you gotta read this... :D

I read this short story in my friend's blog... its an original... his work of art...
:D Tristan Jourdan Dela Cruz clap clap clap :D

astral (part 1)

(Author's note: this was one of the first short stories I made when i was still working in the Trinity Observer. I posted it at highfiber.org and published it in Trinity Observer's literary folio, Adobong Rosas. Enjoy!)

It was a gloomy Friday afternoon. Thick clouds hovered the horizon. Michael felt it would be raining soon. He was meeting with his girlfriend, Anne, in their spot in the college open field. Today was the 13th; a day believed by some to be unlucky. But for him, it was special.

Today was their second-year anniversary.

He looked at his watch. The short hand was in the number six while the long hand had just reached the number 12. Anne should have arrived by now.

A few minutes later, as Michael was looking at his watch for the nth time, he saw Anne from afar. He then stood up from the concrete bench he was sitting and quickly gave the dozen white roses he bought for her.

"Happy anniversary," Michael greeted Anne.

"We need to talk," Anne replied.

Michael didn't remember how everything started. He couldn't even remember most of the things Anne had said. But there were few words that he remembered. And those few words opened his eyes for his tears to flow.

"I love you Michael. And I know you also loved me. It's just that for the past several weeks, everything we had seem to fade. We don't see each other that much like how we used to. You are too occupied with a lot of things, except me. I'm tired of being alone and always waiting for you. I'm sorry..."

Suddenly, just like Michael's tears, rain poured down from the heavens.

Michael watched helplessly as Anne leave. As she vanished into the horizon, he stares into oblivion, as both the rain and tears washed away all the things they built and believed in, and all the dreams and memories they shared.

He was alone now. The hours passed liked eternity. All he did was desperately begged to the heavens for a miracle. All he saw was a lone star that desperately glimmered amidst the dark sky and the heavy rain.

"Hey," a voice called Michael.

"..."

"Are you alright?"

"..."

"Do you always enjoy getting soaked in the rain?"

"..."

"Are you planning to get sick? 'Coz if you do, I'll bet you'll be successful in getting yourself at least a cold, or a pneumonia or something."

"Oh I get it. You're deaf," and the stranger gave a quick, sardonic smile.

"I don't talk to strangers," Michael answered.

"Me neither. By the way, I'm Michelle. Now you know my name and I'm not a stranger to you anymore. Does Mr. Wetpants have a name," she retorted.

"Michael."

The heavens suddenly stopped grieving for Michael. The night sky suddenly became clear and stars twinkled in a silent tune.

But his lone star was nowhere to be found.

astral (part 2)

For a month, Michael never talked to anyone except to Michelle. She has been with him since the night Anne ended their two-year relationship. If love colors life in bright hues, his life had turned from rainbow to black and white. For two years he lived a colorful and meaningful life with Anne. With her departure, she took her love with her; all its colors and meaning it had offered.

And yet, streaks of life's color made him survive, thanks to Michelle's persistence. And for a month without Anne, Michelle was the only colorful spot that kept on smudging his colorless life.

"C'mon, cheer up," Michelle said to Michael.

"Stop it," Michael answered.

"You missed her?"

"I said stop it."

"I will if you'll smile."

"Stop it."

"You still love her?"

"What do you want from me?"

"I just want you to smile, that's all."

"Asking about her will never make me smile."

"So what would make you smile?"

"..."

Out of nowhere, Michelle kissed Michael at his left cheek.

And they looked at each other's eyes and smiled.

astral (part 3)

Two months have passed since Michael and Anne broke up. And also two months have passed since Michael met Michelle. And with Michelle's help, he had not only moved on from all the pain but also saw himself slowly falling for her.

"So Michelle, you know a lot of things about me since we've met but I only know little about you. You're unfair," Michael said.

"So what do you want to know," Michelle asked.

"Everything about you."

"Okay. I'm gorgeous, I like staring at the stars and I'm a hopeless romantic. Actually, we share a lot of things in common. I'm also workaholic, and I've also been through a painful break-up recently."

"Except for the "gorgeous" part, I think everything's true," Michael retorted.

"You're so mean," Michelle answered.

And she pinched him by the arm and they laughed at each other.

"I never thought that you were also hurting inside. You seemed so happy with your life. Actually, your optimism is rubbing into me quite well. Sometimes I feel I'm going nuts because I can't get enough of the laughter you're giving me," Michael explained.

"So I'm your clown and your shrink then," Michelle said.

"But seriously, thank you Michelle. Thank you for everything. You were there right after Anne and I broke up. And since then, you were always with me, cheering me up. I'm really grateful," Michael said.

"It's nothing. It's just I don't want to see you cry."

"Really?"

"And besides, there's still hope for you and Anne. You just have to win her back."

"I've already accepted the fact that Anne and I are history. At first, I tried to hate her for what she did but as I contemplated on what happened between us, I think it's better for us to go on separate ways."

"You are willing to let true love wither and die just like that? Could you live the rest of your life regretting what might have been between the two of you? Could you really just deny easily the fact that both of you still love each other?"

"I don't love her anymore," Michael rebutted.

"Do you? Or you're just trying so hard to convince yourself that you shouldn't love her because she had hurt you," Michelle asked. "Doesn't it matter to you if Anne still loves you?"

