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The Other Side of the Bench

When I arrive here I know I’ll start counting. Yes I have patience to keep me waiting. But who I fool to come with me sitting –meeting and telling stories I could write in? 

                                                                                         xDeviantart

Twin Souls

Somewhere in a chain they captured my eyes. From the same shade of their hair to the unison of their blinking brown eyes and the parade of their movements, I see no hint of solitude. I was happy to see, head to toe they resemble, like life and death couldn’t severe them forever.

Which made me wish I had one; one whom I can lean on, ready to lend a hand. Just a shoulder away or help me cry. One I can live with, happy and spend a lifetime. 

Reading log 5 part I

~ The ONE –Kiera Cass

Did I spare you enough time to read the series? I hope you had a great time reading it as I am. Well I think I’ve promised to continue share my thoughts so here it is. Actually I wrote this right after I made my fourth entry so I guess the WARNING is still on. ;-)

The title itself says it all. THE ONE, it would be America’s caste as the Queen and the chosen Elite or ‘the one’ that would change their world upside-down. I thought it would be a long chapter of love and yeah full of love but then again I have to consider Kiera Cass’ ability to put down your predictions. Well, I guess that’s the only thing I’d predicted that twists tell all. The struggles in the first book became just the preparation of what a huge problem that will arise. I was thrilled as everyone in the palace every time an attack explodes, I wasn’t surprised with how the king's villain behind his smile. America stands for what she thought was right even to disobey the king with it. I wish we could find like her in the country, I said Prince Maxon would be a great leader so does America and I think their reign will obviously benefit the people of Illea.

I just thought what if the leader would come from a family who are in the lower caste. I think they are capable of leading the country because they could understand the scream in the lowest clan and because honestly the problem –if not most is in the people who experienced poverty and been degraded by the society. Yet still to consider their knowledge upon leading.

My heart more than just clapped when the ‘Convicting’ came. I know Elise, Kris and even Celeste have their heart to weigh justice but they never had the guts to express it, they just thought of what could it positively bring to them so they put the accused in jail without knowing the real cause of their crime -they are called criminals but still have rights. That made them fail to be the Queen, well they seemed to be the model of politicians who just wanted the honor not the service.

Yet here comes as ever fair America. I couldn’t imagine how elated the man was when  sent home not to jail because America weigh him better, he steal clothes for his less fortunate children so he would just be giving back what he got and go home not to be sentence  to prison for life. However it was bad influence of America teaching not to obey the law but I think it was good to disobey rules if you think that’s not what everyone deserves. I just hope justice is in America and she's visible elsewhere especially here where justice sometimes call for a caste that the guilty who has money would be spared and penniless innocents would be sentenced to jail.

            Back to the competition, I thought it would the closest fight since there were only four of them remained but surprisingly they got even closer that the Celeste whom was villain became the one America wants to talk to. I guess that’s how any competition goes, the first meeting could be the toughest for everyone aims to win but at the end of game relationships were building against each competitors. Well it is not the other Elite that America wants to empress, it is the King that tried to kick her out again and again. I was always startled every time America was attempted to be kicked-out in the Palace. The author effectively kept it surreal and I love it. Indeed the King was harsh but it’s a blessing in disguise that it made America and Maxon bound together.

            The love letters which Maxon wrote for the first time was a real deal –it was my favorite. I never send a love letter to a girl  – I wish I could, somedayJ.  Well I hope I could share it here but I guess it's too long that it will make you bored or else will just make you ignore my thoughts and just put your full attention unto it haha. And one thing, the exchange of ‘I Love You's’ was worth it to be just on the last part. It just depicts that silly ‘love at first sight’ isn’t appropriate and well if you really love her the first time you saw her –which amazingly untrue you don’t say I love you immediately right? It takes time – it would take time!

                        Because the attacks were part of it I thought the last would be the typical but it’s completely a disaster. Both the King and Queen Amberly died and almost to Prince Maxon and America. Yet each tragedy has to end and despite the royals lose, it is a blessing for the prince to improve the country on his reign and finally ask the hand of America despite her being kicked-out if the rebels haven’t came. Well, things have been said and done and the only thing to do is make the most out of it. Finally Prince Maxon is now the King and the Five America who became the Three when she was Selected and been an Elite now she was the One and the Queen America of Illea.

