Farewell from a Departed

Biboy grew up very close to his grandfather, Tatay Melecio. When he was still 8 years old, he used to go with the old man everywhere he goes, may it on his fishing trips, his farming or his visits to the market. And he used to tell the lad long, believe-it-or not tales, about persons with supernatural powers and encounters with the other kind. They had some plenty of memories together.

Tatay Melecio was born even before the Philippines declared independence from Spain. He was not really the recluse or the mystical kind who barely talks to anyone or move objects telekinetically. He’s quite talkative to Biboy and to the other kids. And he proudly said he knew some Latin chants to counter the works of evil magic. He had no magical object to show except for his pipe which he considered as his lucky charm. At seventy, he’s still strong and healthy.

In one of their conversations one day, they talked about death. They made a promise to each other that whoever dies first should at least say goodbye to the one left behind. Biboy had no qualms about it, so he hastily agreed. He was still a child then not knowing how it would happen.

More than 20 years had passed and the two were separated from each other. Biboy studied in the city, eventually found work, then got married and had kids. One night, after coming home from work very tired, he immediately went to sleep. And there in his slumber, he felt a sudden slap of a very cold air. Then a voice, very audible to him, said, “Biboy, I’ll go ahead. Goodbye!” He felt the stiffness of his body. He could not move his hands. But to him, the voice was clearly that of Tatay Melecio. His thoughts immediately brought him back to the scene where he and the old man made the promise.

Biboy got back his reflexes minutes after and woke up like he had a nightmare without the screams. It was already 5am. His wife got up to check on him. He asked for water and seems like he was on a chase. Then he told her of his dream and he concluded that Tatay Melecio died already.

“How did you know?” she asked.

“Tatay spoke to me in my sleep. We made a promise years ago..”

The wife was clearly puzzled but didn’t ask further questions. She wiped the sweat from her husbands face. He also informed his mother, the daughter of Tatay Melecio, about it. She was shocked and even scolded Biboy. “How can you say that about your grandfather? You haven’t even seen him in months.”

“Yeah, I know he’s bed-ridden. But please believe me. Vivian (a cousin who took care of Tatay), will come this morning and inform us. I’ll call the other grandchildren when I arrive at the office.” Biboy insisted.

The mother was silent. They have not seen the old man for months and they knew he was sick. It was just that they had no time to visit him. This news bothered her but she just waited.

Indeed, three hours after, Vivian arrived and brought the sad news. The wife and the mother just looked at each other, still puzzled at how Biboy was able to know about the old man’s death.

Two Sentence Stories

This post is inspired by the contest of Matt over at TwoSentenceStories.com. My stories are fictional and any similarities to real life situations are purely coincidental.

Reunited

He was my best friend and roommate for 10 years until he disappeared 5 years ago because of a murder he was accused of committing. Now I saw him coming, handcuffed, and oblivious of our reunion as he entered my jail cell.


Love in the Time of Recession

Alfredo hurried home earlier than usual, to report to his wife about his situation at work, and how he was laid off along with fifteen hundred others. Panting for air in between sobbing and breathing, he opened the master bedroom, only to find his spouse naked in bed with another man.

Heartbreak

Yesterday morning, Mitch was all smiles at me and at everyone else at the office, as she enthusiastically told us about Rey, a new guy she met, and how gentleman he is despite the fact that their first date was still later that evening.

Today, I saw her avoiding me and she sobs whenever someone mentions the name Rey, which incidentally has the same name as mine.

The Coin

I gave a 1-peso coin to a child, who knocked on my car’s windshield when I stopped on a red light. I did not notice that the coin escaped from his hands and he crawled under my car when the light turned green.

The Board Meeting

Everyone was attending to their own reports when the President reported to the body the company’s staggering losses. Unimpressed, the Chairman yawned and it did not take long for him to doze off and made crazy sounds.

Cannot Sleep

Saturday afternoon he was at home lying on his bed trying to sleep after the nightshift at the hospital.

But his brain would not stop imagining as the couple next door was shouting, screaming and their bed squeaking as they made love for three full hours.


Crazy In Love

He promised to love her no matter what her past is, and so they made love for the first time. After the libido subsided, and while they lay spent in bed, she confessed that she has herpes.

Horror Movie

A lot of things were playing on his mind as he stayed glued on his seat watching a horror movie from his laptop. The lights suddenly went off.

Solution

He looked sternly at the long list of his unpaid debts on his left hand while his right hand held the insurance policy.

“There must be a solution to this”, he sighed.

Bored

He yawned while the boss was busy discussing something in the meeting room. Then he excused himself and stayed at the men’s room for an hour.