Parang sinlansa ng sardinas
Ang pose niya ay kunwari wagas
Tanghali na yang patutsada
Na pang-akit niya lang naman
May pa-picture daig pa ang two eggs at isang talong

koro:

Puno ng galit sa dibdib
Ay, kaysakit na isipin
Sa’yong labi merong sumasabit
Bwisit
Pagka naiisip ko ‘yon
Sana maisipan mo
Dinudurog niyo ang buong puso ko
Balak na ba siyang ikama
Habang tayo?

“i’ve told him that i love him. His very marvelous reply was, Weh?”

“i prefer to love, that’s why i’m here. To love and be hurt.”

“his gaze passes through my soul and even after it was gone, the gaze still continues to pierce me.”

“Now this is the bloody part of the day. My bag fell down the wishing well. My cellphone and notes were inside. So my cellphone malfunctioned for like, half of eternity. But Reji was very concerned about it. He nearly dived the cliff to recover my bag. But we did have someone go down and get it for us, for a hundred pesos. He took my phone and blew the water off, and he said, Yuck yung tubig, pero ‘di bale na, para naman sa’yo.”

“Maybe we’re just really good friends who found themselves kissing at the park, hugging each other at Minesview, holding hands at Session Road, and sticking their heads so close to each other as they ride home. Are we lovers? What are lovers anyway? Do we need to have a contract, a box full of love letters, a mouthful of whispers of i love you or can we just simply go along with our lives and live our affection?”

“I find myself wanting so much. I don’t want the semester to end, I don’t want to pause the euphoria. I’m at the stairsteps where he first put his head on my shoulder. And i’m crying, as i realize that i’ve fallen aloud and so fast.”

“Tapos, sa likod namin, lumitaw yung hinihintay ko mula pagmulat ng mata ko. Si Reji. Si Reji ko. Hahaha”

“Kung alam niya lang ang mga munting pintig sa dibdib ko. Kung papaanong nais gumuhit ng ngiti sa aking mga labi at ihalakhak ang ligaya.”

“At habang nilalakad ko ang daan patungo sa bahay na ito, nasa langit ang aking isipan at tila nilalakad ko ang alapaap.”

“So i walked the cold Session Road alone this time, with tears in my eyes.”

“The reason why this notebook existed, why the first pages had been written on, has finally disappeared. It’s over, before it has begun… And right now I want to pour all of my emotions so I’ll have nothing to feel at all.”

These lines were written from October 5, 2010 to October 31, 2010. I wrote them on a Yeah brown A5 journal, which i bought in remembrance of a promise: if i fall in love again, i’ll write about it in a notebook. And so i did. It was the happiest days of my life, and the memories are still very vivid. So vivid, I had to spend successive weeknights of my life (after we “decided” to part our ways) dreaming about him. Even now, they’re as alive as the warm blood in my veins.

The last time I scanned these entries (last last semester), i had to cut right my arm, out of despair and sadness. The very little scar is still here. You know how much everything will suck once you’ve been through what could be the best? That was what happened to my life, since i dropped my pen and closed the notebook.

Or did I? Did i really give up? Did we really stop loving each other? But why does it hurt? Why does it still hurt?

It’s easy to plaster wounds and apply make up over scars, but when the temporary facade (conscious forgetting, self-hypnosis) peels off, they reveal to be cuts and burns that will never seem to heal.

Yes, I didn’t cut my arm tonight, nor, did i cry a pail of tears. But after this night, after i open my eyes to see tomorrow’s light, spring joyfully on my strides, groan in boredom, laugh heartedly, wear my daydream smiles, watch porn…

I’d still be an empty girl.

hindi ko alam kung maiinis ba ako o matutuwa o maa-amuse o whatever.
i was planning to rock her world, eh. pero mukha ba siyang offended?
in fairness, dalawa yang tanong ko, yang mas maikli pa ang pinili niya.

para less harm? BUWAHAHAHAHA.

