WEST

CAPITAL

Written by:
Rachelle P. Bajade
West Capital

“…West capital remains mysterious to other capital. No

one dares to visit this Capital again…”

I was busy reviewing my assignment but suddenly stop

when I heard what Gray is watching on my Laptop.

“What are you doing?” I asked and raised my eyebrows

“Watching” Gray

“Yeah, I know. Can you please stop that? Dad will get
mad if he finds out.”

“Relax”

I rolled my eyes at Gray and continue doing my

homework. Gray is my best friend since we were young.
Our parents are also best friends and that is the reason
why I and Gray are close. Gray is always here at our
house even though his house is just in front of our house.

“Summer what if----!”

“No Gray, NO!” I immediately answered even though

Gray is not done talking. I know what he is thinking right
now, and I totally disagree.

“Come on Summer! Let’s try it” Gray said while widely

smiling
“Gray you know how dangerous that is” I replied “My
dad and your dad will get really mad if we disobey them.
They said that we can go wherever we want except the
West capital and you know the reason behind that” I
continued

Our place is divided into four capitals, which are the

North, South, East, and West. Gray and I live in North
Capital and we have been to all capitals since we love
exploring except the West. Elders said that this is the
most dangerous capital. Our dads also said that they have
been there, and the gossips are true and that is what we
used to believe since we were a child.

But this young man over here is not in his right mind and
trying to convince me to go to West Capital and find out
if the rumor is true.

“But I don’t believe that. It is impossible to have a place

like that. Land of Poor and Criminals? That’s
Ridiculous!” Gray defended

“Yes, it’s possible. Our dad went there and that’s what
they have witnessed” I replied

“Still, I don’t believe it” he insisted

“okay! Then go alone”

“Summer please!”
“Gray…NO! If I said No, No! You can’t change my
mind”
----

“Woooh! This is paradise!” Gray exclaimed after he got

out of the Taxi

Yes, I swallowed everything that I said last week. I’m

here now at West Capital with Gray. This 18-year-old
boy beside me is acting like eight years old because of
the amazing view in this capital.

Well yeah, to be honest, this is mesmerizing. Trees are

all over the place. Flowering plants are seen at the side of
the road. I understand now why this capital is called the
poorest because I think the common livelihood here is
agriculture, not like in other capitals where giant
establishments are seen right in front of your face.

“I told you, elders are wrong,” Gray said happily

“We are not still sure about that”

“Come on. Don’t worry I’m here to protect you. For

now, let’s enjoy the view, and later on, we will find a
temporary shelter” Gray said with assurance and I just
sighed.

But I started to worry again when we can see nothing but

trees after walking for 10 minutes from the boundaries.
No people or even just a shadow of a person, no houses,
and even a waiting area.
“Let’s just go back to North, Gray” I said worriedly

“How? There’s no taxi or even a tricycle”

“Let’s ask Dad to pick us up,” I said

“You insane? Our parents didn’t even know that we were

here, they will get mad big time if we tell them” Gray

Right. We didn’t tell to our parents that we are going

here.

“Let’s walk a furthermore and if there are still no traces

of humans, let’s go back and ask someone from home to
pick us up, okay?” Gray said and I just nodded.

A few minutes after we already saw houses and heard

minimal noises from people. Gray and I look happily at
each other and excitedly run toward the crowd.

“Wow, this is amazing!” Gray said while looking at the

busy surroundings.

I can’t hide my amusement also. People are busy with

their own tasks, but they still greet each other.

What is this? Why I can see the opposite of what elders

said from the North capital. Are we believing lies since
we were young? What was their reason to made
assumption about West Capital?
Our attention caught when a ball rolled and hit Gray’s
shoes. He picked it up and a little boy suddenly approach
us.

“That’s mine” the child said, and it looks like he is a

little bit scared. And that’s pretty normal since our faces
are new to him

Gray hand him the ball but still the boy stared at us that
looks like he is trying to examine us. I also stared at the
little boy and the starring contest cut when a woman in
early 40’s called the little boy, I guess she is the mother
of this child.

“Liam what are you doing?” the woman asked but the
little boy just turn his head to look at her mother and
point me and Gray.

