Something to Watch...

A rich heiress who lives in the darkness...

A swindler who lives in deciet...

Love Me Not

Jodi Picoult's Tenth Circle: A must-read book!

I've just finished reading her book "tenth circle" till page 278... a hundred and more to go. But so far, it's been great! It's not the typical love story we hear everyday, in fact, it takes a different angle, a love a father has for her daughter.

It's basically about Daniel Stone, an ex-wayward child who turned responsible beyond words the moment he became a father. Being a comic artist, he is currently working on his "tenth circle" where his real life is reflected through his main character, Duncan, whose daughter is kidnapped by an evil monster (okay. i know this sounds like some fairytale ... unbelievable story, but no. Surprisingly it doesnt.). He crosses the nine circles of hell (based on Dante's story) in search of his daughter. But wait, he discovers that everytime rage overcomes him, he gains super strength. BUt with every victor he gains against the monsters, a part of him becomes that monster.

"I am just so scared... that one day, when i do finally meet my daughter, she wouldn't even recognize me anymore, because there's nothing left of me but a beast..." (or something like that, this is not a direct quote... read the book, and see for yourself Ü)

IN real life, Daniel's daughter is raped. She is suicidal. He is desperate. His wife confessed her extra-marital affair with a student. The boyfriend is dead. Will Daniel reach his own "tenth circle"? Get a hold of this book and find out.

--- An insult doesn't have to be shouted to leave a scar, vows dont need to be whispered to be believed...

Bravo to this book! Can't wait to start reading her other book "The pact". I saw it in a bookshop at the Hong Kong Airport, but tempting as it was, too overly-priced! So i'm getting it here! =)

The advantages of ADVANTAGE TERM LIFE: avail of it!

Mulah. We need it while we're living, and still need it when we die.

From the moment we were born, we pay people. To the minute we die, we still have to pay. It just never ends!

Die. Such a scary word. Being a fiction writer, I've always written stories about people who die, why? cause it makes the romantic even more romantic! Oh, love beyond time and space,... Eternity, ... Forever... But never have i written about the characters getting themselves insured! Really!!! It was a reality i never placed in my stories... not one!!! I always only thought that dying was an emotional problem, i never really saw it as a financial issue. That everytime the heart grieves, so does the wallet knowing that it will have to cough up a gigantic amount of money all at once! Well, it's there, but i just never took the time to really look.

And now as i think about it, along Araneta, (which is a very long main road known for having the biggest and most prominent funeral homes, such as Arlington, Paz, Columbarium and now the Sanctuarium), you will notice little tents set up, where the poor, who cannot afford the high rates of these funeral homes, manage the wakes themselves. I'm sure they too have interesting stories to tell. Will it always be about the mulah?! That is why, getting insured is a good thing! (a little scary, but good), at least you'll be INSURED, whatever happens to you, you've got something to hold on to. A little regular contribution to secure your future, it is indeed a good investment. Spare your loved ones from the financial headaches, that would'nt be the inheritance you'd like to leave them, would it? Think about making that investment, cause you never really know! Check out this sites: (and see the advantages of ADVANTAGE TERM LIFE, I;m telling you, they look very promising especially as it can cater to particular needs of particular individuals)

http://www.advantagetermlife.com/
(a very light and simple site to further explain the concept of insuring yourself),

http://www.advantagetermlife.com/quote.php
(be a wise shopper, compare prices. Answer the simple survey and let them help you find the insurance scheme that's perfect for your needs),

http://www.advantagetermlife.com/premium.php
(Check out this new policy, with it, you will never have to feel like throwing away money everytime you pay your premium... money back!)

I dont know about you but my characters are getting insured next time!

blogsVERTISing: a new hobby for the material girl!

You get home from work, or say from school, you open your computer, connect. The line is busy.

You wait a little. And as your fingertips slowly drum on the wooden table, you suddenly remember about this "blogsvertise" your brother mentioned just the other day. "hey, since you love blogging so much, why not make some money out of it?" You can almost hear his voice as if it were coming from the next room. Then suddenly i hear Madonna from the radio. Im like Madonna actually, i say: "Cause we are living in a material world and i am a material girl... terial, terial... ) Yes! I love nice things. And i am a guilty shopaholic! Money's never really been an issue, but I wonder how it would feel like to actually earn the money myself. Would the money i earn somehow weigh a little heavier than money just given to me by the world's greatest financer (uhm... my parents)?

Finally. I got through. http://www.blogsvertise.com/, I quickly typed. I read the rules, the terms, and how it's supposed to be done. and i say we've got a good deal right there... So here i am, typing my first entry about blogvertise. All i have to do was answer the simple application form (totally basic! and easy to follow!), check my email (for the activation account), and here i am... typing this! (while of course, already imagining the different tasks given to me, the different products and services that will be given to me to critique... my friends always said "i always have something to say about everything"... well, now, im putting that to good use!)

I believe in fate. Serendipity, a happy and unexpected encounter, and i think this is one! The madonna music, my brother's story, ... but from here on in, "choice" steps in. I choose to believe this is a good venture, I choose to write about it. And the team from Blogsvertise will make its own choice... And so will you after reading this blog. Will you type http://www.blogsvertise.com/ on your url immediately and see for yourself? Or will you choose to dismiss the million possibilities and always wonder about what could have been? Your choice, you choose. Visit: http://www.blogsvertise.com/ for more information! You've got nothing to lose!

Together we... also FALL (a heartbreaking feast)

Can people really change? Why is it always so much easier to say that a person has changed for the worse than to say a person has changed and become better and actually mean it? Is it because deep down we know that no matter how well we forgive, we will and perhaps, can never truly forget the hurt everytime we see the scars that they've left behind? Could it be because we know that every single time we see them smile and chit-chat with us, our suspiscions will always drown out their merry voices, and while we smile back, there is always a thought of when the knife will strike again. They always said the sharpest of knives, is one that is the most silent.

Going to family gatherings used to be fun. Honestly, aside from the food, it was a way to parade who we are, what we have and most especially, what we've done. That was then. But now, after everything that has happened, it doesnt seem so much fun anymore, and i begin to ask myself how i never saw the signs! Sometimes i wish that it was truly because people have changed, and not because that's how they've always been.

There, we dont even communicate. We just smile and nod at each other as if everything were okay, clean slate. We engage in small talk, we talk about the most trivial of things like, where'd you park your car? or Oh look, your hair line's receding, but you're so young.... or I'm sorry I didnt see you were still getting from the plate...Small things, small insignificant things used to fill in the gap-- the deafening silence. It is amazing people who share so much history have nothing to talk about. Or, ... perhaps we can rephrase that into "have nothing nice to talk about anymore".

Nobody even brought a camera! What kind of a party. Really. It's not that i forgot, i remembered actually, but something in me kept pulling me back. Could it be because I didn't see anything worth capturing anyway? Or i couldn't think of any possible person with whom i want to immortalize the minutes with? I guess that's it. Funny thing is, even the other statistics didnt bring one. They probably thought the same.

