Dakilang Lampa

“Makulay ang buhay sa skul!” College Day na naman at wala na namang pasok. Ang buhay nga naman oh, parang kaylan lang! Ang tema ngayun: “Building strong ISCOF-SEC through Sports.”

Lampa! Lampa! Tukso ng mga bata. “Yun ang tawag sa akin”. “Hindi kasi ako mahusay sa isports.”

“Ako nga pala si Roy. 5’10 ang taas, maputi, pang model ang katawan, at Simpatiko”. “Yun ang napanaginipan ko kagabi.”

“Pero may maganda akong kuwento, para lang sa inyo.”

“Minsan, noong kapanahunan ni FVR, may isinilang na supling sina Lourdes at Ricardo. Medyo maliit ang bata, kasing liit lang ng isang litrong coke. Pero nakitaan na nang pagiging henyo. Isang taun ang lumipas at nakapagsalita na ito. Tatlong taong gulang nang masaulo ang alpabeto. Apat na taun, alam na ang pangalan ng ibat-ibang bansa at mga capital nito.”

“Kilala nyo ba ito? Ako nga, ang dakilang pobre. Dakila dahil sa mga katangiang ito, pero pobre dahil wala man lang tsiks na nagkamali na sagutin ako. Huhuhuhu, ang saklap.”

Isang araw, “Hoy lampa, wag ka dito, doon ka!” PE class namin kay Mrs. Castañeda at kasalukuyang kaming nagpipilang magkakalase!” Si Ramon iyon! Ramon Tuhog kung tawagin, klasmeyt ko at Varsity Player ng Basketbol. “Ayaw ko sa mga walang sinabi at lampa!” Maguumpisa na sana ang palaro kaso, tinadyakan niya ako. Ayoko namang ipilit ang sarili ko sa ayaw sakin. Sinabi ko na lang na..”Balang araw, magiging malakas rin ako.

Hindi naman laging masama ang mga pangyayari dito. Masabi ko ito dahil nandyan si Marianne, ang maganda kong kaklase at musa ng paaralan. Siya ay maputi, makinis, at balingkinitan. Magkaklase rin kami at magkapalagayang loob. “Huwag kang paapi kay Ramon bespren Roy!” “Nakakahalina ang kanyang tinig.”

Nang sumunod na araw, habang nasa paaralan ang mag-aaral, biglang dumilim at kalangitan at tumunog ang sirena. Dumating na si Labuyo! Dumating na si Labuyo! “Sino ba yun?” Ang bagyo dumating na! Umaapaw na ang Agutayan! Basang-basa na si Mang Kepweng, ang matandang albularyung nakatira malapit sa paaralan. Sumisigaw ito at nagtatakbo papalikas sa mataas na lugar.

Nagsipaguwian ang mga istudyante. Maaring hindi matuloy ang palaro sa College Day dahil sa bagyo. Papauwi na rin si Roy nang bigla siyang nakarining ng saklolo..”Tulong! Tulong po! Si Ramon pala iyun, nakita nya na nadaganan pala ito ng nabuwal na punong mahogani. Nakita siya nito..”Roy, ikaw pala, tulungan mo naman ako! Pangako, hindi na kita lalaitin.” “Hindi mu na kailangang sabihin pa iyon Ramon.” Kusa nga siyang tinulungan nito.

“Aaahhhhh!, hindi ko yata kaya ito, teka! May naisip ako.” Dagliang pinulot ni Roy ang baging na naanod ng tubig, ipinabitin niya ito gaya nang isang pulley! At dahan-dahang ipinuwersa ito pababa sa bahaging napagtutu-onan ng pabitin. Bumigay ang kahoy na nakapatong kay Ramon, at kumawala si ito. “Salamat Roy! Kundi dahil sa iyo, namatay na ako!.” ..“Walang anuman Ramon! Sigurado ako na ganoon din ang gagawin ng iba sa ganitong sitwasyun!”..”Salamat ulit!”..”Huwag mo nang isipin iyun!”..”Hindi! Hindi na kita tutuksuhin!”..”May gusto sana akong sasabihin sa iyo Ramon, kung mamaari!”..”Cge, sabihin mu!”..”Gusto ko lang malaman mo na hindi porke’t lalampa-lampa ang isang tao ay mahina na ito! Ginawa tayo ng diyos na may kanya-kanyang katangian na bukod tangi sa iba. Maaring malakas ka nga pero may mga gawain na hindi mo naman makakaya gaya ng iba. Katulad natin, Kailangang tanggapin natin ang ating pagkukulang at kahinaan upang mapunuan ito nga ibang katagiang mailahalintulad dito.”..”Ngayun, naunawaan ko na.”

Pagkatapos ng unos ay bumalik na sa normal ang lahat. Nag try-out si Roy sa badminton, at kinuha siyang player ni Sir Catalogo para sa Regional SQUAA meet. Magaling naman talaga si Roy eh, pandak nga, mabilis naman, hindi kasinlakas ni Hercules, pero kayang makipag-smash ng shuttle cock.

