have some snack, a group of 3 gals blocked her way.

It was Ashley, Paris and Tiffany. It’s her classmates and they are just one of the rich and famous students of the University. No wonder, even they had the pretty face, the brain, and of course money, they were not blessed with a good heart. They were also famous of bullying other students with no reason.

Ashley: Hi, Ada… Our new classmate…

Paris: Ashley, we have to be nice on her, remember she’s from the mountains… (Laughing)

Tiffany come behind Ada, and touched her hair.

Tiffany: Sis, don’t treat her like that… Cause she might come back to the mountains, and eventually don’t enjoy the city! (Laughing)

Ada passed them, don’t even looking back. While they continue, laughing at her.

Ada: Why do they have to discriminate me?! Because I’m from the province?! It’s unfair!

(While restraining her tears)

The day passed by… It’s almost a month… But Ashley, Paris and Tiffany, didn’t stopped bullying her… Until, it reached up to hurting her, like pushing her to the corner…

One day at the C.R. Ashley, Paris and Tiffany were there, and insulting her all over again, Ada.

One of their classmates came… It’s Damien, she stopped for a while at the door, watching them.

Until Ashley pushed out Ada to the floor, while laughing, Ada cried out.

Ashley: Get out from this University Ada! Poor stupid’s like you don’t belong here! (Laughing)

Damien: Stop it.

Damien’s sad low voice killed the joy upon the three.

Paris: It’s Damien, the weird witch, what were you doing here?

Damien: I said, stop it.

Tiffany: Mind yourself Damien, don’t get yourself involve here.

Ashley: Are you protecting her? Is she your friend? I don’t think you’re making friends with a freak?

Damien: Don’t play dumb… All of you heard me, right?

The three stopped and went out, cursing Damien. Ada is still crying on the floor like a child. Damien sat in front of her.

Damien: Hush… Everything’s going to be fine. (Without any reaction)

Ada looked at her. Damien has a long black hair up to her hips with bangs. She’s wearing a black dress, black stockings and black Mary Jane shoes. Damien has a ball jointed doll with her, and it looks like her.

Damien pulled out a hanky and wiped out Ada’s tears. She helped her to stand up, and before even Ada say Thank You, Damien went out, don’t looking back at her.

The next day… Ada entered their language classroom, she’s happy while carrying a box of brownies… She’s going to give it to Damien…

Damien sits on the corner of the corner of the room, touching her doll’s hair, like talking to it. Ada approached her right away.

Ada: Good Morning! (With a big smile)

Damien stared at her and said…

Damien: Good Morning too.

Still, in her sad low voice.

Ada: Thanks for helping me yesterday! I’m Ada, if you don’t know my name yet! (While offering Damien, her right hand)

They shake hands.

Damien: I’m Damien.

Ada: I have some brownies for you! Hope you’ll going to like it!

Giving Damien the box of brownies while, smiling.

Damien: Thanks… but you don’t have to do this.

Ada: No! I want to thank you! And be friends with you! If, it’s Okay with you!?

Ada got no answer from Damien. Ada saw the doll and asked Damien.

Ada: What’s her name? She looks like you…

Damien: She’s Nee Chee, my daughter.

Ada wondered for what Damien said… but before she asked about it, Mrs. Taylor arrived. So she went back to her seat.

The class started… Ada looks back to Damien from time to time, expecting her doing the same thing, but she failed. Ada noticed, Damien always wears, a black dress, but the design and style was just the difference.

It’s time for a break, Damien went off the classroom, Ada, walked fast next to her. Ada approached Damien.

Ada: Hi! Damien! Hi! Nee Chee! Having snack?

Again, Ada got no answer from Damien. Ada thought, Damien was just a silent type… and weird. But, she can feel, Damien is a nice person… though she don’t talk much.

They were in the cafeteria. They both their snack and sit together on the table beside the window.

Damien eats silently, she also had a bite of the brownies, Ada, gave her. While having their meal, Ada, can’t help but talk, a lot. Even she’s like talking to s deaf and blind person, or like talking to herself. Ada remained, patient, she really wants to be friends with Damien. Ada, keep on telling stories from province and different things to Damien. Every once in a while, Damien will talk, but just 3 to 5 words, or just yes or no…

Then Ada noticed Damien’s face, her complexion, it’s milky white, but her cheeks, pretty pale, her eyes, lined with some liquid eye liner and mascara, and… it quite looks very sad… Damien’s eyes always stare to Nee Chee, like there’s no other thing’s in the world.

Ada, said to herself, if Damien carries a heavy burden, I’ll find it out… or I’m just going to make her happy… it seems like her world only revolves with Nee Chee, that she calls her “daughter”… I’m wondering what happened to her… why did she became like this? Is this really her? Or there’s a reason behind this…

Days… weeks… months have passed… And still Ada didn’t stop making friends with Damien… It was really a hard time… but she’s patient, day by day she sees improvement.

Damien can now talk with her, she smiles, but just a little. And Ada was very happy with it.

At the cafeteria, they are having some chit-chat.

Ada: I’m living in a dorm nearby, what about you?

Damien: I live in Makati… I live alone… in a condo.

Ada: Really? You live in a condo? Do you rent it?

Damien: No, we own it.

Ada: Do you mind if I want to know why?

Damien: I decided to live here I Philippines, 2 years ago… I grew up in Australia, but my Mom and Dad were Filipinos.

Ada: Why did you do that?

Damien didn’t replied back, Ada understands it. Damien wasn’t ready to tell her about it…

Damien: If it’s okay with you, you can visit me at my condo, or you’ll going to go with me… nothing, just want you there…

Ada: I’d love to, Damien! How about tonight?

