III. The Jack of Clubs

I made my decision purely on sleight of hand, purely on games of chance.

I took the bus back to my hometown, carrying a couple of ATMs and credit cards that would be useless here. I presented myself to a distant relative and asked to stay for a few days, and may I not be disturbed, I requested.

I was home coincidentally in time for the town fiesta, which is more of a bizarre Mardi Gras really, than any community affair celebrating the town’s patron saint. I’m not one to visit fortune tellers, but passing by this quiet booth in this provincial town, I had an irresistible urge to guess at the future. It was the one thing I never associated with the city - the mystery and the fear of the unknown, already foretold and waiting to happen.
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The two days of darkness a.k.a two days without an internet connection is finally over. Thank goodness. So to make up for the two days that I was away, I’m giving you a special two part episode of Untitled Short Story Circa 2007.

I’m really glad to be online again.

Enjoy.

~Annabs

II. The Queen of Clubs

I have neither riches nor power, and so I bear the loneliest of pursuits - the fate of the clovers, dependent on luck, imprisoned by the occasional whims of fate. Because fate is unkind, we learn to be resilient. We know how to endure.

I ply my trade as one who can divine the past, guess at the future, and perhaps, control the present. It is certainly a lonely gift, one that alienates friends and one that forebodes an unhappy future for the one who sees.
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I just came from a broken hearts meeting. One of my friend recently broke up with his boyfriend. (Yes that’s not a typo. They’re both men.)

Post VDay blues? But nothing a good meal can’t cure.

This part of the story is for him. May he smile again.

~Annabs

I. The Jack of Spades

I have a confession to make.

I visited the station the other day, oblivious to the rest of the world, pushing past the crowds during rush hour, thinking of so many other things, the image of you interspersed with random conversations around me, trying to discern a pattern, a workable theory I could mull over, while I steadied myself, braced against the steel post not meant for more than two people.
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I just got back from a Valentines Day Baguio Weekend with Gretchen and Che. Got some ukay shopping done, poetry reading at Cafe by the Ruins and duckpin bowling at Olympian Alley at the notorious Mabini St. The mountain breeze got me inspired. Really. Lots of ideas swirling in my head got me thinking in blurbs. Oh, and I recommend long bus rides to everyone.

Okay. On to business. I got a submission from my dear friend Enuh. I’ve been inviting her to write something for Promdifiction for the longest time, so I was pleasantly surprised when she tagged me on a note on her Facebook.

annabs - tagging you. puwede na ba ‘tong submission sa experimental flash fiction mo?

And of course my answer is yes.

Enjoy.

Retrograde I defeat you!

~Annabs

It’s mid January and I have no new fiction.

But that’s about to change soon. Believe me.

I have attended a couple of talks from professional bloggers that inspired me to make things better here at Promdifiction. In short I have decided to wage war against the Mercury Retrograde.

2009 here we come.

~Annabs

First off - bad, bad Annabs! Not updating on time again!

Now that that’s out of the way let’s proceed with some updates.

The holidays have already crept up beneath my tons of work, and there’s nothing left to do but cram. I mean, bask in Holiday cheer.

So, for 2008 this will be our last story and then we’ll see each other again on 2009.

Thank you so much for reading and see you all again soon!

Much love,

Annabs

I hope you know that every party I go to, every dinner with friends, I wait for your message asking me if you can crash that party to get booze after frisbee practice. You’d tell me it’d finish late, about 9 PM, so I’ll have to wait till you got there.

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Yesterday I went to Ayala Museum with my friend Darwin and let me tell you, it was an enriching and inspiring experience. If you have time and Php 225 to spare, I do encourage you to go ahead and give the place a visit. It’s not as hoity toity as you think it is. Don’t worry if you’re not an art expert or an ancient Chinese ceramics collector. Just appreciate the various collections in your own way. If the Philippine Gold exhibit wasn’t there, I’d say the dinosaur poop was it for me. Hahaha.

Anyway, on to business. I’m posting part four of Tet’s The Untitled Collective for your enjoyment. To me, this story feels like waking up from a dream, when you remember only fragments of it and yet you still know the whole story. See if it’s the same for you too.

Enjoy.

~Annabs