Pas Marquez Benitez

DEAD STARS

The story is about a love triangle between Alfredo, Esperanza and

Julia

Under the tree, Alfredo was remembering what happened

six weeks ago…

One evening, he had gone “neighbouring” with Don

Julian(Alfredo’s father) to Judge del Valle’s house wherein he

met Julia Salas(Judge’s sister-in-law)

One Sunday morning, after the mass, Esperanza indirectly asked Alfredo

about the visits they did. Uneasy feeling crept into his thoughts about the girl next door(Julia). Esperanza wanted to know if Alfredo goes straight at home after mass. Alfredo realized that after every mass, he was excited to go on

“neighbouring”

Alfredo answered untruthfully, he said he went home to work or sometimes he

goes neighbouring with Don Julian to Judge del Valle’s house

Esperanza dropped the topic. She believed that if a man is engaged, he

could not possibly love another woman

Just before the Holy week, Don Julian invited Judge del Valle and his family to go in Tanda to spend their Sunday afternoon there. In Tanda, Don Julian had a coconut plantation and a house on the

beach

Julia & Alfredo talked. There was breeze from the water. It blew Julia’s hair away

on her forehead. “I hope you’re enjoying this”

“Very much. It looks like home to me, except we do not have such a lovely

beach”

As they talked, Julia said that it might be the last time that they’ll see each

other.

“Why did you say this is the last time?” he said quietly as they turned back

“I am going home”

Alfredo went to church.Soon, a row of lights emerged from the

church down the street like a huge jewelled band studded with glitters where the Saint’s platforms were

He saw Esperanza and Esperanza’s mother pacing behind Our Lady of

Sorrows. Esperanza stiffened consciously, tried to look unaware

but couldn’t.

The line moved

The line kept on moving, going away from the church and them back again

After the procession, Alfredo and Julia Salas met again. But Julia found out

about his wedding so she congratulated him

“Julita, did you ever have to choose between something you wanted to do and something

you have to do?”

“NO!”

“I thought maybe you had that experience; then you could understand a man who was in

such situation… You are fortunate”

“Is– is this man sure of what he should do?”

Without lifting her eyes, she quickly turned and walked away

Alfredo went home to Esperanza. They talked and there, the last

words has been said…

"one tries to be fair--according to his lights--but it is hard. One would like to be fair to one's self first. But that is too

easy, one does not dare--"

"What do you mean?" she continued "Whatever my shortcomings, and no doubt they are many in your eyes, I

have never gone out of my way, of my place, to find a man."

"Esperanza--" a desperate plea lay in his stumbling words. "If you--suppose I--" Yet how

could a mere man word such a plea?

"If you mean you want to take back your word, if you are tired of--why don't you tell me you are tired of me?" she burst out in a storm of weeping that left him completely

shamed and unnerved.

The last words has been saidBut still, Alfredo and Esperanza got

married

He was not unhappy in his marriage. He felt no rebellion: only the calm of

capitulation to what he recognized as irresistible forces of circumstance and

of character.

After eight years, Alfredo was sent to a distant village due to a legal

assignment. The place is names Sta. Cruz, Julia’s hometown

He went to Julia’s house and found her there. Still unmarried. They talked.

Then he realized that his love for Julia was gone. He felt emotionless.

So that was all over

ThemeForbidden love is apparent and it

haunts the person until he/she realizes his/her faults

Estanislao, YowelaPaule, Josaiah Paul