*evil*

Anyway. Matagal na rin since huling nagpakwela ako rito sa LM. Parang araw-araw na lang, namamatayan ang blog na ‘to. So dahil 10% na lang ng sakit ko ang nakakapit sakin, at may hang up pa ako kay Marlowe, gawin naman nating less boring ang graphic sa itaas at mag-respond tayo, ala Ralegh.

//TRANSFORM!//
hello, stranger!
Hi, Miss Morales. So para hindi na tayo strangers, ako nga pala si LM, ang masugid na manliligaw ng jowa mo since 2010. Don’t worry, hindi naman tayo magiging friends, so hindi kita maba-backstab, essentially.

uhm.. i don’t know how you’ve come to see my blog or something, but sorry…

Heller, Miss Hiwagang Hiwaga, there are two ways by which I can find your blog, noh. Una, I can google your jowa’s name and then *poof!* lilitaw ang sangkatutak na tumblr links. So among those blog posts (usually #lab at #corny ang tag), hahanapin ko lang naman ang post mo, which is about the Psych101 super-sweet-sugar-cubes-are-jealous moment that you two shared. Easy, ‘di ba? Or second, I can simply go to your jowa’s Facebook profile, click on your name beside his relationship status, and then open your profile to see the link connecting to your Tumblr. Then magic! Pwede na kitang i-harass! Bongga!

Hindi ko kasi alam kung pano ite-take yung question mo personally.
Ay, wow, ang cool mo teh, sobrang patawa ka lang. SAAN BA SA TANONG KO ANG MAHIRAP I-PERSONAL CONTEXT? Ay sige, baka mas madali ‘to: bakit ka mahal ng boyfriend mo with respect to the tatlong batayang problema ng Pilipinas? Bakit ka mahal ng boyfriend mo with respect to the social implications of having a jowa? Bakit ka mahal ng boyfriend mo with respect to the Mayan Astrology? Ay sorry naman, di ko na-guess na high-class ang cognition mo, teh! Sarry!

At first, nagagap ko siya bilang sarcasm or insult.
WHOAAA. *insert whoa meme* Sarcasm? Insult? May insulting ba sa “i’m just making you recall the foundations of your rainbow colored, true-love based relationship, teh”? Oh, sorry. Sarcasm? Bakit, one-sided ba ang –

…

:O SORRY…SORRY.

So, hindi muna ako magdidisclose ng info or what para diyan.
Then okay! Di na kita pipilitin coz datz rape. Pero katamad ka naman. PaShowbiz ka teh, showbiz! Matapos mong ikwento ang bonggang day when you met him, complete with all the figures of speech and grammar so perfect talisk ang buong LM, magpapaka-showbiz ka lang at hindi sasagot sa follow up question? Katamad ka talaga, teh, katamad. Lalangawin ang network mo pag ganyan, teh. Hmmpft!

Magandang araw na lang sa iyo!
So ganun na lang? Babay na lang? Wala man lang bang pabaon na kalmot at RAWWWR! diyan? O malupit na mura, teh? Bait mo naman, so kakilig kaaa!

//TRANSFORM!//

Haaay. Ok. So that’s it. But in fairness, hell knows what will happen to me if she answered that properly.

To hell with my waterless water breaks and two cans of soda and a cup of ice coffee.

What i hate the most about being sick is not being able to write another story. I wasn’t able to create new characters over the weekend and a new plotline. But somehow that’s okay. Sleeping all day is the same escape from the reality.

I can’t really define my life right now, I think i’m lost with my own current. I’m still deliberating whether or not I should drop this course, or finish college, or not overdose in aspirin after the 2012 Fail. Stuff like that. I still don’t have a good reason to live on. Every morning still feels strange and void; the more mornings i get up from bed, the less reasons i see for getting up next morning. Every night, i close my eyes just to finally end the day and escape life.

However, things changed quite a bit since i acquired this illness. Not that i became more appreciative of life and happier in general, but i was able to decide what a monster i was. Maybe because i was just ill, or maybe because a switched flicked in my brain and my demons decided to leave me. Or maybe it was a sign of giving up, of surrender, of admitting to my vain attempts and selfish goals…Heck, i was like a kid throwing temper tantrums. Was i that desperate, that forsaken, that thirsty for attention and love? Was i that much of a persistent warrior all-arms for his love?

