I'm glad you like the music, and thanks for taking the time to make a comment!

In the room that was musty and foul, Rosa picked up the hourglass she worked on. Her table filled with broken watches, lit by a candle lamp, beside it were matches. Clocks all around her were hung, and the owner of them gently sung. “Patience, Kat,” she whispered, measuring the sands. “We’re so close…so close to that.” Kat meowed, rubbing himself on her black dress. She would’ve wiped away his white fur, if not for the stress. “Hm.” She closed her eyes, hands resting on the time map she tamed. “Hmmm…” She opened them, and traced the right corner, frustration clear in her when she said, “Where are you..?” More cats were trying to reach her table, their claws scratching on her witch hat. “No,” she said, waving away her cats. “No!” They all retreated with a whine. Wearing her precious hat, she sighed. “Silly cats.” Kat meowed, tilting his head at her. After a bit, he pressed himself to her with a purr. “I know.” She stroked him, speaking gently. “Don’t worry.” But she had reason to worry. With her gone, she had been left suspicious and lonely. Her worries were added when a cat knocked over the lamp. The darkness emerged, filling her view. The threat of the dark had already made its mark in the past. She would not allow it again, even if the fear still crept up and made her gasp. Unseen hands reached to grasp. She ran to her stock, and quickly lit a lamp. Soon, her unseen enemy retreated, and Rosa slid down to the ground, feeling beated. She got up. “Time to work again.” Repeat and rinse. ….. WC: 276 What I listened to while writing this: B(2)TSM - 'Duh Duh Duh Dum': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MomYN46jnVs&ab_channel=TwoSetViolin Fun fact: You can arrange Rosa's name into a word that means 'time' in my language, try finding it out! :eyes:

The problem was Martha developed a crush for her new best friend, Katie. Well, she supposed it was “fate”. They were soulmates after all—but soulmates don’t always have to be romantic, right..? she thought. No, they don’t. And she’d rather it be like that in this case…she had none but a few friends (even if one of them is her assistant) and Katie was her closest one. Her closest friend, who bought Sunday girls’ nights, John, Sarah, and most importantly…herself. That’s…that’s just….. So yes, the crush was the problem. The problem of not being able to stop sneaking a look at her when she has the chance. The problem of asking simple questions to hear her voice say ‘Martha’ and make her feel the most important person in the world. The problem of being so clingy at girls’ nights, she couldn’t stay a feet away from Katie. Like now. “Yeah!” Sarah pumped up her fist, then gestured to give the toy cash to her. “C’mon now, gimme the mon-mons.” “I can’t believe I’m actually friends with someone who says ‘mon-mons’.” Martha sighed while Katie grumbled as they both complied. “But you are,” She grinned, snatching away her reward. “I’m one of your bestest bestie friends~” “Unfortunately.” “Hey, heads in the game.” Katie rolled the dice again, then smirked. “Wouldn’t want all of you to lose to me without a fight.” Sara straightened up, fire in her eyes. “Bring’t on!” ….. “She’s going to piss on the couch, isn’t she.” Martha took one look at Sarah’s red face and the amount of bottles around her, and had to agree. Then, she turned back to Katie, “Are you hoping that’s what she’s going to do?” She grinned. “Maybe.” Another look and Katie raised her hands in surrender. “Okay, alright, I’ll clean up?” She waved her hand. “I’ll help, don’t worry.” When Katie started gathering the bottles, Martha didn’t know when she sang while she washed the dishes. And was it her fault it was a love song? Was it her fault that she changed the lyrics to fit Katie? Or was it her fault when Katie settled down beside her, resting her head on Martha’s shoulder, that she thought she had to say something. Something plain, something simple, something not too revealing, something— “I love you,” she whispered. She could feel Katie’s muscles turn rigid under her skin, and cringed. “Sorry—“ “I love you too.” Martha took a labored breath, but couldn’t breathe anymore when Katie leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. When they pulled back, foreheads resting against each other, Katie asked, “I—should we…go out?” “It’s night—“ “No I mean like,” She paused. “date..?” Martha blinked, and pulled back. Then smiled. “Yes,” she said. “Oh, but I—“ Katie wrapped a hand around her waist, then shook her head. “I promise, I won’t regret it. Not ever.” As they leaned in again, she whispered. Not with you. WC: 494 What I listened to while writing this: Cavetown - Meteor Shower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxG1HlT8n-I&ab_channel=Cavetown-Topic Fun fact: The part that Martha changed here to fit Katie is the favorite color part

