Author’s note: Based on The Real Life Adventures of A.J. Fernandes
and stories told at Zaifu to Catherine, Czarina and Maria
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Sometime in September, a pimp traveled throughout the country in search of the most exquisite women. He went to faraway lands like Banawe and Sulu. He encountered different kinds of people like mumbakis, army generals, governors, warlords and ex-cons. And upon discovering his line of trade, they shook his hand and he promised them the best flesh he could find.
Little did he know that the journey would also take him to the most treacherous of territories. A place he’d not yet explored but would have to. The land of Heart, where the most beautiful maidens lived.
He spent a large amount of gold to get to Heart. There, he lured many women. And each one he met seemed more beautiful than the last.
But at one of Heart’s secret villages, he met the most beautiful of them all. The one he knew was meant for him and him alone.
He took her for a walk and they talked until no part of themselves was left unrevealed. That same night, the pimp felt something rare and strange stir inside him.
He listened to the universe’s lullaby as velvet darkness cloaked them. He looked up. And dangling from the night sky, stars winked at him, whispering a mischievous scheme. Slowly, carefully, he closed the distance between him and the woman, driven by a curious need of a once sleeping soul. And in a moment of truth and clarity, he saw that this was too pure, too precious not to pursue.
“I love you,” he said to her. It was the first time he felt it. And the need to express this love overwhelmed him.
He had hope: for her to love him back. He had an agenda: for him to be her keeper.
She looked at the exquisite women behind him. Softly, she said that although she had great affection for him, she could not will herself to love him.
Spurned, he left Heart that instant. And the women he had so far collected, he sent back to their own lands.
The mumbakis, army generals, governors, warlords and ex-cons heard this and demanded payback for a broken promise.
They found him in a wasteland but they never harmed him as planned. For they saw him lying on his back, his mouth agape in a silent scream. His bloody face, one eye less. He had torn it out himself. The eye of possibility. The eye that showed the perfect beauty of a We. A Two of Us.
His suffering satisfied them and they went their way. While Time stayed put and helped him recover. The marred part of his face was covered with a black patch of cloth torn from his shirt.
He came across a puddle and there his reflection told him it would be best to continue his journey not as a pimp but a pirate.
Upon reaching Black Sand Beach, he saw a ship waiting and a crew of men with No Hope, No Agenda like him.
With them, the pirate wandered aimlessly at sea because there was nothing and no one to anchor him on land.
He chased ships and their treasures. But in the secret chambers of his soul, he knew he was really chasing something else. It always escaped him now. But for a time, the elusive was his.
He says it hurts to look at the sky with his one good eye. At night, whenever he gazes at the same stars that not too long ago showed him something spectacular, he wonders with numbing fear—so close to hope—if he will ever experience what happened at Heart again.
~~
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12 comments:
*thank you to my beautiful beta who loves animals like crazy* :)
hey smokey! ;)
i really like the piece. i have comments and they may be a bit lengthy, but since you asked me to post it, here goes:
- I find it funny that mumbakis would be aligned with army generals and the degenerate lot! Hahaha! Ok, seriously. It’s an interesting point.
- "They found him in a wasteland but they never harmed him as planned. For they saw him lying on his back, his mouth agape in silent scream. His bloody face, one eye less. He had torn it out himself. The eye of possibility. The eye that showed the perfect beauty of a We. A Two of Us."
I love this paragraph. It encapsulates everything without being cloying. For me, it has very good transition. By that I mean that the way you presented it had a sense of natural inevitability in it, which is actually hard to pull off considering the shortness of length. And the pimp to pirate…I love the symbolisms! Great impact too!
- "Upon reaching Black Sand Beach, he saw a ship waiting and a crew of men with No Hope, No Agenda like him."
I appreciate the emotional depth. This is a very 3-d character you’re presenting.
- Anyhoo, like what you said, this story may have hidden barkada messages that only you guys share. But, it is presented in such a way that outsiders can get it too. It’s pretty clear to me.
- Also, the philosophy maybe there, but I like the fact that you didn’t sound like you were on a pulpit. It doesn’t sound patronizing. It’s simple that a child can read it, and it does have fairy tale overtones because of the symbols you used, but it’s a fairy tale for grown-ups.
On a personal note, I actually like stories like these. Ever read Oscar Wilde’s fairy tales for grown-ups? Really good!
Ah, this story also reminds me of one I wrote a long time ago. It was about a dragon. Sort of sad ending too. Maybe I’ll let you read it sometime.
Great piece!
Note: you mentioned that this is somehow related to someone's real life, or at least most of it
reflected, neh? i hope he doesn't end up permanently the way it does in the story. that would too sad,
and it's such a young age to
be that way.
There's always hope!
This I believe! Arr!
(see? i told you it was long.)
thank you for posting it gorgeous! "A.J" and co. have been bugging me about this. finally had the time to upload it. can't wait for his reaction to the story plus your insight:
"i hope he doesn't end up permanently the way it does in the story. that would too sad,
and it's such a young age to
be that way. "
nayahahahah. thanks again! *air kisses*
Yargh!
The ghosts of the past seemingly find their way back to old graves if you will, much like sunken ships sunk in the search of sunken treasure..
quite emending... I need more rum than you do I suppose...
~Ze Cap'n
aye-aye cap'n! "battle fate" you said. and of course, the hope of redemption. hieieieei!
sorry for the "ouchies" but it's good that it hit hard.
waiting for the time when you finally say, "land ahoyyyyyyyyy!"
very very nice. :) HAHA. :p
thank cuz! *hugz*
What an overwhelming and nice piece to read after a hectic and tiring day... hehe! nice one val!-boggie :)
YAWN. Where is the part about the FLOODGATES OF HELL?
aloe - hieieieieiei! THE FLOODGATES OF HELL is another story. it's YOUR story...maybe. now you gave me an idea! can't wait for you to be back here in Manila!!!! muah!
dr. b.b.boogie - glad to be of service. you still owe me coffee and pastry.
Hey Val, I'm reviving my Tabulas! Haha :p link me! link me!
Where did my comment go? Anyhoo, Val! I'm reviving my Tabulas! Link me link me! :)
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