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interlude: opposites

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When I was nine, I witnessed a strange event. I was in the car with my parents and it was raining like crazy. When we crossed the state line, the rain suddenly stopped. I gasped in equal parts fear and amazement. No one else in the car reacted. It was like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I craned my neck to see behind us, wondering if the rain stopped for everyone. It didn’t. It was a horrifying sight– the line where the rain ended and sunlight began. How could such opposites be so close to each other? More importantly, what did I do to deserve to be on this side?

Lately, I’ve been thinking maybe a part of me got left behind in the rain that year.

Photo Credit: rain windshield
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40 comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 5:26 AM

    more regrets sir nyl? or some remaining unmet early childhood issues? hmmm made me wonder... -din

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  2. CanonistaMarch 21, 2011 8:27 AM

    I love the rain and inside a moving vehicle or caught in traffic under a downpour.

    Being left in the rain is a good thing for me, being able to washed from a lot of dirt from reality.

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  3. Steph DegamoMarch 21, 2011 9:39 AM

    That was really a wonder for me too when i was a child

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  4. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 10:10 AM

    weee.. naexperience ko rin ang ganong chances....

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  5. citybuoyMarch 21, 2011 10:25 AM

    @Din: More like weird issues I've tried ignoring these past few days. Sobrang humaba na yung post, I couldn't edit anymore. So I cut out these paragraphs. I liked them a lot and it was supposed to echo something larger in the story kaso sa kaka-edit, nadisconnect siya.

    @Canonista: As long as you're on your way home. If you have some important place to get to, it gets a little frustrating. lol

    @Ester and Kiko: There are moments when I wonder if that memory is real. Thanks for confirming it and for dropping by! :)

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  6. E. WongMarch 21, 2011 11:09 AM

    I can imagine how it was horrifying for you then when you were still little.

    But looking back now, you should feel glad... for you were in the sunlit part. :)

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  7. YjMarch 21, 2011 12:08 PM

    "More importantly, what did I do to deserve to be on this side?"

    which side? rain or sun?

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  8. AndyMarch 21, 2011 12:24 PM

    Lately, I’ve been thinking maybe a part of me got left behind in the rain that year. -homaygash, alin ang naiwan mo? talampakan? daliri? gawd! hehe

    on the serious note, rain makes us more appreciate the sunshine, right?

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  9. citybuoyMarch 21, 2011 12:30 PM

    @E. Wong: Hello again! Yes, I'm glad but there are times when I question if I'm in the right place. Grabe, it's been hours since I finished writing at di ko parin ma-capture yung gusto ko talaga sabihin.

    @YJ: Sunny part, friend.

    @Andy: Like the shadow proves the sunshine? That's so tied to the soundtrack nung post. Sabi niya..

    I find peace when I'm confused. I find hope when I'm let down.

    ;p

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  10. JCMarch 21, 2011 12:32 PM

    had experience this as well.. we were on the fields because rain is literally chasing us. then all of a sudden, the rain trailed and stopped at one point. we stared long, gasping amazed.

    it happens. but whether you are under the sun or the other, doesn't matter anymore. you have a choice and the moment you have formed this question in your mind, you already made your choice and that is where you should focus your energies to.

    nice! short and meaningful post.

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  11. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 1:43 PM

    like it. minsan talaga ganon ang mararamdaman natin sa buhay. weird things happen talaga. expect nalang the surprises...

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  12. E. WongMarch 21, 2011 1:53 PM

    When you were nine, God or god or Fate or some divine entity put you in the sunny side. Maybe this recollection would like to tell you that now that you are older, this wondrous horror (or horrific wonder) will not happen anymore... neither nature nor destiny will decide for you now. You yourself are to choose whichever side you will be.

    ...or something like that. Relates to anyone, I guess. hehe

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  13. LoFMarch 21, 2011 2:16 PM

    "like crazy" such a curious expression

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  14. Kapitan PotpotMarch 21, 2011 3:16 PM

    I remember a few years ago when I experienced of the same. I was on the sunny side, waiting for the rain to chase me. Then we all learned it was Ondoy na pala. Hehe.

    Were you able to figure out what part of you got left behind? :)

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  15. Spiral PrinceMarch 21, 2011 3:41 PM

    don't let the past ensnare you, Nyl. look back safely! :)

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  16. V1nC3March 21, 2011 3:56 PM

    On a lighter note. I had the same experience. We were driving along Taft avenue under a really heavy downpour and then it suddenly stops! A friend panicked & said 'OMG, what happened?', looked back and was flustered to see that it was still actually raining!! Eh nasa ilalim lang naman kami ng UN LRT station kaya walang ulan. We blamed vodka for that. Lolz.

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  17. UnknownMarch 21, 2011 9:13 PM

    How can you make something this short be so beautiful?

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  18. UnknownMarch 21, 2011 10:32 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  19. UnknownMarch 21, 2011 10:38 PM

    Still, there are gray borders overshadowed by the contrast.

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  20. ʎonqʎʇıɔMarch 22, 2011 12:01 AM

    @Pepe: Thanks. I guess that should stop me from returning to the rain. It's just that I really feel like I left something in there and I must get wet to get it back. Or I could be making a big fuss out of something I should just ignore. Either way, I've got some thinking to do.

    @Kyle: Without them, what would we do?

