Larry was driving his kids to school when his son, Yuichi, reminded him about their school play which was to be held that coming Friday. Larry promised them that he will come as soon as he leaves work. Karla then asked if their mom is coming to watch the play, their dad suddenly became silent. The twins seems oblivious to the situation faced by their parents.

    At work, Larry tried his best to hide his personal dilemma from doing his job. But his co-workers began to notice a change in his actions, from making decisions to worker-to-worker conversations. Not soon after, rumors began to circulate about Larry’s failed marriage. Larry’s employees began to create their own theories but hi didn’t seem to care. Eventually, the news reached the ears of Larry’s parents. they began to worry about their son’s personal crisis.

    His mom called him on his cellphone and asked him what happened. Straight to her ear, what she feared the most came true: his daughter-in-law filing an annulment to nullify their marriage. Larry’s parents are not the kind of people who would want to make their children the perfect sons and daughters they ever had, doing what their parents wants them to do. They encouraged their son to make wise decisions and think of the possibilities that every decision may bring about. They never forced Larry and Marla to marry because they want to make sure they want them to make their decision on how they can live up to what they did.

    That night, Larry came home very tired from work. He went to the twins’ room and caught them asleep. He kissed their foreheads and while they were sleeping, he said to them this words, “What makes me still standing on my two feet is because I still have you, my children, my only family”.

    After that, he went to his room and began to cry in sorrow, unsure of he will do next the following day. He laid himself onto his bed. Next to his share of the bed lies an empty space on the other half which used to be occupied by his wife. Tears continue to flow from his eyes and as he turned off the nearby lamp, he said to himself “Good night”.

    To be continued…

An ongoing seires of the J-Blog Files

    “What?!”, that was the initial reaction received by Larry from his best friend, Finz (short for Josefino Arceo). Finz was pretty much surprised on what he had just learned about Larry’s wife leaving him. He just couldn’t believe it. What kind of a woman would leave her own husband like that, he thought. Larry himself couldn’t believe that all of this is happening. They never had any serious fights, he is a one-woman man so it’s impossible that she left him for he has another woman. It just doesn’t makes sense, he thought.

    Suddenly, Finz made a theory. He thinks that Marla left him for another man. Larry just laughed it off, saying that she couldn’t do that for she was raised by her parents to be a God-fearing person. She wouldn’t do that to ruin our marriage, he says. Finz took his word back and suggested another possibility: She left him so she can file for an annulment. Larry begged to differ. “On what basis would she file for an annulment for?”, he asked. Finz suggested on some of the grounds for it: forced marriage, and married at an early age. He denied any of the grounds saying, they were married when they were 19 on their own free will so they can take care of their twins as married parents.

    Finz insisted that there is a possibility that Marla was not satisfied on their relationship. Larry can only say one thing, and that is that they both love each other and they’re doing it for their children’s sake.

    More than a week after, Larry received a mail. It is an enveloped which contains some important documents. He found out that the mail was sent by his wife. He immediately opened that mail and was shocked with what he saw inside: Annulment papers. He read the documents closely and he read the basis for his wife’s filing. It states there that she was married against her will. It also reads that she was forced to marry so that they can together take responsibility on taking care for their love child on fear that they would become illegitimate.

    Larry was angry on what he read. He looked for the return address written on the envelope and it was the address of his in-laws’ home in Laguna. He immediately went there to demand an explanation from his wife.

    Once there, his wife saw him from their window. She went down and confronted Larry. He asked what is the meaning of her actions and why she is doing it. Marla said told him to read the annulment papers. It sates there her reasons. But Larry cried foul over it, saying that they both agree to take responsibility of their actions. She said that only he took the responsibility of their actions and she didn’t. It wasn’t her fault why she was pregnant that time. She said that she was forced to engaged sex with him since Larry was drunk that time.