On some days, i wonder where has this taken me. I even go to the extremes of needing a map and compass just to see where i already am. I’ve tried going away only to see how much i wish to get back. I’ve tried shunning love away only to be drooling for it the next day. I’ve tried to cut my arm and swear i will lose my virginity soon this semester, in rebellion, but where am i now? It still feels like first square, that goddamn first square, except that i’m bruised and torn altogether.

This isn’t just about fighting for the boy and the kiss we had last last year. This is about my whole life in general.

Sometimes i can just stare at the wall and ask myself, “So what’s next?” then like always, the outside world pulls me back, compels me to breathe and move, curse and cry, choose death over survival.

Or maybe, this is just a headache.

come on. given a gun, i wouldn’t say no to not killing myself; what do you think i’d be capable of doing if we’re talking about people i despise? i would shoot, i would kill, i would be imprisoned. but i wouldn’t volunteer for suicide bombing; it’s not as dramatic as a head shot or shooting spree.

the reason? someone had the same hair as mine, and had the same love interest as mine. just imagine le me browsing her pictures while thinking about murder, my eyes reflecting a bloody murder scene, my eyes possessing a darkness as intense as that of a thirsty vampire. imagine le me with an evil eye, about to leave my seat anytime with a gun in my hand, blurred with all sense of morality, like a werewolf attacking his child. i needed to kill: if not a soul, then at least my own anger.

i lashed out my anger at him, but probably he didn’t care enough about me to feel my anger, or my desire to just. fucking. catch. his. attention. it’s a constipated attempt. but right now, it would be boring to talk about it, since later on i realized that i’d been picking on the wrong girl. weehee. but still, i’m not taking my words back with regard to how much i hate the thought of them so happy together.

like last time, i asked him, “so what’s up?” he replied, “heaven.hah.” and i could just imagine the two of them, holding hands along burnham park, smiling like two ten-year-olds tripping. but that wasn’t just that. another supposition of mine was that he just came after a mind blowing head, and she swallowed all the way. i wanted to crush every MnM in my hand to the thought of them, fucking and having a good time.

or to what my polluted, dysfunctional mind tells me.

****

i found this out just tonight, after coming across this one:<p

and take note of the date: 31st of October. two days later, it was november 2, and hell knows what happened during the evening of November 2.

it was a moment of reminiscence, a night of snot and swollen eyes. and we made a stupid promise together. i remember that because i marked the thing on my phone calendar. and that was just the beginning of so many moooooooore things. including the epic 20 questions followed by a conversation that lasted up to later than 1 am.

and so many more.

but then stuff happens, promises get fucked, bitches bitch out, and i can no longer keep up my sanity.

ah, if it were not for my sore throat, i’d be perfectly fine. at least i feel like i’m back to normal, at least tonight.

10:24 PM 1/19/2012
my phone, my stupid phone had shut down twice since i tried to write about today. right now, i’m pretty pissed and tired. i mean, after all that trying to come up with figures of speech and description…wasted, thrown away. and all that tranquil feeling i got after just watching Girl, Interrupted, interrupted by my thoughts about Galang. i’d planned on mentioning his name online, but nevermind, my phone shut down. he’s lucky. anyway i don’t want to hate right now, i want to be calm and stop hating. my day went off quite unwell, a very typical thursday complete with the expected hassle and feeling of failure…

fuck. i can’t go on anymore.
[for my date diary
very bad eng21. fairie queene eff.
cl113 the usual blur.
lunch, alone, always.
pe class new dance.
ate junk food.
slept slept, watched girl interrupted
pretty pissed.
i haaaate.]
10:30 PM 1/19/2012

this isn’t the last time i shut my blog or threw a love-hate tantrum with my own space. this happens all the time. this is one of those “laps” that will begin another cycle, cycles i dread going through again and again. i admit i am getting tired of the same roller coaster ride of emotions and plots and mood swings.

i’ve written about “the cycle”, among my many other Borderline posts.