The gathering ended in a very divided way. There were no kisses, Oh except for five cousins, who kissed each aunt farewell, before finally going on their own way. There were no reminders about the schedule of the next gathering. It seems as if, we just went our separate ways. Period.

I will not deny the sadness that filled my heart at that moment. We could have had it. I could have had it. But I dont. I think about the possibility of patching things up someday, and suddenly the truth comes out as i sigh and say: "Wow. That was awkward. Thank goodness it's over." And then we really go our separate ways. This is not just a thing of the moment, believe me. If there's one thing i've learned, it's that we've always been in separate paths...

I am the missing disney princess... FIND ME.

I walked through the paved floors, in my white shoes (I would like to thank my sponsor, Lacoste), and with my side-swept bangs and a smile that ran from ear to ear. Even as i slowly walked, I could feel my insides rushing, excited to breathe in everything i could possibly take. The view, the sounds of orchestra playing in the background and even the smell from the wooden furniture inside the shops. My mind, spinning faster than it ever did, trying to capture as much photographs as possible.

Welcome to Main Street. Adults were running just as if they were kids themselves, exicted and worried about the terrible line that awaits them at the ride stations. Teen-agers wearing mouse ears and jester hats, colorful balloons that appear to be floating in the air as they followed the trail of strollers. The golden signs that hung outside the large doors that were wide open, ready to embrace anyone who entered in it. Ahh.... I am home.

Disneyland, obviously, is one of my most favorite (redundancy intended) places in the world. First, because it brings back the priceless feeling of happiness and innocence from my youth, and second, because it stirs my imagination into doing what the whole theme park was all about, Dreaming. A dream is a wish your heart makes... I remember Princess Aurora sing it.

But where do we draw the line between dreaming and dillusions? When does dreaming become bad? Is it when we find ourselves staring in front of a mirror, only this time, we see a different version of ourselves, a better one. We see a person who is perfect, with the permanently blowdried hair that was always at the perfect place, with the shiny lips, and the sparkling eyes wearing the most enchanted dress. Is it when we prefer to sleep rather than stay awake, knowing that in dreams, we are who we've always wanted to be, and living the life we've always dreamed of. Or is it when we finally realize we have fallen for a guy, who doesn't even really exist?

A cousin of mine once said, I was an old woman trapped in a child's body. Today, i correct her by saying, I am, in fact, a child trapped in a woman's body.

Do we ever grow out of it? Perhaps. Maybe when we could find no more songs to dream to... maybe then, the prince charming vanishes and the real me could finally appear. But then again, MAYBE. In the meantime, I CHOOSE to continue to DREAM.

The Glass House: (Chapter10)

“When are you telling her the truth?”
“What?!”
“About her parents, you and this marriage?”
“I don’t know. I’m not in a hurry about that.”
“Does she know what you do?”
“No.”

“Yes, Richard. What do you do?” they suddenly heard her ask.
“Excuse me.” And Mark left the room.
“What is the deep dark secret you’re hiding from me, Richard?” She asks again with her arms crossed over her chest.

Richard walked over to where she was standing. He tried to pull her close but she pushed him away.

“You’re not getting away with it this time…”
“Why are you being difficult?”
“I’m being difficult?!”
“Yes! It’s none of your business!”
“I’m the one who doesn’t know here, and I’m being difficult?!”

Richard tried to calm her down but she kept on fighting back. A gunshot was finally heard from the living room. They both kept quiet. Clarissa, confused could only look at Richard with asking eyes. Richard placed his index finger on his mouth as if asking her to keep quiet. More gunshots were heard from the rooms downstairs. Now, voices of men were heard. Richard pulled Clarissa into the closet. Her chest was pressed against his. He could almost feel her very fast heartbeat from where he was standing. She was sweating. He immediately placed his hands on her ears, trying very hard to cover them. The shots stopped. Someone was opening the cabinet door they were staying in, it was Mark. Relieved, Clarissa was about to get out when another shot was heard and Mark fell to the bathroom floor. Richard went out and shot the man who blew the shot at Mark. Richard immediately pulled Clarissa and made her face another direction away from the dead bodies. By that time, Clarissa was in tears. But this time was different, her crying produced no sound, which frightened Richard more. She was staring at the wall and her eyes had no focus while tears kept rolling down. They stood there for another hour, quiet. There was no one left in the house, some of the maids managed to escape, others lay still with their cold bodies on the cold floors of the glass house.

Richard pulled the still- shocked Clarissa into the shower room. He uncuffed his polo and opened the shower. Water ran down her cheeks, he fixed her hair but she pushed him away. He gave her space. Slowly, she felt her body fall to the ground against the marble wall of the shower room. He sat beside her.

“So, this is who you are…” she said without even casting a look at the man beside her.
“I’m sorry,..”
“So what? Are you some assassin? Hired to kill?”
“No. I don’t do the killing, I have people do that for me.”
“What?!??”
“My whole family was killed when I was sixteen. I have lived my whole life with one purpose since then… to kill the men who took my family away. And now, I am down to my last two people…, then you came along…”
“Why did you drag me into this?”
“You were my father’s last wish. He said I should find you and marry you. He knew your mother.”
“Is this for my money?”
“You don’t have any. I bought your freedom. I’ve been sending the money you’ve been using ever since your parents died.”
“Did you have anything to do with their deaths?”
“No. I found you at a time when they were both dead already.”
“How much?”
“… Does it matter?”
“How much?”
“Fifty.”

Clarissa slowly unbuttoned her blouse. With all her might, she freed herself of the cloth that was weighing her down due to the water. She used force to use her shirt to scrub her arms, her elbows and her hands while tears continued to roll down her cheeks. The blood stains made the water red.

“I need to get this off me….” She said to herself busily.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered to her ear as he got the shirt and rubbed the blood stains off her arms. “I’m sorry…” and his lips touched her forehead. “What should I do…?” he whispered. She slept beside him that night, inside his embrace, like a little child would on stormy nights. That night, he knew exactly what to do.

The Glass House: (Chapter9)

Next Monday came, the church was filled with the townspeople. Everyone was busy preparing the food for the orphaned children. The colorful decorations have been raised and posted, the plates have been set and the music played. Father Mike came out of the cofessionary to meet Clarissa.

“Looks like the event’s going to be a success.”
“I know! I just hope the kids will like the programs prepared for them…” she said excitedly.
“Oh! Look, there’s more. Weren’t we going short on the pasta? Why do I see a bus full of it fast approaching our venue?”
“Oh, it’s probably from Richard.” She said with a slightly disappointed tone.

Mike looked at Clarissa for a while. Her tone made him wonder. It was halfway to the end of the program when a black car pulled in front of the Church compound. Clarissa’s face suddenly lit up when she saw Richard get off the car, Mike could only follow her through his eyes. Clarissa ran towards Richard who just got off the car. And like a school girl, she stood with her back straight and looked up at the towering Richard with both her arms crossed at her back.

“You made it!”
“I though you said, I should?”
“Come! I’ll introduce you to Father Mike.” Excited, she pulled him across the lot.