“I guessed the are not from here” the boy said

The woman walked toward us and like what the little boy
did she look at us from head to toe.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” she asked

“oh Hi, I’m Summer and this is Gray” I introduced

“and we are student researchers” gray continued with a

wide smile but he look at me when the woman stared at
us for a while
“Researchers? I know it’s rude but go back to where you
came from and Researchers, documentalists or anything
that will make our capital known to the public is not
allowed here and we don’t need you here” the woman
said while grabbing Liam’s hand.

She is supposedly turn her back to us when Gray stop

her.

“Well, to be honest we’re not researchers or some kind

of professionals. We’re just exploring every capital and
we’re here as tourists. No need to worry” Gray honestly
said

“Yes, we’re just here to have fun since we love

traveling” I added

“really?”

“Yes, we really telling the truth so no worries”

“okay if that is the case welcome to our Capital” the

woman said with a wide smile in her face so me and
Gray also smiled

“By the way, I am Rosalinda Smith the Secretary of this

Capital” the woman introduce, and she offer her hand for
a shake hand and Gray happily received it and me as
well.

“Come. Let’s go to my house”

We follow Mrs. Smith and everyone in is looking, some
stop their work to greet us.

After a few minutes of walking, we have arrived at their

house. Their house is made of concrete but not as fancy
as what houses look like in the north.

“Forgive my little house, it is not big but it’s clean don’t

worry” Mrs. Smith shyly said

“No, it is okay, Mrs. Smith” I replied

As we entered their home, we are greeted by a man that I

think is Mrs. Smith’s husband and he is wearing an
apron, next to him is a teenage boy that in my guess he is
13 years old.

“Summer and Gray, that is my husband,” Mrs. Smith

while pointing at Mr. Smith “and that is my first Son,
Andrei” Mrs. Smith continued

“Nice meeting you,” Gray and I said in sync, they just

nodded

“Smith did our dinner ready?” Mrs. Smith asked to her

husband

I checked my wristwatch and its already 5:00 pm

“Yes, Mrs. we’re just waiting for you” Mr. Smith

answered
“Good, Let’s go kids. I know you’re hungry”

“Put your bags down at the sofa and let’s eat” Mr. Smith
said, and we followed him and walk towards the dining
area. Their dining area is only divided by a cabinet with
their living area and I think that’s smart.

“what made you think to explore West Capital? Aren’t

you heard about what West capital is?”
“That’s the main reason why we are here, we don’t
believe that there are such things as land of criminals,
what are the basis?” Gray said

“Yes, but it seems like it is not true, since we can see the
total opposite of what the elder’s said to us. It seems like
they are spitting lies” I added

“it is nice to hear that there are still people who didn’t
believe the lies about the West capital. It’s all over the
news and internet” Mr. Smith

“Do you know what is the reason behind that?” Gray

bravely asked

“Well thanks to the great Arnold Montenegro and Arthur

Gallego they are the reason why West capital is known
as the poorest and where criminals live” Mrs. Smith
started

Gray and I looked at each other. We are both shocked

because we heard our Dad’s name. What about dad and
uncle Arnold?
“what about them?” Gray

“16 years ago…”

*flashback*

Arnold Montenegro and Arthur Gallego are known as

Famous Documentalists. There are a lot of places that
they help to develop because of their good
Documentaries.

In their next Documentary, they choose West Capital

because this is rich in agriculture. They want the West
capital to be known not only in the four capitals but also
in the whole world.

They scheduled their plans and talk to the West Capital’s

officials and they are accommodated by Rosalinda
Smith.

“Hi, I’m Rosalinda Smith, West capital’s Secretary. I

want to apologize on behalf of our President that he will
not able to join us here” Mrs. Rosalinda said

“No that’s totally fine. We already talked to him through

phone and we get his permission” Arnold replied
“Okay, that’s good. But first, let’s eat and have some
rest”

They followed Mrs. Smith and took a short rest and a

few hours later Arnold and Arthur Start their
Documentary.

West Capital is also quite big that's why their

documentary is not easy. There are a lot of things to
feature. The people of the west capital offered the capital
hall to be their temporary shelter and they both accept it.