"I've already fallen for someone else," Michael answered.

"So who's the lucky girl," Michelle asked.

"You."

astral (part 4)

It was the third month since Michael met Michelle in one rainy Friday night. He realized that she have become more than a friend to him. She was someone who stood with him in the darkest moment of his life. She was someone who never left his side through all the pain he was going through. And she was someone who barely knew him and yet he felt she knew her more than he knew himself.

If only Michael knew the real Michelle...

The days passed by and his feelings for her grew. He felt that every tear, every laughter, and every moment spent with her was a blessing; a bliss. He even thought that she was sent by the heavens as an answer to his prayers. He was sure of one thing.

Michelle is his soul mate.

If only Michael knew the truth...

On the fourth month that Michael met Michelle, he decided that he was ready to love again. And she will once again complete his life; her love will give colors to his life. He was only waiting for the right moment to express his feelings.

But things suddenly changed. He saw less of her. He thought what was the problem. Did he said something wrong? Was she in love with someone else? Negative thoughts swirled into his mind.

Maybe she only saw him as a friend, no more, no less.

And paranoia got the best out of him.

One day, Michael saw Michelle and ran after her.

"Hey Michelle, wait up."

"I'm quite in a hurry today. A lot of things came up."

"I haven't seen you lately? Is there something wrong," Michael asked.

"Nothing. I really have to go," Michelle replied.

"Can we at least talk for a while?"

"Not now. I really can't talk to you right now."

"Did I do something wrong," Michael asked.

"Nothing. Okay, let's meet on the 13th, 5 PM. On the place where we first met."

"Wait!"

And just like that, Michelle quickly walked away leaving Michael confused.

astral (part 5 - END)

The 13th came. It was a peaceful afternoon. The sun set slowly into the horizon, making everything glow in romantic red. Michael felt the stars would show up clearly in the night sky later. Just like what she asked, he was there. Just like a rerun of his own romantic movie, Michael brought white roses for her. He was meeting with his soon-to-be girlfriend, Michelle, in their spot in the football field. Today was the 13th; a day believed by some to be unlucky. But for Michael, it was special.

Today is the first monthsary of their friendship, and today is the day he will propose to her his love.

He looked at his watch. The short hand was in the number six while the long hand had just reached the number 12. She should have arrived by now.

A few minutes later, as he was looking at his watch for the nth time, he saw someone from afar. He then stood up from the concrete bench he was sitting and stared at the girl in front of her.

"What are you doing here," Michael asked.

"We need to talk," Anne replied.

"I'm meeting someone else today here," Michael said.

"I'm meeting you today here," Anne replied.

"I'm meeting another girl, not you."

"I know. She told me everything."

"What?"

"Would you like to listen to what I have to say?"

"Isn't it enough that you already left me? Do you really despise me that much that you have to ruin my life?"

"Would you try to listen first? I didn't came here to ruin your date with Michelle. I came here to give you this."

Anne gave Michael the letter from Michelle.

"A girl I met few days ago gave me that letter. She said she was Michelle and she has some resemblance to you. I even thought she was one of your close relatives. He explained to me how you've been doing for the pass few months since we broke-up. She said that she will be leaving you soon and that I should give you that letter."

"Stop it."

Michael didn't remember how everything started. He can't even remember most of the things Anne said to her. But there were few words that he remembered. And those few words opened his eyes for tears to flow.

"She said some things that made me decide to meet you today."

"What were those things?"

"She said that for the past few months you've been hurting. You tried to hate me for breaking up with you but you can't because you know that I have all the reasons for leaving you. You even tried so hard to love again. And she said that amidst all the pain, you still love me."

"..."

"She said it with such vindication that when I closed my eyes, it was you who was speaking those words. I felt like I was talking to you. And when I finally opened my eyes, I saw you."

"I, then realized that still love you, Michael. And I feel you still love me too. Michelle was right. It's not only you that was to blame for letting our love fade. We both let it fade. I should have been more understanding and patient with you. I only thought of myself because I don't like being taken for granted. But in doing so, I did to you what I don't want others to do to me. I'm scared of being alone and lonely. I should have worked things out with you. I'm so sorry..."

"I don't know what to say," Michael said.

"Me neither," Anne answered. "But talking to her made me realized that our break-up is one of the greatest mistakes I've done. I realized that I should have talked to you first, and gave you a second chance."

"Now, I'm the one who needs to ask for a second chance," Anne pleaded.

"..."

"..."

"Would you still accept me?"

"I still love you."

"And I love you too."

And they sealed their loved with a kiss.

Michael was not alone now. The hours passed seemed eternity, and yet his endless waltz under the moonlight with Anne was all worth the wait. He was thankful to the heavens for the miracle: Michelle. In the clear night sky, amidst all the other shimmering stars, a lone star stood out more brightly than the rest of them.

Before they went home, he opened the letter.

As he read Michelle's letter, somewhere in the back of his ear he hears Michelle's voice: "It was nice to have finally met you, it was more fun than just looking to you from above. Thanks for your admiration. I will be always be with you. We are one and we'll always be one."

Far from Michael and Anne, Michelle looks as the two of them kissed each other. All that Michelle could do was to watch hopelessly as her own tears showered her wounded heart.

:D