Salamin, salamin, salamin sa dilim...

"Musta lakad mo kanina? Parang masigla ka ata." Sabi mo habang naghuhubad ako ng sapatos.

"Ayos lang. Nagkita uli kami."

"Sino? Ang dati mong boyfriend?"

"Oo. Naghiwalay na ata sila ng boyfriend niya. Nagtext siya sa kin kagabi kung pwede daw kaming magkwentuhan. Di pumunta ako. Parang wala naman kaming pinagsamahan kung di ako pupunta, di ba?"

"Sa bagay. Bakit naman daw ikaw ang tinext niya? Wala ba siyang ibang matext?"

"Ewan ko. Hindi ko alam. Ang dami namang nanliligaw sa kanya. Malay mo miss nya ako?"

"Asa ka pa. Ano naman kwinento sa iyo"

"Birthday niya kasi nung December. Bakit daw hindi ko siya tinawagan. Hindi ko rin daw siya niregaluhan noong pasko. Hindi ko nga siya maintindihan kasi hindi naman niya ako boyfriend. "

"Baka naman na-realize niya na ikaw mahal niya."

"Hindi ko alam. Sinabi rin niya yung naging problema nila ng boyfriend niya kaya nagkahiwalay sila. Pumayat nga siya. Parang ang daming iniisip. Pinapatawa ko nga eh."

"Ano namang pakiramdam noong nagkita kayo? Ngayon lang kayo nagkausap uli pagkatapos ng hiwalayan ninyo di ba?"

"Oo. Wala lang."

"Sige matutulog na ko. Bukas na lang tayo magkwentuhan uli."

Napansin mo siguro na natahimik ako. Naalala ko kasi ang mga matang yon. Kahit hindi niya sabihin sa kin. Alam kong iba pa rin mahal niya. Akala ko wala na kong mararamdaman nang magkita kami pero bakit naiinggit ako sa lalaking yun? Noon pinili kong lumayo para makasama niya mahal niya. Pero nasaktan lang pala siya. Naisip ko siguro mabait lang siya sa akin ngayon kasi wala siyang makausap. Pero naniniwala pa rin ako sa lahat ng sinasabi niya. Habang nag-uusap kami gusto ko siyang yakapin. Gusto kong sabihin na mahal ko pa rin siya. Pero hindi ko nagawa.

Gusto ko pa sanang makipagkwentuhan sa iyo pero inaantok ka na pala. Sige bukas na lang kita kakausapin, pagharap ko uli sa salamin.

Kwentong Langgam: May Lablayp Din Pala Sila

May nasalubong akong pulang langgam kanina.

"O, saan ka papunta?" tanong ko.

"Dyan lang sa may kanto. Susunduin ko gerpren ko, " sagot ng langgam.

"Pwede palang magka-gerpren ang tulad mo? Worker ant ka lang di ba? 'Kala ko yung mga nagkaka-gerpren lang eh yung mga yumayari sa reyna nyo..."

"Aaah, dyan kayo nagkakamali. Kahit naman worker lang ranggo namin, may karapatan rin naman kaming ma-inlab," mabilis na tugon ng langgam.

"Eh paano mo nalalaman kung sino ang gerpren mo sa daan-daang langgam na nasasalubong mo araw-araw?" muling tanong ko.

"Sus, para kang hindi MBB grad! Shempre, pheromone tsong. Actually, bawat isa sa amin ay may unique na pheromone...'kumbaga sa pabango eh signature scent ba. In fact, I'm wearing a Chanel Pheromone right now!" pa-konyong tugon ni langgam.

"A, ganun ba? Medyo na-sense ko nga. Mukhang naligo ka sa pheromone ah! O, sige, bilisan mo at baka mainip gerpren mo sa paghintay sa 'yo sa may kanto. Mahaba-haba pa itong lalakarin mo."

"Kaya nga eh...baka pwedeng maki-hitch sa sapatos mo?"

"No problem. Sige kapit ka lang. Mga ilang hakbang lang naman ito para sa akin eh," tugon ko.

Kumapit si langgam sa nakalawit na sintas at umakyat sa aking sapatos. Maya-maya ng kaunti ay may natanaw nga akong naghihintay na isa pang langgam sa may kanto. Ito na nga marahil ang gerpren na naghihintay dahil nakita kong sobrang na-excite itong langgam na ngayon ay nakabitin na sa dulo ng sintas ng sapatos at handang bumaging na ala-tarzan sa direksyon ng kasintahang naghihintay.

Napasigaw na lang ako ng "Sandali!!!", nang biglang umigkas itong si langgam at napailalim sa suwelas ng aking sapatos. Huli na ang lahat at kahit bakas ni langgam ay hindi ko makita sa sementadong kalsada. Ni impit na hiyaw ay hindi nakatakas mula sa naipit na nilalang.

Samantala, ang kasintahang langgam ay nanatiling nakatayo sa tabing kalsada habang ang hangin ay nagsimoy Chanel Pheromone. At nangilid ang luha sa aking mga mata hindi dahil sa tapang ng halimuyak na pumalaot sa hangin kundi dahil sa nasasaksihan kong pagluluksa ng isang pusong naulila.

Autopsy on a Spoiled Girlfriend

No cracks, no fractures, no missing bones whatsoever.

Taxi cabs were her favorite way to go around the city. The boyfriend would open the car door for her and assist her while getting off the vehicle. She would take his offered hand like a princess getting off a lovely carriage. She would tell his boyfriend, "That's what boyfriends are for." Her boyfriend would nod in approval, kiss her on her forehead and smile. Her every step was watched. Her boyfriend is her safety scout. Sweet.

"If you don't take care of me, I'll break up with you."


No pulled, strained muscles.

She did not suffer from any forms of fatigue. Her life was a bliss. No need to rush to a convenient store to grab a midnight snack. Her boyfriend would offer his phone and she would call the delivery hotline. And on those days when it was not possible to have the food delivered, he would buy it himself, not minding the time nor the weather. No need to go to a spa to relax. He would light an essence lamp and ask her to lay on her tummy. He would then sooth her tired muscles using his bare hands. He was not really good at this but it pleased her. "That's what boyfriends are for," she would think.

"Buy me food, or else I'll break up with you."


Perfect condition, from mouth to the intestines.

She was well-fed. Where to eat, what to eat.. it was her choice. Her every craving was satisfied. He would also introduce her to restaurants and plates she had never tried before. She would think it was fantastic. She would gain weight and think that was her boyfriend's fault. He would smile and tell her that how attractive she still was. Compliments. That's what boyfriends are for.

"Tell me I'm the prettiest or we're through."


Clean lungs. Healthy heart.

There was no way second-hand smoke could have harmed her. He was not a smoker. He lived a healthy life and so did she. He would take her to the country side and she would enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. He had to suspend several business trips so they could go together. Because according to her, that's what boyfriends are for.

"Let's go, or I'll find another boyfriend to take me there."


No signs of depression.

Hers was a worry-free life. Before she could even detect the problem, he already resolved it for her. She was trained not to care, not to worry about almost everything. Worrying was his job. That's what boyfriends are for. He would be sick but he would tell her not to worry. He would buy and take his medicines all by himself. She would be sick and he would worry to death. A simple migraine and he would panic.

"Make the pain go away, or you'll lose me."


She was in perfect health the night he left her and yet she was found dead the following morning.