“No…” Martha pressed her tears and herself on Katie's chest, blood drenching on her shirt and hair. Her hands clutched on Katie's shirt, shaking her gently. As if that would wake her up. “I'm sorry ma'am,” the nurse said. “We did everything we could.” After more labored breaths and sobbing, Martha looked up, a determined line set on her once shaking lips. Not everything yet. She stormed out of the hospital, ignoring the voices calling out behind her. She had a plan, and she would stick with it. She may not know how to stick in life without Katie, but she does know how to stick to plans. ….. Months after, Martha would barely leave her lab, even if her assistant begged her to. I’m so close, she thought every time she would pick up her pencil once more. I’m this close… Well. It took a few (hundred) more failures to finally make what she wanted—no, needed. A Time machine. Stepping into the platform, she traced the metal on the sides. “Jessica,” she said to her assistant softly, but her lab echoed it louder. “please put on hold all of my appointments and act as my representative in the meetings.” Her assistant nodded firmly, even though tear tracks were still drying on her cheek. “Yes, Mrs. Balantac.” Taking a deep breath, she curled her fingers on the cool metal of the lever, and pulled. Nothing. Oh no, she thought. This better not be another failure…. She pulled again. Nothing again. She let out a frustrated sigh as her assistant spoke up. “Should I still put hold your appointments..?” Martha grumbled. “It just takes,” She pulled on the lever and firmly pressed it down. Light glowing from the platform, both of them gasped. Martha barely heard herself as she whispered, “a bit of time.” It was showtime. ….. 10 years ago… Martha opened her eyes. 12:48 pm. She barely heard her mom who was now here, thinking, Is…is this that day..? “…just a soul mark. Naginarte raman ka.” (You’re being dramatic.) Martha blinked, and hugged her mom. “Ah?” She squeezed tighter as her hair was stroked, like she was a child again. Safe from grief, loss. Just…safe. Her mother hummed. “What’s this for?” Martha pulled back, quirking an eyebrow up. “’Di ba ako pwede maghug sa nanay ko kasi gusto ko?” (Am I not allowed to hug my mother because I want to?) She gave a small nod, or more like a tilt to the side. “Though…you never do this much.” Martha glanced at the clock, then smiled at her. “I'll try.” She rubbed her mother’s shoulder. “But for now, I have to go to work…” She nodded. “Okay.” Martha waved goodbye and went out the door. ….. Shit, I’m late…but maybe I can— When the sting of ice cubes and the scent of “coffee” (it’s literally coffee-flavored milk) spilled over her, a wave of relief accompanied it. “Hey!” Martha placed her gaze on the woman she would love for years. Katie's hair without the streak of gray weaving through it felt…unfamiliar. But the mole on her neck, the eyebags hanging below her eyes, and the familiar music of her voice was home to Martha. Unknowingly, she smiled. “Why did you have to bump into me…” She looked at her watch and groaned. “Oh come on, now I’m gonna be late…” Martha blinked, and remembered she had to formulate a response. Something simple, something unprovoking, something—“Not my fault.” Katie whipped around to her. “What do you mean not your fault? You literally bumped into me!” She raised up her hands in surrender. “Okay, look, I’m sorry.” She sighed. “Alright. Sorry, but I have to go.” “I…” But Katie was already gone, swallowed by the crowd of the city. Martha shook her head affectionately. Still the same rusher as ever. ….. In the office, Martha tapped her fingers on the table. Come on, come on… Her old assistant came in. “Your 1 pm appointment is here, ma’am.” She smiled. “Send her in.” If she didn’t know her old assistant for 7 years, she wouldn’t have noticed the slight widening of her eyes. Then, she went out, back to her desk presumably. Katie strode in and soon stopped in her tracks, shock to see Martha. If Martha wasn’t busy putting on her game face, she would’ve smiled. Time to change the future. WC: 731 What I listened to while writing this: Nothing again, I left my headphones at home and I'm on a trip :((((