PS: I hate Epilogues and I’m tired encoding but I think I should share this lines. Last WARNING: I’LL SPOIL YOU WITH THIS. Sorry can’t help but share.

“But even now I know this isn’t a fairy tale. I know that we’ll have hard times, confusing times. I know that things won’t always happen the way we want them to and that we’ll have to work to remember that we chose this. It won’t be perfect, not all the time.

This isn’t happily ever after.

It’s so much more than that.”    –Queen  America Schreave

I guess that ends it. Thanks for your extra time.

           

Reading log 5 part II

Before your Lady America be crowned as the new Queen after  the late Queen Amberly and still two days before the Royal Wedding, the final Magazine edition of ‘The Selection’ features  the Bride and the Groom and your new King and Queen of Illéa.

[UNCUT] Exclusive Interview of the Royal Highness

Photographer: Very well sir, it was an honor taking pictures with you and you too [up to Lady America] Your Highness. [Exits with a polite bow]

Writer: I guess it would be roper to start the interview as soon as possible Your Highness, so you’ll not be distracted with the huge preparation.

King Maxon: I thought of talking while sitting, shall we? Besides I don’t want my dear to get tired until – [America put her fingers on his lips and just a long ‘sssh’ enough to make him still]

Lady America: I bet you’re behind the poll on the magazine that we –no Celeste usually read. It was actually harsh and hmmp MEAN!

Writer: I don’t survey Your Highness but I’m definitely the Author and yeah the words are mine. I apologize for my judgment. Does my head be in treason or in cane?

King Maxon: Probably, both?

Lady America: Haha you’re funny but I’ll tell you I’m not like that, it’s just, you’ll be a servant by now [pause] kidding. Where are we?

Writer: [trembling but showed he's professional] ahh everyone knew the supposed proposal failed to be in the Report, would you like to share how was the final selection and how did that ring came into your hands Your Majesty?

King Maxon: I felt really bad to fail announcing it in public during the Report which I cannot even mention it but….

Lady America: Well, I expect to go home that night because of some things I couldn’t share but the attack could have been a blessing in disguise, despite the lose we realized we need each other especially at times like those. To tell you about the engagement, ahh I expect a sweet aroma of roses in my bed yet the reality told us were soaked with bloods and wounds but it was surprisingly the most romantic proposal, he spill the lines asked me as his wife well the details are mine including how his eyes was still an eyes when I immediately said yes.

Writer:  That is really sweet Your Majesty. Illéa would be glad you share some. The radiance of the ring says it all though. [he thought finding words to ask] it might be too personal but I think Illéa would like to hear especially from you sir and I apologize to ask this; How are you after the King and Queen’s death I mean your parents? [A complete silence, no one talk just a long pause]

Anyway, about the –

King Maxon: Well, I hope I could be as strong as my wife, whom we all know also mourn for her father’s lose. I felt her agony but most of it was her being resilient that her father doesn’t want her to be very devastated and still continue the life he left. It is maybe because America knew it in the first place that he was very proud of her even if she won't make it. I just hope I could settle myself knowing that my father is also proud of me that I can lead the Kingdom he left. [Obviously holding his tears to pour] I know Mom is and always proud of me, she was always with me, not a single chance we would miss talking and now she’s gone and the only thing I could is to stare at the empty chairs she once sat. Every now and then I still wait for any of them to knock my door every morning. I already miss Dad’s command and Mom's worries. Breakfast, lunch and Dinner were just a torture right now.  Yet I know America is and always be there for me. That no matter what the country be in my leadership still my Queen America will still be at my side forever.

Lady America: I wished I had the chance to call her my Mom.

Writer: We only wish for your quick recovery Your Majesty.

King Maxon: Can we now talk about the wedding [avoiding the topic]

Writer: you seemed really excited Your Highness. Could you tell as some details?

