Can’t Buy Me Love

             One humid night of October, smoking until I can take no more was the only thing I have in mind that time as a form of entertainment while waiting for someone in front of an unknown building along Taft Avenue. People of various ages, walked, slowed down, stood in front of me, and then asked for the time. It didn’t impress me. I asked myself how stupid they are to ask for the time when they’ve got Rolex attached to their flesh. But then there’s one being that made an impact to me. He asked if I enjoy looking to the heavens. I love the heavens. I knew he was different. I knew he was the one I’m waiting for. Perhaps my other half. Possibly my completion. Few minutes I saw myself sitting right beside his not-so-new-but-still-elegant-wheels while hearing an impression of a bird made by Julia Fordham. We both love Julia Fordham. The night went darker as we enter a tunnel. It got darker as the tunnel closed. We stopped and made ourselves free from anything in our bodies. The two of us jumped to a soft cradle. It was cold. Our bodies tried to produce friction. Then there was heat. I then started to feel something running to my nerves. It’s human’s strongest muscle that made me stiff. He ate chocolates before seeing me. It still remained in his lip that’s why. I then started to act. Slowly, our bodies collided. I’m inside him. He felt the pain. I felt the gain. On and off. In and out. Push and pull. Just like a race, I rushed to the finish line. Sweat dripped all over. He wiped until the last drop. It felt good but daunting. We proceed to slumber. Still our bodies united. After few hours, I heard waters dropping to the tiles. I woke up. He caused the waters to drop to the tiles. I attempted to sleep back. But then the sunlight shone in my face. The world is alive once more. I woke up without him by my side. But I was awakened by the wealth in my hands. I was wrong once more. He is not my other half. And he’ll never be my completion. Goodbye to Julia Fordham. Maybe I should stop smoking. And perhaps I should never set foot on Taft Avenue again.

Lorenzo’s Confession

After a catastrophic experience at Taft Avenue, I went stargazing the next night. I still felt ill at ease towards the pathetic incident I had with the one I thought was my soul mate. I was melancholic. I swore that I’d never be that way in my new haven, the Quezon Memorial Circle. I lie down and felt the cold grass caressing my back. There I started embracing the stars. Sparkling. Charming. Eye-catching. Those heavenly bodies stole my eyes that it brought me to drowse. Thirty minutes had passed and I sensed another body next to me. A man of his 30’s who is hairy, stocky, and tan. I can say that he’s one of the best-looking animals in the world. Lorenzo is his name. He asked if he can join me watch the stars. That was his first time to gaze the stars. Later on, a man with a gun came. He threatened us of falling behind bars. My haven is not safe. We left. Lorenzo’s house is just few blocks away. We walked and talked about life. For him, life is beautiful. Maybe my life would be beautiful because of Lorenzo. We reached his palace. And he asked me to join him in the lavatory. Waters fell in our bodies. His hands move up and down my upper torso while holding a gentle soap with a fragrance of an angel. I did the same. Lorenzo embraced me. I did the same. Lorenzo kissed me passionately. I did the same. Lorenzo gave his soul to me. I still did the same. The lavatory was on fire. Our guns exploded. The heat subsided. He led me to his couch and served me a bottle of red wine. It was strong and tempting. For the second time, he said that life is beautiful. I was baffled. “Why is life beautiful for you?” “I must confess I don’t really like stargazing. Life is beautiful for me because of the moon. You see a lot of stars but there is only one moon. I saw my moon. But you’re such a nice star.” Waters fell from my eyes. Lorenzo deceived me. Lorenzo fooled me. I left Lorenzo. I will not turn around. Lorenzo might see me crying. Life is beautiful for Lorenzo. But not beautiful for me.

