I never knew

Pedaling on silent world

       After I finished treating my patient, I went out on the road and hailed a trisikad (a man-powered tricycle) to take me to where I parked my service vehicle (multicab). There wasn't really a descent parking space within the proximity of my patient's house, that's why I parked way out. Anyway as this trisikad approached me I told the driver where to take me. He just nodded by raising his eyebrows. I got inside and sat down when I noticed this signage in front of me:

       Loosely translated: "I am a deaf trisikad driver, can't hear or talk. Thank you for understanding!!!"  then the prices for the fare follows for near and far trips. I was still able to reach my destination. In every fork of the road he would slow down and make a "hummm?" sound and pointed to which direction we should take a turn.

       I was touched by this man that I paid the amount for 3 near trips and gestured to him "keep it." He nodded, with his head this time, as he checked the excess I gave him. I let go a smile and went on.

       It was very inspiring. Some men are twice as healthy as he is, with no disabilities at all and yet they choose to count the people passing by the entire day as their livelihood. People should be like Mr. no hear no  talk trisikad driver, taking adversity as a challenge and not as a reason to stop trying. I salute you!

The Offroads Coffee

        One of my favorite coffee place here in Cebu is The Offroads, located along F. Cabahug street Ayala access road, just a stone's throw away from the border of Mandaue and Cebu City.

  It has a great laid back ambiance, good internet speed and great customer service provided by the staff.

  I think the one thing that Offroads Coffee has to offer that easily stands out among the other coffee place are the PRICES! Of all the cafe's I have tried, none of the prices could compare here. Their products are cheapER! An order of caffe latte only costs P50 as compared to other P110 cup. My favorite here is the OreoMix, (see picture) less coffee taste, but not too "chocolate-ty" either. Perfect for me. =') Not to be bias or anything, but their coffee even tastes better than that of large established coffee shop.

  Parking is never a problem, and it is likewise convenient to the commuters. I would definitely recommend this to anybody.

                                                                     

Welcome back me!

Ey blogworld! I'm back! It's been a loooooonnnng layoff for me from blogging. I guess I just ran out of ideas on what to fill my blog with. The last time I check, I was starting a short story here entitled "Under the same grey sky", which by the way is still to be finished. I was thinking of deleting this when I logged back in but, hey, I spent hours of thoughts and imagination for that. So I think it deserves to be kept.

Anyhoo, I've just recently learned of someone who's been blogging for quite sometime now. A friend gave me her blogsite and I was excited to check it out because my friend said her blog was very artistic and creative. So when I did check it out I was not let down. Very colorful paint of words, emotion-filled pictures, random bubble thoughts. I guess I was inspired to continue my blog. I want to make this better and more vibrant. I've learned a technique to draw out the phenomena "boring" that I've come upon on other blogs. One word. Pictures. Pictures give more interest in whatever one is reading. So I've decided to put more pictures than words in my blog. That way my blog wouldn't get so boring, and the reader would want to click to the next page and not the "x" button.

So anything goes here. This'll be my semi-personal diary, my emotional outlet alternative (music and photography are the others), random thoughts paper, food or product critique...whatever touches (or bothers) my mind. =')

So keep posted!

Amping!

Under The Same Gray Sky: Chapter 4

Class was over for the day. Before heading home, Jessie stopped by the mall to buy stuffs in the bookstore for his school project. The bookstore was on the 2nd level so he took the escalator. The air was thin and cool as it passes by Jessie's arms, seemingly embracing him. He took a mid-deep breath. He was in no rush, so as he stepped onto the escalator, he was just looking around, subconsciously listening to the piano playing on the speakers all around. There were people in front and behind him, as they all ascend to the 2nd floor. Just parallel to where he stood was the way to get back to the 1st level. He looked ahead, and just as he looked up, something caught his eye. Descending down the other escalator was this girl the word 'beautiful' would be an understatement. Her hair was straight, had a shade of light brown. Her bangs was covering one of her eyebrows. She was in uniform, apparently from the same school with Jessie. Everything now seemed to go slow, the music was now a little louder. Jessie's attention was still locked on this schoolmate. As they come closer, Jessie's heart was all over his chest, he felt it warm and exploding in every beat. He was catching his breath now. He never felt anything like this. He was nervous, happy, in awe, confused and wanting at the same time. Her face was clearer now. Her eyes were tiny but very expressive. Her lips were that of an angel. Her skin was fairly white and definitely will be a pleasure to touch. She was glowing. She was holding her books to her chest. When they were just a breath away, their eyes collided. She let go of a sweet smile. Jessie looked down in awkward, now breathing deeper. He felt warm all over his arms. He stepped out of the escalator and hurriedly looked back. Looking at her back, the way she walks and carry herself, you could tell she's an absolute head turner. Jessie wasn't sure of what he felt that moment. Was it love at first sight? Or just infatuation deceiving him? He has no answers. Yet.

After buying the things he needed he drove back home, listening to mellow tunes. All the way home and even as he lay his head to bed, that mental picture he took of an angel at the mall was never off his mind. "I saw an angel today..." He thought to himself.

to be continued...

