On your first day of kindergarten, the teacher made you sit next to a pretty girl in a pretty dress.
“Hello,“ she said, and she told you her name. Pretty girl, pretty dress, and a pretty name. You wondered to yourself if you could convince your mom to change your name into a flower’s too (of course, she shot down the idea that afternoon).
Your new friend introduced you to another friend who was sitting on your other side. She was tall. Way taller than you that you had to slightly tilt your head up when you talked to her. You didn’t like it at first, but then you realized there’s nothing you could do about it. But you gave your parents an earful about your height during dinner anyway.
28 August, 2011
23 August, 2011
and then...
It's a lingering kiss. Kiss that would make an appearance in your dream, kiss that you would remember even when you can remember nothing else, and kiss that would always give you a pinkish glow, even when your face is already full of wrinkles.
So you hold on to it, faithfully, just like you hold on to the person who gave you the kiss. You tried to remember every details about him. How his hair always looks undone and a bit longer than what seemed appropriate. How his eyes are piercing, look right to your soul, with a twinkle that give you a tingle. How he rarely smile, but when he does it would be lopsided, with a hint of a dimple. How his cheeks seems so soft, and feels so smooth with warm chocolate color, make you have to curl your hand so you wouldn't touch it all the time.
Now you are staring down, to your hands, yours and his. How they look so beautiful together, and how you can't believe your luck for finally able to hold his hand, just like so many times you dreamed about it before.
And then he stared at you, with that smile of his, and then he say, "You finally found me..."
So you close your eyes, seal it closed, and with all you might, you resist to wake up.
So you hold on to it, faithfully, just like you hold on to the person who gave you the kiss. You tried to remember every details about him. How his hair always looks undone and a bit longer than what seemed appropriate. How his eyes are piercing, look right to your soul, with a twinkle that give you a tingle. How he rarely smile, but when he does it would be lopsided, with a hint of a dimple. How his cheeks seems so soft, and feels so smooth with warm chocolate color, make you have to curl your hand so you wouldn't touch it all the time.
Now you are staring down, to your hands, yours and his. How they look so beautiful together, and how you can't believe your luck for finally able to hold his hand, just like so many times you dreamed about it before.
And then he stared at you, with that smile of his, and then he say, "You finally found me..."
So you close your eyes, seal it closed, and with all you might, you resist to wake up.
18 August, 2011
PCTR: Lost And Found
(i'm gonna try and make this into a series. each girl gets a story.. that is if i can make up different stories for all of them :P)
At first, I didn’t know what she meant when she said that she doesn’t like the name Steve. The four of us were in the living room, catching up while tuning in to MTV when Sheryl Crow’s Steve McQueen video came on. After she said it, we all stayed quiet in case she’s going to talk about it more. But no. She reached for the popcorn and didn’t say anything else. So we went back to watching the TV.
At first, I didn’t know what she meant when she said that she doesn’t like the name Steve. The four of us were in the living room, catching up while tuning in to MTV when Sheryl Crow’s Steve McQueen video came on. After she said it, we all stayed quiet in case she’s going to talk about it more. But no. She reached for the popcorn and didn’t say anything else. So we went back to watching the TV.
13 August, 2011
How Important Is Getting There? (Epilogue)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Epilogue
There's a feeling that waits in a pit resting somewhere at the bottom of your heart. It never tells you what it is, or when it's going to surface, but when it does, it does, and you'll know what it is. There isn't a name for it, and no amount of words can ever describe it. At best, you can probably say it's a peaceful, magical feeling, but even that severely demotes it.
Epilogue
There's a feeling that waits in a pit resting somewhere at the bottom of your heart. It never tells you what it is, or when it's going to surface, but when it does, it does, and you'll know what it is. There isn't a name for it, and no amount of words can ever describe it. At best, you can probably say it's a peaceful, magical feeling, but even that severely demotes it.
How Important Is Getting There? (10/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 10
The bell above the diner door rings.
“Finally,” Rose throws her hands up. She gets up and walks towards the door where Chiquita and Penny are standing. “Give me back my cigs,” she says as she snatches a pack of smokes from Penny's hand.
It's a bit disorienting when everything you thought you knew gets yanked away from you and replaced by another perspective. Penny feels like she's floating now, but drowning at the same time. All those things that Chiquita just told her swirl around in her mind like cream, poured onto a cup of coffee. Like clouds, she thinks. Clouds in my coffee, just like the song.
