rioda23

The Dutch summer, according to the weather reporter, had finally reached it's zenith today. The following days were expected to have a gradually lowering temperature. Not enough to end the season but not hot enough to see the streets asphalt melt to black goo. Looking back, Exo wouldn't have complained about it if it meant that this was all what he was going to have to endure until the Fall season. Because of that day was a day a mistake would be made.

It was like any other summer day for a teenager of his age in those days; Hunched in a corner of a room, face on a device going through the endless stream of information provided by the internet, with little care to the outside world. Exo would call it bliss. Though the occasional nag from his parents or sibling to have him do some sort of chore, it was of little consequence if it meant that they would leave him be for the next hour or two. So a couple of hours after lunch, Exo was asked by his mother to get some refreshments from the convenience store.

He looked out the window. The sun was at it's peak, it's lights blanketing the Dutch streets with searing heat. He asked his mother if it could wait just until the sun was about setting. His mom refused, reasoning that she needed it in for dinner later and preparations were needed to be made ASAP. And so, with a silent grumble, he took whatever protection from the sun's constant bombardment and made his way to the door. He made his way out of the house, and into the dusty, dry streets of his neighborhood.

As he made his way towards the nearest convenience store fewer people stuck their necks out into the sun if they could. Out on the sidewalk very little people had opted to take the sidewalks as haze from the heat rose from the ground and, considering his destination was still a ways away, Exo took refuge on a waiting shed. Not even 10 minutes did he already feel sweat line his back despite the cap he brought along. He silently cursed this task given to him. Exo looked towards the sky, trying to glimpse any sort of cloud that could provide him reprieve. None were in sight.

He pondered as to whether to book it and get it over with or practice patience and remain in comfort provided by the shade. Just then, a bus pulled over to the opposite bus stop, unloading it's passengers. One by one, a person got off. Few seemed to be foreigners, touring their city Exo guessed. Suddenly, one of the disembarking passengers caught his attention. Her long, raven hair fluttered over her denim coat slung over her shoulders. Her petite figure was wrapped around a simple t-shirt with a more simple jeans. She looked Asian, but then again, most of them did look similar. However, he wondered why this particular girl caught his attention.

It was at that moment, when their eyes met, when the everything stood still and quiet, it hit him. Both surprise and confusion took hold of him like deer in the headlights. The girl waved at him and started to walk the near empty street crossing. When they came face to face, she greeted Exo with a smile to which he replied: "Why the fuck are you here Tap?"

A letter came and told of an answer
To a question he asked during winter
One he dread even more than death
Waste of minute of his breath

Its contents, the usual greetings
How she wished they had meetings
Be it under the moon or the stars
Be it on Earth, or as far as Mars

His blood boiled, temper rose
How can she not put this chapter to close?
With pen in hand and fury in mind
He struggled for words to find

One that says stop, another end
Of hatred, bore, cold and bend
Over, demolish, little, pretend
Finished, through, unmend

A pen unmoving, a mind blank
Paper filled, the words sank
Folded, handed, sealed, sent, gone
Whatever happens, all said and done.

The cold, Dutch wind bellowed against the windows of Exo's room. Spring had yet to be freed from Winter's shadow, yet even if this came to pass, a certain kind of coldness continues to linger upon his heart. Another day had passed but it could be said that it was neither different from yesterday; bleak, dull, and flat. For what was the reason that his world became devoid of color? Others have pointed it out, albeit jokingly yet deep down are half truths. He gazes into the cloud streaked heavens, wondering to himself if his life was as aimless as the clump of vapors.

In the distance, several flashes of multi-colored light could be seen above town, followed by low booms. The sound of various festive instruments ring out from a part of town that glows with a hint of reddish golden light. The Chinese New Year's was closing in and some of the townsfolk were joining in spectating dragon dances and taking delight in eating moon cakes. Despite the lustrous colors that were on display, all he saw was gray. Earlier in life he had a choice, a path, a door to something that could have given him the same bright spark as those tiny rockets that illuminate the sky.

How long has it been since they've talked? How many days since their last bicker about nonsensical matters? Had they known that life changes fast, would he have worn his heart on his sleeve sooner rather than never? He turned his attention back again to his cellphone monitor, an app opened where it shows a single name. A name that has caused confusion within his adolescent heart. Yet for some reason, he didn't dislike it at all. Not in its entirety at least.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Son, you got a letter this afternoon." His mom called out from outside the room.
A letter? For all he knows, he has never given anyone his address. At least to those that he knew online. Curious, he left his laments, and headed for the living room.
Passing by his sibling and dad watching TV, he took the letter resting on a tabletop near the hallway to their door. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the sender's name. He said his thanks to his mom, then made his way to his room. Disbelief droops over his face, uncertain what to make of his mail. Gently, he pressed his fingers between the seems of the envelope's folds and tore it open, revealing what appeared to be a handwritten letter. He looked back at the parcel's sender once more to confirm it was indeed her.
"Tapnyny"

Angling just right so that the lamp's light made out the words in the paper visible, Exo took a deep breath and read the letter. The first words solidified that this was indeed her, having lost none of the charm or personality that had become known as Tap among their circle of associates. Each word that came after carried with it a strong and clear message that this was indeed for him, and him alone as if the sender had not made clear of the envelope's destination. The more he read, the more his heart became heavy. Not with sadness, but with something else Exo has not felt in a long while. And it felt heavenly. As soon as he finished, he realized he was holding his breath to which he exhaled a sigh of gladness. 

After all these years despite their differences, behind those half hearted insults lay some sort of mutual understanding. They knew they weren't going to end up together back then, but it was fun while it lasted. But what made it special was that deep down, even if it was just a little, they hoped that it was true. With a deep breath, and a single drop of tear, he glanced outside the window now seemingly devoid of clouds and in their place were sprinkled twinkling dots on a black canvass. The moon's bright face sailed into the night, as if it was ready to depart into unfamiliar waters.

So too did Exo's heart as he tore the paper to shreds and brought out his lighter, burning the letter and letting it be carried into the wind.

Feb 9
On my 16th birthday, I was told the same reminder that I should be ready for whatever life would throw at me. Mom and dad said that man was born weak, vulnerable, and for the most part, alone in this world. I remember them saying this as a reminder for me in light of the struggle they faced growing up in a world, despite its prosperity, contained hardships each individual faced in their every day lives. Hardships that most never knew how to handle. For the most part of my life, I've lived with this rule of thumb as far back as I can remember. From applying it in my studies to the casual hours of my day, I thought there would never come a time that I would not be able to know what to do. Yet for some reason, life has a way of proving you wrong the first chance it gets. Unfortunately, it didn't stop even after I started falling 400 km down towards the Earth.

Brain fart 10 Feb

Jhala had a choice in life; follow in her mother's footsteps and become a relic hunter who specialized in retrieving advance technology of unknown origin, or lead an army help defend her people from the onslaught of the Millennium War. Despite of what everyone who thought it wasn't possible, she became both as part of a special unit that tracks down these lost fragments inside temples, vaults, and underwater tombs to use in the fight against her nation's enemies both from within and outside the country. Things have not gone her way recently as her success for finding promising relics began to dwindle. Yet all of those might change when she saw a shooting star one night, only to discover something far more extraordinary that it could very well shake the foundation of what she believed about her world and those who live on it.