Under The Same Gray Sky: Chapter 3

His morning routines are set to play. Unlike the rarest of days, Jessie was rushing his way to class, his uniform was don half-hazard, his hair was messy and his bag was half open. Same as the usual. What kept him a minute later in class was that he noticed a school ID just a step outside his classroom. He picked it up without even looking at who's was it, and instead just placed it inside his pocket. Off to class he went.

"The early worm is in the house." whispered his seatmate.

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Did we just started class, Al?"

"Yup, about 20 minutes ago."

School bell screamed lunch.

In the cafeteria, Jessie was about to pay for his iced tea when he reached for his pocket and felt something that shouldn't be inside his pocket. He took it out and remembered the school ID he picked up this morning.

"I've seen this girl often... She look's better with her hair down." Jessie thought to himself.

He went off to find his table in the cafeteria.

"Who's is that bud?" Al inquired.

"Some 'Angel Espanyol' See?" Jessie showed the ID to his chum.

"Oh her. Doesn't she usually take her lunch he.... Bingo! There she is."

"I don't know. Maybe I should return this to her when she's not with them. It's kinda awkward with all her friends around, you know." said Jessie.

Al stood up and took the ID form Jessie's hand. "Allow me." He fixed his hair a bit then headed for the other table. He was within arm's reach to his destination when suddenly he turned around and brisk walk back to Jessie.

"What? What happened, man?" Jessie asked.

"You do it bud. I saw that freakin' fagot again giving me the eye. This time with a smirk on his face! hiiiiiii.....!"

Jessie just let out a soft laugh and saw Angel stood up to buy some refreshments.

"Be right back." He took the ID back from Al and slowly approached Angel.

"Uhm... Err... Ah... Excuse m..." clears his throat, "excuse me. I believe this belongs to you?"

"Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much. You don't know how.... you're a life saver. Thanks." Angel very softly exclaimed.

"Don't mention it! Really. I think you might have dropped it this morning, just outside room 203." Jessie replied.

"I thought I did. I went back there a couple of times this morning. But my efforts were in vain." a smile "Thank you again."

"Sure. No problem. Well, see you around."

"Ya." Angel replied.

Jessie sat back to his table where Al was dodging behind his bag.

"Hurry up, bud. I don't like the way that she-man is eyeballing me. It's really creepy. " Al said in an anxious voice.

"Relax, man. I think he... or she rather is the all-look-no-touch kinda fella. She's harmless" Jessie jokingly said. "Enjoy your lunch. Here let's just swap seats.............. better?"

"I guess... But you give a signal if that mo-fo is heading here." Al said.

"Whatever man. Bon a petite!"

Lunch was refreshing for Jessie. He was again teasing Al until the bell rang.

to be continued...

Under The Same Gray Sky: Chapter 2

Transition from high school to co-education college was fairly smooth for Jessie. The first school chum that he had was his seatmate Al, a laid-back, soft-spoken kinda guy. Hence in the recent days, lunch was longer just eating per se. Though apparently quite, Al was always inclined to the interest in girls. In one of their first rather intimate conversations, Al had to be curious.

"Bud, (short for "buddy") let me ask you something. How many girlfriends have you had?"

Jessie let out a smirk and replied, "What interest is it to you? Are you up to something, man?"

"Nah, I'm just curious. Someone like your stature, your wit and guts... you must have played them all haven't you" Al jokingly said.

"You know, this may sound arrogant, but I've never been to a woman... well except my mom." both gentlemen laughed. "I've never really been in love, you know. I think I'm too young to be in love. There's just so much more things important than that love thing. I have my priorities and certainly girls? hah! They're not on top of my list." Al just nodded along with pouting lips.

Silence breath by. Then Jessie uttered "Well what about you, man? You look like your the silent-but-deadly type of guy. How many hearts have you broken?" Jessie said with a taunting smile.

"I've been to one...who's not my mom by the way. *hehe* But that was not l-o-v-e. It was one of those 'I wonder what if's' things I did back then. Nothing serious."

It was a few tics away before their next class. They forget to check the time amidst their conversation.

"Are you gonna eat that? Finish up already. We're gonna be late again, man." says Jessie.

"Come on, lighten up a bit. It's okay to be late in the next class, you know.... Hey! look! Look!" Al whispered. "Now that girl, that's gotta be wife material. You can tell."

"You're 16 years old. You're already talking about wife? What are you talking about??"

"You got me all wrong, bud. See," Al transferred and sat beside Jessie and placed his arm around Jessie's shoulder, "What I meant was, if you have someone like her, you're guaranteed a broken heart, a steady flow of tears or infidelity would never come near you."

"Maybe you're right. Hey I've seen that girl in my first day here. She loves to drink iced tea, too."

Al looked at him funny. "You're stalking her? You're a stalker ma' black man??"

"What?! Of course not. On my first few days here I've been doing more observing than conversing you now. So I see people and I see what they do, what they eat, what they wear... Look, look... see that big guy over there with an arm band? He's actually trying to hide a tattoo... And he's gay by the way."

"That guy? That guy who always gives me the eye when we cross paths?"

"Yyyyuupp.... He's a she. Saw him totally checking out a classmate of mine.... YOU!" Jessie let out a huge laugh.

"Shut up!" Al smirked.

"I'm not kidding. I'm certain."

"Whatever man. Lunch's done for me. Let's just go."

The two went up to there next class.

Jessie teased Al all the way to class.

It was a good day.

to be continued...