The Missing Words by Alyana Cabral
Now this boy was also very fond of walking. And thinking. Every single day, he would walk a whole mile, getting lost in his
In a seemingly normal world, there resided ordinary peo-
thoughts and never getting exhausted.
ple, with ordinary lives, doing the most ordinary things. People had ordinary houses. Children played ordinary games. Adults went to their ordinary jobs everyday. There was nothing peculiar about this world except for the fact
One day, he was in a very bad mood because of his troubles with his neighbors. They all started making faces at him whenever they would pass by each other ever since because they had enough of how rude they thought he was. One of
that there was another world parallel to it.
them even threatened the boy to not even look at his neighI wouldn’t say that this other world was the exact opposite
bor in the eye anymore. He was very depressed by this and
of the original. It was quite ordinary as well. It was just that,
started to walk earlier than he usually did. From what I know,
every time the people of the original world were awake,
people usually think too much when they are depressed.. And
the other world’s residents would be asleep. Every time
so this boy thought and thought and walked and walked and
somebody started a car in the original, somebody would
walked until something very strange happened. He looked up
be parking his in the other. Every time somebody threw a
to see people that he didn’t know, and streets and buildings
ball in the original, somebody would be catching one in the
that he had never seen before. He also realized that the sun
other. Every time somebody smiled, somebody in the oth-
was rising in the east, which was too strange because he
er would be frowning. Things like that. But what I found in-
started walking in the morning, which meant that it should have
teresting the most was that every time somebody in the
been late in the afternoon by then. He stood there, confused
original world said “Hello,” somebody in the other would be
by everything around him.
saying “Goodbye.” And vice versa. After a while, he decided to keep walking to get back home. In the original world, there was this one boy who never
Several hours passed and he could not find his house. He was
said “Hello.” He never liked to, and whenever he would pass
completely lost. On his way, people started making faces at him
by someone, he would just look at him or her, with no sign
in a way that he could not understand. He was getting more
of greeting at all. He never intended to be impolite be-
and more miserable as more and more people appeared to
cause he was generally a nice young man.
dislike him. He finally came across this girl who had a face so
Jhe people who didn’t know him very well
pleasant and so radiant, that the boy didn’t think it was possi-
thought otherwise- to them he was very
ble for her to get crossed by anyone. She looked very nice,
rude. But the ones who did know him only
and she was, after the boy heard her say “Hello” in such a
thought he was very shy, because he
sweet way, he could’ve sworn she was almost singing. Nobody
was very fond of goodbyes. He would
has ever waved hello to him before. At least, not in that way.
say “Goodbye” whenever he left, when
She asked him what the problem was because he certainly
ever he would excuse himself from the table dur-
looked miserable.
ing dinner, and even at night to his family before
He thought that this girl was very nice and very happy, and he
going to sleep. It wasn’t that he liked the idea of
didn’t want to bother her with his troubles, so he bid her
leaving- it was just that he loved saying the word.
goodbye. As he left, the girl lost the smile on her face and her
Nobody knew the real reason behind his strange behavior, though.
eyes started to get wet. She covered her face with her hands and cried. The boy stood nervously, apologizing for whatever he had done.
She stopped crying and said sorry, and told him that she
Once again, she frowned but still attempted to do it. She
really didn’t like the word goodbye so much that she never
stuttered upon saying “Goodbye” and was unable to do it
said it. And she crumbled at the idea of leaving. She ex-
completely. She then burst into tears and ran out into the
plained all of this including the fact that she was very fond
streets.
of saying “Hello” and that she had no idea why she behaved like this. The boy was amazed by her story, and in turn told his. About how he never said “Hello,” about how miserable he was because of his neighbors, about how he always said “Goodbye” but was never particularly attached to the idea of leaving. All of this made them feel better, and both were very entertained by each other’s stories. At that moment, they became good friends.