Naging magkaibigan na sina Roy at Ramon. Nagtulungan sila at maaring maipagtagumpayan nila ang kani-kanilang pakikipagsapalaran sa larangan ng isports at sa tunay na buhay. Ito ang patunay na ang tunay na lakas ay namamayani hindi lamang nagmumula sa isang tao, subalit kung tayo ay magtulungan at magkaisa, iyun ang totoong lakas na magbubuklod sa atin patungo sa tagumpay.


Written by: Ian P. Sugatan
Interpreted by: Roy Sanchez

Thirsty

I was a bit hesitant opening my eyes. My vision is still glary from the morning rays of the sun.  I lost track of time last night and it seems like eternity. I coughed <agh> at the morning air. My nostrils got caught of the aroma of the sweet scent of fried rice. Mom fixed it up for me early, but to no avail, I’m not hungry. I didn’t even notice it while I passed by the corridor going to the bathroom. I hurriedly took a bath and caught the first tricycle going to school.  

Today is the day I promised Mikey I’d cheer for him at College Day Sports Fest. He’s a basketball player at SCS and we’ve been best buddies since first year. I had a big crush on him, but he doesn’t know about this. I long to lick his earlobes and suck his neck. But it’s just a longshot dream, really. I know that he has a crush on me too! I would sometimes caught him staring at me, blankly and when I asked him, “What wrong Mikey?” .. he said, “Nothing Jinky!” and then, we laugh together with blushed cheeks, pat each other’s arms and move to another class.

I smiled dreamily. This was just a usual daydream that more often strike, whenever I think about him. I shifted my attention to the streamers attached to the mahogany trees. It reads: “Building a stronger ISCOF-SEC through Sports.”, today’s theme.

I don’t know much about sports but I know that to build a stronger School, each one of us must contribute and share to whatever we can, not only from playing sports but to observe the values brought about it. 

Rain clouds are mightily placed above the heavens. Gloomy day indeed! It’s early in the morning but it seems some students are clammily rushing unto the gate for tricycles to go home.  I was approaching SCS Building when I saw Maam Ann going on to the opposite way.  I greeted her..”Hello Maam A! Where’s everyone going?”..she answered, “Home Jinky!, Labuyo is coming..you go home too! Classes are suspended!”

So, I hurriedly walk towards the tricycle parking bins outside school so that I can go home, when all of a sudden..”Jinky wait! It’s me! “I know that familiar voice and my heart went thumping with excitement. “Hi Mikey!”..”Hey Jinxz! Going home early?” Mikey asked. “Yeah, and for our sake, lets go!”..”Alright!”

At last, its Mikey and me all alone. We couldn’t find any ride, so we decided to walk up to town.  As we approached near Paolo’s, we heard a gush of water running through the stream of canals on the left side of the road. We hurriedly walk unto the nearest safe way leading to the waiting shed for shelter. I honestly didn’t thought this gonna happen, and it’s not too peculiar to notice that I didn’t even felt cold, instead, I’m so thirsty, I don’t know why!

Hours passed and water level began rising. As if, these would surprise me. San Enrique will never be the same, flooded and flattened by typhoons.

Mikey suggested to go to their house since its near. Our home will take 10 minutes more to reach. I called Mom to let her know I’m with Mikey. We reached his house with his father calling us..”Hurry kids, the water will rise soon!” Mikey grab me by my left hand and directed me to their second floor in his room. His Mom died a long time ago, and he’s all by himself with no siblings at all, that is why we became close because he said that I was like his sister he never had.

I comfortably rested in his bed, without knowing what will become of us after the storm. I can hear the wind gusting on the rooftop ceiling. I closed my eyes to get some sleep, only to be agitated by the thirst I again felt..then, darkness claim my consciousness.

I was awakened by a chill I felt on my nape. Someone is kissing it, and then smelled my hair. It was Mikey. I looked in his sparkling eyes, and saw a familiar feeling I knew. “I’m sorry Jinky, but I never have the courage to tell you this before!”..”What is it Mikey?”, I asked. “I knew you’re like a sister to me, but I cannot hide this feeling any longer!”..”I always been in love with you! I love you!” I was shocked of what he told me. Confused, I didn’t know what to think or to respond.

I was even surprised when he directed his lips to mine. Gosh! He was kissing me! I hardly felt my breath on top of his kiss. “Stop Mikey!” I resisted. He continued kissing me, making me open my lips. I responded. I kissed back, and touch our lips to the conjoint of expressing love for each other. I couldn’t hold this feeling any longer. I bit his neck, inserting my long, sharp fangs on his neck. I drank his bountiful red blood, sucking it until he’s dry of it. I continued to sip it with gusto, until I quenched my thirst. His blood is sweet and I liked it. I have longed for so long for his blood, I knew it will fuel my desire to suck him. I’m a vampire! It does just explain everything!   

Written by: Ian P. Sugatan

Interpreted by: Jinky Magallanes