In their last shoot for their Documentary, they choose to

feature the waterfalls of the capital, slightly far from the
crowd. They go there with some of the capital’s officials
to guide them.

After the long day, they decided to go back to their

temporary shelter, and it was a total mess.

"Art what happened here?" Arnold asked Arthur

"I don’t know. We're both not here"

They look at each other and immediately go to their

baggage and they found out that some of the important
and expensive things are missing and including their
credit cards. They search anywhere inside the shelter but
nothing to be found.

“The officials are the only ones who have the duplicate
key of this hall” Arthur
“What a thief”

“If the officials did such things what more about the
people of this capital”

Arnold and Arthur get mad. Without proper goodbyes,

without proper investigation, they leave the West capital.
After that, rumors start to spread. Some added false
information and a lot of them believed the lies.

*end of flashback*

Gray’s Point of View

After hearing the story, I can’t help to get disappointed

with dad and even to Uncle Arthur.

They are too impulsive

“The truth is we are waiting for them here at our house to

give back their belongings” Mrs. Smith

“We caught the thief in the act, we didn’t know him, and
we are not sure what capital he belongs with” Mr. Smith

“Arnold and Arthur immediately leave our capital and

never heard about them again. After that, news and
people in the internet spitting lies about West Capital, So
we isolated ourselves here and never stepped our feet on
the other capitals again” Mrs. Smith said with hatred
I don’t know but I also felt betrayed.

“Mr. and Mrs. Smith, on behalf of our dads I want to say

sorry” I turned my head to Summer and she is already
standing and bowing to Mr. and Mrs. Smith and I
immediately get up from my chair and do the same

“Me also. I sincerely apologize on behalf of our dads”

I lift my head when I felt a tap on my shoulder, and it

was Mr. Smith

“You don’t need to say sorry. You know nothing”

“Besides we already knew that both of you are

Montenegro and Gallego”

“How did you know?” Summer asked and Mr. Smith

pointed to our luggage

“Your surnames are written under the North Capital

logo” Mr. Smith

“we’re really sorry” Summer

“No. No it’s okay, I know that you are not like your
fathers and we feel your sincerity” Mrs. Smith

“Don’t you worry as soon as we come back to North, we

will fix this, and we will tell them to personally
apologize to all of you” I said, and summer agreed
We spent the night in Mrs. Smith’s house, and we went
back to North as Early as we could, and the timing is on
us. Mom and dad are here at Summer’s house.

We explained everything to them, and they promise to

fix their mistakes.

I felt sorry for the people of West Capital. I hate how

people judge others without a reliable basis, I hate how
close-minded people easily believing lies.
Let’s avoid discrimination and promote equality for a
better life.
MONSTER
FRIENDS
Written by:
Rachelle P.
Her name is Rose, she is a 5 years old girl living in a
huge house. She is always alone in that huge house, her
parents are with her but feels like nothing because they
are busy working. Rose is smart and playful, she loves
playing inside their house, hiding under the bed, inside
the closet and even in their attic. She is fearless and
brave. The deity of monsters is sending her bunch of
monsters everyday to scare her and go to sleep, but they
are always failed. Monsters always go home with their
heart broken. They feel sad and doubtful thinking that
they are not doing their job well or maybe they are not
scary anymore. Worst case is that some monsters became
Rose’s friends and playmates.

So, the deity herself went down from Monster’s Castle

and transform herself into the creepiest and scariest
monster that would ever exist in the earth. She was laugh
evilly before entering Rose’s house, she is very excited
to scare the little kid. She can’t help herself but to be
proud how she looked. She entered the house and start
growling like crazy.
“GRRRRRRR!!!” she growled
“Rose, where are you? aren’t you going to bed, I’m here
to take you. so, better sleep” the deity threat but seems
like the child didn’t hear her.
Then after a minute the monster heard a tiny laugh
coming from one of the cabinets at the house.
“GRRRRRRR!” she growled again, and the tiny laugh
suddenly stop that makes the monster to smirk.
She is waiting for Rose’s cry but he heard nothing but a
deafening silence followed by the cracking noise of the
cabinet’s door that exposed a little kid trying to hide in
the bunch of clothes!

