chiaroscuro

with only 250 bucks in hand, i looked for Joel Toledo's chiaroscuro at the book store. tolentino...tiongson... i was starting to lose hope. but when i looked closer, toledo's book was stuck between two thick books making it hard for the buyers to find it.

there it was, in one plastic covered piece as if it was meant for me and is just waiting for me to buy it.

the kuripot in me told me: "you may need it for now but after submitting your paper, will you still read it? you can borrow from someone else and return it once you're done"

i secretly opened the book covered in plastic and flipped through the pages, i wanted it so badly but the kuripot in me kept talking. "go buy ricky lee's novel instead, you want to read it diba? just add P50 and you'll have yourself a Para kay B"

with the poetry book in hand, i scanned through the pages of Para kay B, read the blurb and loved the illustrations. thing is, i had money enough for me to buy 1 book only. i put down the ricky lee and went to the cashier to pay the toledo. until now, i still can't believe how i ignored the kuripot in me and went for what i really wanted and got myself my first filipino poetry book (hah. go figure). having this book feels really really different that no matter how i repeat the words really before different, it still won't describe how surprisingly happy i am with this.

as for Para kay B, whoever has it, can you let me borrow one?