    @E. Wong: Is it? I always figured I had no control over these things. But then again, I am old enough to drive now. I can return to the rain or keep driving in the sun if I should please. Why am I parked on the shoulder though?

    @LOF: Even stranger is I use it like crazy. haha

    @Louie: I missed you last Friday by about an hour! I met up with YJ and Nishi at Banchetto din. Anyway... unfortunately, I still don't know what it is. I think I need to really think about this more. Introspection galore?

    @Spiral: Such is my tendency. *puts on helmet* Thanks!

    @Vince: Perhaps it does happen. Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol lol

    @Ela: You're too sweet! Thanks Ela! and (officially) welcome to my blog!

    Xall Perce: I've always liked grey matter. I appreciate when things are clear, when boundaries are set and there smooth transitions from black to white. That's probably why I found it so strange to go from rainy to sunny in such a short time. Same thing with my life, I suppose. Or I could be over-analyzing. ;p

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  21. UnknownMarch 22, 2011 6:16 PM

    I think we carry that mix of sun and rain within us, always. Our personal weathers, I think, are largely affected by our environments, and our own actions and perspectives.

    That, or I'm just moody.

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  22. c - e - i - b - o - hMarch 23, 2011 3:59 PM

    part of you might stayed on the rain, but for sure, the rain will stop..

    and it's caused for something..

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  23. cArLoMarch 23, 2011 5:01 PM

    i've never experienced that before, ever! whatever you're thinking now, consider yourself lucky ^_^ not everyone gets to experience what you have experienced... (i have a hangover. haha)

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  24. NOXMarch 23, 2011 5:59 PM

    they say that if things are too good to be true, it is. but sometimes, like that rare chance of being in the middle of a freak weather phenomenon, you just have to gasp in equal parts fear and amazement and admire the view. :)

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  25. ʎonqʎʇıɔMarch 24, 2011 12:35 PM

    @Manech: Or perhaps, I'm not as one-sided as I'd like to think. As for our environments, I agree that it makes a pretty big impression on a lot of things.

    At the end of the day, we're all a little moody. hehe

    @Ceiboh: That's true. Unless you're in the Amazon Rainforests; then you'd just have to keep saying meh, that's how it's always been. lol

    @Carlo: Count your blessings and all that. At tagay naman. I miss u na.

    @Nox: Over-thinking will be the death of me. haha

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  26. RyanMarch 24, 2011 5:50 PM

    Why you are on this side? Because you deserve the sunny part of life. Cheers, Nyl. :)

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  27. cArLoMarch 25, 2011 2:19 AM

    i miss you more! ^_^ yeah tara! pag available tayo...
    btw mas available na ako ngayon... just send me a message :)

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  28. glentotMarch 25, 2011 4:08 AM

    For once, I understand what you mean!!! Parang naimagine kita yung isang parte ng katawan mo ay tigang na tigang, as in dry spell at hot na hot, samantalang may isang part rin ng katawan mo na wet na wet at nag-gugush sa sobrang pagkabasa...

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  29. reiMarch 25, 2011 2:53 PM

    hmm. i'm perplexed citybuoy...

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  30. PeterMarch 25, 2011 11:50 PM

    The cycle of nature . . . . of life. Figurative.

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  31. ʎonqʎʇıɔMarch 26, 2011 12:31 AM

    @Ryan: Do I? Deserve is a pretty strong word. Let's see. Thanks Ryan! :)

    @Carlo: Not this weekend. Kasal ni Tep. Weekend after next?

    Glentot: For once talaga? At ang erotic lang ng description mo ha.

    @Rei: I am, too! Di ko pa masulat yung ending nito.

    @Peter: And it's so interesting, no?

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  32. Visual VelocityMarch 26, 2011 5:27 PM

    Mother Nature moves in mysterious ways... naks, words of wisdom from mr. visual velocity, hehe

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  33. Vhincci SubiaMarch 28, 2011 9:17 AM

    Never heard one like this before from a real person, just through readings... although there are really places that are not visited by rain, only sunshine that can be witnessed.

    I think, this is being lucky after all. You got to see what everyone cannot.

    >>>World of Vhincci<<<

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  34. UnknownMarch 28, 2011 10:48 AM

    That's absolutely something that I would be dreaming to experience one day!

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  35. ʎonqʎʇıɔMarch 30, 2011 10:52 PM

    @Andy: Naks naman! haha And I love how it mirrors certain things.

    @Vhincci: You should see it for yourself. It has a way of taking your breath away.

    @Tim: You totally have to. :)

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  36. emsMarch 31, 2011 6:22 PM

    hi nyl!
    a short but profound post.
    super like!

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  37. KrisApril 02, 2011 8:25 AM

    bakit kaya ganun. when i feel too emo and suicidal, i go to your blog. tapos okay na. :-) bago na naman pala ang blog ko. lol

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  38. citybuoyApril 04, 2011 2:12 AM

    @Ems: Thanks Ems! And officially, welcome to my blog. Add kita sa roll ko, ha?

    @Kris: Thanks, I think. I'm hoping that's a compliment and there's no schaden-something going on here. lol

    A new one ulit? Sige, I'll check it out.

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  39. reiApril 08, 2011 5:23 PM

    hahah. naman!

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  40. citybuoyApril 11, 2011 1:28 AM

    @Rei: Ayan, nasulat ko na ha. haha

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