Stars Can't Shine Without Darkness (Stellar)

Epilogue

     Tala went out of the building clutching her backpack that contained all her personal effects. Deep inside she felt like having a melt down. Her stories were rejected. They were just too polite to tell her. She was hoping that at least one would be published. She badly needed the money. That morning her landlady kicked her out of the boarding house because she was two months behind in paying the rent. She was thinking how she would spend her last soggy Ninoy Aquino in her wallet. She remembered the coins in her pocket, it was enough for her jeep fare to her next destination or two sticks to satisfy her nicotine fix. She was getting desperate. Can she swallow her pride and go home to her parents to continue living a comfortable life that she abandoned? A few months back, she told them she wanted to become a tagalog romance writer, something they couldn’t understand and something they frowned upon. They had a big row. She really can’t remember if she was kicked out of the house or she left on her own free will so she could pursue her dream. She was thinking of selling her most prized possession, her laptop. The proceeds will be enough to cover rent and food. It would last her for a month or so depending on how stingy she will be. But she wondered how would she write her stories without her laptop?

“Having a rough day?” somebody interrupted her troubled mind. For a moment she couldn’t respond, she was taken aback because he was drop dead gorgeous.

“Yeah, sort of” she finally managed to say. “You?” she asked.

“Well I found out from my Aunt that my Dad disinherited me” he answered as he lit a cigarette. “Smoke?” he offered as he handed her a fag but she politely declined. Tala had an inner debate, she didn’t want to look nosy but she was curious. “He disowned me because he still can’t accept the fact that I’m gay” he could tell she really wanted to know the reason why so he volunteered the information.

“Sorry to hear that” Tala replied. She felt bad for him. She also did her best to conceal her disappointment because he digs guys.

“Jacob” he introduced himself extending his hand.

“Tala” she said as they shook hands.

“Tala?” he asked quite perplexed. She could see the frown on his face. It was the usual reaction she gets when she says her name.

“Yes, it’s the Filipino word for star” she told him to pacify his curiosity.

“Nice name” he smiled which made her heart melt and made her bit disappointed again. She couldn’t get over the fact that he’s attracted to guys. “So why are you so glum?” he took another puff. She answered his query as briefly as she could. “My landlady’s really nice, you can occupy the den in the house”.

“I got kicked out of my boarding house because I was two months behind” she explained.

“Do you want to eat merienda?” he asked ignoring what she just said. She was about to lie that she just had lunch but her stomach was treacherous, it made a weird sound.

“Let’s go” he tried not to laugh. He took her bag from her and took her hand.