Saved by the Belle

(Author's Note: Last na to. Hahaha! Happy Happy birthday to the sizzlingest single butch on the face of this earth! - Lee)

You gave the bag a jab, a hook, a one-two combination.

You took up boxing to forget her. You channeled all the rage of her mind-jarring betrayal onto your sparring partners. Over the years, you have succeeded.

Then, one day, you catch a glimpse of the newbie.

You furiously shake your head.

No.

Alas, she was a temptress incarnate.

She went for the bag nearest you, but not before hinting that she’d love to spar with you in private. You throw in the towel. Maybe a knockout like her would be worth the battle scars.

Maybe, this time, you’ll win.

Tangina'ng Kwento

(Author's Note: Para pa rin kay @sleazeeee itoooo! - Lee)

Tumawag ka sa ‘kin isang gabi. Umiiyak.

Huy, bakit?

Tangina, ang sakit-sakit na talaga. Tangina. Tangina.

Writer ka. In fact, isa ka sa mga hinahangaan ko pagdating sa pagsusulat. Ibang klase ang gagap at hagod mo sa mga salita. Swak na swak. Swabeng swabe. Pero nang mga oras na yun, bandang ala una nang madaling araw, habang namamaluktot ako sa lamig ng hanging Disyembre ay naubusan ka ng mga salita.

Tangina, ang sakit-sakit na talaga. Tangina. Tangina.

Ano ba’ng nangyari?

Tangina, break na kami.Tangina. Tangina.

O, hindi ka pa ba nasasanay?

Mababa ang EQ ko. Pagpapatawa ang pang-counter ko sa lahat ng emosyon.

Galit? Patawa.

Takot? Patawa.

Pighati? Patawa.

Huy, tama na yan. Tangina siya, kung di ka niya kayang mahalin, maraming pumipila para pumalit sa kanya, gaga.

Tangina, mahal ko siya. Tangina. Tangina.

Ikaw naman kasi, may sa tanga ka rin eh. Alam mo namang kakikilala mo lang sa haliparot na yun, pinatos mo agad. Ayan tuloy napala mo. Nagpa-jerjer ka na ba sa kanya? Ewww.

See? Low EQ.

Tangina, mahal ko siya. Tangina. Tangina.

Kahit noon pa’y di na talaga umuubra sa ‘yo ang pagpapatawa ko.

Huy, gaga. Itigil mo na sabi ang pag-iyak. Kung ako na lang kasi syinota mo, eh di hindi ka sana umiiyak ngayon.

Garbled sounds.

Torri? Huy, Torri, andyan ka pa ba?

Tapos, suminga ka.

Kath naman, heartbroken na nga ako, nagpapatawa ka pa.

Seryoso, tayo na lang! Mamahalin kita. Hindi kita paiiyakin.

Hahaha! Tangina mo.

Finally, napatawa rin kita.

Kung kelan naman seryoso ako.

Tangina.

Slipaway

(Author's Note: First QuickLit Fix para sa hottest butch ever @sleazeeee!)

Dianne was getting dizzy from the smell of aged grapes in Rosa’s breath. Turned-on-dizzy.

“We should do this more often,” Rosa says, words dripping from her lips along with the cheap Happy Lizard.

“Right. You really should get wasted more.”

“You should get drunk. Might grow you the balls to take advantage of me.”

“I don’t need balls or booze for that.”

“Then why don’t you?”

A desperate sigh.

“You really should be going to bed.”

Dianne snatches her backpack and heads towards the door.

“Please. Stay.”

Rosa’s voice works like a goddamn chain every time. Except tonight.

“I’m sorry.”

Diamonds Inside

(Author's Note: This is another story inspired by one of my Peyups friends. Happy birthday, @proudmaroon2!!! - Lee)

Gen uncovers the drawer filled with a decade’s worth of memories with Lucille and surveys its contents like a haciendera sizing up a failed harvest. Yellowed cards and letters mingled with rust-eaten pendants. In a dreary corner, Gen finds a box standing out without distinct markings. She reaches for it, feeling like she was about to pry open the gates of heaven and hell. Inside, the golden band conceals the earth’s hardest creation. Her vision blurs as Gen realizes just how much of Lucille was in the ring, how much she was like it: a treasure concealing a stone-cold heart.

The Third Sleepover

(Author's Note: At the start of the month, I mentioned that I was dedicating this month's posts to the friends I've made from the Peyups Girl-to-Girl thread. That is why I am taking a pause from the current web series to make way for this quick lit fix that I am dedicating to two of my very good friends who are celebrating their anniversary as a couple today. This was the microfiction that inspired 'Kung Hindi Man Makatulog.' Enjoy! - Lee)

Four A.M. Slivers of light from the post outside the window were squeezing their way between the curtains like a Peeping Tom. Kei has been lying restlessly still beside Amy for the past three hours.

“Still up?” Amy’s voice cooed like a winding down record.

She turns to face Amy, but does not dare open her eyes. She could feel the warmth and moistness of Amy’s breath on her cheeks. Soon, light will be slaying the pregnant promises of darkness.

Then, without warning, Amy’s lips were on hers.

Kei savors a heartbeat’s span of velvety bliss. Then, contentment. Finally, sleep.