Never Ever Say Goodbye

Quick Notes [DO NOT SKIP]

To not clog up my blurb, I'll do it here. Quick disclaimers and stuff and for the peeps who like skipping through things like this, joke's on you.

This is an entry to the Open Novella Contest 2022, a Wattpad Ambassador-run event running from February to May. In a way, this is a standalone and will be understandable without reading any of my other works. However, I would greatly appreciate it if you checked my other works as well. They're found at the latter part of this story so watch out for that list!

Since this is an entry to the ONC, here is the prompt it is based on:

3 - They just declared Martial Law. Everything around you erupted into anarchy, and the only way out is through. What will you do to survive?

This is an unedited draft. This is not line-edited so you'll see a lot of possible typos, some unflowy sentences, and most likely, some degree of bad phrasing. I see them all the time so don't worry, I'm way ahead of you there. No need to scream about it in my comments section.

This story is set in the Philippines, mainly in the neighborhoods of Manila. There are a couple of things that will not be explained in detail throughout the story and if you're confused and/or weirded out by the culture I'm presenting, don't hesitate to drop a comment or PM me on Wattpad or in Discord. I'll happily explain stuff to you.

There will also be a glossary of sorts that will be included at the latter part of this story that will hopefully explain some weird words that I don't have the energy nor the will to translate. lol.

As such, I was not raised in Manila and nor lived during the 1970-80s so there will be quite a few subtle details that I'm going to get wrong. If you found anything, don't hesitate to tell me. I will appreciate it. <3

(I will be switching to my native language for this note as it is heavily directed at the people who can understand it.)

Ang layunin ng akdang ito ay hindi para siraan ang pamilyang nakadikit sa kontekstong historikal ng kwento. Ang layunin ng akdang ito ay ang mailahad ang katotohanan sa likod ng isa sa mga pinakamadilim na panahon ng ating kasaysayan.

Sa mga taong patuloy na iginigiit na ang panahon ng Martial Law ay naturang "Golden Age" ng ating bansa o sa mga taong sinasabing walang masamang nagawa ang yumaong diktador, hindi ko nais makipagtalo o makipag-tuon sa inyo. Ang mga pangyayari sa kwentong ito ay base rin sa aking nasaliksik sa aking kagustuhang maging tama at eksakto sa aking paglalarawan ng mga tunay na nangyari noong panahon na iyon.

Nawa'y sa iyong pagbasa ng kwentong ito, sa mga katotohanang aking ilalarawan, ay maging bukas ang iyong isip at maging ganap na disenteng tao upang huwag akong atakihin at i-"cancel" sa aking pagnanais na ilahad ang aking mga ideya at kaisipan.

Iyon lamang.

[Translation: The purpose of this story is not to slander the family that is connected with its historical context. The purpose, therefore, is to tell the truth behind one of the darkest eras of our history.

To the people who keep on claiming that the Martial Law era is the "Golden Age" of our country or those who claim that the late dictator has done nothing wrong, I don't wish to fight or engage in a conversation with you. All the events in this story are based on what I was able to research in my aim to present an accurate depiction of the events that really took place at the time.

I hope that as you read this story, in the light of the truth that I will present, your mind will be open and you will be a decent person so as to not attack or cancel me in my wish to communicate my thoughts and ideas.

That's all.]

I thank you, dear reader, for clicking into this and for reading this part. I hope you enjoy the succeeding story. For the judges, I hope none of my possible typos faze you from reading further. xD

With that, I usher you to one of the many ways a story can start.