Room 212

The dorm was quiet that evening. A program was held the night before and everybody were feeling lazy and lethargic, they probably have all slept early tonight. I had an exam the following day at 9 o'clock in the morning and I knew I had to start reading soon or I won't get any correct scores. My room, fortunately, is directly facing the University chapel, which gave me the peace of mind I needed to start reviewing. I was also thankful that my roommate went home to her parents that night, or else we'd still be chatting around over movies, gossips...boys.

I slowly got up and went to the common bathroom for girls to wash up my face. It, too was quiet. So quiet that I went around the room looking for any sign of any of my dormmates. The water felt cold on my warm face. I looked in the mirror and jumped to see somebody behind me looking at the same mirror. I blinked and she was gone.

I'm not a superstition believer and I did not believe in ghosts either. But that moment, it felt differently cold. I turned to see if she was hiding anywhere but the lady was nowhere to be seen. I recalled her face and could not place it. The dorm was small and I know I should have seen her if she were staying in the dorm. Outsiders of course were not allowed inside.

The corridors were already pitch black when I walked back to my room. I heard steps climbing the stairs to the second floor. I felt relieved to hear that somebody was staying late like me. I settled then in my study table in my room to start reviewing. There was deafening silence around the dorm, then i heard it.. thug! thug! - It was coming from the room just above my room. Thug! thug! thug! - it went on again, then another, even louder, as if somebody inside the room above was hitting the floor with a heavy chair. I peeked outside my room but nobody else seemed bothered by it, so i went back inside. Then it came again.. now faster and even louder. I was getting more irritated but also frightened. Something about it was not right. It is because those girls staying just above my room are two of my close friends. They don't seem to be the ones to start an evening rumble, especially when they knew that I would stay late for an exam. I tried to focus and studied until it stopped.

"Good morning Shelley! How was your review last night?", my friends from above room greeted. I was getting ready for class when I saw them coming in. They was dressed. I did not know if I'd greet them back after last night. I noticed their big sports bag though and asked where they were headed.

"Oh, we just arrived. We slept out with some friends last night because we did not want to disturb you."

...

Street Hopes

He is awakened by the sound of the first jeepney to pass along the highway. He moves around and felt the ground damp, "It must have rained". Mang Tasyo never cared anyway, so he stood up and felt a small tinge of pain in his back. He ignores it and went straight to his small box sitting just beside him. He never let this box get more than half-feet away from him. He opened it with mastery and felt the pieces inside it, he still has enough for the day. Carefully, he stood up with the box in his arm and found his way to the corner of the street. He started calling out to prospects and found a man standing beside a pole, not far from where he was standing.

The man sounded pleasant. Mang Tasyo imagined him dressed in a nice polo and denims and guessed that he must be on his way to work. Mang Tasyo tried to focus until he was near him. As usual, he pretends to be just standing there as if to tease. Surely enough, when the man saw him, he immediately asked fro two sticks. Mang Tasyo was delighted but did not show it. The man gave him 4 1-peso coins. Starved with the morning breeze, he went straight to the bakery, which he was so familir with, where a small lady with creased forehead greeted him and gave him one pan for a peso.

After his full meal for the day, he was ready to go back to the street again. He will stay there 'til he feels it was time to go home, where a neatly-spread box is waiting for him to lay down. When that moment comes, he will say a silent prayer, not to ask for his sight back, but to thank God for the good day that passed and for all the good things he sees despite both eyes in the darkness.