King Maxon: [excited, he giggled] I know I already have a perfect bride but I won’t miss this real important event for us, so the preparations be from floor to ceiling, from the carpet to the chandelier everything must be perfect. Well, you knew it’s not just a wedding.  Illéa will see it though.

Lady America: Naughty! [Rolled her blue eyes but giggled] Well as you can see, since the proposal, the funeral and the quick recovery, finally this is it I’m getting married, we are getting married and I hope I could be your great Queen.

Writer: Sure you would Your Majesty. Well, to tell you sir everyone will be on the

 Report the whole duration of the ceremony, I can assure you that.

I think I’ve had enough information; it is my real honor to talk to our new King and Queen. Thank you for the opportunity Your Highness.  

King Maxon: Excellent, well its up to the article though.

Lady America: [almost a whisper]Don’t mind him, its nice meeting you sir.

Writer: [Exits with a quick bow]

            

Reading log 4 part I

The Selection ~ The Elite
 –Kiera Cass

I wrote this right after I closed the book. 11:42 pm. There were thoughts. Countless thoughts fishing in my mind and I couldn’t think of anything else but to get a pen and a piece of paper to write and catch it. WARNING: I wrote whatever word my mind wants to say so better bear with it. ;-)

 Like seriously, I love happy endings until I read this series’ epilogue. I don’t really care if it’s a tragic, a hanging ending nor of those in fairytales, I just don’t want to end this book at all. It’s like I want to read the book for the rest of my nights, bubbling the scene I closed before I sleep and unlocking it as I wake up in the morning –though not every day, I woke up real late.  I believe it is not the adrenaline rush to the deadliest line that I unfolded it in a short time but because I was always hungry to find out why, who, when, how and anything I ask would be going to have an answer. I just admired the book as I love the characters.

Honestly, thanks to my pen for letting me outrage and put my thoughts into words. I just hope its ink wouldn’t run-off before I have it all done. It’s my last chance to complete my blog.

Kiera Cass took me to the future –the future I have not imagined will rise, it was messy yet perfect. I sometimes thought of who I was in the story, am I the camera witnessing every other attack in the palace or else the Northern and Southern rebels causing the chaos, one of the guards maintaining the security, or might be Prince Maxon Schreave admiring America Singer or just merely an intruder sneaking private scenes in any hidden rooms. I really felt I’ve been one of the pieces building the best story. I admired her.

Really this book reminds me of stories heard, read, seen on TV or of movies. It’s quite similar to Hunger Games minus the blood sport, Divergent only its factions, Royalties across Europe, Prince’s marrying commoners like of Prince William and Kate Middleton whom was witnessed throughout the globe. Yet I know exactly it was different and don’t see all of those was its blueprint, it was uniquely beautiful. I was amazed on how the author introduced the time and the setting. It was effectively believable that I have the second thoughts of; would the world be like this through time? Is it possible to fade United States America despite its power now? Will it happen to the Philippines significantly connected to the unsettled relationship to China? Mere questions to reality.

“It is always at awe when you less expect things to happen”.  I uttered it a lot and now I just said it again as I finished reading. When I saw it on a bookstore, I expect a love story – a plain love story of a Prince finally marrying a girl who outshines the others with her beauty, wit and personality as of silly pageants. And yes you won’t miss girls who bully the chosen protagonist and sabotage every detail of its beauty. But i could only stare at the lines which startled me and just ‘ahhhh it’s actually happening’.

In the first book, the caste system really caught my interest. At first I was amazed by it, it's exciting when you put numbers to people’s status. But then again predictions failed, America actually hates it, she thought it is the major problem the kingdom has ignored. Here I saw how America values fairness and freedom. When an attack again explode at the palace Lady America brought here maids in the safe room where the Royal family and the selected were and only theirs but she broke the rule, at that time no caste must arise just their safety and her maids were important. Illéa needs her. Yes I could say that even if I could not benefit America being the Queen but for I believe a leader should possess like her –as great as her. I now see what castes’ effect to their world, it is as water and a mud, well if you put them together the flow will still occur but if you put them boundaries you’ll see no progress and will just be stagnant. Peace does not count on money nor do war freaks evolve on penniless, but freedom does.  Castes should never exist if reality will allow because if there's one thing that could make this world still and peaceful it would be giving everyone an equal right, no matter who, no matter what is their status in the society.