ah, yes. the medical label, the self-diagnosis. weeks ago, i’d been talking about my personality problems, and even mislabeled myself as a schizoid. well, there’s still that schizoid part of me (re: the freecell post) and as far as my research has gone, i can interpret it as a behavior i’ve adapted for a defense mechanism. going back to the borderline thing, changing my tag line into “inside the mind of a borderline” has crossed my mind, for in my opinion, this blog can serve as a fairly good piece of resource material if you want to study borderline personality. try researching about borderline and find my posts dated from my depressive states….

right now, i feel like a cancer patient fully aware of the cancer that’s killing her slowly. i’m not normal and something’s wrong with me. i don’t know how will i seek care and feel caring and loving. if i can just feel some warmth, some affection, from someone who will save me from this emotional wound….again, i’m being borderline.

i don’t know where to go now. but i’m trying to make things easier for me and for the person i love. with respect to the black and white thinking, i cannot stand open doors between us and half-filled jars. and i keep coming back to him, like a borderline should, and no one between us cannot not be hurt. i hurt myself whenever i feel plain apathy from him, even if he says otherwise…it’s just very difficult…but that maybe he’s a male borderline had crossed my mind…idk, i must figure myself out before him, right?

as with my career and future life in general…i don’t know.

this is the most awkward post in this blog so far, writing this feels like making a self-portrait, and i also have to paint every ugly crease on my face, too…

and don’t you fucking judge my writing right now. don’t compare me to ivan’s or levi’s blog. fuck it.

after this post, i’ll go back to the natural me. maybe i’ll write a poem or a story or something close to a semi-polished, expressive writing. maybe i can go back to my voice and my best form.

whatever life brings me, i will take it, i will try my best to enjoy my life, even if my life is in the first essentially unenjoyable.

I know.
The sounds of my
dead laughter

“yung tipong istorya natin.”

Status post ko yan sa fb. Hais. Tinamaan lang ako ng meteorite. Wala akong maisip na isulat dito kasi hindi naman ako nag-iisip. Nag-after sex fight na rin ang characters ko at pagbabatiin ko na sila sa chapter 10. Kaso, saan at paano? Kaninong bahay? Kay girl ba o kay boy? Aabot ba ang oras ng biyahe kung sa bahay ni girl? Hahayaan na lang ba ni boy na umalis si girl? Masyado ba silang magmumukhang tanga kung sakali?

Ayoko pang mag-isip. May 7k na ang nasulat ko ngayong araw. May word limit din naman ang utak ko, putsa. Minsan wala nang mapiga, if you know what i mean.

Pero kung kilala niyo ang work habits ko (which i suppose you don’t) alam niyong iidlip lang ako ng five minutes mamaya, mumurahin ang sarili, at tatapusin ang trabaho bago mag alas-dose. Walang guarantee na bibilhin nila ang pinagpupuyatan ko, pero ayos lang. At least I got one step closer to writing a publish-able story, di ba.

Yan ang mindset ng “writer”. Pero ‘di ko pa masabing “writer” ako, kasi according to the dictionary, a writer is someone who gets paid to write. (Although oo, mukha akong high habang naglalakad sa lansangan ng Caloocan, bitbit ang gift pack at pera na inani lang ng wala pang 800 words — demmmn. Ang sarap nung pakiramdam ng nagsulat ka lang, nagtype-type ka lang habang nakaupo/nakahilata, may pera ka na. MAY PERA KA NA. At masasabi mo pag may binili kang gamit, ANO BANG PAKIALAM NIYO? PINAGTRABAHUHAN KO YAN!)

Sino ba ang ayaw maging writer? Walang kahirap-hirap maging writer. Mag-iisip ka lang, tapos magsusulat. Hindi mo na kailangan magcommute, magdamit para sa boss, makisama sa mga ka-opisina, itago ang mga pinuslit na minuto ng porn watching, at pwede kang matulog in the middle of your job! Ikaw ang may hawak ng oras mo and all. Heaven na heaven! Papalamunin ka man nila ng criticisms na masakit, pero pag na.digest mo nang maayos ang mga iyon, marami kang matututunan, and you will be a better person.