The boy ran after her, calling out her name. When he finally caught up with her, he tried to comfort her by letting her know that everything was okay and that she didn’t need to pressure herself. They ended up strolling and talking until they reached a very strange place. It was still daytime, but a part of the sky was very dark and showed the moon and the stars. It was almost as if the sky split into two. It was not only the sky though, part of the place was dark as well,
The boy forgot all about how he was supposed to get home
and the people were asleep. They looked back to see
because he was having such a great time. The girl suddenly
where they came from and saw that things were the
had an idea of remedying both their strange conditions by
same- it was very bright and the people still walked busily
helping each other out. The boy could teach her how to get
in and out of buildings. They could not believe their eyes.
comfortable with goodbyes and she could teach the boy
They stared around themselves in amazement for a long
how to say “Hello.” Jhat would certainly make their lives bet-
while. The girl walked towards the side where it was night-
ter.
fall. The boy stayed at the side where it was morning. Then,
The boy was first. The girl walked with him through the neighborhood. Every time they would pass by someone, the girl would give the boy signals, encouraging him to give a sign of greeting. At first, the boy wouldn’t do anything but little by little, he learned to wave his hand. The girl smiled at
they suddenly felt strange and different. They turned to face each other and saw a glow of light between them. As the light faded, they looked at each other’s eyes and felt stranger once more. Somehow, they also felt very warm.
this and encouraged him further. They kept walking and passing by people but the boy still couldn’t do it. Eventually, he went so far as saying a silent “Hi,” but that was it. They decided to stop by a store to get something to eat. The girl was friends with the owner, so they had a chat for a little while. Before leaving, the boy reminded the girl to bid the owner goodbye.
Aly is 16-year-old art junkie. She want to lock herself inside an art studio whenever she wants to. She is also interested in anything Gothic. (by Lindley)
In the most unconscious way, the boy suddenly let out a soft “Hello” from his lips and the girl a sweet “Goodbye” from hers. Both felt warmer still, and the light was still there. They both spoke at the same time, even though the boy never meant to greet her, and the girl never intended to leave. Both wanted to stay right there, at that moment. And finally, everything was understood. The boy and girl stood at the boundary of the two worlds, where they belonged. Somehow, they knew that they were born as one and stood as one at that moment. Because they finally found the missing words. They finally found themselves. They were finally complete. In the end, the boy found his lost hellos and the girl her lost goodbyes.
Lopsided Memories by Lindley Agustin He always hated the smell of antiseptic at the hospital. He always hated the stream of people going in and out of the entrance door to try to see their specialist. There is no cure for a social cancer. The cancer cells divide and get more as they invade the whole body thereby killing the patient. He always hated the scent of blood pouring out of the wounds and they are temporary healed by a band with drops of antiseptics and swabs of povidone-iodine. The droplets enter the body but before they do, small bubbles appear. Oh, the mixtures of antiseptics and blood. He remembers the day when he tried to chase freedom but ended up tripping on the concrete ground. He got wounds of course. Someone, a thin and nearly old lady sitting by the door of their house, suggested to apply hydrogen peroxide to the wounded area. The chemical allegedly used to treat the wound is a misconception, as it would instead further lead to scarring. He always hated to hear the sound of wheeled beds, on it are severe patients, the worst he had seen was a People would make chopped finger of a person who was then rushed to the emergency room. He saw the gushing of the blood, petty li tt le chitthe appearance of the tissues peeping out, and the cut finger just chats. waiting to be repaired or ot herwise. The hospital has become a li ttle industrial capitalist That day, he was wearing a white Mickey Mouse shirt bought from Disneyland. company. People would hurry to get to the elevator so as not to get late to their appointments and to But, he was like a prisoner. They were just by the eletheir working hours. vator door and he was being held by two people he didn’t {ful y{know,{a{stout{male{and{a{female.{He{was{trying{to{get out of their holds tightened around his arms the past few days but he just tried to get used to the feeling, a feeling, an entity always too difficult to handle.