    Larry couldn’t not believe what he’s hearing. Yes, he was drunk but she was drunk too. They were both careless with their actions so they have to make up for it by being the responsible married parents that they are. Marla, with deep hatred towards him, slapped Larry at the face. She broke into tears and called her husband a good-for-nothing husband. she told him that she never wanted to become his wife, nor to become a mother to their twins. She didn’t stated it on their annulment papers but that truth is, she never want to take care of their twins. She claims her dreams were shattered and taken away from when she gave birth. She never intended to become realtor, saying that she’s took the job so that she could save money to hire a lawyer. It was her children who shattered her dreams to bits and for that she could not forgive them nor her own husband. She is willing to risk anything so that she can be free again. What really hurt Larry the most was when Marla said these words: “I never loved you from the beginning…”

    With all of this words, Larry denies all of Marla’s words. He believes that what she is saying is false. If there was any problem, they should fixed together. He begged his wife to come back to him and to their family. Marla just bade Larry a farewell and went back inside her parents’ house. Larry broke into tears, came down to his knees and yelled for his wife to come back. Then he yelled his wife’s name for one last time.

    To be continued…

    Lauro Jose D. Macalajoc was a very bright 16-year old boy with a very bright future. He was accepted in a prestigious college, he is the class valedictorian, not only that he won awards ranging from spelling bees to sports fests trophies.

    It was during their high school graduation did he met the girl that would change his life forever. She is Marla Karylle P. Rejas, a top student who boast both beauty and brains. He made the worst decision in his life of asking her to be his girlfriend at the eve of their graduation. Little did he know that that mistake will soon have its consequences.

    Lauro, or Larry to his friends and family, gave the biggest surprise to his family. Right in the middle of his first year in college did he told them that something happened between him and his girlfriend Marla. He told them that she’s pregnant and that he’s the father. This little piece of news shocked the family and asked why they did it and why they did it on such an early age.

    And this where our story begins.

    A little after 5 years, Larry is now a general manager on a car company in EDSA. He earned this after he sold ten of their models to clients in a record of just two months. Higher job means higher salary, he thought.

    He said to himself that his family would be glad by this piece of good news. He came home that night and told to his two kids, Yuichi and Karla, and they congratulated him with kisses and hugs. Then, eager to tell his wife, Larry asked the kids where their mom is. She went out to buy groceries, they said. Disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to know about his promotion, Larry decided to prepare dinner for the while family so that Marla wouldn’t have to do it. Besides, he is in a good mood after being promoted.

    Around six thirty in the evening, Marla came home with a bag full of groceries. She was surprised to see her husband home very early and had dinner made for her. She asked if there was a special occasion. Larry then told her about the good news. His wife just smiled and congratulated him. She called on the maid to take care of the groceries while she and the rest of the family begin to eat supper.

    As they were eating, Larry can’t help but see something in Marla’s eyes. Her eyes looks sad, he thought. It’s been like that ever since they were married. Even after they were married, both of them continued their studies although Marla had to put hers on hold to focus on her pregnancy where she gave birth to twins. Larry finished earlier but Marla was able to finish hers a semester after. they never had any marital arguments but Larry can still feel the awkwardness that they both feel with each other. Both of them have respectable jobs, he as a car company general manager and she, a realtor. Both of them shared responsibilities over their two kids, often bringing them to out-of-town trips and attending to school events together. But yet, he thought that something is still wrong and that he fears that this would grow into a large problem if they both ignore to face it.

    One day, Larry told Marla and the twins that he’ll be gone for an overseas trip to Japan with representatives of the car company he works with to attend a seminar with of other car company representatives. He said he’ll be gone for at least three weeks, and to ensure of his return, he promised his kids on buying them toys made from japan and Japanese novels translated into English for his wife. The following day he left the Philippines and prayed that when he comes back, his family would welcome him with open arms. It didn’t.

    Three weeks after, he came back with lots of presents that he would give for his twins and to his wife. He arrived at their house that night and with full glee, he opened the door and came looking for his wife and kids. He saw the maid crying, he thought something was wrong. He went upstairs and saw his kids, Yuichi and Karla, crying. The twins saw their father and ran toward Larry to hug him. He asked if there was something happened. Karla was too scared to tell so Yuichi told Larry the bad news: Marla just left the house.

    Larry was shocked, surprised and can’t think what he would do next. He never thought he would see this coming so soon. they never fought, they never argue over anything, they honest with each other. “But was she?”, he said to himself. Was his wife dishonest all this time. What was the reason why she left him, and their twins. What can he do to fix this? Is this the start of their marriage’s total collapse?