Chapter 10
The bell above the diner door rings.
“Finally,” Rose throws her hands up. She gets up and walks towards the door where Chiquita and Penny are standing. “Give me back my cigs,” she says as she snatches a pack of smokes from Penny's hand.
It's a bit disorienting when everything you thought you knew gets yanked away from you and replaced by another perspective. Penny feels like she's floating now, but drowning at the same time. All those things that Chiquita just told her swirl around in her mind like cream, poured onto a cup of coffee. Like clouds, she thinks. Clouds in my coffee, just like the song.
09 August, 2011
How Important Is Getting There? (9/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 9
“So you ship your books all the way from New York. Big deal. What does that have to do with anything?”
“You know,” Chiquita yanks a cigarette out of Penny's lips and toss it to the ground. She kicks around dirt to put it out. “For an extremely successful bookstore owner, and by successful I mean being half of the latest duo to be featured in Wall Street Journal Report, you're really dim about other stuff.”
Chapter 9
“So you ship your books all the way from New York. Big deal. What does that have to do with anything?”
“You know,” Chiquita yanks a cigarette out of Penny's lips and toss it to the ground. She kicks around dirt to put it out. “For an extremely successful bookstore owner, and by successful I mean being half of the latest duo to be featured in Wall Street Journal Report, you're really dim about other stuff.”
08 August, 2011
How Important Is Getting There? (8/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 8
“Rose? Hello? you there? Listen cause I can't talk for too long. Tara just got a call. One of the dancers fell through and they want her. Like, right now. We're packing as we speak. There's a car service waiting for us to leave in an hour.”
“But—“
“Shush. Just listen to me. I'm so, SO sorry I can't be there for you tonight, and for P. I know this whole bookstore thing is your dream. Tara does too. She's been going back and forth about it, but I told her she should go because this is hers.” Chiquita takes a pause to make sure Rose is following her. “Do you... understand what I'm saying?
Chapter 8
“Rose? Hello? you there? Listen cause I can't talk for too long. Tara just got a call. One of the dancers fell through and they want her. Like, right now. We're packing as we speak. There's a car service waiting for us to leave in an hour.”
“But—“
“Shush. Just listen to me. I'm so, SO sorry I can't be there for you tonight, and for P. I know this whole bookstore thing is your dream. Tara does too. She's been going back and forth about it, but I told her she should go because this is hers.” Chiquita takes a pause to make sure Rose is following her. “Do you... understand what I'm saying?
How Important Is Getting There? (7/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 7
Rose and Chiquita wake up at the same time around 3 AM. Chiquita mutters something about how her neck is sore while Rose complements her as the best pillow ever for a road trip.
It doesn't take long before one of them notices that someone doesn't originally belong in the backseat. The other one senses the tension that's currently slicing the air like cucumbers and sends a text message to the person sitting on the front passenger seat.
Text Message
From: Rose (work)
U ok?
She gets a reply and it just says, “peachy.”
Chapter 7
Rose and Chiquita wake up at the same time around 3 AM. Chiquita mutters something about how her neck is sore while Rose complements her as the best pillow ever for a road trip.
It doesn't take long before one of them notices that someone doesn't originally belong in the backseat. The other one senses the tension that's currently slicing the air like cucumbers and sends a text message to the person sitting on the front passenger seat.
Text Message
From: Rose (work)
U ok?
She gets a reply and it just says, “peachy.”
07 August, 2011
Kau
Aku jatuh cinta seketika.
Saat itu aku sedang membuka sebuah buku kumpulan foto dari seorang sutradara kenamaan*, lalu aku melihat fotomu.
Kau sedang berdiri di atas salah satu layar komputer bobrok yang bertebaran di tepi pantai. Tanganmu terentang, kepalamu mendongak menghadap matahari, dan matamu terpejam, dengan rendah hati menghormati cahayanya yang terlalu agung bagi sepasang bola mata.
Tentu saja aku belum pernah melihatmu sebelumnya, tapi aku tak akan pernah melupakan namamu. Sederet huruf yang dicetak rapi dibawah foto itu. S. Teddy. Aku tentunya tidak tahu apa sebenarnya S yang ada dinamamu itu.
tiny dose of listen & write
in the midst of Sindro's celebrated series, I hope it's okay to put a tiny, weeny, listen & write exercise here :)
1. Kissing a Fool - George Michael
I've tried and tried, but I can't help replaying the moment when you told me about how you were connected with her. How she came down with flu and you knew. You woke up abruptly in the middle of the night, and you knew.