Well, I supposed it is still a love story and again love became the weakness of every girl as America. She still tied with “first love never dies” silly cliché as if Aspen is the only man alive. This is one of his criteria why to eliminate caste because she wanted to live with Aspen though she’s Five and he’s Six. The relationship’s never illegal but if you consider having a life you would avoid it to happen like what they did even if she doesn’t want the Prince and be the choice to be the Majesty’s wife, she still signed for the ‘The Selection’.  

            Of all the admiration still this was not my genre –I mean to sort of royal stories nor princesses’ diaries, so i set my mind on politics and how a monarch actually run. Considering a world after a Fourth World War I know the reality still has it sealed that though thousands of war will occur a government is still a government and leaders still lead the way the past lead. The recipe of leaderships would only be complete with the oppositions; there will always be someone whom will disagree on your opinion even if that’s the perfect solution to make things better. That I don’t blame the rebels for their attacks nor do I blame King Clarkson for his leadership. Everyone might think a king or a president just sit on his throne and command his constituents, with the honor on his name already says it’s never easy to run a country. However, they chose to be in that position so the solutions are supposed to be in their hands and not to add the problems instead. And there King Clarkson failed, he does not step on the lower people for he thought it could be best for them yet in his reign he doesn’t know it’s the root of it all and even if America tried to enlighten him He still stand on his idea and never listens . Where in fact, unlike his father, Prince Maxon believes on the agony on his people and of America, that actually will save Illéa and if we could find a president like him we’ll smell a good leader and a better country.

            The book two however was the most exciting part of the series. Here I had a chance to know the Elite and the different angles of America as well as Maxon. I already sensed the battle and remind me of how hard it was for Prince Maxon to choose between the six deserving ladies –or five. Yet the Prince showed not a struggle, he remained composed and impressively calm which I want to possess. I need that especially when it comes to my decisions; I usually panicked until I’ve got a wrong choice.

            But the most exciting part of it was until I couldn’t stop myself from singing KZ Tandingan’s “ Mahal ko O Mahal ako”. I wanted to sing it to America every time she was confused on who she cares and loves the most. If it’s Aspen her first love and whom still loved her or Maxon that made her feel extra special. But I’m afraid she’ll command to kick me out or worst let her maid braid my tongue for my awful voice –she is a Five and a singer for heaven sake. Seriously, I don’t know how hard it is for America, maybe because I don’t feel like it or it is not hard as it that I experienced. WHICHEVER!

            I know in the first place who will end at last but it is so strange that this book contains twist that will make you afraid your predictions will again fail.

            /sigh/ well I’ve said it all –or so I thought and I guess it’s just too long I’m afraid you’ll get bored. I hope you’ll be excited as I am for my thoughts about the third book ‘The One’. And again I guess it would give you time to read the whole series first before knowing my insights. Thank You.

To be continued…

Reading log 4 part II

The book cover was really awesome and I admire who ever graphic designer who made it. as part of my reading log i chose to make my own cover. I focus merely on America but i tried to emphasize in the cover how she struggles to be in the Selection. Hope you'll like it.

The photo wasn't mine as well as 'The Selection' title. 

Credits to the Artist and the photographer and the model of the perfect photo.

  

Reading Log 3 Part I 

Beautiful Disaster
–Jamie McGuire

           

                  What if you’ll finally meet the girl in your dreams that exactly possess your mother –you longed since she’s gone? But exactly finds you like her villain father she won’t wish to come across? Have you imagine a complete Disaster? Their story was dangerous at it was perfectly wrong but as Abby Abernathy says “when a disaster is Good it is Beautiful”, the sequel unfolds with a bang of danger, love, trust and fate.