    To be continued…

If you have been tagged in this, write the names down of the last 21
people that wrote on your wall (no repeats), and then answer the
questions. Say you’re guessing if you don’t know, but at least guess on
all of them. After doing this, tag your 21 friends to do the same:

1. Ellaine Reyes
2. Maviel Gonzales
3. Paolo Perez
4. Alvin Santos
5. Jerico Bonzon
6. Rina Robles
7. Jonathan Choi (US)
8. Rachel Zucker (US)
9. William Evans (US)
10. Iggi Rodriguez
11. Ria Ignacio
12. Nonica De Olazo
13. Dianne Naval
14. Renz Cruz
15. Nikki Umali
16. Sandee Cruz
17. Charina Cruz
18. Koji Takagi (US)
19. Raymond Ignacio
20. Marc Dumlao
21. Von Valerio

*How did you meet 7?
Nung pareho kaming nag-aabang sa school bus namin nung unang araw ng pasukan sa America.

*What would you do if you had never met 15?
Gagaan ang buhay ko at hindi na sana ako inatake ng hika.

*What would you do if 20 and 1 dated?
Magugulat lang ako.

*Have you ever seen 17 cry?
Nung nagreklamo sa ugali ng mga kasammahan namin habang nagpapraktis sa bahay nila.

*Would 3 and 6 make a good couple?
Well, depende kung komportable na sila sa isa’t isa at committed talaga sa kanilang relasyon.

*Would 4 and 16 make a good couple?
Sabi ni Bebe break na sila. Ewan ko, close yata sila eh.

*Describe 19:
Maliit lamang siya pero kung ano na ang nasa isip. Matanong siya at kung ano ang natatanggap na sagot sa knaya, tinitingnan niya ito sa ibnag anggulo, madalas negatibo o hindi sa nais sa ibig ng sumagot.

*Do you like 17?
Magkakilala bilang magkaklase pero hindi kami ganong kalapit sa isa’t isa. Rinig ko nga, taken na siya. If I have feelings for her, I would like her, and yet I don’t.

*Do you think 20 is attractive?
Uhm, next question please………

*What’s 5’s favorite color?
Let me ask him first. Kaso nakakahiya na kasi nakakailang tawag na ako sa kanila. 😛

*When was the last time you talked to 9?
Sa huling IDD call ko sa kanya.

*What language does 7 speak?
kaya niya mag-Korean (Koreano siya eh), mag-Ingles (laki sa America iyan), at mag-Mandarin (nanatili rin siya sa Hong Kong for sometime bago bumalik sa America).

*Who is 13 going out with?
She’s out with her friends and co-staff ng yearbook. Madalas funny business ang ginagawa.

*What year is 18 in?
Sophomore na siya sa McLean High School. Bale nasa Ikasampung Baitang na siya pero nasa High School nga lang.

*What is 14’s favorite music?
PaRoKyA ni EdGaR

*Would you ever date 16?
Date? Okay sana kung siya ang lilibre. Lagi na lang lalake ang nanlilibre, gender inequality iyon ‘no!

*Would you ever date 2?
Uhm, nahihiya ako sumagot. Baka mabasa kasi ni Mavs ito eh.

*Where does 18 live?
Sa may isang subdivision (?) malapit sa Great Falls St, Falls Church VA

*What is the best thing about 4?
Madalas wala naman. Pero kung may kailanagan, nilalapitan ako para ito’y aming pag-usapan.

*What would you like to tell 10 right now?
Tumino ka naman, kahit minsan!

*What is the best thing about 20?
Magaling mag-basketball, iyun lang.

*Have you ever kissed 1?
AHAHHAHAAH!…Hindi pero napasama ko ng loob, oo!

*What’s the best memory you have of 8?
Naaalala ko na dinidirian niya ang paglalagay ko ng ketchup sa pizza nung tanghalian.

*When’s the next time you’re going to see 5?
Sa Internet: sa multiply at sa YM. As a solid person, kapag natuloy na ang reunion nang MoF, kapag nagkitakita kung skali sa UAAP at NCAA, sa LRT, sa Taft Avenue (kung tuloy na siya talaga sa Lasalle)

*Is 2 pretty?
GORGEOUS. She also claimed that she’s PRETTY!

*What was your first impression of 12?
Dati akal ko tsanak ang ugali niya

*How did you meet 3?
CLassmates na kami ng ilang beses na sa high school.