Damien answered her with a smile…

Quarter to 6pm, Damien and Ada went to the University’s parking for students. Damien has her car, a bloody red Honda Jazz… They went inside the car, Damien started the engine… They were on their way to Damien’s place in Makati…

It’s, pass 7pm, when they get to Damien’s condo. Damien dropped off Ada for a while in the receiving area, for she’s going to park her car, at the basement parking.

After a few minutes, Damien returned to the condo’s lobby, there’s Ada waiting for her…

Damien: Come on Ada.

Ada smiled and they walked to the lift… Damien, pressed the open button, the lift open and they come inside… Again, Damien, pressed the 48th floor. The lift was pretty fast…

The lift stopped and opened the doors. In front of them is a big number 48, meaning it’s the 48th floor, below it, was a warning “non-smoking area”. They turned right. It’s a good condo, very well lit hallways, CCTV Cameras were spread all over the place, The floor has a red carpet.

They stopped at the 7th door, Damien slipped a card in the door and it opened, they went inside. The lights and A.C. were automatically turned on. Damien’s condo was a mixed of modern and elegant style, far from how she dress… It’s neat and clean, Ada wondered how Damien maintain her home if she’s living alone here, cleaning it, doing the laundry, cooking… since it’s quite a large unit for her, it has 3 rooms, 2 toilets and bathrooms, a spacious living room, dining, kitchen, and a balcony.

Ada: Damien, you live here, alone?

Damien: Yeah… (While giving her a can of iced coffee)

Ada: Oh, thanks… you said your family is in Australia, then why does your family had a condo here in Philippines?

Damien: My parents bought this for me. When, they accepted my decision. They immediately fixed all I’ll need.

Ada: But, who’s cleaning this? How about the laundry? Your food?

Damien: I clean this during weekends, whenever I have time for it… the laundry I bring this to a laundry shop and pay for it. And my food, I cook, but sometimes I go to a Japanese restaurant.

Damien: Just stay here… feel at home, you can play video games or watch T.V., I’m just going to cook our dinner…

Ada: No! I’ll have my dinner at home!

Damien: It’s okay, Ada, just relax there! Okay?

 

Damien head her way to the Kitchen… Ada went outside, on the balcony… It’s beautiful… The City Lights… The Sky Scrapers… The Stars… plus the cold night breeze… perfect place to relax from the stressful and busy City…

Ada, sat on the swing… over looking at the City… While, Damien is busy, cooking. After almost 20 minutes outside, Ada went back inside… She sat on the sofa. Ada saw an album, she’s going to get it, when Damien, immediately grab it.

Damien: Dinner is ready, let’s have our meal.

Then Damien went inside her room with the album, and immediately returned back… Ada, again wondering what’s inside the album, and why Damien didn’t let her see it…

Since that day, Ada always went to Damien’s condo. Sometimes to do some school works, play video games, watch movie, anything… Day by day, Ada notices that Damien is not as lonely as she met her the first time… But she’s still not letting go of her doll Nee Chee and her black dress… Ada can’t ask anything about Nee Chee, because she’s afraid of offending Damien about it…

A year goes fast by… Ada and Damien remained close to each other… They became Best Friends… They are in their junior college… It’s been 2years since they first met… Damien is not very lonely anymore… Now, she knows how to laugh, to live life, without Nee Chee, Damien don’t bring with her Nee Chee anymore… but the black dress, it’s still her fashion… Maybe she just lives black.

One day, Ada went to the Super Market to buy some groceries and other stuffs…

When she’s on the counter to pay her groceries, she noticed that her wallet is not inside her bag, she didn’t know how to explain it to the cashier, but she remained calm, even so nervous…

Cashier: P 4,560 Mam…

Ada: I’m sorry miss but, I can’t pay it, I’ve lost my wallet… and—

She didn’t finish her explanation because the Guy next on her butted in and said…

Guy: I’ll pay for it, how much again?

Cashier: P 4,560 Sir…

Ada: No! We don’t—

Guy: Miss, Its okay… (While smiling at her)

Ada, blushed on, the Guy is really damn cute… and his smile was very attractive. They went outside the Super Market.

Ada: Thank you… I don’t know what to say… I’m really embarrassed… Somebody picked my wallet or I’ve lost it… Don’t worry I’ll pay you. Please, let me have your contact number?

Guy: It’s alright… Thank yourself because you’re cute, if you’re not, I wouldn’t mind paying your groceries… (Laughs) No. just kidding! I’m Ivan, and, you are?

Ada: Ada…

Ada kept on telling her mind, don’t stare at him, don’t stare at him, don’t stare at him… but this is just once in a blue moon… meeting a guy like him, who’s going to save you from a surely embarrassing moment. I think I don’t have to pay him, I think money doesn’t matter with him. I think I’m getting his number to get in touch with him… Oh, My God! Stop it Ada! Stop being flirt and stupid!

Ivan: So, how will you go home? You’ve lost your money.

Ada stopped and thinks… maybe he’s going to ask to bring me home? But! Don’t! Maybe he’s a kidnap for ransom? Or, a rapist! Or, a killer! I’m getting insane!!!—Damien! Damien has a car! I can ask her a favor!

Ada: I’m Okay! I’m going to call my friend!

Ivan: Okay… Here’s my contact number… Bye, I’ll go ahead cutie!

Ivan went away… Ada can’t help but to stare on him… After a couple of minutes, she put inside her bag, Ivan’s card and got her phone. She’s going to call Damien.

The phone rings… Damien answered it right away, she’s outside the balcony, reading Emily the Strange Comics.