“Grrrr?” The monster hesitantly growled and she’s a bit

shocked when the kid just laugh.

“you again!” the kid said while pointing the opposite side
where the monster is.
“or maybe you’re here!” she points again but still not the
monster’s side
“hmm. Where are you?” Rose asked and try searching
the monster while her both arms are in the air trying to
touch the monster, but she failed.
The monster is too stunned. she did nothing but just
watch the little girl walked past by him.
“What is this? Is she blind?” she mumbled and follow the
girl
Rose stopped and grabbed a long thin metal stick that she
got stepped and start walking again.
“So, she’s blind”
She walked all over the house like nothing and without
bumping to anything. Seems like she memorized all of
the corners of their house.
All this time the dumb monsters I sent her didn’t inform
me about this.
The reason why this kid is not scared to any monster, she
can’t see them. Rose is blind.
PLUVIOPHILE

Written by:
Rachelle P. Bajade
PROLOGUE:
"What did you just say?"
" what? That I don’t love you anymore? Oh correction, I
didn’t love in the first place”
"T-tell me y-you're l-lying" He stammered as tears began
to fall from his eyes, but I just shook my head at him
"Please tell me, tell me you’re just lying. Is this a prank?
Where is the camera? Come on. Tell me it is just a show.
right?" he said laughing but tears started to fall from his
eyes one by one. he also looked around as if looking to
see if there was a camera set up around
"Tell me that you really love me. Lorraine please, don't
do this to me" he said, looking at me holding may
shoulder
"Aaron what the hell!?" I yelled at him in annoyance and
removed his hands from my shoulders
" Do I have to tell you, again and again, to make you
understand? So that, what I say goes into your head. I do
not love you. Aaron, I don't love you! One more? I don’t
love------!”
"Then why!? Tell me the reason why!?" he yelled in
annoyance which was the reason for me to stop speaking
" Tell me what you showed me in the past years! How
sweet you are to me. The way you look at me, the way
you smile at me. So, all of those... are all lies?"
"right"

"why?"

"Just because,"

"Just because? If you will answer me that way, then I'm

convinced you're lyin-----"

"okay! You really want me to answer and tell the reason?

I just used you" I said

"used?"

"Yes, I just used you. I used your money because every

time that I’m with you everything is free. From food,
from transportation fee of course because you have a car"
I smirked

"what else? Ah, Even my school project expenses is on

you. My house. You even buy me appliances because
you said you don't want me to suffer. Impressive" I said
enthusiastically and shook my head
"Your popularity, because I gained so much friends
because of you. what else? Hmm" I held my chin and
looked at the sky, to think more but my attention turned
to him when he spoke
"Are you done?" he said while looking straight at me
His sad eyes earlier turned to anger.
right. That’s right Aaron
The tears that fell from his eyes were dry but they were
still red. His palms are also clenched.
" Is this what you want, right? to tell you the reasons?" I
said to him with a smile
He slowly nodded and smiled
"At least now you know. Now you have the right to hate
me, curse me as you want. I will not get mad, besides I
deserve it"
"I know that what I did is not acceptable, but who
cares?" I chuckled

His fists clenched tighter and his eyes looked more angry
at me.
"Thank you, Aaron"

the last line I said before turning my back on him and

walking away.
the tears that I had been holding back started pouring out
after I turned my back. I stopped my own sobbing so that
he wouldn't notice that I was crying in case he was still
looking at me.

"I can't unlove you"

I stopped walking when he spoke again.

"I can't hate you. I will be angry, but I can't hate you. I
need you Lorraine so I can't hate you"

But you should, Aaron

"Please come back. I will forget everything just don't

leave me. Please"
I remained standing where I was and did not turn my
back to him. When I turn to face him, I might swollow
everything I said and hug him tight.
I was about to walk away again when I felt him hug me
from behind. And heavy rain starts pouring
I let him hold my back for a few seconds before
removing his hands from my waist. I didn't say another
word and started walking
“Lorraine please”

I ignored what he said and stepped away

"Few more steps, you are free"

It is hard for me to walk away thinking that he is soaking

in the rain crying.
It is hard seeing your love once being hurt but if this is
the only way for both of us then, I need to do this.

