A Geisha In A Past Life

I've been keeping these notebooks for more than 20 years. They contain my pre-desktop comp/laptop stories. I used to bring a spiral notebook everyday so I can write wherever I go. Most of the time, the biggest and greatest ideas catch us off guard and come to us during the least expected moments. They used to be 50 +, but they're down to 26. I've thrown the others due to personal reasons. I still read them sometimes and the stories I've written still affect me big time. :) The stories inside these notebooks matter a lot to me, but what matter most are the memories and inspiration attached to these stories. Sometimes, when I read them, I am still astonished that I managed to write them. And then I remember what pushed me to do so and it won't come as a surprise anymore. Indeed,  memories and feelings  matter so much to a writer.

“Whoa! We are here finally,” Sleigh shouted gleefully as he parked the car. They finally arrived at the river where they will spend the weekends to relax. It is almost time for lunch. “The haven”, as what the locals call it, is a favorite vacation spot especially during summer. The fact that it is free, it is also one of those very few nature reserve spot left. Cane smiled at her boyfriend. “You are like little child, Baby.” Sleigh grinned. “At least one of us has enough excitement to last this weekend.” He looked at the rearview mirror. Their two companions looked so serious that it looked like they are going to do a school project instead of relaxing. Kite heard Sleigh’s comment, but she did not retort back. She is feeling really uncomfortable since the beginning of this trip. She is seated beside Cheat, of all people, at the back of Sleigh’s van. The two of them are seated at the opposite sides of the van as if there is a big ravine between them. While Sleigh and Cane were singing, ...

PROLOGUE A drop of blood in each of the children’s marks. Forever this will bear a curse on her. She knew it. She closed her eyes as if having second thoughts on what she is about to do. She took a deep breath. A very deep one. Then a sudden surge of fear enveloped her trembling body as she glanced around the sacred room of her masters. It was a dark, circular room made of gold. She shivered. She knows she should not be here. And she knows… she should not have brought with her the sacred ones. The sacred ones. But they are all so innocent! She looked at the six little faces in front of her. She could not bear to see them accept the second mark of the beast because she knows what that will mean. No escape. Eternal subjection of their souls to the dark side. She does not want that. She had known the mothers of these children. She had taken care of them when they were still carrying the sacred ones with them. Oh how beautiful the mothers of these children were! Innocent Marquees....

HOOP I. “Another save made by the Explosion!” one of the hosts exclaimed as the star player of the Parrots gave a three-point shot that put the game into their team’s name. End of fourth quarter. The sound of the buzzer sealed it. “Parrots win! They will go into the finals!” His teammates ran and hugged their saver. “Way to go, Cheat!” “Explosion on the run again!” “You broke their ambition!” Cheat gave his teammates a little smile then averted his gaze. He searched through the crowd at the bleachers as their university hymn filled the background. He saw him. He half-raised an arm as recognition. The person smiled at Cheat. Cheat nodded at him. His younger brother. Then he focused his gaze back on the court. He saw her. She saw him. Their gazes locked. She averted his gaze. He smiled sarcastically. That journalist never does retreat. Sleigh, the team captain and considered the best forward in the league, put an arm around Cheat. “Did she distract your game?” “What do you think?” Sleigh...