They arrived to the department called the Psychiatry and Behavior Medicine with a{sign{board{that{says{“~heers!”{written{ just below the department signage. They sat on the brown sofa and waited. What could the one-word greeting just mean? The woman holding him took a glance inside the glass door mouthing a funny name as she tried to call the secretary, and he laughed. Then he saw her head coming out of the door, the head of the doctor. She always looked so glamorous with her white robe, and her innocent and good-looking{face{made{him{think{she{is{a{friend.{He{heard{her{call{his{name{like{a{person{calling{for{a{lost{pet,{“Lindbeck?”{}ut{ another patient came in. They waited for hours. That guy sitting beside them wearing a white coat and a tie just left without reservations after waiting for an hour. *** He loved the way the doctor bent her head towards her right whenever caught by surprise or whenever caught lying. He always knew when the person has told a lie by just looking at them as he himself is just purely honest. It was just him and her inside the room. Cheers. “Vhat{happened{the{past{few{days?”{the{doctor{asked{him. He{shrugged,{“I{don’t {know{but{I{felt {I{was{being{restrained{by{someone.{I{wanted{to{be{free,{ to{do{something{but{I{ can’t.” “You{felt {it.{So{it{was{a{feeling?{Vhat{is{a{feeling?”{He{was{caught{by{surprise{because{as{that{moment,{ he was indeed free. “I{don’t {know,”{he{said. LINDLEY AGUSTIN He{answered{nothing.{Then{came{another{question,{“Vho{restrains{you?{Vho{keeps{you{ (by Bea M.) from{doing{what{you{want?” From his achievements, no one can doubt
The days before this consul tation, it was a different he. The way his eyebrows met at the center, the way he is controlled by his anxiety, and the way he treated his family members were altogether different.
that Jon Lindley Agustin is indeed born or made to be a journalist. He graduated high school as Salutatorian and Journalist of the Year and now in college, he continues to show his excellence in the journalism field. Among his many likes, eating sweets, watching Latin films and reading history fiction books are his simple favorites that give him pleasure in life.
They were six in the house plus the thin old woman in her sixties who came along to see his condition. He was hurting himself, he was pounding his head on the walls, he was shouting at his mom tel ing her to shut up, he thought he was deep within the soil, he was hearing whispers coming from nowhere, hearing someone walk but nothing, and he thought he was going to die soon and be reborn. It was raining then, the news was showing clips of the rural areas being dilapidated by the typhoon, when the old women came in, saw him,{and{said{they{were{going{to{meditate.{It{seemed{as{if{it{brought{back{the{peace{and{order{inside{the{man’s{mind{and{he{followed suit.{She{was{massaging{her{and{looking{at{his{body’s{points.{It{made{him{feel{better.{He{remembered{one{conversation{with{this lady. She told her she wanted to be a doctor. After that conversation, she began making phone calls to their house, tel ing him to stop taking these medicines, and offering him advices. It always made him feel better. *** “Vhat{is{that?”{the{18-year-old man asked the old woman with intense curiosity as he pointed at the table inside his bedroom. “|{table!”{she{answered{fervently{like{an{old-fashioned teacher instructing a student at home. He and the old woman were seated on his bed beside each other. She was holding him on the shoulder. “How{about{that?” “|{chair!” He pointed next to a half-fil ed{plastic{bott le,{“How{about{that?” “|{bottle.” “|nd{that?” He was pointing at a recent issue of TIME And he broke down, asking his mom to throw the magazine{which{read{“ oes TIM ’s{|lmanac{for{Kids{2011{and{the{magazine{ the{US{~onstitution{still{matter?”{with{a{photo{of{the away in the trash. US Constitution manuscript torn into pieces by “Is{there{something{bot hering{you?”{asked{the{old{ a paper-shredder. woman,{“Vell{ then,{what{do{you{want{to{talk{about?{ “Reading{materials!” ~ultures?” “Vhat?”{he{looked{confused,{“I{don’t {recognize{such{thing.” “Yes!”{|nd{he{was{well{once{again. ***