(This is the soul mate story no one asked for.) Martha was having a bad day, and an even worse one because of a recent development. Ding! You'll meet your soul mate at the city's Plaza at 1:00 am. The problem was, she was convinced the words scrawled on her left abdomen was a tumor. Naturally, the next step was her trying to remove it. “Ma, kung hindi mo ma ipaoperahan ito, baka mamamatay ako.” (Mom, if you don’t have this operated, I might die.) “That’s not my problem.” That was a solid punch to Martha's heart, so she was about to open her mouth— “It’s just a soul mark, Martha. Naginarte raman ka.” (You’re being dramatic.) She sighed. “I thought we had this discussion already. Soulmates are a stupid idea.” Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Pero yung proof ay nasusulat sa lawas mo.” (But the proof is written on your body.) “For all I know, it could be a prank,” Martha said, clenching her fists. “Somebody could’ve written the words on my side.” Very unprofessional too. And it would be less professional if she was late for her next shift…She glanced at the clock that said 12:48pm and tapped her foot. She scoffed. “You know it’s not like that, ‘nak. I know you know that you’re in denial.” Martha pushed the door open. “Then I’ll prove you wrong!” ….. Ridiculous. Re-damn-diculous. If Martha’s ROTC adviser had seen her stomp like that now, she would’ve been proud. But Martha’s not proud. Of her mother, of that ‘soul mark’ bullshit—of her for being stupid enough to let herself sleep around her friends. It was so stupid. So fucking stupid. It was so stupid that Martha stomped—and bumped into someone. A cup tilted her way as iced coffee—or more like coffee-flavored-milk—drenched her shirt. “Hey!” they both said. Martha glared up to whoever she bumped into—and paused. It was…okay. No lie, the woman in front of her was beautiful. Even though she was more attracted to men, Martha had to admit that the way the woman stood and spoke was really hitting the good buttons. Sadly, it also meant the bad ones. “What the fuck were you thinking?” “Me?” Martha pointed to herself, then laughed. “You’re the one who spilled your coffee on me!” “And you’re the one who bumped into me.” she said. Or more like whined actually, which actually sounded cute, but her next words were less cuter. “Now I don’t have enough time to actually wake up because of you!” Martha snorted. “Sure woke me up alright. And isn’t it like, 12 am now?” “Really though?” The woman glanced down on her watch. “Oh, oh shi—it’s nearly 1! I’ll be late—“ “Hey!” Martha called after the woman as she ran down the sidewalk muttering curses. “Do you at least have a tissue?” No response. The woman was now swallowed by the usual crowds of the city. She rolled her eyes. So impolite. Striding down the sidewalk, she turned and went into her business’ building. At least I have another shirt. At her office, said shirt was also very, very wrinkly. She sighed. Better than nothing, I suppose… Slipping on the shirt (which barely looked professional, but whatever), she sat on her chair, signing in some papers and sighing. Don’t these idiots already know I won’t sell my products to some supermarkets? Her assistant, Nora, knocked on the door and said, “Your 1 pm appointment is here, ma’am.” She put down her pen with another sigh. “Send them in.” Her assistant nodded and walked out. Martha put on her game face; back straightening with a fierce look. The person who walked in was— She faltered. Because the person was— The woman. As in, the woman. “Oh no.” They both blurted out. Wait…Martha worked out the math. Today is her 25th birthday. Now is 1 pm. So is… She blinked. Then blinked again. The woman in front of her was just as stunned as she was. “Soulmate?” Martha was having a bad day. Now, she met a rude woman and her 1 pm appointment, who happens to be her soulmate. It must be the reason why things got worse (better, better, better) in the future. WC: 710 (The soulmate AU nobody asked for) What I listened to while writing this: Nothing :shrugs:

Page 1 Bored, bored, bored, bored. That’s the thing on my mind right now. It’s like it’s not a word anymore. Just like how Morta’s birthday doesn’t feel like a birthday anymore. Even though I get that, I still don’t get this. This, with all the black and the sad and the crying. This, with all the whispers and the sad looks and the drooped heads. I don’t like it. Morta would’ve absolutely hated it. But she can’t hate it. Not now anyways. She’s down, down, down there in the ground in that place where a tall rock shot up from the ground, for some reason. So for now, it’s my job to hate it for her. And actually do stuff she’d like! Like eating her birthday cake for her! And opening her presents for her! And eating those veggies to not waste foo— …Actually. I’ll not do that last part. And, and, and! Playing in our playground nearby! That’s very, very important. ….. Page 366 Mom said I should do this thing, since she says it’s my birthday present to Morta. I think I can do that. I wish I could’ve done a lot of things for her… WC: 199 (A bit rushed, sorry! I was busy but I managed to make an ending for it ;-;) What I listened to while writing this: Porter Robinson - Everything Goes On: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izHyKdrSKvo&ab_channel=PorterRobinson Geoxor - Moonlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUs0-gqBulQ&ab_channel=Geoxor