                  Though it was a love story and I expect an intimate sign of forever, as I unfolded the first page it turn out to be full of action –literally an underground fight where Travis Maddox was introduced as a “Mad Dog” and where a “Pigeon” dropped by. 

                 Abby Abernathy was only 18, a freshman and in a complete misery of her youth. Travis however is a misery himself, a perfect definition of a bad boy slash playboy slash a frat man in college who bullies and beats students in his way. There I understood Abby on why she could not contain knowing the guy who fits perfectly her father's. Well it’s a love story and yeah as silly clichés says “love conquers everything” and it changes a lion to a mice. Travis is intelligent in contrary to what he’s acting and as hopeless as the guys he punched that only showed because of his eagerness to have Abby –who in the first place failed to avoid him and found deeply in love instead. Their feelings changed them.

                 More than Cupid that I saw having a tough job in pointing the arrow for the disaster the two brought, I come to realize Abby was an American teenager yet showed far from the typical. Even if she already feel empty without Travis in his side, she still showed a true woman that knows exactly her boundaries in relationships with opposite sex especially Travis who can easily get a girl with just wink. Unlike her bestfriend America who go beyond what a teenage couple could have done. However, there are certain ways where Abby failed to impress me, at times when she easily leave a man without dropping any excuse like killing someone without any reason -well the feeling might have been similar to a painful death. And i don't blame Travis to go back with his lunatic self when he was immediately broke without Abby explaining. Not until Abby realized not all men are like his father's footprint that i admired her.

                Everyone –or girls I use talked to about love usually says “you have to change your attitude if you really love her” and it’s always a debate in me that if you are to show your love you have to let her know who you are and not your better being and if she would love you eventually you wouldn’t be blamed of being just pretentious or worst a liar. Somehow it still depends on him and his attitude –if that would upset his girl, he should change it for her. Like what Travis did, he changed himself not to impress Abby nor have her finally to bed but because he knew this would only make her stop from comparing any man to her father. That would also explain why they have to get married immediately despite their age and work because they have a solid trust that no one hides any truth. 

                However, there are some point that I hated the novel for the chapters that the characters have to break-up, like you felt the “forever” and then suddenly it has to end but I was just kidding. Actually I salute the author for it because it does effectively move me; I usually quit reading when a book becomes boring –where it just contains purely one matter. I also commend her for burning my predictions. I was about to put it down when I sense it is just another version of a story I’ve read and the names are only that’s different. But yeah I found myself at awe with twists that I repeated not just once. 

Reading Log 3 Part II

Reading log (December) Part I

THE SCORCH TRIAL

                by James Dashner

“Remember, the Scorch Trial is when things get hard.”

I found myself in the middle of three in the morning, finally reading the epilogue of the second book of the Maze Runner series. The almost dawn was a deafening silence yet my mind is noisy with questions and thoughts about how the plot jerked into another startling scene however it is already ending –a series indeed.

Some pieces of his memory were back, made their way out of the maze despite the struggles of battling with the Grievers and seeing dead bodies of his friends left in the maze, yet Thomas and the other twenty Gladers felt no success. They held the victory after them sent to the safe house with the comforts of foods, clothes and the bed enough for a rest after the vicious fight. They are as clueless as their memory that it would lead them to the hardest level of the trial.

I like the idea of the characters worked together not just the highlight of the lead after it revealed they were never survivors and another trial still awaits their journey. It is good to read a book where you do not only see the efforts of the main character however does not overpowered. One thing that made me appreciate Thomas is that he acts, thinks, fights and works as if no one is the leader and every one of them has the ability to throw in help for their survival. We almost always let everything be on the leaders hands that sometimes or so I thought, we make effort to aid the task but at the back of our minds, the leader could or would lend his extra effort to make it the best, alone. That’s amazing about him that instead of crying a day when he arrive clueless –remembering only his name, he broke the record of a new kid’s role in the maze; he spent his time discovering and looking for answers on why is he in the maze? and what’s the purpose of the maze? or why are they sent there?.