He has revealed a series of secrets to the doctor – from the problems of his family, the conf licts between his mom and dad, and about being gay. But opposite to what he has expected for an average person to react and “I{was{actually{thinking,{when{I{have{kids,{ say, the doctor became his true friend, listening to whatever not to do what my parents did to me when he says and tel ing him what to do. I was a child and change my parenting She had known his li fe from these style,”{he{told{her. “Right.{You{can{always{choose{to{live{a{better{li fe{and{tel {yourself{as{you{think{about{your{parli ttle facts. ents{that{you{will{fol ow{your{heart,”{she{said,{“You{can{always{choose{to{be{a{better{person.” “}ut{honestly,”{she{added,{“Vhat{has{happened{to{you{the{past{few{weeks{and{what{discreet{gays{do{when{they{ suppress{themselves,{do{you{think{it{has{something{to{do{with{your{behavior?” He was again caught by surprise and went into a Eureka moment that perhaps, it had something to do with it. He had always hid his identity to his parents. When he was locked inside his room, he would face the mirror and act like a beauty queen before getting dressed up. When he was locked inside his room, he would put on the bathroom towel over his head like a long hair and walk like a beauty queen. “So{are{you{planning{to{have{a{boyfriend?”{she{asked{him{and{they{laughed.{ It was time to go. The best parts of his summer vacation has to end and he has to face the world once more. He has to face his parents who have never been ful y happy with the way he carries himself. He has to face two different kinds of people: people who would love him more than his family does to him, and people who would utter things behind his back. The{doctor{was{hiding{a{pillow{behind{her{but{as{he{left{her{office,{it{was{if{he{saw{his{name{knitted{on{the{pillow.{}ut{he’s got no time to stare{back{and{examine{if{it’s{true.{They{waved{each{other{a{goodbye.{ *** Perhaps{if{there{is{one{thing{that{the{doctor{hasn’t {known{about{him{yet{is{one{of{his{diary{entries{and{it{would{be{a{lot{better if she sees it. It{said:{“I{don’t {know{what{is{happening{but{it’s{as{if{the{memory{is{being{released{out{of{my{body.{I{don’t {know.{Should{I{just succumb to{the{new{order?{I{should.”
BRAD TANINGCO (by Yski) "Still water runs deep": iyan ang perfect description para kay Kuya Brad. Madalas makikita mo siya na tahimik lang, pero palagi namang ramdam sa Skywalk at sa buong JC ang kanyang presence at leadership. Dahil isa siya
By Roxanne Paredes
sa mga unang JCers na nakilala ko, napansin ko kaagad na kabilang siya sa mga pinakamabait, pinaka-cool, at pinaka-devoted na JCers
Hellos are quite hard. Goodbyes are even harder. The English language Is filled with melancholy.
Just. Awkward By BradTaningco It never felt quite right Admiration from afar In awe of such beauty But only just. Only just. It was always a fight Walking up towards Finding the words to say And just “ Hello” . Just “ Hello” . Time has changed it all Probably for the better But something still remains That “ Hello” . Just awkward
How come greetings are The saddest words to utter? But now I must say Goodbye to those I’le just knomn. To think that only Yesterday, I’d satd hello.
Hello. Ni Myra Cabujat Hello.
ROXANNE PAREDES (by Beata)
Sa katirikan ng araw Habang naglalakad Ikaw ay nakasalubong
A reader, a writer, and a speaker, Roxanne is not only well-grounded, aware, and opinionated about the current issues in society. She is also fascinated in the new
Walang nasabi kundi
worlds: the likes of the wizardly world of
Hello.
Hogwarts, to the mysterious sites of Tomoeda, to a legal Utopia to be enforced
Dahil sa pagiging huli Sa klase isang hapon Ikaw ay nakatabi
by justice. In pursuit of these worlds, she maintains her high spirits and keeps a good grip on reality and fantasy.
Walang nasabi kundi Hello. MYRA CABUJAT (by Nille) When you hear a voice or a laughter from a room even
Sa paglubog ng araw Nakita kang malungkot Kaya ika’y aking sinamahan Ang unang nasambit
though you're at the Skywalk, chances are, you're hearing Myra Cabujat. And like the reach of her seemingly loud voice, she's always ready to help a friend and comfort him or her with a siren-like song.
Hello. At ikaw nga’y nakapiling Damdamin ay lumalim Pinaghandaan isang gabi Ang aking sasambitin Oras na ipagtapat ang aking damdamin May iba nang masasabi maliban sa Hello. At ika’y dumating Ako’y napatigil Natameme sa isang tabi Walang ibang nasabi kundi Hello.