Sa mga humahamak sa’kin diyan, tangina kayo, ha. Pakialam niyo ba sa genre ko? 8 years old po ako noong pinakauna akong nagbasa ng romance, at gumagawa na ako ng plot grade 5 pa lang, kahit orally. Ang mga notebook ko noong first year hs ay may back summary ng nobela. Pati last sem. Naglalakad ako sa kalsada, may trailer ng pelikula sa utak ko.
Ano ba inaatupag ninyo noong kayo ang 17 at pinag.iwanan ng mga mahal sa buhay? Ako ngayon, tinutupad ko ang pangarap kong maging manunulat. At nagsisimula na ako, hindi nagsasayang ng oras sa buhay. Masinop sa panahon. E kayo? Ano bang inaatupag niyo ngayon sa buhay? Makipag.bolahan sa mga jowa at tumambay sa blog ko? Demmn. Alam kong ang sabog ng sinusulat ko, pero at least alam kong sabog di ba. Di gaya noong iba, hindi aware how much they suck.

mahal mo ba ako dahil sinasabi mo lang, o sinasabi mo lang dahil mahal mo ako?

At bitin nga ang post sa baba. May mga patawa pa sana yan e. E kasi naman naka Opera Mini lang ako e! Haha! So para lang akong nagtetext sa inyo ngayon. Tska may character limit po akong 5k. Putanginang finger dexterity lang ‘to, ano?

Isa pa, pagod na rin ako. 8 pm kaninang sinimulan kong upuan ang chapter 5 of 10 ng aking novelette, tapos 11 na ngayon. Whew. Pero masaya naman guys, masaya naman. Mahal ko naman ang trabaho ko, keri lang. Pero malinaw naman ang alamat di ba?

Sana basahin niyo muna ang alamat ko, bago ko ianalyze for you. Kasi alam naman nating hanggang dictionary meaning lang kayo e! Haha! Joke lang. Kayo naman. Huwag na kayong mahiya sa katotohanan.

***
Pinagdikit ko riyan ang konsepto ng pag-ibig at physical appearance. Nalilimitahan ba ng physical appearance ang pag-ibig, o pinalalawak nito?

Nasa sitwasyon, at sa concerned na mga tao.

PANGET SA PANGET
Pag-ibig ang dahilan kaya hindi nauubos ang mga panget sa mundo. Siguro dahil sa sila-sila na lang ang nagkakasama, sila-sila na lang ang nagkakaintindihan (sa dinaranas ng kapwa panget), so sila-sila na lang din.
Pero inaamin ko, nahihiwagaan pa rin ako sa tuwing nakakakita ng mga pangit na couples. Ang kyut lang e. Ang sweet nilang tignan. Wala lang. Alam nila kasi ang level nila. Hindi sila mga delusyonal na feeling high class ang model. Di gaya ko minsan. Haha. Pero yung tipong for ugly and for ugly kayo, till death do you part, ibang klase yang mga yan, dre. Hindi yan tinatawanan. Kinakaawaan yan, dudes.

PANGET SA MAGANDA
Isa pang dahilan kaya dumarami ang mga panget sa mundo ay dahil sa kaplastikan nating, “what’s inside the person matters the most.” hay. Pwede ba. Sampalin ko kayo ngayon e. Ang alam ko naman eh, kaya may kumakapit pa sa mga pangit ay dahil mapapakinabangan pa rin naman sila, di ba. May mga butas at palawit pa rin yang mga yan. At doble pa mga effort pag pangit na nga. Eh may utang na agad yang mga yan sa’yo the moment na minahal mo sila. Kasi nga pangit na sila, diba? Kaya babawi na lang sa pagiging mabait, with the super effort. Super pa-sweet and pa-loyal. (Alangan!) Kung pangit ka na nga, bulok pa ugali mo, ano ka na lang di ba? Gusto mo bang ipa-massacre kita? Pero bilib pa rin ako sa mga panget na yan, with their super faith sa mga guwapo/magagandang jowa. Alam nilang wala silang karapatan na magreklamo pag pinagpalit o iniwanan. Ang obvious lang naman kasi ng dahilan, di ba? At ang reasonable pa. Ang pangit nga kasi nilaaa! Eeeesh!