“Hello. You must be the best friend. I’ve heard a lot about you…”
“And you are Rich…” Mike hasn’t finished his sentence yet when Richard immediately replied: “The loving husband.” And he pulled Clarissa close to him while smiling.

The two men leaned on the long table as they both watched Clarissa from a distance. Clarissa was busy hosting the whole event.

“Okay kids, now, we are going to play the game that I call: “Pin the Donkey”…”

Her voice could be heard from where the two men were standing. With his arms crossed over his chest, Richard started talking.

“Look at my wife…Isn’t she just lovely?”
Mike could only smile while looking at the wife Richard was referring to.
“She would tie her hair into a ponytail and walk around the house as if deliberately causing her ponytail to bounce with her every move.”
Mike let out a loud laughter.
“The house just seems brighter with her in it. The maids love her. The guards adore her.”


“I know we just met. But I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“I have to warn you, I don’t take no for an answer…”

Both of them laughed.

That night, Clarissa saw Richard sitting down on his study table reading his documents. She knocked three times.

“May I come in?”
“Why?”
“I have homework, see?” She raised her books and pen. Without even waiting for his reply, she immediately entered the room and jumped up into his bed. And there she lay down and started highlighting the things she was reading from her books. Richard would look at her from time to time and continue with his work. She would look at him too from time to time. And smile to herself.

It was past twelve midnight when Richard finished reading the documents. He saw Clarissa sprawled on his bed, sleeping like a baby. He walked to her, sat on the bed where she was and fixed the hair that was on her face. He lay there beside her. After a few moments, he heard a voice come out from Clarissa whose eyes were clearly still closed.

“Why do you live in a house made of glass?”

Richard simply stared at the ceiling.

“It feels so cold. You’re not going to talk to me now aren’t you?”

Richard let off a chuckle, still not looking at her.

“How can a house made of see- through glass hold so much secrets…”

Richard leaned over to face Clarissa.

“Tomorrow, I’ll wait for you at the Church.”
“Why? What are we going to do there?”
“It’s a surprise.”

The next day, Clarissa went to the Church alone. The church was quiet, no one was there. She opened the doors and went inside. She was surprised to find Richard standing in front near the altar and Mike waiting at the end of the aisle. The lights slowly went brighter and a soft flowing music filled the high walls of the church. Elizabeth pulled her and put a veil on her head. Surprised she wasn’t able to say anything. She walked down the aisle. Richard pulled her hand the moment she reached the front.

“Do you, Richard, take this woman, to be your lawfully wedded wife, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer…”

Clarissa looked at Mike intently as he continued reading. Tears welled up in her eyes. And like any other wedding, this one was sealed with a kiss on the cheek. Something that caught Mike’s attention.

The ride home was full of laughter for the “newlyweds”. But upon reaching the house, both retired to their own rooms.

Clarissa was seated in front of her dresser while combing her long hair when she heard a knock on her door.

“Come in.”

Richard entered the room, walked straight behind Clarissa who was seated then. He looked at her from the mirror. He bent down to kiss her neck while holding her shoulders firmly. “Goodnight”, he whispered. He was about to step out of the room when Clarissa went after him and jumped up to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Good night!”

The next day, Clarissa was surprised to find Richard standing outside of her Biology classroom. He was pacing to and fro the dimly lit hallway of the old building that smelled of wet brown paper against the damp air that filled the place. He was talking to someone on the phone. He turned around and saw Clarissa leaving the room and closing the door. He closed his folding phone, slipped it into his pocket, titled his head and gave her a smile. Clarissa just stood in place, and looked at the man that was a few steps away from her, the husband she had married. She looked him up from head to toe. He was wearing a navy blue suit, her favorite of all his suits for it made his hazel eyes stand out all the time. He stood out from the rest of the people in the crowd, he was taller than the rest of them. He just stood in place, and looked back at her. She was wearing a pink polo shirt tucked in her faded jeans with a bag hanging on her right shoulder. Her was tied up, with a pink clip he supposed. Finally, she finally started walking towards him. And when she was so close, they were both at a loss for words.

“Did you wait long?” she asked.
“No. Not really. Uhh….” And there was silence. “How was class?” finally, he was able to come up with the next things to say.
“It was…” she tried to look for the words that would prolong this oh- so- awkward conversation that she apparently, and ironically didn’t want to end. “Good…” she finally finished her sentence.

And they walked together going to the car. Leaving the building, they saw that it was drizzling outside. Richard looked up at the sky.

“I think this is going to take time…” he said. “Stay here, I’ll get the car…” he pushed her inside the building into the shade. And he ran to the car… behind him, she tilted her head to get a better picture of him.

“Richard!” he heard her shout from behind him. He turned around to see her running towards him with her umbrella in hand and her pony tail swinging in the mid- air. Finally, she reached him, put her arms around his and started walking slowly. And they slowly walked to the car without saying anything. He opened her door for her, but as she was getting in, he pulled her close and kissed her on the lips. Shocked her hand let go of the umbrella she was holding. His lips were gentle, that was all she could think of. Her body felt warm all over, and she could almost feel her face turn red, if color could be felt instead of seen. The ride home was slow and quiet. As the car pulled up in front of the house, Clarissa quickly planted a kiss on his cheek and ran for the door, as fast as she could.

The next evening, while at dinner table, Richard told Clarissa about a pictorial.

“Tomorrow morning, come into the living room, my good friend Dan will take pictures of us… okay?” he asked.
“For what? Why? ”
“Nothing. Just because….”
“Oh wow! Perfect! It’s been a long time since I had my pictures taken…”
“Someone will come up to your room tomorrow morning to help you fix up… so take early breakfast.” Richard said.
“No. Picture first before breakfast. You too!

The next morning, Richard stood at the bottom of the spiral staircase in a white navy coat that had golden buttons on both sides of the chest, like the ones worn by captains. He paced back and forth, constantly checking his watch. Dan was already inside the living room.

Richard knew Dan for as long as he could remember. Dan was five years his junior, he was the son of Richard’s nanny. Richard’s family financed his education and day- to day living. They weren’t really close, but they had an understanding. Richard knew Dan was his responsibility and Dan knew he needed Richard. While waiting, Dan took stolen pictures of Richard while waiting. Finally, Richard entered the living room. He had the living room fixed and decorated especially for this event. White cloths draped from the ceiling reaching the floor and a golden couch sat on the center of the room. The light from outside brought out the peachy color of the walls. Both men sat while waiting. Finally, the doors opened and Clarissa entered. Dressed in a baby pink tube gown, she stole their glances. Richard breathed deeply and gave her a look. While Dan, in his first time to see her, was shocked at how young and pure Richard’s wife looked. He had heard of her and their contract marriage, from his relatives, but he did not expect they would look this good together. The camera’s started rolling.

