Euphoria

Prologue Trembling hands and anxiety-stricken eyes are all I could see in the vanity mirror before me. It was a never-ending feeling. But it was also a never-ending process of shrugging it off, of pretending none of this scares me.  I took turns in using random beauty products. Each glide of the mascara made my lashes longer and added life into the dead night that my eyes resembled. Dark shameless spots of imperfection hid beneath the concealer and yet another shade of eyeshadow made my eyes appear livelier than my life would ever be. Lastly, my parted lips welcomed the hue of red lipstick. Gone was its pale color and now, it was stained cherry wine.  It’s ironic how the mirror in front of me said pretty but I still felt ugly. It only proves how satisfaction and self-love aren’t defined by a mere reflection but start from wi

TWO v e r n o n Days felt running for a long time have gone since I last saw Catherine. I am to blame. I have been skipping my classes because I am in a very shitty state of mind to attend them. The only thing that got me here again today is her. Since that day in the lab, I was never the same. Her features were so vivid in my memory and I’m seeing her even in my sleep, like that drug you tasted for the first time and you couldn’t get it out into your senses. I’m on the first stage of being intoxicated, the part where you get a taste and you want more. As for her, I got a glimpse and selfishly, I want more. More than just stolen glances, a few exchanges of conversation, and forced formalities in between test tubes and flasks. More than just lab partners.  Str

v e r n o n   "When the hell is he coming?” JB turned harshly to Mark. He couldn’t keep himself from fidgeting in impatience and agitation. I inhaled sharply and collected my own restraint. The two continued to bicker as my eyes wandered in nervousness.  I’ve done this a lot of times but even when you are used to vile acts, your conscience would always bug you like the first time you decided to pursue evil.  Unlit light posts make the lower part of the suburb almost desolate. Empty establishments tower over the dark streets and dangerous people of the like wander around. The homeless. The drug addicts. The gangsters. The juvenile delinquents. They roam around like they rule the area.  It resembled a hell hole. It’s

c a t h e r i n e   To go somewhere with him is as equally interesting as it is unbelievable. I eyed him for a while as I sank into my own curiosity. He sat there, nonchalant, eyes never leaving mine. "I-I don't want to." I stuttered for an answer that lacked conviction as it should. I'd rather be alone. I was certain of it.  Vernon seemed to measure my thoughts from across the table before nodding like it never really mattered.  "Yeah. Cool." He shrugged casually.  There was this imaginary gap between us that had begun to stretch wider. An ocean of indifference took him drifting farther within the second.  "Actually,

c a t h e r i n e   "Where have you been yesterday? Why were you absent?" Lisa suspiciously questioned me the next morning, as if I had gone somewhere and did something secretive. Although that wasn’t entirely false. She scooted all of her straight blonde hair to one shoulder, leaned on her locker, and watched me as I busied myself with mine.  "I.. just wasn't feeling well." "You never skip classes even if you're already dying."  Lisa and I had been classmates since grade 11. We're close but she's friends with everyone so it's hard to tell my level of importance. I never considered her my best friend. I know she feels the same way about me. I’m famous and all but I never really maintained a huge number of friends or had