And I swear, I've tried. I've tried not to feel these little pinches inside. Failed, I'm telling you. And yes, I've tried not to shed more tears. You think I like this? Failed again. But most of all, I've tried not to think about how you knew she was coming down with flu, but you don't know how I'm breaking into tiny smithereens. The small, continuous, cracking sound is echoing, but you can't hear it.
You don't know.
1. Kissing a Fool - George Michael
I've tried and tried, but I can't help replaying the moment when you told me about how you were connected with her. How she came down with flu and you knew. You woke up abruptly in the middle of the night, and you knew.
And I swear, I've tried. I've tried not to feel these little pinches inside. Failed, I'm telling you. And yes, I've tried not to shed more tears. You think I like this? Failed again. But most of all, I've tried not to think about how you knew she was coming down with flu, but you don't know how I'm breaking into tiny smithereens. The small, continuous, cracking sound is echoing, but you can't hear it.
You don't know.
How Important Is Getting There? (6/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 6
“Penny. Penny, you're swerving,” Tara whispers from behind the driver's headrest. She has been clutching tightly to whatever she can grab a hold on. And even though there is no rule about wearing the safety belt when you're sitting in the backseat, she's already strapped on since more than an hour ago— when she saw Rose finally fell asleep.
Penny snaps out of her drowsiness and regains control of the wheel. She shakes her head to shake the sleep out of her system. Looking to her right, Rose is already asleep, clutching her still playing iPod— she's done good today by bringing back the best of the nineties.
From her rearview mirror Penny can spot a sleeping Chiquita. She's resting her right side against the door. Ouch, Penny thinks. Cee's bound to get a sore neck in the morning.
Chapter 6
“Penny. Penny, you're swerving,” Tara whispers from behind the driver's headrest. She has been clutching tightly to whatever she can grab a hold on. And even though there is no rule about wearing the safety belt when you're sitting in the backseat, she's already strapped on since more than an hour ago— when she saw Rose finally fell asleep.
Penny snaps out of her drowsiness and regains control of the wheel. She shakes her head to shake the sleep out of her system. Looking to her right, Rose is already asleep, clutching her still playing iPod— she's done good today by bringing back the best of the nineties.
From her rearview mirror Penny can spot a sleeping Chiquita. She's resting her right side against the door. Ouch, Penny thinks. Cee's bound to get a sore neck in the morning.
06 August, 2011
How Important Is Getting There? (5/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 5
It's a good thing Penny always sets her alarm to go off an hour before she's supposed to wake up. After slipping in and out of consciousness for a good 45 minutes of snooze-and-slapthealarm, she finally managed to drag herself into the shower. By 5.30 she's fully awake, dressed, and in desperate need of some caffeine. She was about to walk out her the bedroom door when she realized that she didn't set the coffee maker the night before. She groans before she turns the knob, then frowns in confusion when the smell of coffee hugs her from the kitchen.
“Morning.” Tara says, putting down her cup of coffee to the kitchen counter. “I figured you'd need coffee to drive.”
Chapter 5
It's a good thing Penny always sets her alarm to go off an hour before she's supposed to wake up. After slipping in and out of consciousness for a good 45 minutes of snooze-and-slapthealarm, she finally managed to drag herself into the shower. By 5.30 she's fully awake, dressed, and in desperate need of some caffeine. She was about to walk out her the bedroom door when she realized that she didn't set the coffee maker the night before. She groans before she turns the knob, then frowns in confusion when the smell of coffee hugs her from the kitchen.
“Morning.” Tara says, putting down her cup of coffee to the kitchen counter. “I figured you'd need coffee to drive.”
04 August, 2011
How Important Is Getting There? (4/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 4
For some reason, sleep doesn't come easy for Penny tonight. She has been tossing and turning for hours now and she blames everything from her lumpy mattress (which is not lumpy at all), her stupid pillows (which don't even have brains to begin with), and even the walls (she thinks she can hear the paint cracking).
She starts to wonder if admitting herself to an asylum is a good idea. She wants to see if the padded walls are quieter than the ones in her bedroom. And besides, it's not like she can't rock a straight jacket.
She reaches for her phone and looks at the screen. 1.41 AM. She huffs. Looking at the ceiling, she silently thanks God that she still has another night before the trip. She then spends her restless minutes calming herself down, counting sheep and whatever woolly animals going through her mind.