MAGANDA SA MAGANDA
Gaya sa ugly couples, napapatanong sa rin ako sa beautiful couples: fuck, nagmamahalan ba talaga tong mga ‘to, o nangongolekta lang ng magagandang pictures? E kasi naman di ‘ba. Although oo, deserve naman nila ang isa’t-isa, kaso may hindi lang wagas sa kalagayan nila. Sisipagin ka pa bang silipin ang kaloob-looban ng isang tao kung solve ka na sa panlabas niya? Alanganin, di ba? At hindi strong yan, kasi alam mong marami pang sasalo sa-yo kung maghiwalay kayo. May hitsura ka eh. So hindi ka matatakot mawalan ng jowa right now. May mga nakapila pa eh. Subalit ang tanong, anong klase ka naman, dre?

Balik sa mga diwata…
Ano naman ngayon ang masasabi ninyo sa love story nina Kariktan at Kasuklaman? Sa tingin niyo ba, magiging mabuti kung maraming katulad ng Kariktan sa mundo?

Get your 1/4 sheet of paper, isulat ang sagot habang nakikinig sa “Humanap Ka Ng Panget” ni Andrew E. Ilista ang lahat ng mga naging crush mo at magtaka kung bakit maganda/guwapo silang lahat. Masarap bang magmahal ang pangit? Masarap bang magmahal ang maganda? Natikman niyo na ba ako? Sino may gusto?

Kung may pangit sa listahan, ilista ang dahilan kung bakit sila nagustuhan. Matagumpay bang naiparamdam ng mga guwapo/maganda mong hinangaan/minahal ang ipinaramdam ng isang panget?

Nasubukan mo na bang bumili ng pampaganda? Bakit conceited ka? May stranger na bang nagsabi sa-yong maganda/guwapo ka? Mas madalas ba iyon sa naranasan ko?

Magsindi ng kandila at humiling. Balik balikan ang mga isinagot sa tanong ko, at within five days, matatagpuan mo ang soulmate mo.

At dahil doon, wala pang konsepto ng Panget at Maganda. Subalit dahil sa sumpa ng pag-ibig at pagmamahal, nai-guhit ang linyang bumago sa lahat.

At heto ang aking istorya.

Ang pangalan niya’y Kariktan, isang birhen na ang ganda’y maipapantay sa Diyosa ng mga diwata. Isa siyang mortal na madalas mapagkamalang imortal dahil sa perpektong hugis ng mga mata, kinis ng balat, nipis ng mga labi, tangos ng ilong, at kintab ng buhok. Napakabuti rin ng ugali ni Kariktan kaya maraming nag-aasam na maging katuwang siya sa buhay. May ilang diwatang nanliligaw sa kaniya, ngunit nakasara ang kaniyang puso. Sarado para sa mangingibig na mapatutunayan ang pagmamahal, hindi lamang dahil sa mga bulaklak at awit na iniaalay.

At isa ang binatang si Kasuklaman sa mga nangangarap ibigin niya. Gayunpaman, mahiyain si Kasuklaman at hindi magawang ligawan si Kariktan. Ipinagpabahala na lamang niya sa mga anghel ang kapalaran. Basta siya, babantayan niya lamang si Kariktan at ililigtas ito sa kapahamakan.

Isang araw, naibalita na ang pinakamayamang binata sa mundo ay dadayo upang maligawan si Kariktan. Nang nabalitaan iyon ng mga kadalagahan, nagplano silang sirain ang lahat ng meron kay Kariktan.

“Sisirain ko ang ningning ng kaniyang mga mata!” ani ng isa. At kinabukasan, habang namimitas ng mga mansanas si Kariktan, tinira niya ng palaso ang mga mata ng dalaga! Nabulag si Kariktan, at nabulok ang mga mata. Itinago siya ng mga magulang, nag-aalalang hindi na bumisita ang pinakamayang binata.