Damien: Hello, Ada.

Ada: Hi, Damien. May I ask you a favor? Please?

Damien: No worries, what is it?

Ada: May you please pick me up here at The Podium? I’ve lost my wallet and I don’t have extra money to ride a taxi. Please? Will you?

Damien: Sure, Ada! I’ll be there soon, just hang in there!

Ada: Thanks Damien!

Damien: No problem! See you!

Then, they dropped the call. Damien, got her car keys, and head her way to the parking.

At the Mall, Ada is patiently waiting in front of the entrance. It’s nearly half an hour when Damien arrived. Damien helped Ada with her groceries, they put it inside the compartment, after it, the two went inside the car.

Few meters from De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde, Damien dropped off Ada, on the dorm where she stays in.

Ada: Thank you so much Damien!  Later, tonight, I’ll visit you!

Damien: Okay, I’ll wait! Bye!

Ada: Bye! Take Care!

Damien closed the car Window, Ada pushed the gate and went inside.

8pm in the evening. At, Damien’s, home. Ada ring the doorbell, the door opened, Ada went inside.

Damien: You know, I’ve noticed something on you…

They are at the balcony.

Ada: Huh? What is it? (Looks like shocked and out of her mind)

Damien: Since I’ve fetched you at the Mall, you looked so happy? And you haven’t told me what happened with you?

Ada: Me? Tell me Damien… Am I cute?

Ada came close to Damien, making her eyes beautiful, turning her head left and right.

Damien has no reaction, staring at her.

Damien: Are you alright?

Ada leaned back at her seat, and sigh, while smiling…

Ada: I’ve met a cute Guy… At, the Mall… (While smiling and looking at the stars)

Damien: Then?

Ada: He paid my groceries…

Damien: Huh? You accept it?

Ada: I don’t have a choice… but I’ve promised to pay him, so I had he’s contact number… (Smiling)

Damien: When do you plan to pay him?

Ada: Tomorrow!!! We’re going to meet again!!!

Damien: Why are you so happy?

Ada: Because I’m going to see him again!!!

Damien: You like him?

Ada: I don’t know! Maybe!? Infatuation!?

Damien: Infatuation is always there…

Ada: He told me I’m cute!

Damien: Ada, be careful of the Guy’s, you don’t know what’s running on their minds…

Ada: What do you mean? He’s not courting me, Damien…

Damien: I’m just giving you an advice…

10Am in the morning, Ada called the number, Ivan gave to her… She restrained her laughter when she heard the other line is ringing…

Ivan: Hello? Who’s this?

Ada: Hi, It’s me, Ada… The girl in the Mall…

Ivan: Ada… I’m glad you call…

Ada: Can we meet at The Podium? I’m going to give back your money…

Ivan: Sure, we can meet… On, what time?

Ada: Depends on you? What time do you want?

Ivan: Maybe 1pm? Are you with it?

Ada: Alright, I’ll be there on 1pm! Bye!

Ivan: Bye, see you!

Then, Ivan went to the bathroom. Ada opened her cabinet and prepared her dress…

Quarter to 1pm, Ivan arrived at the Mall with he’s car… He parked it first. He sit by the near coffee shop inside the Mall, where he see a good view of people entering the mall…

After a while, Ivan saw, Ada. He went out the coffee shop, and approached Ada. Ada saw him right away. Ivan smiled at her, Ada do the same thing.

Ivan: Hi! How are you?

Ada: Pretty good! About the—

Ivan: Okay, we’ll to talk about it later… Not here, let’s went inside the coffee shop?

So, they went inside the coffee shop. Ada opened her bag, get her wallet, to hand the money to Ivan.

Ivan: No, Ada, it’s okay… It doesn’t matter!

Ada: Please, accept this!

Ivan: No, Ada—

Ada: Please?

Ivan: In one condition…

Ada: Wh-What is it?

Ivan: I’ll accept that if you’ll going to agree, to go on a date with me?

Ada: What? Are you serious? Are you kidding me?

Ivan: No, I’m not… What would I get with that?

Ada: But we don’t know each other very well yet?

Ivan: That’s why, were going to have a date… to get to know each other… right?

Ada: If I refuse?

Ivan: Then I would not accept that…

Ada stared at him… While wondering…

Ada refused with Ivan’s idea… She must have to know him better, before they go on a date… To make that happen, they get in touch with each other. Ivan, will frequently call her or text her, send her an email and even sending her some gifts… Which is, Ada left thinking if he is already courting her, or, it’s just he’s way of getting close with her. Since Ivan haven’t tell her what he really feels…

Ada and Damien were having their lunch in a Japanese Restaurant nearby Damien’s condo. Ada keep it a secret to Damien, that she is having a communication with the guy she met on the Mall. She wants to surprise Damien, and it’s not the right time…

Suddenly, Ada’s phone ring… Damien looked at her and continued eating. It was Ivan, calling her.

Ada: Damien, please excuse me. Someone’s calling me.

Damien: It’s Okay, go on…

Ada went distant from Damien and answered the call.

Ada: Hello, Ivan?

Ivan: Hi, Ada. Please go to The St. Francis Shangri-La Place tonight, at 7pm.  When you arrived at the place, proceed to the rooftop. Don’t refuse, it’s really important. Thanks! See you! Take care, Sweetie. Bye!

Then Ivan hang up, didn’t even give Ada a chance to decide. But she sensed it, something good would happen.