That evening, Dan left after having dinner. Richard walked him to the front gates of the estate. Alone, Clarissa took a look at all the pictures that laid on Richard’s study table. A picture showed the two of them looking at one direction with their bodies slanted towards the camera. He stood beside the couch she was sitting on, while her body leaned towards him and her hands rested on her lap. Another picture showed the two of them standing by the window, with Clarissa looking outside while Richard was facing her, as if admiring her silently. His left hand was rested on top of the window sill while his right hand was holding her right elbow as if assisting it. How lovingly he looked at her, she thought. Before she could even continue to the other pictures, a certain picture got her attention. It was a candid photo of Richard waiting by the stairs. How fresh and beautiful he looked. She got the photo, placed it in her pocket, and just in time, Richard had entered the room.

“Did you enjoy?” he asked.
“I had a great time… “
“Mike said you love having your pictures taken…”
“He did?” she asked.

Clarissa suddenly had a flashback. It was five years ago or so. She was just 12. She and Mike had found a camera in her aunt’s room. Mike took pictures of her the whole afternoon. After spending an entire afternoon shooting and posing, tired, they both lay on the bed giggling.

“You are so vain…” Mike teased her.
“I just want to make sure, I keep these moments, so the memories don’t fade…” she reasoned out.
“What a deep answer… I was just teasing you…”
“No, really, I feel that one day, these pictures would help me, in case I lose my way….”
For a minute there was awkward silence. Mike didn’t know how to react to what Clarissa had said. Then Clarissa let out a loud giggle…
“Nah, I was just trying some lines from the movie I saw the other day!”
And they both started laughing again. Clarissa never really got hold of the pictures they took that afternoon. But the memory of that afternoon was very clear to her. So fresh she could almost hear their conversation. Drowned in her memories, Richard’s voice finally came through to her.

“How long have you two known each other?” he asked suddenly.
“For as long as I can remember…maybe when I was ten. Yes. Ten.” she replied.
“First love?”
“I was ten when I first saw him and liked him, or whatever young girls feel towards really cute boys from school. Crush! I was waiting for my aunt, after school, I sat on the bench just outside the school. And suddenly, from nowhere, I heard music playing. It turned out to be from the speakers of the school station. But back then, since it was the first time I heard it, I was overwhelmed. Suddenly, a white handkerchief flew over me, so I jumped here and there trying to catch it, until I lost balance and accidentally fell. When I looked up, I saw him. Mike helped me up. He was 16 then, and very popular among the girls in school. Then we became friends. It was fate that brought us together.”

Not knowing the proper thing to say, Richard decided to remain silent. Clarissa, stood beside Richard and put her hands on top of his chest. Then, she placed her ear close to it while her arms slid around to embrace his body.

“But this is reality.” She said as she breathed deeply and heavily.
She lifted her face to look at his, tip-toed to reach his lips and kissed him. It was a long kiss. Knowing that this was going somewhere else tonight, Richard pulled back.

“No. We can’t.” he told her.
“Why not? We’re married. Everyone else is doing it….”
“Because you’re young. I can wait. I will wait.” And he held her hand instead and led her to her room. He kissed her goodnight and retired to his room. As soon as the door closed, she whispered, “Thank you” and danced around her room.

The Glass House: (Chapter8)

Clarissa went home from school to find Richard trying his best to dress up. She rushed in to help him.

“You know, there are a hundred people inside your house. You can get any one of them to help you…”
“I hate having to rely on others.”

After dressing up, as Clarissa was about to leave the room, Richard asked her if she wanted to have dinner with him.

That night, they had dinner by the gazebo. The whole garden lit up with the shell lights that adorned every tree in the mansion. As dinner was winding down,

“I heard you went to Church today?”
“Oh, I just passed by to give something to Mike.”
“You liked him, didn’t you? I mean. Before he took his vows?”
“How do you know?”
“How can I not know?”

Wiping her mouth, “I always thought we’d end up together. I never thought this…” and she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

“Go on…”
“I never really thought this would happen to me.”
“I understand. This isn’t exactly the perfect marriage, is it?”
“I never even had a wedding. So… yeah….”
“Two years.”
“What?”
“After two years, I’m setting you free. In one of the drawers of your study, you will find a brown envelope. In it, are divorce papers. You can walk away from all this after two years. No hard feelings. But till then, you are my wife. Do we have a deal? I think that’s fair enough for you…”

Before going up back to her room.

“There’s an event in Church, next Monday. If you could come…”
“I’ll have someone bring food for the event.”
“You know, you should go. You need it.”

The Glass House: (Chapter7)

The next morning, Clarissa went down to a Richard who was having his breakfast. He was just about to take a bite from his sandwich when she arrived. Like the other days, she was preparing to sit down on the chair in the middle of the long table, halfway from both ends of the table where on one end Richard was sitting.

“Sit beside me.” Called Richard.

Clarissa stood from where she was already getting ready to sit and instead of moving closer to where Richard was, walked away over to the other end of the long table. She shot him a taunting look. But he was in no mood to argue once again.

“Mark.” Immediately Mark arrived with an envelope in his arms. He gave the envelope to Clarissa.

“You have cash there, a credit card and driver’s license. In case you need to buy anything or go anywhere you want. I have simple rules… you will always be home before I get home.”

“So now you’re taking me for a prisoner?”

“No, I just want you home by the time I get home. You’re taking your maids with you wherever you go. You have a phone, answer it.”

She didn’t give him time to even finish what he was saying, when she stood up from her seat and was walking away.

“I’m not done yet.”
“And so?” and she walked on. She tried to gather up all the courage her body could generate, when deep down she was so scared of every move she was making especially the ones that went against what Richard willed. The men in black suits were getting ready to follow Clarissa and get her back into the room, when Richard raised his right hand as if telling them to let it go, let her go.

That afternoon, Clarissa went to the Church. She left her maids outside of the stone walls of the church. Inside, she talked to Mike.

“How are you?” a concerned Mike asked.
“I’m not well.” She replied.
“Is he hurting you?”
“He’s taking away my life.”
“Is he hurting you???”
“No.”
“Give it time. I’m confident that things will eventually work out…”
“What’s there to work out?”
“Your marriage.”
“It’s a scam… a joke… it all feels like a weird dream…”
“You’ve always been a daydreamer…”
“Not about this one…”
“You want to run away?”
“Don’t joke that way… not now…”

He just laughed. She leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled. Their meeting was finally disrupted when her phone rang.

“See? I’m chained.” She said trying very hard to sound okay. Mike saw her to her car.

“Take good care of her.” he told the two maids.
In the car, Clarissa stared at the fields they crossed. She saw her life right in front of her, how fast it all happened. After the trip, she was back at the glass house again. He wasn’t home yet. He didn’t come home for six days. On the seventh night, she just heard heavy footsteps from outside of her room. She went out to see what it was. She saw Richard drenched in blood walking into his room. She walked in Richard who just took off his white polo stained with what looked like blood. Surprised he looked at her. Shocked, she took a step back and was about to turn around and retreat to her room, when he called her.

“I have a medicine box. Inside the closet.”

Not knowing what to do or what to think, she just stood there, frozen and still.