Nakarating kay Kasuklaman ang balita. Nang narinig, inalala niya ang magiging kinabukasan ng dalaga. Lumapit siya kay Bathala.

“Bathala, kung iyong hindi ipagkait! Nawa’y mga mata ni Kariktan iyong ibalik, at ang akin na lang ang ‘yong ipalit!”

Dininig ni Bathala ang panata ni Kasuklaman, at pinalitan nito ng lumuluwang mata ang mga mata ni Kasuklaman. Samantala, nagbalik ang magagandang mata ni Kariktan. At muli siyang nakalabas ng bahay na walang nakakaalam.

Subalit di natigilan sa pagseselos ang ibang kababaihan.

“Sisirain ko ang tangos ng kaniyang ilong!” ani ng isa. At kinabukasan, habang namimitas ng mga bulaklak si Kariktan, may sumapak sa ilong ng dalaga! Nabali ang ilong ni Kariktan at napango. Itinago siya ng mga magulang, nag-aalalang hindi na bibisitahin ng pinakamayang binata.

Nakarating muli kay Kasuklaman ang balita. Nang narinig, inalala niya ang magiging kinabukasan ng dalaga. Lumapit siya kay Bathala.

“Bathala, kung iyong hindi ipagkait! Nawa’y ilong ni Kariktan iyong ibalik, at ang akin na lang ang ‘yong ipalit!”

Dininig ni Bathala ang panata ni Kasuklaman, at pinalitan nito sabog na ilong ang ilong ni Kasuklaman. Samantala, nagbalik ang matangos na ilong ni Kariktan. At muli siyang nakalabas ng bahay na walang nakakaalam.

Subalit hindi pa rin natigilan sa pagseselos ang ibang kababaihan.

“Sisirain ko ang nipis ng kaniyang mga labi!” ani ng isa. At kinabukasan, habang namimitas ng mga kamatis si Kariktan, may sumapak sa bibig ng dalaga! Pumutok at nawasak ang labi ni Kariktan. Itinago siya ng mga magulang, nag-aalalang hindi na bibisita ang pinakamayang binata.

Samantala, nakarating muli kay Kasuklaman ang balita. Nang narinig, inalala niya ang magiging kinabukasan ng dalaga. Lumapit siya kay Bathala.

“Bathala, kung iyong hindi ipagkait! Nawa’y mga labi ni Kariktan iyong ibalik, at ang akin na lang ang ‘yong ipalit!”

Dininig ni Bathala ang panata ni Kasuklaman, at pinalitan nito sabog na labi ang mga labi ni Kasuklaman. Samantala, nagbalik ang maninipis na labi ni Kariktan. At muli siyang nakalabas ng bahay na walang nakakaalam.

(tapos alam nyo na yung nangyari sa ibang body parts ni Kariktan at body parts ni Kasuklaman)

At dumating ang araw ng pagbisita ng manliligaw ni Kariktan. Wala nang nagawang paraan ang mga dalaga upang wasakin ang natural na ganda ni Kariktan. Subalit naisipang humabol ni Kasuklaman, masilayan ang dalaga bago tuluyang mawala sa kaniya.

Sa una, nagulat ang dalaga nang makita si Kasuklaman. Mapang-unawa ito. “Bakit kakaiba ka sa lahat? Anong nangyari sa’yo?”

At nang ikwento ng binata ang lahat ng pinagdaanan, natabig nito ang puso ni Kariktan. Siya ang mangingibig na naging wagas sa paningin ni Kariktan!

Nagpakasal sila’t nagkaanak nang marami. Ang mga nagmana sa ina ay tinawag na Marikit, kung sa ama nama’y Kasuklam-suklam. Nagsimula lamang sa mga daplis ng imperpeksyon na mapalalampas pa, ngunit may mga nilalang na minalas: full blown genes ni Kasuklaman ang nakuha kanila.

At mula noon, hindi na nagpakita ang mga diwata dahil sa takot na mahawaan ng kapangitan ni Kasuklaman ang lahi nila.