She returned to the table. She didn’t tell Damien, who called her. And Damien was not the type that’s curious and will always ask questions. They continued having their meal…

It’s 6pm… Ada, head her way to The St. Francis Shangri-La Place, where Ivan and she supposed to meet tonight… She wears a black cocktail dress accented with gold, and a glass Stilettos… She made her hair into a French braid. She hailed a taxi, few meters from her dorm

Quarter to 7pm, Ada arrived at the place. It was a 60 floors condominium, except the rooftop, Ivan told her to go. She’s puzzled about what sort of thing, she and Ivan will do in that place. Ada head her way to the rooftop.

She opened the glass door on the rooftop. She was very shocked for what she saw. Ada covered her open mouth with her two hands. At the side, there was a man playing “star Wish” with violin.

The rooftop has a swimming pool, with tea light candles floating on the water, the palm trees around were covered with string lights. There were red rose petals scattered on the marble flooring. At the other side of the rooftop, is a round table, with candles and red roses and a seat for two. She realized, this was only happening on movies, and she didn’t expect this was happening to her. It was a very romantic set up. The roses, the candles, the lights, the music, the over-looking view of the City…

Suddenly, someone covered Ada’s eyes…

Ada: Ivan?

She faced back, there was a bouquet of red roses, behind it was Ivan’s face…

Ivan: Surprise! Did you like it?

Ada: Yeah! I do! It’s beautiful!

Then, the sky is filled with the lights of heart shaped and smiley fireworks. Ada looked up and watched the fireworks…

Ivan: I’m glad you liked it…

Ada: It’s beautiful, but, why did you do this?

Ivan: I just want to make you happy. That’s it. (Smiling at her)

Ada: Thank you Ivan.

Ivan: You’re welcome Ada.

After the fireworks, they sat in the table, to have dinner. After a while of chatting, Ada opened up a topic…

Ada: Ivan… I want to ask you something?

Ivan: Go ahead.

Ada: I’d like you to meet my best friend, she’s a girl. Is it Okay?

Ivan: Yeah! Of course! I would be very glad!

After a romantic date, Ivan accompanied Ada to her dorm. They set up a date, where Ivan and her best friend will to meet…

Few days later, Ada sent a surprise text message to Damien. It was 5 in the afternoon. The message says:

“Damien, I’ll go there, to fetch you. Please don’t refuse! I have a surprise for you! I’m on my way! See you! “

After almost 30 minutes, someone ringed the doorbell at Damien’s unit. It’s Ada.

Ada: Hi, Damien! Ready to go!

Damien: Where will we go?

Ada: At SM MOA, to my surprise!

Damien: Is there an event?

Ada: No??? Come on! Just go with me and you’ll see!

Past 6pm when they arrived at the SM Mall of Asia. They went to the Mall’s seaside boulevard. To a bar and restaurant, facing the Manila Bay, you can see there the most beautiful sunset in the world… The performers of the Bar and Restaurant are outside, it’s a band, with a lady vocalist. They are playing, “First Cut is the Deepest”.

Ada: There he is! (Pertaining to a guy sitting on one of the tables of the bar alone)

It’s facing the opposite direction, so, Damien couldn’t see its face. They approached the Guy. It’s Ivan.

Ada: Ivan!

Ivan faced them. At the exact time Damien and Ivan’s eyes meet… “Baby I’ll try to love again but I know…” the vocalist sings, with feelings…

Damien freeze like the temperature is -129.56 F, the lowest natural temperature ever recorded on Earth.

Ada: Damien, Its Ivan, my suitor. Ivan she’s Damien, my best friend!

Ivan became speechless. Damien Run away… fast… without looking back.

Ada: Damien! Come back! (Ada yelled… and faced Ivan)

Ada: I’m sorry Ivan… Maybe she doesn’t feel well? (Ada apologized)

Damien started the engine quickly. She’s going to go home.

Damien arrived home quarter to 7pm. On her phone, Ada keeps on calling and texting her. She turned it off.

She entered her room… and screamed… now the tears on her eyes were streaming down her face… She grabbed the photo album, the album that she didn’t let Ada to see what’s inside…

There’s the picture… Ivan and her… yeah… Its Ivan… there pictures with some Australians friends…

Damien: Why…? How it could be…? I’d already stayed away…

She throws the album. It hit the DVD player… It’s open, the song of Avril Lavigne played… “My Happy Ending”.

The memories she tried to forget from Australia is now coming back to her senses… She grabbed Nee Chee and hug it, while sitting on the corner of her room…

“At the Birthday Party of Kyle, Ivan and Daniella’s friend. Everyone’s partying, drinking, eating, everything… Ivan and Daniella were in a relationship, it’s been 2 months. Daniella (Damien) don’t drink but, their friends including Ivan forced her to…

Daniella: Sorry guys… but I don’t really drink. (refusing with the shot glass)

Kyle: Come on Daniella! It’s my Birthday! Will you just forgive me? Just this day!

Everybody yells and cheering Daniella to take the drink.

Ivan: Come on… Sweetie… drink it… don’t spoil the fun.

Daniella: But—

Ivan: Please? Just for me?

Daniella took the glass… She can’t explain what to feel it seems like her throat will burst out. It’s Everclear Grain Alcohol, they drink it as is. It contains 95% alcohol, so she felt like a little dizzy. They offered her another one, she refused, but it doesn’t work. Then, another one, then, another one, then, another one… Daniella fall down. Ivan catched her… Everyone’s laughing at her. And because, their friends were really drunk, they started to take off Daniella’s clothes and started to take pictures. Not only her, even the other girls, but they seemed to like it. While, Daniella, is innocent about it…

 

The next day… At Haileybury, where Ivan and Daniella attends high school… Daniella is walking on the hallway on her way to their classroom. She don’t really feel well, her head aches from the last nights party. And she don’t feel like going to school, but she have to.