Confused and as if she didn’t hear anything, Clarissa walked out of the room without looking back. Richard fell on his knees, he was losing so much blood. After a few more minutes, Clarissa walked back in. Hesitant to touch him, her hands went still for another minute until finally, it landed on his cold chest. He was unconscious. She went through his closet where she got the medicine box. She cleaned the wound on his sides and put ointment on it. With all her strength, she pulled his deadweight body up to the bed. She was about to walk out of the room, when she felt a tug at her arms.

“Call Mark.”

She was about to walk away when again, she felt another tug and a whisper “Thank you.”

The next morning, she went to Richard’s room with intentions of getting answers from the questions that have kept her all night. But to her surprise, there was a crowd of men in black suits inside the room, as if a commotion was taking place at that very moment. Tiptoeing she tried to find out what was happening. Until finally, the men in suits recognized her and all fell silent. Richard shot her a look.

“Uhm, I was just going to see how…” she uttered in a very low voice as if unsure.
“Come in.”

As if the red sea parted, the crowd parted to give way to the wife. She looked at the faces in the room, they were all dressed in similar suits and looked like goons. The moment she reached the bed, everyone else stepped out of the room.

“Yes?”
“What’s happening?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You come home wounded, and nothing?”
“It’s nothing you should worry about.”
“Are there people after us? What are you into?”
“It was an accident. As I said, nothing to worry about.”
“Who are you??”
After a moment of silence, Richard finally answered back.

“Open that drawer” he pointed to the drawer beside his bed.

There she saw a small rectangular box. She didn’t know what to do with it, she just looked at Richard as if asking.

“Open it.”

Clarissa, opened the box to find a bracelet. It was a silver bracelet with dangling horses on it.

“Your aunt said you love horses.”
“I can’t take this.” She put the bracelet back into the box and once again, placed it inside the drawer.
“You get that I’m saying thank you here, do you?”
“Well, you’re welcome. But what I do want from you is the truth. What really happened? Everyone seems to know everything, everyone in this house, except me.”
“What truth do you want to hear?”
“Let’s start with you. Who are you really?”
“I…” he hesitated. “I think you’re going to be late for school.”

Richard always woke up earlier than any other person who slept inside the mansion. He was up even before Mr. Krinky wakes up. He would walk to the sink barefoot, stare into his own eyes through the mirror until he decides to finally wash up. He always shaved. He was neat, and being neat meant shaving every morning. He would then walk inside the huge closet, pick a suit and walk out of the closet room looking like the gentleman from some high class society with an air of arrogance about himself. He would go down and sit by the foyer where he would quietly sip his cup of tea as he read the daily news for the day. At exactly 9 o’clock, Mark, his assistant would call on him and they would both leave the estate within exactly 10 minutes afterwards. But that particular Tuesday morning was different. He didn’t leave the house. After changing into his usual suits, he went in to check on Clarissa, his child-bride. She was sprawled on the couch, with her face on the books she has been reading for three days now. Instead of finding a monstrous little girl who threw tantrums at him, constantly getting on his nerves as she was doing for the last two weeks they’ve been married, he thought Clarissa looked like a sleeping angelic child at that time. He carried her and laid her on the bed, put the comforter over her bare legs. He looked at her for a minute. He could not believe how he could have a bride as young as the one who was sleeping before him. He went over to the couch, browsed through the books, until eventually, he decided to fix them and place them on the study table. Then he left the room and headed downstairs where his cup of tea was sitting in wait.

Clarissa went to find her breakfast as soon as she woke up. She saw Richard sitting on the dining area of the patio, reading his papers.

“Good Morning. What time is your class today?”
There was no answer. Clarissa didn’t want to be in that marriage and she was ready to prove her point. Defiance.

“Have you no tongue my dear?”

No answer. Again.

“Please do not tell me I married myself to a mute…”

“I am not mute and it’s none of your business.” She went to sit on her chair.
“How sweet of my wife…”
“Anyone there? I hear some senseless murmurings…” she tried to further annoy him. But his patience has never been a virtue he was proud of.

As she was reaching for the rolls, he suddenly snatched her hands forcefully.
“Ouch! You’re hurting me…” she exclaimed.
“And you are trying me… Don’t. because you will never win against me.”
“Let me go!!!” she shouted as she tried to free her hands off his grip with no success.
“Do not forget whose house you are in.” he said, now with his sarcastic funny tone gone. And he immediately left the table. Leaving her shocked.

After a few minutes, she heard him step back into the patio.

“Do not be late for school. Go ahead. Get up and get dressed.”

And then he left. It was after 20 minutes, when Richard saw her still seated and eating as if she had all the time in the world.

“You didn’t hear me?” he asked. There was no reply, she acted as if she heard nothing. He pulled her off from her chair and carried her to her room and then threw her to her bed. She felt so scared, and shocked at how brute Richard was behaving. She started to cry like a baby.

“Oh now what?!”
“what?!” she shouted back.
“Why are you crying like a baby?! It won’t work on me! So you can stop now…”

She cried louder. Like a baby, mumbling words he could not even make out.

“What?! I said stop it!”
“You threw me! My back hurts…”
“Oh stop the act…”
“Call a doctor. I can’t move my back…”

Her back was really hurt. Prior to the throw, she already had osteoporosis that made her bones a lot weaker than normal. In the hospital, the nurse explained what was to be done.
“Excuse me sir, you are her…” the nurse asked.
“The husband.” He replied quickly.
“She needs to change into the hospital gown for her physical exams. The gown is inside the drawer. She can’t move her left arms, so you will need to assist her. I will go down to check the exam room and I’ll be right back.” And the male nurse left.

Richard looked at Clarissa who was still in tears.
“You heard him…”
“No, you are not changing my clothes!” she protested with all her might.
“You have no other choice.”

Richard slowly opened her blouse.
“I won’t look. I promise.”

He wrapped the white linen cloth around her chest.

“I’m sorry…” he whispered. “I didn’t know…”
“This is all your fault! You don’t just throw people around!!!” she shouted at him.
“well, you didn’t have to be so hard headed too! So we’re even.”
“No! I have a broken back. And you don’t.”

Clarissa’s back turned out to be perfectly fine aside from the little bruises from the fall. Richard took her home that very afternoon. Inside the car, with Richard driving and Clarissa beside him, both of them remained quiet. The hospital was an hour away from the Estate which gave Clarissa the time to sleep on the way. Finally, they have arrived. The car stopped in front of the patio door. Seeing that Clarissa was sound asleep, Richard gave her another good 10 minutes while he tried to rest himself. There was something in him that was constantly pushing him to turn his head to the girl beside him, his child bride. For the first time, he saw how young she was, and how beautiful she looked while sleeping. He stared at her at what seemed like the longest and slowest time of his life.

“Have you had any boyfriend in the past?” he argued inside his mind.
“What were you like when you were young? Were you this strong- willed?” he continued to speak inside his mind. Still with his face turned to her direction, he closed his eyes. For that moment in time, he felt close to her. At last they agreed at something, for the first time.