In the Scorch where Minho was appointed “The Leader”, Thomas did not let him fight the storm, the cranks, the lies and all the betrayals alone but he made everyone follow him fought and protect the group. I was really grateful to meet Thomas for he made me value “the world is round and it continues to spin” because truly, triumphs are never everlasting nor defeats are forever. You would experience a smooth and a rough road in the middle of your journey. I guess “staying strong” in the battle that you’re clueless of the result is like you being “well prepared” for a fight that needs to be won. “Remember, the Scorch Trial is when things get hard”, so if you're in a difficult phase of your life now think of it as the Scorch Trial and always bear in mind that if Thomas and other Gladers survive, you also can.

As I encounter terms like betrayal, lies and the thoughts of people being controlled, these always remind me of Katniss Everdeen in Suzanne Collins’ series the Hunger Games. Katniss’ and Thomas’ tale are widely divergent but their battle are way similar. As well as the government of Panem and the WICKED never missed to point a comparable agenda. President Snow intent to organize his people while the creators of WICKED want to find a cure of a contagious virus –The Flare to make a new and well society of ill-free people and both of them see alternative on “control”; they control the minds of their variables in order to fulfill their plans despite the death they witness every trial. And the role of both protagonists of the two books is to fight and let them know that they have the power to end the flow of blood and that they could no longer be used.  Both of them will fight not just for victory but for a peaceful life they only imagined and wished in the combat.

Before I start the New Year, this series concludes my favorite for 2014. Usually, I could barely finish a single novel in 3 or 4 months but it was another first for me last November to read three books in a month and it only attests how I love to spend my time with James Dashners’ masterpiece. However, I broke my resolution last year to unfold the series complete for I unfortunately have not found the final book –Kill Order but I promised to look for it so bad to also help me answer my questions in the preceding books like; will the immune of the virus still become Cranks at the end?, does the cure really exist?, will the wicked fail?, is it possible that The Flare be experienced in the real world in the future considering the Global Warming we faced right now?. And to also complete my predictions on whether the main variable -Thomas  be dead and will caused the WICKED to fail and will eventually kill the other Gladers or else Thomas will succeed against the WICKED and will find the cure by themselves. Not unless I found the Finale of the book this noises like viruses in my mind would possible make me insane as the Cranks.

Series’ exclusive terms:

Grievers

o   A monstrous animal like creatures that kill the Gladers in the Maze and in Scorch.

o   Helps the WICKED to eliminate unwanted variables.

Gladers

o   Group of boys sent in the middle of the maze

o   –they called the place Glade so their called Gladers as it was narrated

WICKED (World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experement Department)

o   The creators of the trials like the Maze and the Scorch

o   They are to find the cure to the Flare

Variables

o   Group of people who’ll be tested and be observed through the functions of their brains while on the trial

The Flare

o   The uncontrolled heat of the Sun causing a flesh eating hot weather that affects the brain like a contagious virus of every human until makes each of them insane and eat one another.

Cranks

o   The people who had The Flare

o   Some of them are immune by the virus like Thomas that is as if normal, other are newly carriers like Newt who badly needs the cure, and the flesh eating Cranks –fully insane individuals.

James Dashner provided the best descriptions of the following terms so if you are curious and interested to know them deeply, feel free to read the whole series –if you have not read it yet. You’ll know how the following terms made the plot very exciting that you would hate to put the book down. I felt one of the Gladers and I’m pretty sure you also will. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  

READING LOG 2 Part II

RUN to DEATH

-Roel Neniel Revilleza

Scorch right through the flesh

Rules, lies, dying fresh

Tomorrow we’ll run express

Until the bang of the closing doors hiss

This is the end!

No, it has to be

Is still the dawn? Maybe

Oh please run and we’ll see

Are we running a success?

Or just slay the time we get

Yesterday or else tomorrow you’ll forget

Then again, be back to the maze

Left to right repeat the route

Run to your pace and grab the fruit

Yet haven’t seen it near

Just run and leave your fear

Hush! Tired? Ready to go back

Or not, be ready for the attack

For ‘Grievers’ right looking a far

Live, run, fast to the door ajar

Reading Log -Part II