Wait, elephants don't ha—
Chapter 4
For some reason, sleep doesn't come easy for Penny tonight. She has been tossing and turning for hours now and she blames everything from her lumpy mattress (which is not lumpy at all), her stupid pillows (which don't even have brains to begin with), and even the walls (she thinks she can hear the paint cracking).
She starts to wonder if admitting herself to an asylum is a good idea. She wants to see if the padded walls are quieter than the ones in her bedroom. And besides, it's not like she can't rock a straight jacket.
She reaches for her phone and looks at the screen. 1.41 AM. She huffs. Looking at the ceiling, she silently thanks God that she still has another night before the trip. She then spends her restless minutes calming herself down, counting sheep and whatever woolly animals going through her mind.
Wait, elephants don't ha—
03 August, 2011
How Important Is Getting There? (3/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 3
“I'm surprised everything is still intact,” Rose says, emerging from her bedroom an hour after the first cupboard slam. “No broken frames, no torn upholstery? I gotta say, I expected so much more of you.”
Penny's sitting on the kitchen counter with a defeated look on her face and her legs dangling over the edge. Rose looks at a full glass of orange juice in Penny's hands and thinks it's the weirdest thing she has ever encountered. “In your moment of weakness, or shall I say 'savage', did you bump your head and forget that you hate OJ?”
Chapter 3
“I'm surprised everything is still intact,” Rose says, emerging from her bedroom an hour after the first cupboard slam. “No broken frames, no torn upholstery? I gotta say, I expected so much more of you.”
Penny's sitting on the kitchen counter with a defeated look on her face and her legs dangling over the edge. Rose looks at a full glass of orange juice in Penny's hands and thinks it's the weirdest thing she has ever encountered. “In your moment of weakness, or shall I say 'savage', did you bump your head and forget that you hate OJ?”
How Important Is Getting There? (2/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 2
Once again sat at a booth by the window in the diner that's between their office and the apartment, they plan out their entire trip. Which car to take (Penny's, because Rose's eats up too much gas), what to bring their parents (food and wine, because there can never be too much food, or wine, at reunions like these), where to stay (they considered hotel, but Rose's mom had called them earlier and insisted that they all stay at their house— “there are just too many rooms in this house and I wanna be close to my girls,” she said), and lastly, how they're going to spend 25 hours on the road without killing each other.
“I'll drive, you take care of everything else,” is Penny's answer.
Chapter 2
Once again sat at a booth by the window in the diner that's between their office and the apartment, they plan out their entire trip. Which car to take (Penny's, because Rose's eats up too much gas), what to bring their parents (food and wine, because there can never be too much food, or wine, at reunions like these), where to stay (they considered hotel, but Rose's mom had called them earlier and insisted that they all stay at their house— “there are just too many rooms in this house and I wanna be close to my girls,” she said), and lastly, how they're going to spend 25 hours on the road without killing each other.
“I'll drive, you take care of everything else,” is Penny's answer.
02 August, 2011
How Important Is Getting There? (1/10+1)
[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five] [Six] [Seven] [Eight] [Nine] [Ten] [Epilogue]
Chapter 1
They're both sat at a booth by the window in a diner conveniently located smack dab between the office and their apartment on an uneventful Thursday afternoon. Neither are on their lunch break but God knows both needed the time off.
Whenever the bell above the diner door rings they glance towards the entrance. If a familiar face from the office walks in and dare to look at them curiously, Penny and Rose just shoot them a glare that would make them cower. They've always been good at those glares. Practice makes perfect, and they had all the practice they needed during their foolish, reckless college years. Besides, they're the bosses now. They make the rules. They can take their lunch breaks anytime they want. Especially when the whole company shoves them nothing new but useless, unproductive interns to take care of and endless piles of papers to approve and sign.
Chapter 1
They're both sat at a booth by the window in a diner conveniently located smack dab between the office and their apartment on an uneventful Thursday afternoon. Neither are on their lunch break but God knows both needed the time off.
Whenever the bell above the diner door rings they glance towards the entrance. If a familiar face from the office walks in and dare to look at them curiously, Penny and Rose just shoot them a glare that would make them cower. They've always been good at those glares. Practice makes perfect, and they had all the practice they needed during their foolish, reckless college years. Besides, they're the bosses now. They make the rules. They can take their lunch breaks anytime they want. Especially when the whole company shoves them nothing new but useless, unproductive interns to take care of and endless piles of papers to approve and sign.
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