The sound of rain sliding through the window of the car woke Clarissa up. She looked at her watch, it was 5:23 in the morning. Traces of the sun rising could be seen from the wet windows of the silver Mercedes Benz they were in. She looked to her left and saw Richard sleeping in the driver’s seat. She looked at him for a long time. Her hands stretched out to touch his face that was turned to her direction, but she hesitated. Instead she found herself touching his hair. He breathed heavier than normal and quickly, she pretended to be asleep. Richard woke up and in turn, woke her up. They both left the car and went up the five steps of the patio to the main house, with Clarissa walking ahead and Richard following her behind. All the help were surprised at the sight of the two leaving the car together and for once, not arguing.

The Glass House: (Chapter6)

That afternoon, Richard came home with a man who looked stocky but was wearing a black suit that made him look respectable. He was Judge Manliony, apparently a good friend of Richard’s. Clarissa saw all this from her window. After a few minutes entered Richard.

“Wear something nice and come down at once.”
“What’s happening?”
“We’re getting married.”
“What?!”
“Get dressed. Now!”

And then he left. Elizabeth and Trudy entered at once and put her in a white tube dress. She didn’t know what was happening, all she knew was that they were happening too fast. She didn’t even have time to think. Finally, she pushed both maids aside and out the door.

“But Miss…” pleaded the two nurses in their low voices.
“I’m not coming out.”
“Miss, what will we tell the master?”
“That I’m not coming out.”

After a few minutes of silence, came a banging on the door.

“Out!” shouted Richard in anger.
“No!” replied Clarissa from the other side of the room.
“I said OUT! You know you can’t disobey me…”
“Oh yes, I can! You’re not the boss of me!”
“Out!”
“No!”
“Out I say!”
“You really want OUT?! Fine, you get out then!”

She was really trying his patience. Again, he banged on the door. After a few minutes, he stood back from the wooden door, he could sense everyone inside the house looking up from the first floor, quietly anticipating his every actions, now that someone has gone against his will. It was something no one ever had the courage to do. To go against his will, and now she was doing it deliberately in front of everybody.

“Mark! The keys…” and at once, one of the men in black suits came running handing him a key. Immediately, he inserted the key into the hole and went inside, shutting the door behind him. Inside the room, he walked to Clarissa, pulled her close and said:

“Do not try my patience again. Ever.”

Pulling away from his hands, she fought back, punching his chest. “Do not touch me!”
He pulled more forcibly and lifted her off her feet placing her on top of his shoulders. He opened the door and went down the stairs to the room where Judge Manliony was sipping his tea. He put her down.

“So, this is… uhm…”
“Yes.” replied Richard.
“Okay, uh… sign here and here…”

Reluctant, she signed the papers. He placed a ring on her wedding finger and soon she was out of the room. The moment she stepped back into her room, she took the ring off and instead placed it in the drawer of the bedside table. She slept the whole night through, and only saw Richard the next morning.

The Glass House: (Chapter5)

The master was out of the house the whole day. The men in black suits were in their own posts. Far from her. Outside of the glass house. The maids were in their quarters, probably still trying to calm themselves. Clarissa was in her room. Her room now was twice as big as her room at her aunt’s. It was the only room that wasn’t made of glass inside the glass house. The walls were painted with soft shades of pink and white. Standing by the door, she looked around. There was a big vase in the far corner of the room. It was empty. A study table stood against the wall in front of a window that had pink curtains. In the middle of the room was a bed, placed on an elevated floor. The bed had 4 posters and draped with white cloth that gave it the Grecian feel. Four large pillows were propped up looking so soft and fluffy. A small throw pillow was in front. Two small night tables were on each side of the bed, both had lampshades on top. Then there was the path leading to the bathroom. The bathroom was majestic, with a whirlpool in the middle, mirror everywhere and a beautiful and well- lit dresser that could only belong to a celebrity’s dressing room, filled with yellow bulbs. She stretched out to open the cabinet to find a walk-in closet, filled with her clothes. She walked back into her main room, leaned on the wall, took a deep breath and brought out a torn picture out of her pocket. She looked at the picture with her sad eyes.

She took the liberty to spending the afternoon walking around the house. She found 7 rooms on the second floor, including hers. There was a large living room on the first floor, with a glass door that leads to an infinity pool that had a minty herbal smell to it. The house had a garden with a gazebo right in the middle. But what intrigued her the most, was the room in the end of the second floor, the one she went into last night and slept in. It was the room with the least things. Only a bed, a throne- like chair, a study table and a bathroom that was not even as big as hers. It had off-white curtains everywhere, a flat screen stuck on the wall facing the bed and a shelf full of books. On one of the books, she saw a name. Richard.

The Glass House: (Chapter4)

It was a sunny Tuesday morning. The church was crowded with people from every side of the town. Michael walked around the crowded foyer of the church looking for Clarissa. He suddenly worried that the letter he left for her didn’t get to her at all. But, it was impossible. Efficiency was the quality their household bragged about. The Church bells finally tolled calling everyone in. One by one the guests tried to fit themselves inside the church. With one last look, Michael searched for that one face, but to his dismay, only saw birds flying around, the leaves falling to the ground and behind him, the majestic of the Lord’s house was calling on to him. It was time for Him to enter, the Church, the life of a servant.

While the ceremonies went on inside the church, Clarissa peeped through the small opening of the church doors. She could see him, walking slowly towards the front of the Church, towards God and away from her. She suddenly heard a voice behind her. And from the sound of it, it was coming from someone standing close behind her, very close in fact.

“You’re not invited in?”

Startled she jumped to face a tall man. A little more taller than Michael. The sun was behind him that she couldn’t really see his face that well at that moment.

“Go away and mind your own business.”
“Oh, but this is my business, believe me.”
“Who are you?! Do you know who you’re messing with?”
“Do you?”

There was a moment of awkward silence. She didn’t have the heart to argue at this point in her life, when deep inside she was grieving. He didn’t think it was necessary to argue with a little girl who was obviously crushed because the man she was infatuating over all her life couldn’t return her feelings.

“Isn’t there a seat for the best friend inside?”
“Who are you?”
“Oh, just someone who’s looking for someone…”
“Who? I know everybody here…”
“My wife…”
“Who is…”
After a brief moment of silence, he replied: “The best friend.” Her eyes grew bigger upon hearing his words. “I have come to collect what’s mine.”

In a rebellious tone she cut him off whatever he was saying, “What?!”
“I believe a bride. Yes, I have come to collect my bride. You haven’t been told?”

“So, it’s you. The bastard who somehow manipulated my aunt and uncle to have me…Is it my money? You must have something for them to hand me over to you…”
“Ah yes, I suppose you’ve heard others call me that. What a nice greeting to give the first time you meet your bastard husband. Money? Believe me, it’s never about the money…”
“What do you want from me?!”
“ I don’t know yet. But right now, I want you to fix yourself. We’re coming home.”
“I know my way back. Leave me alone.”
“I don’t like making scenes. I’ll let you off this time. Finish your crying. The car is waiting outside the gate. Be home before twelve.”