Even Alsa gets on their knees for whatever god, deity, or divine being up there to ask for more time. Or maybe insta-thought-to-paper-translator. Or maybe both. But as it is, no such god, deity, or divine being exists up there. The evidence is clear (at least to Alsa)—it was 11 pm, cans of soda and coffee were scattered around their desk, and their left hand has developed a near-constant twitch. Still little to no work done. How on Earth could Alsa make a literal data table in their head about the evidence of deities or such sorts existing, but they couldn’t fucking do this? ‘This’ connoted to the ever-flowing river of homework they have to get done. If they did do these in the time they were wasting for random, useless experiments and such, then they wouldn’t have to do this…Eleventh-hour rush. Literally eleventh hour. But the thing is they hadn’t, so now they’re here to suffer the fucking consequences. And boy, what a consequences indeed it was. ….. The thing is, Alsa is tired. When Alsa is tired, their mind wanders to…truly questionable things and priorities. Such as making another data table about if the sun’s light entering the Earth’s atmosphere could reach the temperature that would melt glass in ten years— “Oh my god,” they mutter. “Why the hell am I doing this?” That will truly be—or is the question—that will keep them up at night. ….. Only 20 minutes left, and Alsa is left with the only thing, the only subject that could kick their ass. Education of Human Psychology. The thing is—Alsa understands formulas and data tables and hypotheses and theories. But, do they understand why people use sarcasm from time-to-time? Do they understand why people sometimes just frustratingly don’t say the truth directly? Do they understand why people say ‘dogs and cats are raining’ to say they’re busy? No. Of course not. They’re not even sure if the last one was the right metaphor for that situation. Which, of course, doesn’t bode well when they have 8 literal activities they need to answer and pass before midnight. It’s the one subject that has Alsa pressing their palms on the edge of their eyeballs, as if that would make the material easier to understand. 15 minutes. Alsa has 3 activities fully answered—even though it seems like most of it is gibberish—now there’s only 5 activities left to go. 10 minutes. 4 activities answered. In their defense, that one was three questions that needed essay-long answers. 8 minutes. 6 activities answered. The multiple choice questions are always the easiest. 5 minutes left. 7 activities answered. Why oh why did Alsa need to map out the thought process for when people lie? They don’t even know like lying! Why would they need to study it meticulously now? 3 minutes left. All activities answered. Now just the name, the date, the subject—oh shit, oh no, where’s their pen? 2 minutes left. The tremor in Alsa’s hands is honestly not making the whole ‘take a picture of your work’ thing easier. But they’ve done it, and now—augh would this thing please hurry up in refining the pictures?! 1 minute. Come on, come on, come on…..Alsa tapped their phone impatiently as the tab loaded. 45 seconds. Gods, why is their online classroom so unorganized?! They need to find the Psychology class now..! 30 seconds. Please, please, please, please, please—Alsa bounced their leg as the pictures loaded. 10. One picture was stubbornly not loading. Alsa nearly threw their phone in the window then. 5. Yes! With all the pictures loaded, they scrolled down to submi—oh come on, it can’t take that long to— 4. --scroll down to the submit button! The bouncing of their leg increased as their phone lagged. 3. Alsa nearly broke their screen the moment the submit button appeared. 2. Loading, loading, loading….. 1. The activities were successfully submitted. Alsa pumped their fists in the air, bouncing around their bedroom. 12:00 pm. Now, Alsa lay on their bed, eyes fluttering asleep. In their mind, they tried counting sheep. Until the warmth of the darkness came, and finally pulled them to sleep. WC: 703 What I listened to while writing this: Stonebank - The Pressure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45eSOGguEew&ab_channel=MonstercatUncaged Stonebank - All Night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsHhh8gEY10&ab_channel=MonstercatUncaged