On her way, she saw s group of student on front of the freedom bulletin of the school. She approached it and looked at what the students were doing there.

The bulletin consists, lots of photographs. The students were laughing at it, some were annoyed. She came close. She trembled out from her surprise. It was her photos, their friend’s photos. She’s almost naked, only wearing her undies. Her other friends were almost naked, some are really bare. She runs away. Inside the building.

She didn’t have any disgrace left. She can’t even show up her face. She did not attend the school that day. Instead, she stayed at a beach resort the whole day… She’s attempting to recall what had happened last night, but she failed. All she can remember is that, she drinks one after another, then, it’s blank… But, she woke up, wearing her clothes, completely, so she can’t believe the photos that she had seen… But, she had to, because the evidence is very obvious…

Daniella, sat at the sand, she took out her school shoes and socks. Her feet’s was gently touched by the waves on the sea shore…

She wanted to relax. But she can’t. She has been thinking over and over again, about the negative impact of that to her, the problems that will take place, her parents, her schoolmates.

She just realized that it’s almost lunch time, when she felt hungry. It’s almost 4 hours of thinking. So she went to the resorts, restaurant, to have her meal. Though she’s hungry, she didn’t have appetite for the food.

After eating, Daniella remained inside the restaurant, because it’s too warm to stay outside to stay… She checked out her phone, and there are 20 missed calls and 12 messages. It’s from her classmates, and some friends, asking where is she, did she know what happened, (pertaining to the pictures), and is she okay. But, there were no calls or messages from Ivan, her damn boyfriend. She turned off her phone.

She started thinking again how to get out of this mess. How will she prevent it from reaching her parents?

After a few minutes of thinking, now she knows how to escape this disgrace.

At 4 in the afternoon, she went home…

When Daniella arrived in their house, her parents were not yet around. Her twin little brothers and their nanny were only there. She went inside her room, upstairs. She glanced at her wall clock, its 5pm, couple of hours before her parents go home.

It’s 7pm when Daniella’s parents arrived home, from the office. The nanny of her twin Brother’s, also went home.

It’s quarter to 8pm, at the dining room the family was having dinner together. At the middle of their meal, Daniella opened up a topic…

Daniella: Mom, Dad.

Mom: What is it, Honey?

Daniella: Uhmm.. Mom, Dad, I want to be independent. I want to live by myself.

Her parents looked at each other.

Dad: What are you talking about?

Mom: Daniella, you’re still too young, you’re only 14. What does a 14 years old girl like you, knows about living alone?

Dad: Let’s talk about that when you reached 18.

Daniella: But, Mom, Dad! I’m serious! I want to live alone! If you don’t let me do this—

Mom: Then what Daniella? You must understand it Daniella.

Daniella: I want to go in the Philippines. I want to be by myself.

Dad: What you will be doing there! You’re alright here, so why does, that thought cross your mind?

Dylan: You’re going to leave us? (Daniella’s little brother)

Daniella look down at her little brother. Then stand up.

Daniella: I’m going to go to the Philippines. Even you don’t support me. Even you cut off all my credit cards, or, close my bank account! You can’t stop me! I’m so sorry.

Then Daniella climb upstairs to her room.

“I’m sorry Mom, Dad. I have to do this.”

Daniella whispered to her mind.

Daniella is inside the plane, from Sydney, to Manila, Philippines. She didn’t tell anybody about her departure.

Her seat is beside the window. She listens to a band called Saosin, through her headphones, while looking at the empty dark outside.

“Daniella, Honey… Please open the door…”

Daniella’s mother calls, she opened it, allowing her Mom to enter the room.

Mom: Honey… We don’t know what’s running in your mind. But, though, we don’t agree, with this idea… Dad and I, were letting you go… We’ll not close your bank account or anything… You’re free to go whenever you want. Tomorrow, I’m going to phone someone in Philippines, that’s going to be the one who’s going to settle your home, the school where you will transfer. Everything… Just be sure, you’ll going to be okay. We don’t want to harm you, but may this be a lesson to you, for what will happen in the future. Good Luck, Honey.

Her Mom kissed her on the forehead and hugged her.”

Someone’s continuously ringing the doorbell. Damien’s pretty sure, it’s Ada. But she didn’t want to open it. She wanted Ada to think that she’s not around.

Ada: I think she’s not here… (Ada looked up at Ivan)

Ivan: Let’s go. I’ll bring you home. It’s getting late.

Ada take a glance at the door, expecting it to open, then walked away.

While Damien fall asleep were she sits with Nee Chee…

The next day at the University, Ada approached Damien, trying to ask what’s wrong with her yesterday. She sat at the vacant chair beside Damien…

Ada: Damien? Are you alright?

Damien: Yeah, I’m fine. Why?

Ada: I know you’re not, please tell me what’s wrong?

Damien: Don’t worry. Nothing’s wrong with me.

Ada: Then why did you run away yesterday?

Damien: About that. I forget something at Home I forgot about, about the shower, I left it running, so I turned away. So sorry for that…

Ada was not contented with Damien’s answer, but she just remained silent. She knows that, when Damien didn’t want to tell something, she can’t force it to.

On that night, Ada and Ivan, pay a surprise visit to Damien. Ada has also some groceries, because she’s going to bake some cake for them.

Damien was really surprised after seeing them. She can’t turned away and close the door. She wide opened the door for the two to come in. Ivan can’t look at her, and she’s certainly knows why.

Ada: Hello, Damien! Ivan’s with me!

Damien: Come in.

