Tonight, One Short Story

Two Minutes Past Midnight

By Isaiah Cabañero

 

TWO MINUTES past midnight:

My eyes opened up in the cold dark room of my apartment. The air-conditioning has just dozed off on timer.

I got up; my head up off my pillow. I was double-wrapped by my blanket and my bed’s sheets. What to do? I thought.

I thought of sitting up by my writing desk.  Perhaps I could write some stories. No, just some notes. Stories would be too ambitious at the moment.

The exposed red brick wall behind my desk appears weirdly illuminated by the moonlight in my room. Or was it the light from the outside of my room that is still on?

I sat up on my chair. It creaked a bit as it swiveled upon my weight. What to do? I thought. What to write then? I thought.

A few pages of blank paper lie on top of my desk. Plus some smaller pieces of ones that I use as papers for reminders to pin on my corkboard that rested at an angle between the desk and the window pane. It fell off the wall a few days ago and I had not had time to mount it back again. I had to buy yet another roll of mounting tape from the bookstore.

What to write? I thought.

To change the world, what do I do? I started to think.

I shall build a new civilization. Rebuild, or build a new one. ...

To read on, click here.

A poem of thoughts and dreams in the middle of midnight 'til dawn.

I AM

by I.S. Cabañero

Iskolar-aktibista.

I come to think of this thought more convinced than just “iskolar ng bayan” in all.

I come to believe in this idea more faithfully than anything else every time I am asked.

I am asked, “what’s a U.P. student like?”

I am a student of the university.

I am one of the many hundreds of the many thousands.

I go around the campus riding the Ikots, and go the opposite way around riding the Tokis.

I mean “SC” to be the university’s shopping center, and not the country’s Supreme Court.

I call the historical Palma Hall “A.S.” and the skinny blue quiz notebook “blue book”.

Iskolar-aktibista.

I am a scholar of the nation, an iskolar ng bayan.

I pay a subsidized amount of fee for my tuition and top-notch education.

I thank the people of my nation and the men that run its noble office.

I am a scholar sent to school by the government.

I am a scholar indebted of service to my nation.

I am a scholar of my republic’s people.

Iskolar-aktibista.

I am an activist, an aktibista.

I stand as myself.

I advocate the thoughts, the interests, the ideas, and the rights of my causes.

I, by my beliefs, stand firm.

I, by my principles, live strong.

I, by my virtues, act wisely.

I am an activist with refined civilization.

I am an activist of fought-for liberation.

I am a student of the University of the Philippines.

I am an iskolar-aktibista.

I am due to my nation not only of committed service, but also of passionate assistance.

I am owed by progress not only a shot at it, but several, to secure my nation’s amelioration.

I am for the nation and for its people – I typed this in conviction.

To think of my purpose for the future is me being a student.

To dream my nation’s benediction is my contribution for my university’s continued erection.

To realize that dream and to offer that selfless purpose to my patron is a becoming of me.

The answer is “I am”.

I am.