The wind was blowing in the dark of the night, with me trying to sniff out the truth from Eliza. I shifted closer to her, like that was going to help. “Seriously though, are you okay?” She tilted her head, her legs kicking the salty air at the edge. “Why would you think I’m not?” That made me pause. Why would I? The moon was shining, she was wearing her favorite melon perfume in her favorite hoodie. With the taste of our previous laughter still on our lips, this should be the best night ever. But I knew better. “Come on,” I nudged her with my elbow. “What’s up?” “Nothing is up, Marge.” She sighed, resting her back on the rooftop with her arms spread out. “Come on. It’s not like I was bawling out seconds ago.” I followed suite, laying down. Stars were spinning above me, with the bright colorful lights of the city trying to reach them. I knotted my hands on my chest. “Well, if you did that I’d definitely know something was wrong.” “Exactly. So what’s with all the fuss?” “I just…” I turned to her, grabbing one of her hands. Calloused and firm, but warm. I closed my eyes at the familiar feeling, then said quietly, “At least like, tell me what’re you thinking?” I didn’t get an answer then. That…was fine. Maybe she wasn’t really thinking much at all (that was a possibility) and maybe I was overthinking (that was definitely a possibility). Besides, I could spend hours like this. Under the stars, in our favorite spot on the rooftop and her hand in mine. I just… Something swelled in my heart, pressing against the walls of my chest. Holding her hand tighter, I tried to push it down. Unsuccessfully anyways, because then a thought rises in my head and refuses to go. I just want her to be safe and happy. “I…” I flinched when Liz broke the silence. “Well, we get to spend the whole middle school and high school together, and now the whole time in college! Well, a bit of time in college but…” When I opened my eyes, I saw hers staring back at me warmly. She grinned. “It’ll be fun!” I blinked, then made a smile of my own. “Yeah, it will be. Too bad we weren’t able to be roommates together though…” “Still…we’re leaving our old lives and taking a big step.” We giggled, then she was back at staring at the stars with a faraway look on her face. Like she was up there with them—or she wished so, when she smiled and said, “Any last doubts?” It had the same funny tone I’d expect from Liz, but under that was a tiny hint of uncertainty. “None. You?” I raised an eyebrow at her. She must’ve felt my stare, because then she met my eyes again. Even though she was still smiling…were her eyes a little glossy, or was it just me? “I just…” She sighed. “I don’t know…” “Tell me? Please?” She shifted. “I just…I don’t want this thing between us to be short-lived, y’know?” “What do you mean? We’ll go to the same university—“ But we don’t have the same classes. We don’t have the same rooms. Oh. When I looked at her, as in really looked at her, she was a woman who was just told her spouse died in the sea. “I—I don’t want to drift apart from you. I don’t want another person in my life to be consumed by her work—“ I couldn’t stop myself when I cupped her cheek in my hand and brushed a stray tear away with my thumb. “It’s okay…we won’t drift apart, don’t worry.” “How—“ Her voice cracked, so she took a deep breath and tried again. “How would you even know that..?” I pulled her closer to press our foreheads together. “Sure, our hobbies might’ve brought us together but…everything we planted together, our trust, our boundaries, and our promises? We made that. And no one and nothing could ever take that away. Okay?” She sniffed, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Okay…” I pulled back a little to see her face, and smiled. “I promise.” Leaning in slowly, I whispered it against her lips. I promise. WC: 717 What I listened to while writing this: Porter Robinson - Divinity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si81bIoZRJQ&ab_channel=PorterRobinsonVEVO Pegboard Nerds: Emoji: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9TDJK-1L4E&ab_channel=PegboardNerds (It's still 9:17 pm for me so I hope I'm not late ;-;)

@wild_selenite_caffeine thanks! I think this is one of my more 'authentic' stories, yk? Like, from the heart or smt :DDDD

Yeahhh :sob:

'there were nights when sleep plays coy, aloof and disdainful' Omg this just describes insomnia sm like *chefs kiss*

This poem makes me feel some emotions that I can't seem to describe...h o w and also, s u g o i

D-damn...I'm speechless O_o

This was an interesting tidbit, nice decision on the girl's parttt

Aaaa, was a bit confused in the beginning but this was sooo cute! >w< my gay heart is happy...

Thanks for taking the time to comment on this lmaooo hdjgkdgdfg