Ada: Hi, Nee Chee! (Ada greet the doll sitting on the sofa)

Ivan looked at Nee Chee, Damien looked at Ivan at the corner of her eyes, secretly, waiting for he’s reaction. When, Ivan’s going to look at Damien. Damien quickly turned away.

Ada: By the way, Damien! I have some baking ingredients here! I’m going to bake black chocolate cake for us!

Damien: Okay, feel free to use the kitchen.

Ada: Thanks! (Ada head her way to the kitchen)

Damien, went outside, at the swing, playing with her PSP. Ada is busy baking at the kitchen. Ivan sat on the sofa, and grab Nee Chee beside him. He remembered something…

“ “Surprise!!!” said Ivan, while holding a ball jointed doll.

Daniella: Is that for me?

Ivan: She’s really yours!

Daniella: Thanks a lot!!! I really love this! What’s her name?

Ivan: We’ll going to call her, Nee Chee. Our daughter…”

Ivan stands up and head his way at the balcony. Ada saw Ivan, she’s done mixing the ingredients and just waiting for the oven to get set. Ada’s going to go too at the balcony.

Ivan: Daniella.

Damien was shocked upon hearing that, and looked up at Ivan, Nee Chee is with him.

Ivan: Daniella. I want to… I want to say… I’m really sorry…

Upon hearing that, Ada stopped walking towards them. She’s just a few meters away from them, so she can clearly hear their conversation.

Damien stand up, and gave Ivan a soundly slap at his left cheek.

Damien: Darn you Ivan! I hate you so much! I thought you love me? But why did you let them do such bullshit thing to me?!

Ada’s eyes wide open, and felt like her jaw freeze out.

Ivan turned his head down…

Damien: You can’t defend me! You’re a chicken shit, Ivan! You let them treat me like a bitch! I became a total disgrace to my family!!!

Ivan: Daniella—

Damien: Daniella’s dead!

Ivan: Kyle and others were already in jail. Your parents knew it already. I don’t know if they had told you. I’m not with them! That’s their idea, not mine! You know Kyle has a very influencial family, I’m afraid of what they could do to me. Please pardon me Daniella… why did you have to turn away…

Damien: You’re a liar! Then why did I have not received any calls or texts from you?!

Ivan: I’m so sorry Daniella…

Damien: Do you like… her? (talking about Ada)

Ivan: I like her… but, I love you…

Damien remained speechless, she don’t have any feeling for Ivan, but hate.

After hearing that, Ada, slowly walked away, careful not to make any sound, she just put the baking pan with the mixture inside the oven, and went out.

Ada was now at the taxi, on her way home. Tears are streaming down her face. She’s looking outside the taxi window, there’s no traffic, it’s a smooth drive way back home…

Damien: Get out Ivan! I don’t want you around!

Ivan stared at Damien.

Damien: I said get out! Or I’ll call the security.

Ivan step back, he looked for Ada, but Ada was not around.

Ivan: Ada? She’s gone… Maybe she heard us.

Damien: I said leave!

Ivan got out of Damien condo. Damien sat on the sofa.

Damien: Ada heard us… what will I do?

The next day at the Classroom. Damien approached Ada, but it seems like Ada is cold to her.

Damien: Ada…

Ada: Yes, “Daniella”.

Damien freeze out, but she continued.

Damien: I’m Sorry… I didn’t tell you that—

Ada: Enough. You’re a big liar. I had trusted you. But why?! Do you still love Ivan? I’ve heard it all! Why did you keep it a secret to me? Is he the reason why you’re here? Is he thankful about me? ‘cause finally, he already found you Daniella!

Damien: You don’t understand—

Ada: I fully understand! He likes me, he loves you!

Damien: Ada, listen to—

Ada: I don’t want to Damien!

Ada’s going to stand up, when Damien stop her by holding her right arm.

Damien: Will you please listen to me! Dont act like a child!

Ada: It’s you that’s acting like a child! With your doll?! Duh?! By the way it’s your daughter with Ivan as the father! Let me go!

Ada pulled her arm, exactly when their professor arrived.

Professor: What’s the noise all about?! Are you girls fighting?!

Damien faced down, Ada look at her with madness.

On that night, Ivan called Ada. At first Ada ignores the call. But after almost 7 calls, Ada answered it.

Ivan: Ada.

Ada didn’t reply.

Ivan: I know you knew it already. I’m so sorry. Don’t get mad with Daniella. I’m so sorry for this. Daniella don’t love me anymore. She talked to me, later this afternoon. And she’s blaming me. She’s blaming me because you hate her. I’m really sorry Ada ‘cause I’ve troubled you and Daniella. I’m just going to go back in Australia, maybe the next following days, I’m not so sure about the schedule. Please, talk to her. Daniella loves you. She didn’t want to lose you. She told me that, you’re the reason why she’s now happy you’re the reason why she’s strong to forget about the past that ruined her name. Please pardon me and so Daniella. Daniella don’t want this. I’m sorry Ada.

Ada, still didn’t replied back, she’s restraining her tears. After a while, the line got busy…

“I became selfish” Ada whispered to herself

The next day, Ada, message Damien.

“Let’s meet at the restaurant were we used to eat together, about 1pm, today. Thanks.”

Quarter to 1pm. Ada is sitting inside the restaurant waiting for Damien, after a while, Damien came in. Damien sat on the chair facing Ada.

They stared to each other. Ada stands up and sat beside Damien and embraced her.

Ada: I’m so sorry Damien! I became selfish.

Damien: It’s Okay Ada, I love you! And I won’t let anybody to destroy our friendship…

Banger’z “You live by the set, you die by the set”

 

BLACK SCREEN

We hear the sounds of multiple gunshots, along with the screams of people screaming for their lives, and the sounds of car tires pulling out and police and ambulance sirens.

