English Version: Sands & Sparrow

20

Aveline stirred under the soft sheets, and the morning light trickled in through the window. Shedding herself of the remaining glimpse of a dream, her eyes were still shut as she soaked in the warmth of covers before letting her chocolate eyes see the sun's rays.

"Arturo! You arrived late again last night! Why can't you learn to jerk off with your dick and find a pussy to fill in!" An angry voice of a middle-aged woman filled the second floor. Her name was Berta, the loudest mouth in the whole neighborhood. Her voice echoed between the old apartments, creeping under doors and squeezing through keyholes, and traveled through windows like smoke.

"I prefer to suck dick than jerk off!" A shrieking teenage boy replied in a gay accent.

"Every night you're looking for a man! You're too horny for a nineteen-year-old!" Berta yelled loudly again. She was mad at Arturo, her only son who happens to be a proud homosexual.

Aveline breathed deeply, no need for an alarm clock. Her neighbor's loud voice was enough to wake the neighborhood. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, but before leaving the bed, Aveline embraced Jomar, her one and only boyfriend – the one who always protected her in bed, her silent witness to the tears that poured from her deep brown eyes.

"Good morning, Jomar. Oh, how I adore your eyes... I love you," Aveline gave a gentle kiss to her boyfriend, Jomar, the Teddy Bear. Margo was often mistaken as 'Joe,' so Aveline decided to combine 'Joe' and 'Margo,' thus naming the teddy bear Jomar.

"Would you like to have a sunbath outside?" Aveline carried the teddy bear to the clothesline, hanging it under the sun. Warming up her teddy was her personal belief to prevent germs from accumulating inside the stuffed toy.

After that, she headed to the bathroom to change into black jogging pants and a white shirt. Aveline left the apartment to buy breakfast at the Sari-sari store owned by Berta. A Sari-sari store is the local Filipino version of a convenience store, akin to 7-11 or Mini Stop, a small neighborhood retail shop built in front of the owner's home. The store typically stocks basic goods such as canned food, instant noodles, coffee, soda, and other items that Filipinos need daily.

As she passed each door on the second floor, various sounds were heard: the vibrating cries of children, a jealous wife nagging her husband, and the loud noise from a television.

On the third floor, kids were scraping styrofoam, sending minuscule white flakes falling over Aveline's head like snow. She continued walking until she reached the sidewalk. Along the narrow road, neighborhood children were singing and dancing in front of her, clapping their hands in tune with their songs.

Aveline arrived at the Sari-sari store. Berta was sitting on the porch, watching TV, while her son, Arturo, managed the goods and stacked them on the wooden shelves.

"Can I get some coffee and a pack of bread?" Aveline stood in front of the store, leaning against the window and placing the money on the wooden counter.

"Oh, it's you, Abeng," Berta greeted her warmly. A plump woman with hair rollers stuck in her hair, Berta's thick lips were clasped around a cigarette. She enjoyed giving nicknames to her customers, and for Aveline, it was 'Abeng.'

"Arturo, get the new bread," Berta ordered her son. Arturo grimaced at the mention of his masculine name. "Mother! It's Armida, not Arturo. Gross!" He corrected her with a flamboyant gay accent, snapping his fingers and performing a catwalk in front of her.

Berta's temper flared like a hailstorm, her words rapidly firing like a machine gun. "Arturo! Just get the bread and do as I say! Armida?! What kind of name is that? Giving me a heart attack this early in the morning!" Aveline stepped back to avoid the spray of Berta's saliva.