*Is 4 your really close friend?
Close to nothing, sure! We’re not really that close pero close siya sa mga friends niya (siyempre! :P)

*Have you seen 18 in the last month?
Sa mga litrato niya sa Facebook. Mukha nga ang saya niya eh. Nahihiya ako tuloy na kauspain siya pati na rin si Jon.

*When was the last time you saw 16?
Face to face sa March 30. Sa telepono rin nung Abril.

*Have you been to 21’s house?
Isang bese pa lang

*When’s the next time you’ll see 10?
Siguro sa Malabon kung kailan nandon ako.

*Are you close to 9?
Siya ang unang nakipagkaibigan sa akin nung unang araw ko sa Haycock.

*Have you been to the movies with 11?
Hindi eh. Bwala pa akong manood ng sine na walang kasamang nakakatatanda.

*Have you gotten in trouble with 8?
Ano nga ba ang huling bese na nag-away kami ni Rachel? hmmm………

*What did 12 write on your wall?
Wala pa ngang nagsusulat sa akin nang kahit ano sa guestbook ko sa Multiply, wala nga siyang account sa FACEBOOK.

*Would you give 20 a hug?
Bakit lagi na lang si Marc!

*When have you lied to 16?
Somebody please remind me if I did!

*Do you know a secret about 8?
Yes, she’s pretty! (OMG!? true beauty is within)

*Describe the relationship between 9 and 12.
i dont think they know each other. They never really met. Kung salaki man, I will let you know.

*What’s the best thing about your friendship with 2?
It’s been awkward reallly on my part but she treats every one of her friends equally.

*What’s the worst thing about 14?
Minsan nawawala sa sarili. Naabutan ko siyang nagrarap sa gymnasium at kumakanta ng WOWOWEE!

*Have you ever danced with 20?
Nung isang outreach program, lahat ng mga taga-Albert nung second year nag paper dance kasama ang mga alaga nila. di pa lang sa kalagitnaan ng sayaw, tinulak ako ni Marc para ma-disqualify ako. Daya niya!

*How long have you known 13?
4TH YEAR-SAINT DOMINIC!

*Have you ever been in a fight with 1?
ahaha YESSS!..i mean who would want to have her potrait being drwan on a piece of paper!?

*Does 11 have a bf/gf?
Nung nakita kong magkapartner sina Ria at Calayag, siguradong magiging on na sila!

*Have you ever wanted to punch 2 in the face?
Goodness, heck NO! Who would want to puch a face like that! If i would, lintik ako sa nanay niya (waahh!)

*Has 15 met your mother?
Kung sana lang para magamit ng nanay ko ang traya powers niya sa kanya!

*How did you meet 21?
July 1, 2002, naging magkakalse kami nung Grade 6.

*Did you ever accidentally physically hurt 19?
Hindi, bakit gusto mo?

*Do you live close to 7?
Dati, magkalapit lang ang tinitirhan namin. Dati siyang taga The Villages at naninirahan sa isa sa mga suites nito, habang sa isang apartment naman ang amin sa Pavilion. Ngayon, we live 1 timezone apart kasi nasa Korea na siya.

*What is 8’s favorite food?
Quote from Rachel herself: “does everything count? ;)” Siyempre kasma ba diyan ang Pizza?

*What kind of car does 1 have?
Hindi pa nga siya pinapyagang magkalisensiya, tinatanong mo kung may kotse na ba siya? GULO MO NO?!

*Have you traveled anywhere with 9?
Nung hanggang nagcamping kami sa Hemlock at sa DC

*If you gave 2 $100, what would they spend it on?
KUng hindi siya selfish, ibibigay niya ito sa isang chairty org. Kung hindi, Ikakanya lang at ilalagay sa bank account o kaya ipamahagi sa kanyang friends! (Harsh ko naman)

*What is your best memory of 21?
Nung nakitulog ako sa kuwarto nila ni ROB sa retreat kasi absent ang magiging roomamte ko sana. Mangha ako sa kabuthian ng 2 iyon.

*Out of the top 21, which is funniest?
Si Renz kasi daming natatago na pampatawa.

*Who is the most flirtatious?
Paano ba ang pagflirt, matanong ko nga? No comment!

*which one lives farthest away?
Sa mga nabanggit ko sa top 21, sina William at Rachel lang.

*Which one do you hang out with most?
Nobody really. Malungkot ang buhay ko eh. Hanggang tawag lang ako sa totoo lang.