Where Serendipity Plays (The Art of Life #2)

Dear Serene: Entry #1

Sabi nila, magmula nang ipanganak tayo, nakaguhit na sa tadhana ang mangyayari sa buhay natin.

So no matter how hard we try to change something, if it isn't for us, it isn't for us.

And in my case, life isn't for me.

Binilugan ko ng pulang marker ang isang araw sa kalendaryo.

June 21. My birth date. . . would be the day I'd die.

That had always been my fate. I had always been bound to die. And I regretted fighting against it several times.

Fighting for my life just led me to a one devoid of direction . . . kasi wala naman talagang plano para sa 'kin. Wala sa planong ipanganak ako at mabuhay.

I shut my eyes tightly and went out of the house to divert my urge.

Konting tiis . . . Make sure everything is settled first before you do that.

Paglabas ko ng bahay ay nakita ko ang pamilyar na asong naka-abang doon. Napatayo siya nang makita ako. "Naghihintay ka pa rin . . ."

He wiggled his tail while looking up at me. I crouched down and pet him.

He was a stray dog. Matapos kong pakainin ay palagi na siyang nakabuntot. Wala naman akong magawa dahil hindi ko siya kayang itaboy.

Binigay ko sa kaniya ang para sa dinner ko at agad na umalis para hindi niya masundan.

After a five-minute walk, I arrived at the computer shop. I entered and sat on my usual seat. I fixed my eyes on the monitor while my fingers started dancing on the keyboard.

I lost touch of time and reality again as I immersed myself in playing.

"Dito ka; pumunta ka rito."

"Nice!"

"Kill mo!"

"Yown!"

"Wooh!"

My teammates rejoiced as we won another game.

Tinanggal ko ang headphones at doon lang narealize na marami palang nakapalibot sa akin, nanood sa laro. I stood up from my seat and shut my eyes tightly, feeling dizzy from the sudden movement.

I fixed my glasses and made my way to the counter. Walong oras ang tinagal ko kaya iyon ang binayaran ko.

Paglabas ko ay madilim na. I walked out then heard a bark. Lumingon ako at napahinto nang makita ang aso sa labas ng shop. It was the stray dog. He wiggled his tail while looking at me.

He stood at the side of the shop, where he would stay these past few days as he waits for me to come out of the shop. Tila alam na niyang dito ako nagpunta kahit hindi naman kami nagsabay.

"Kanina pa 'yan andiyan. Ikaw pala ang hinihintay." Napalingon ako sa tindera sa kabilang shop.

Lumapit ako sa aso at pinet ito. Sumabay siya sa paglalakad ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang bukas ang ilaw sa loob ng katabing unit ng tinitirhan kong apartment. Mukhang may nakatira na roon ngayon.

I sat on the gutter in front of my house. It was already dark and the flicking light from the lamppost beside my unit was the only thing lighting up my space.

Bukas pa ang mga ilaw ng kapitbahay pero tahimik na at walang laman ang street namin. The cold wind blew and kissed my skin as I let myself indulge in silence.

Tumingala ako at umukopa sa paningin ang madilim na langit. Walang makikita ni isang bituin.

Naramdaman ko na naman ang pag-init ng dibdib.