People of the Philippines Versus Attorney Evangelista

            To recover from my miserable experience with Lorenzo, I decided to go shopping in Robinson’s Galleria. I journeyed for like two hours from our sanctum in Fairview, Quezon City. With two thousand pesos in my pocket, I jumped from store to store and acquired the things I want as a therapy to my despair.  I went to Artwork; my favorite store that showcases creatively printed shirts and some accessories. I had my choice. I proceed to the fitting room. The shirt was great. But then I forgot to close the door that caused my upper extremities to be exposed to some customers. I didn’t care. The Philippines is a free country anyway. Subsequent to finishing the art of trying the shirt on, I put back my real outfit and proceed to the cashier. I was supposed to hand my payment to the not-so-beautiful girl when suddenly; a not-so-young man with the looks of Mark Gil plus the hair tapped my hand and gave the saleslady a credit card. He begged to do the honor of paying it. No reactions from me. Eventually, I just saw myself holding the plastic bag containing my new shirt. I picked up my composure. He was still by my side. He smiled. I smiled back. We strolled around and conversed about the current situation of the Philippines. He’s a lawyer. He’s Attorney Evangelista. Damn I admire lawyers. Not to mention the fact that he’s from UP Law School. Indeed he has something between the ears. And maybe hides something more admirable between his legs. We stepped inside Dulcinea and got some good food. While waiting, I can’t help but sight his white teeth. He wears an Armani pants, a Louis Vuitton pair of shoes, and a Cartier bracelet. The best thing about him is that he wears Kenzo perfume. That thing kidnapped my olfactory nerves. Soon after, he invited me to his place in San Antonio Village, Pasig City to be exact. Attorney Evangelista has a mansion. We went to the library on the third floor of his house. I sat in his antique sofa. He sat beside me. We have a case. The hearing started. The courtroom got wild. And wilder. The interrogation began. He’s getting crazy. “Silence Please,” the judge said. But still we didn’t stop screaming. Slowly, I felt his arms holding me tight. He moved down and down, and down. He stopped and took a deep breath. Then he moved up and down. I was getting insane. “Objection Your Honor,” I said. “Objection Overruled,” the judge said. We blasted our hearts out. We shrieked our minds out. And finally exploded our juices out. I relaxed in his smooth chest. Attorney Evagelista offered me cigar. We lighted the Yves Saint Laurent tobacco.  He kept touching my face. Then I felt a metal in his left hand. I removed my head from his chest. I looked closer to his hands. The metal is in his ring finger. I roamed my eyes to the whole library. I saw the picture of Mrs. Evangelista. Not again! I realized how I want to ask a court order for Robinson’s Galleria’s closure. And I want to ban all the imported goods from hitting our Bureau of Customs.  I would like to accuse Attorney Evangelista for making me feel like an imbecile. But then I got no witness. Lawyers are really intelligent. I guess I want to become a lawyer. But for now, I would rest my case.

Bitter…Better...

I lost my trial with Attorney Evangelista. I consider it my favorite mistake. I ran out of his house and guaranteed myself never ever talk to legal counsels again. And not at all look at the Sandiganbayan even a glimpse every time our car would pass Commonwealth Avenue on our way to our sanctum in Fairview, Quezon City. With that kind of conviction, I ceased my dream of becoming a lawyer. The moment I knew the painful truth about him, all I wanted was to place myself in a solitary confinement for the longest time possible until I realize that I’m back to my sanity again. I’m damn insane. How I wish Dra. Margarita Holmes doesn’t have any TV guesting in order for her to give me an intense psychological treatment for like a week and I would be very willing to pay my soul. Oh I forgot I’ve already lost my soul. Since then I went back to love Julia Fordham songs. From that day, I stopped loving the heavens. I loathed the stars. Instead, I cuddled the rain. Also I abhorred films starring Mark Gil! Artwork Shirts makes me want to puke! Every single day, I would soar to SM Supermarket just to buy a ream of Marlboro Lights Gold just to prove to myself how tough my heart is and smoke my lungs out 24/7 as a sign of rebellion to my stupidity.  God I’m brainless! Robinson’s Galleria isn’t closing yet! Filipinos still buy imported products! God knows how I want to suggest the government to rename Taft Avenue to Loser’s Avenue and the Quezon Memorial Circle to Pathetic Memorial Circle! God knows how I cried when I grasped the fact that the word bitter is all over my face. And God also knows how I learned. Now I’m back to my consciousness again. It’s funny how I managed to see the world alive once more. Maybe I should reconsider becoming a lawyer. Perhaps I’ll find my other half. My completion. And thank you Lorenzo. Life is beautiful.