She let off a shrugged breath. He heard it but decided not to mind. She sat outside the doors of the Church, leaned on the doors that she feels she will soon start to hate. She took a deep breath. Leaned her ears close trying hard to hear the things happening inside. She couldn’t cry anymore. There was something about that day, and that very moment that made tears so difficult to call to fall. It must be the weight and seriousness of a dilemma, where a person is too confused to even make up her mind to shed a few tears. It was night time, Michael was the assigned priest to make the last rounds before closing the lights and gates. She peaked from behind the big tree, to take one last look at the man who was taking his one last look at the world he has known all his life. She turned around, and heard the loud thump of the huge doors that were shutting close behind her. The loud thump only made her heart beat faster. That was it, their chapter, closed.

She looked at the sky that was taking its leave as well, and started walking out of the compound . She was walking home this time. She needed time to think. But four men suddenly stood on her way. Four big men, it must be the dim lighting of that time, but to her, they looked twice as tall and thrice as big as ordinary men. They wore black suits and had phone wirings on their ears.

“She’s here.” She heard one of them whisper on the wire.

She pretended not to see them and went on her way. She tried her best to make her steps bigger and her pace faster, but two men continued to follow her. The other two were now inside the black car, that was also following her. She finally had the courage to run. But the two men ran after her, this time, lifting her up and carrying her into the car with force.

“Ouch!”

But there was no reply. She tried to run away, but there was no way she could leave the car now that two big men were on her both side. She tried to fight them, but they were just too big and it was obviously a terrible idea that is sure to bring absolute losing on her part. The car took the 4 hour trip until they finally reached a huge glass house. The gate to the estate was big, and everywhere were men who also wore black suits. The inside of the house, being glass could be seen from the outside. It was dark everywhere. Only a few dim lights were turned on. It was a two- story structure with a modern taste. The main door into the house had a glass handle. She bent her head trying to get a better look at the house. The stairs was made of glass as well. Everything inside was made of glass, the windows, the tables, the chairs. To a stranger, the house will pass for an ice castle made of crystals. The two man held her by her arms and led her to the room at the end of the second floor. They opened the door, pushed her in and shut the door. She stood silently still. It was too dark to move around a strange place such as that one. Only the four pin lights in the living room of that room, whatever room that was were turned on.

“How do you like the house?”
“….”
“Did the house impress you to the point of robbing you of your speech?”
“Who’s there?”
“The master of the house.”
“…”
“This is where you will live from now on. Your things are already arranged in your room. In there, you will find your own maid. She will care for your needs from this day on. You will meet me for breakfast tomorrow morning.”
“…”
“You may leave if you want.”

Still shocked at how fast and unbelievable things have turned out to be. She just stood there. He stood up from his throne-looking chair and left the room. Only after he stepped out was she able to breathe again. She never moved from where she stood. The next morning, he found her sprawled on the floor, sleeping like a child. Furious, he called for her maid in a loud voice that echoed through the glass walls of the house, loud enough to wake Clarissa up from her deep sleep.

“Elizabeth!! Elizabeth… Why am I paying you?”
The maid could not answer. She could only look down on the floor. Clarissa immediately shut her eyes. Something the maid saw.
“You don’t have a tongue?”
“To take care of Miss.”
“Then why is she sleeping on the floor? Do something about this.”
“Yes, sir.”

Another maid rushed in as he left the room.

“Hurry Lizzy, he wants her awake for breakfast.”
“What?!”
“She is to have breakfast with him. In…10 minutes.”

Elizabeth sat closer to the pretending to be asleep Clarissa. She tried to move her gently as she whispered in fear.

“Miss, please wake up. We don’t have time anymore. Please…”
“Miss… Please wake up…”

Fearing for the two maids, she finally decided to rise up and dress up. They rushed her into her room, practically carrying her off her feet. Quickly, the put her in a pink polo shirt and khaki shorts. After washing up, they tied her hair with a pink satin ribbon. After, she went down to the dining area where he was sitting with her back towards her. She didn’t know what to do. She was scared. She was angry. She had to choose only one. With all the courage she could harbor, the walked straight to him who was then sipping coffee from his glass.

“You kidnapped me!”

Without even looking at her, and his eyes still on the newspaper at hand, he replied:
“Why would I kidnap what’s mine?”

“Your men, forced me yesterday. Your big men used force to shove me inside the car!”

Again, without looking at her, he called on the two men.
“Is it true that you shoved her into the car?”
“Sir…”
“Is it true?”
“She tried to run away, we were only worried we wouldn’t be able to catch her… so…”
“So… you had to use force?”

The two men bowed their heads in defeat. Richard calmly stood up from his seat and as he was walking away, he punched both their faces. Then, he continued to walk away. Before he stepped out of the house, he whispered to one of the other men: “Fix this mess.”

Clarissa looked with great surprise. Who is he??

The Glass House: (Chapter3)

“I just don’t get how they can just seal the deal, right then and there!” Clarissa said with a large pout and her arms crossed over her chest as Michael watched intently from the other side of the room.

“Maybe it’s for the best.”
“But, it’s my life. I don’t even know him. And now, I’m supposed to marry him?!”
“Clar, things happen for a reason… God always has a plan, sometimes we just don’t see it, but trust that He always has…”

Michael slowly walks to the bed where Clarissa is sitting. He puts his left arm on her tiny shoulders and leans his head on hers.

“Sometimes He has plans bigger than what we have for ourselves…”
“Mike, why won’t you just marry me?”
“Just?”
“Okay, why won’t you marry me?”
“You answered your own question.”
“Riddles, riddles… here we go again.”
“I don’t want to just marry you…”
“Huh?”
“You don’t just marry people…”
“But that’s what everyone’s asking me to do…”
“…”
“even you…”
“Clar, I’ve long decided to serve the Lord my whole life. I love you. You know that. But not in the way a man should in a marriage.”
“I bake really well, you know.”
“I know. You’ll make a wonderful wife.” He says with a joking laughter.
“Then why won’t you marry me…”
“I know you know what you’re doing…”
“What…” she shrugs her shoulders pretending she doesn’t have a clue.
“You’re messing with me…”

They both end up laughing while he tickles her and she tries to contain her laughter. A knock on the door was heard and they both stopped.

“Micheal, Father Jose is calling you. He wants to confirm some dates with you.”
“Tell him I’ll be right down.”

Michael stands from the bed when he suddenly felt a tug pulling his left arms back down. He looked down and saw the face of a little girl with pleading eyes.

“Don’t do it.”
He sat down on the bed once again. “What do you mean?”
“I mean what I said. Don’t do it.”
“Clarissa, what’s this? Joke time’s over. And now I have responsibilities to fulfill..”
“You do this now, there’s no turning back. No changing of mind.”
“It’s okay, because I won’t. So you can let go of my arm now, you’re hurting me. You can read some books on the shelf while I go talk to Father Jose. Okay?” He stood up and walked to the door. He suddenly felt a tight embrace from Clarissa. Without looking back all he could was listen.

“Don’t turn around. I have something to say. I just want you to make an informed decision. We wouldn’t want making bad judgments…” She laughed as he arms tightened around his waist.