FADE UP ON

EXT. KETTERING HIGH SCHOOL THE SCHOOL YARD – AFTERNOON

Students are fleeing from the scene screaming. There are some students on the ground moaning in pain, because they were wounded from the gunshots. Medics are tending to the wounded students, and police officers are gathering people up to try and find out what just took place.

There’s a very beautiful student with smooth brown skin, long black hair, melted chocolate eyes and a body that any woman would kill for because she’s top heavy with a slim waist flat stomach and some hips that stick out with the ass to match it. She’s on her knees bawling out of control dressed in a fitted white shirt and some jeans. Her name is Crystal.

The students that are surrounding her are trying to comfort her as she keeps trying to stand to her feet, but she keeps falling down because she can’t bare to even begin to grasp what just took place.

The screams continue on, and there are students that are still fleeing from the scene.

There’s reddish brown skin tone male with long sandy brown dreadlocks, a beauty mole on the left side of his face and his eyes are light brown, but they tend to change colors. All that you can see is his face, because he’s lying flat on his back.

His face shows a look of pleasure and pain, as a tear rolls from his left eye down his face. The screams carry on, as he slowly starts to close his eyes. His name is Chris.

FADE TO BLACK

There’s a black screen for a moment.

Chris

(o.s.)

Where I’m from. You can either go to school…graduate and hope that you become something in life. Or, you can be out here banging.

FADE UP ON

EXT. DETROIT, MICHIGAN FRONT VIEW OF THE CITY – MORNING

The skies are clear as birds fly over the waters that surround the city. The sun reflects off the buildings, as various parts of the city are starting to be seen. There are some good and bad areas in Detroit, Michigan. Some of the houses and buildings are burned down with different kinds of gang graffiti on them.

There are shoes hanging from telephone wires, teddy bears and flowers in certain areas where people have died at. Homeless people are walking along the streets harassing people or looking in the garbage for food, or their picking up cigarette butts from off the ground.

Thugs are standing on the corners drinking and smoking looking for people that they can rob or beat up.

Crack heads are sitting on the steps of abandon houses getting high. Prostitutes are walking up to cars either getting in the cars or taking the clients out walking them behind houses so that they can give them blow jobs.

Some of the various landmarks are shown such as (The Joe Louis fist, the big ring etc)

Chris

(cont’d o.s.)

Now a days, every color in the rainbow represents something. And true there are some colors that are completely different sets in themselves, and the other colors are their allies. You have black, which represents the Folks. Burgundy, which represents the Piru’s. Purple which represents the Loc’s. And so forth and so on. But the main colors are blue which represents the Crips, and red which represents the Bloods. Me personally…I didn’t get involved with none of that shit. My main goal was to finish these last few weeks of school, and at the same time keep a close eye on my sister.

Day starts to turn to night, and sounds of gunfire, the train and various loud arguments can be heard ringing throughout the city. The bright lights from the casinos come on, and the headlights from cars that are filling the streets can be seen.

People are getting mugged and beat up on the streets. People are tagging the walls with gang graffiti, people are on their porches drinking and smoking.

We come to a stop on an empty dark street. There’s complete silence and then there’s some loud rap music that can be heard playing in the distance. (East side rip rida) A pair of headlights slowly starts to come into the scene where the music is coming from.

The car comes up and it’s an old school royal blue Monte Carlo.

The car continues to drive down the street. The windows on the car are tinted black, the tires are twenty four inches with chrome spokes, and on the trunk of the car is a big mural of Detroit, and underneath it in calligraphy letters it says (Rip rida).

Young Love…

 

Don’t you hate when someone has something to say about the one you’re with? When that one person is the only one that keeps you sane,but just everyone wants to kill him/her? ha. Welcome to my world!

Okay, well lets just say my life is way far from perfect…(school shrink sees me). I feel like no one elses here these days listening like they did when I was younger,why is that,well let me explain its a little thing called growing up. Full Story

The Secret Life of the ABC’s

 

Since I was a little kid learning reading and spelling in grade school, I’ve always kind of attached characteristics to letters.  Like, I have always thought the letter K was cool, while the letter D was boring, and the letter Z was just trying too hard.  So this piece is me characterizing every letter, some more than others.  I was just curious if other people felt this way of letters and phonetics. Full Story

After School

He never let the little girl go by herself to the liquor store even though it was just around the corner. The little store was equipped with leaks, rusting stands, and creaking doors. Still the little girl was fond of that liquor store for it had been her cozy after-school haven filled with Ding Dongs, Twinkies, Bazooka Joe’s, and Tootsie Rolls. However the man knew that the liquor store was an easy target for the amateur thugs in the neighborhood to practice their future escapades on as its only source of security was a cracked dome mirror precariously dangling from the corner. In addition, a passive Korean family who was not exactly known for their bravery or combativeness had run the store.

Just a month ago in fact, a short Hispanic man had shot the previous store clerk in the head while robbing the liquor store. The bullet did not kill the clerk instantly. After being shot, the clerk managed to stay conscious, attempting to articulate his helplessness through a wailing sound as a frothy trail of saliva oozed from the corner of his chapped lips. The robber, annoyed by this display of desperation, delivered a hard blow to the clerk’s face with his muddy Timberland boots, breaking the clerk’s jaw and yet still unable to force the life out of him. The short, and increasingly furious Hispanic man, as a final resort, fired another bullet into the clerk’s head, finally stripping the clerk of his being. The short Hispanic man then opened the cash register with his crow bar and took a total of $187.53. The robber cursed the dead store clerk for the lack of funds and delivered another hard blow to the store clerk’s face, this time breaking his nose, ejecting a waterfall of blood, and staining his beige leather boots. The exasperated man took a six-pack of beer before finally leaving the liquor store. After reading this story in the newspapers the man solemnly forbade the little girl to go to that liquor store after school.