I was not prepared for such situations. It's far from what I
expected to happen.
Fate did not go according to my plan. I don't know how
and where to start now.
I still have a lot to do and fulfill in life and I think this is
the first step for it.
Even though I had to let go of one of the most important
people in my life, I hope it will turn out well.
I just need to make a new plan and start a new life.

I am Andriette Elizabeth, I died in the year 2004. My

parent also died the same year as mine and there is one
thing I'm pretty sure, we are killed.
I don't know the reason behind our death, I don't know
who murdered us. The only thing I know and the only
thing I can vividly remember about the person behind
our death is his Smile. I only saw his smile because this
is the only part of his face that is lit by the sun coming
from the window of our house and besides he is wearing
a old Berret hat and sunglasses.
His smile is so genuine that you won't know that he has a
bad intention. As far as I remembered he was talking to
my mom and my dad in our house, while I was busy
playing beside them. They were having fun and laughing
continuously, then suddenly the mood changed when the
guy that my mom and my dad talking with, suddenly
pulled a gun in his back.

He pointed the gun right in front of my dad and shoot

him in his chest, and just a few seconds the guy moved
his gun in my mom's direction and without hesitation he
shot my mom exactly in her forehead, The gun didn't
make any sound, it has a silencer.

I don't know, I was shock but I didn't utter any words. I

didn't scream and I didn't cry. I am silently asking myself

'what is going on?

I was even more surprised when the man who shot my

mom and dad stood up. He took a few steps closer to me.
I want to run but I can' t move. The man sat in front of
me to level my face, but still I can't see who he is, He
gently pat my head.

"Wanna go with mom and dad?" he asked

This time I manage to move, I nodded my head then I

heard him chuckled. The next thing happen I felt hot
liquid flowing out in my stomach and I realized I was
also shot. My body fell down on a cold floor.
"Robert and Franchesca Thomas, thank you because you
work hard, but don’t worry I will work harder"

Those are the last words I heard before I was dragged

and passed out.

------

"I am Andriette Elizabette Thomas" pakilala ko sa mga

taong nasa harapan ko ngayon

"Lauren sweetheart, what are you talking about?" asked

by the woman claiming to be my mother

"I'm not your child. Physically yes, by blood yes, but as

far as I remembered My mom and my dad was killed
years ago. I think I am reincarnated in this body" I
explained and the people in front of me frowned.

"Lauren..."

"Believe me"

****

That's how it started. 10 years Ago, I woke up feeling

strange. I felt as if I had suddenly woken up from a deep
sleep.

I woke up but I was in someone else's body.Then I

realize I was in the body of a little kid. I don't know how
that happened but there is one thing I am pretty sure. I
was reincarnated. Yes, I believe in Reincarnation,
because my dad said that this thing is true because it is
written in the bible, but I didn't know that it is possible to
remember what your past life is and it is possible that
even if a decade or several more decades have not passed
you will be able to reincarnate.

I tried to tell my parents so many times but they didn't

believe me, worst they took me to the hospital to check
me but they didn't find anything, because the doctor
didn't even know why I remembered some things that I
vaguely experienced because I am only 7 years old at
that time. The Doctor said that I might have dreamed of
them and that was the only thing my parents believed.

Since that day, I haven't talked about my past life. I didn't

talk to anyone else because I was afraid that they would
think and do something bad about me. I am not worried
about myself, but I am worried because I was in the body
of an innocent kid.

I just tried to accept the life I have here in the present

time. Forced to forget the things that came from my past.
Here, I am Lauren Alonzo.

But as time goes by there is this one thing bugging me.

No matter how hard I try to forget the past, I can't
because I have something I want to do and get, which is
connected to it.

Justice
Justice is lately popping in my mind. I eagerly want to
have justice. On the death of my parents and somewhat
on my death. Im not sure but I feel like I died the same
day as my parent died. I don't know where to start but I
will do anything to get what I want and the reason why I
came back to this world will not be wasted.