“You cant do this. You can not enter the Church. Because…” she tried so hard to contain her tears and sound happy as if all she was talking about was the weather outside.

With much effort, she continued. “Because… if you do that, we can never be together. Ever.”

He placed his hands on hers, held them tight and without looking back, he said: “I will always be here for you, forever. The only difference will be I shall be doing that on the other side of the Church walls.” He lifted her hands into his mouth, and kissed them. Without looking back, he released himself from her embrace and left the room without looking back. It was a conversation both of them never talked about. If their friendship had a taboo, that would certainly be it. That afternoon, Michael went back up to his room to find no trace of Clarissa. Worried, he went over to her house. Only to be denied her presence. She took it too hard, she gave it all in, she couldn’t face him now that he has rejected her and chose the other path. He may not have had the chance to meet her that day, but he didn’t know her eyes followed him all the way until he passed through the large gates of her home. Her sad eyes could only watch as the one man she loved all her life walked away from her. The distance between their bodies grew, until not even traces of his shadow could be found. She cried herself to sleep that night.

Stealing from Bookshops: Thanks to lady Guard, and i mean no sarcasm.

When can one consider reading- theft? I know it's alright to check out books that have potential of being bought, it's normal to read the blurbs, it may even be alright to slowly browse through the pages... but when is enough truly enough?

The other night, a lady guard from a famous book shop reprimanded me. Apparently, i was reading it already. That's what she said. What's the difference between reading it and reading through it anyway? Isnt it all one and the same? But don't worry, i'll spare you from the details of being caught and denying and just share with you what i "read" from the book i was supposedly "mentally stealing".

Did you know that the dryest place on earth is in Antartica? There is a spot there where rain hasnt fallen for almost 200 million years. What's the name of that spot? Thanks to the lady guard, i couldn't share it with you today.

How long can a headless chicken live? Up to 2 years. A chicken that survived the cold knife made it to 2 years, without its head! His so-called master, took him to tour the whole of United States and earned 10 thousand dollars every month. He called his chicken, Mike.

How many wives did Henry VIII really have? 2. I know there's an explanation, i just couldnt quite recall what it was exactly, thanks again, to the lady guard.

There are a lot more information that i got, But i was in such a hurry i couldnt take time to really wrap my mind around the trivia! Thanks to the lady guard,... i didnt even get the name of the book... Something "nonsense", if my memory serves me right!

So for you guys, who wish to find out more about this great book-- thank the lady guard!

We wish you a great coffee experience!

A nice cup of brewed coffee, that is how i ended the day. Still a month or so to go before i have to start hoarding coffee stubs from starbucks again, for that diary i've been collecting for like three years now. Tonight is not much about the coffee though, it's about the thoughts that ran through my mind while i was sipping it.

I sat in silence as i watched the people walk in front of the huge glass that stood between them and myself. And suddenly, my mind takes over and like in the movies, visions of black and white start appearing. There was me, standing in front of his black car, under the heavy rain. Drenched. Cold. Anticipating. If he saw me like this, would he perhaps offer a ride? There was me, sitting on one of the benches in the canteen that offered a full view. If he saw me doing things intellegiently, if one could possible do things in such a manner, would he take a sudden interest? There was me, facing my computer as my fingers slowly typed: be my friend. If he heard me ask this question, what would he have said?

I once read somewhere, that the greatest love of all, is one that was never returned. I don't know. I guess, i'll have to live more of life before i could answer that question. Or who could tell, really? Things can change in a matter of seconds. I just hope that he gets here on time, before the hopelessly devoted in me decides to be the woman he can never have.

Maybe it's not the sipping that makes coffee a great experience. Maybe it's the nostalgia, the opportunity it gives us to contemplate things that makes it so good afterall.

"Excuse Me..." a man's voice spoke to me. I turned to see a man in a brown and white stripes shirt. He looked tired. He looked like he really needed rest.

I was sitting at the wrong table. I turned around one last time, to apologize and wish him a great coffee experience!

The Glass House: (Chapter2)

Clarissa was only 17 when they first met. She could still remember quite clearly how the whole household of 20 helps was in total chaos in their preparation. Someone important was arriving they said. The China wares that were never used, found their way to the long table in the dining room. Three women helpers stood on three separate portable ladders, trying very hard to wipe all the crystals that came in different sizes of the 5 foot high chandelier. A gardener was busy tending to his roses, while commending himself how well he had taken cared of his babies. On her bed lay a soft plush pink balloon dress. The dress can certainly pass for a few tens of thousands and was especially made for today’s special gathering. The hustle and bustle of every creature inside the house including the talking parrot made it very easy for Clarissa to get back inside her room. The way from the garden to her abode was really simple, pass through the glass room, into the study through the connecting glass door, into the living room, up the stairs where her room was only about 20 steps away. All the playing and chasing she did with her favorite dog Luka in the garden took its toll on her face, which was now dirty and accompanied by some greens slipped through her tied hair. She was in the glass room on the way up when she suddenly heard voices that came from the anteroom. Knowing the presence of the important visitors just a few feet away made it impossible for her to leave and retreat to her room.

“Martha, make sure Clarissa is dressed. Have her come down immediately.” Her aunt whispered to the help, the oldest one and perhaps the closest to the family. When she didn’t find Clarissa in her room, she knew just where to look for her.

Clarissa heard a knock on the door, got her dress and tried her best to dress up.

From the other room, a room which was only separated from where Clarissa was by a glass window and curtain, stood a man. He was busy talking to another person on the other line. He leaned over the glass window as he tried to amuse himself. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a shadow from the adjacent room. He tilted his head, flipped the curtain over to see a girl in such an awkward position trying to fit herself in a pink tube dress. A smile slowly formed as he continued chatting on the phone. A knock on the room was heard and that was enough for him to leave. On his way down, his pocket phone rang once again.

“I’m on my way.”

After informing his parents of his urgent leaving, he rushed out of the house. As he walked out of the room where his parents and the hosts were, walked in Clarissa, finally in her pink tube top.

The Glass House: listen to its secret (Chapter1)

He could see her sitting from across the aisle. There was nothing in between them except for the 5 feet of red carpet that ran through, from the wooden gates to the golden table where a priest stood in patience. She was wearing a flame red satin bare- top dress. A black belt pulled tightly made her waist look tiny, if not any tinier. Her long black hair was tied into half, with the lower one fixed in such a way that made it look like it was being blown by the wind. Two large pearls adorned her small ears. She was a small woman, if she could be called that already, but her tiny waist and slim fit made her legs look longer than they really are. The ring would probably steal anyone’s attention. It was big, a little too big for her small and delicate hands. The hand that looked like it belonged to a child, was wearing a ring. One, two, three, four, yes, it was placed on the fourth finger, he was certain. A gold band with an extravagant diamond setting. He can see her listen intently to what the priest was saying, with her wide- eyed expression that only promises interest. Then he looks at his own hand. Where on the fourth finger, was a ring. A ring, exactly like hers.