The man first encountered the little girl three years ago when he was released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for assault when he paralyzed a man in a fight at a party. After being released the man moved into a low-housing apartment complex assigned by the prison. In his first week at his new home, a fierce little girl approached him asking the man to care for her fish, Sammy. The man refused at first but later that night heard a soft taper at his door and upon opening it, found a little blue fighter fish in an empty jam jar with a napkin enclosing a neatly made peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Later that night as he was feeding the fish, he had noted how there was just enough peanut butter to compliment the jelly while it swished smoothly in his mouth.

Everyday after school, the little girl came by the man’s apartment to check up on her fish. She had talked secretly with Sammy, asking him how his day had went and whether or not the man had been nice to him. Apparently Sammy had thought so for the little girl would show up sporadically in the middle of the night with a freshly made peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The man had, at first, been very irritated by the girl’s visits but after a couple of weeks of becoming accustomed to it, integrated it into his daily routine.

The man inquired as to why she could not keep the fish at her house and the girl said that her father became livid at the thought of keeping pets even if it was only a fish.

“You’re Dad sounds like an asshole,” the man had commented.

“It’s just hard for him to be happy. Kind of like you.”

The man had amusingly considered this, and then asked, “What about your mom?”

“What about her?”

“Well, is she an asshole like your Dad?”

The girl irately replied, “It’s not nice to say things like that about people’s mom’s. How do you know if she’s good or bad?”
The man asked a little more gently, “Well, is she?”

“Maybe…but probably not. She left before I can remember.”

There was a moment of silence when the girl finally said, “Don’t feel bad, everyone has bad things that happen to them. I’m sure you have some too.”

The man looked crookedly at the girl and said, “You shouldn’t assume such things about me.”

“I guess I shouldn’t, but I’m sure you do.”

“Like you said, who doesn’t?”

“No one, I guess,” the girl replied half dreamily.

The girl once asked the man what he had wanted to be when he was a child and the man effortlessly answered, “A fireman.” The girl said that she always wanted to be a ballerina and when the man asked as to why, the girl said, “They always seem so light like they could fly. They must be able to, right?” The man simply nodded in agreement with a lazy smile on his face.

One late night, the man heard clumsy knocks on the door. When he opened it the little girl was standing before him with a bloodied nose, tears watering down the blood, washing it away. When the man calmly asked what happened, but the girl said nothing and went straight to the bathroom to wash up. He stood there, listening to the suffocating chokes of tears echo from the bathroom. The man got up and lit a cigarette. He went outside to get some air and wandered through the courtyard. He saw the little girl’s apartment across the way next to a bag of beer cans. He approached the door and knocked on it. A fat man with glasses appeared at the doorway.

“Whatchu want?” He said.

The man calmly said, “I don’t know yet,” while smoking his cigarette. A football game was underway on the television.

“Who’s playing?” The man asked.

“Who the hell are you? You that man my daughter is always talking about? The ex-con?” The fat man asked.

“Yea. I am.” He squinted his eyes to look into the fat man’s eyes but couldn’t find anything useful.

“Who’s playing?” The man asked again.

“Green Bay and Chargers…” The fat man was confused.

“Oh.”

The man took his final drag on his cigarette and stubbed it into the fat man’s cheek. The fat man screamed, stumbling back, eventually tripping to the ground. The man pinned the fat man onto the ground and punched him in the face, shattering his glasses, inadvertently shoving a couple of pieces into the fat man’s face. The man had punched away into the chubby face, ignoring the cracks and breaks under his bare knuckles. A fountain of blood began to pour from every cavity in his bloated face but still, but the man remained focused in his actions and did not begin to slow down until after the fat man passed out. After staring into the unconscious face imbedded with bits of glass, and soaked in blood, the man stopped and left.

When the man returned home, he found the little girl already sleeping on the couch in front of Tom and Jerry cartoons. He placed a blanket over her and sat beside her on the couch watching cartoons, his torso spotted with drizzles of blood and knuckles with shards of glass stuck in between. However the little girl was only pretending to be asleep. She saw him when he arrived and stayed up for nearly an hour before finally falling asleep.

Three years later the girl craved a gumball after watching one of her classmates succulently chomp away at one during snack time. She decided to temporarily ignore the admonitions of the man for a chance at the fruity juices being spurted into her bored orifice by buying a whole bag of gumballs with the lunch money the man gave her. She did not think anything would occur in daylight where she felt safe from the depravity that she imagined transpired under the cloak of darkness. When she went to the counter with her sack of gumballs, a man bombarded the store shouting and screaming, wildly waving a gun in the air. The man was extremely agitated and anxious. Demanded money from the clerk, his eyes raced from side to side, expecting to find a monster lurking in the corners. He was obviously affected by some sort of drug because the girl recognized the same wild face on her father after he had inhaled the magic white powder. The old clerk, whose movements were not fast enough to appease the robber, was trembling uncontrollably. The girl, on the other hand, was calm and only whimsically noted the luck she encountered. The girl heard a muffled explosion like lightning in a jar. She didn’t feel anything except for lightness, as if on the verge of flight. She was lying on the cold white floor without knowing how she made the journey. She saw Sammy’s iridescent blue tail shimmering against the man sitting in front of the cathode glow of the television, mottled with patches of blood, with red crystal towers hovering over the cracked flesh of his knuckles.