Ya puede oi el sonada del puerta daan el buruja y quiere decir, tiene ya tambien ya abuya compredor na de suyo tienda. Y no hay ele expecta que un mujer tambien el compredor.
Igual el mujer na maga otro mujer quien ta entra na de suyo tienda para lang man venganza.
Ya tiene miedo el mujer, especialmente cuando ya mira este con el ojos del buruja que ta semeja na gato. Ya senta el mujer na su silla malihug.
Ta puede el buruja ole con el miedo estaba con el mujer, pero mas fuerte el olor de envidia que estaba con ele. Bien conoce gayod el buruja con el costumbre de este clase maga mujer — aquel maga cansao.
Cansao ya que hende gayod ele mafuerza para enfrenta si cosa man el vida ofrece.
Cansao ya ele volve para lang na no hay cada dia.
Cansao ya ele mira na un lugar donde mucho gente y realizando que nunca gayod ele queda bonita igual na otro.
Cansao ya ele desea que queda ele como el otro.
Cansao ya ele que firme con ele ulihi ta escogi.
Ya resulla el buruja con el envidia y dolor del mujer. Ta puede tambien ele savoria con el rabio y odio que ta sale estaba na mujer y ya’n ngisi el buruja.
Ya saca un retrato el mujer, ya hace rompe y ya hace kumu. Ta puede ‘le siempre hace un retrato de un bonita mujer. Ya extraña el buruja de quieto na si quien aquel mujer. Pero, no hay man tarda con ele para sabe si quien. “Pensaba ele perfecto ya gayod ele.”, “Hende patas.”, “Debe ‘le senti cosa tu ta senti”.
Ya habla el buruja con su entero sinceridad.
“Sí.”, Ya contesta pa-hutik el mujer.
Ya saca el buruja un muñeca y maga cuchillo’.
Kalawang el agudo parte del cuchillo pero este el manera amo el mas facil para pone grave dolor. Ya hace ya acosta el buruja con el maga muñeca enfrente con el mujer.
“Nah cosa man, negocia ya kita!” Ya habla el buruja de alegre.
She hears the creaking of the old wooden door and knows that another customer has entered. No surprise, it’s another girl. The girl is the same as all the ones that come in to seek retribution.
The girl is frightened, especially when she sees the cat-like eyes of her would be savior. The girl takes a seat on a rickety chair.
She can smell the fear coming from the girl, but the smell of envy is much stronger. She knows this kind of girl all too well, the tired ones.
Tired of never being strong enough to face what life has to offer.
Tired of going home to nothing every day.
Tired of looking into the crowd and knowing she will never be the pretty one.
Tired of wishing she was someone else.
Tired of being second choice.
She breathes in the girl’s envy and despair. She can taste the rage and hatred and She smiles.
Another good customer.
The girl takes out a picture, torn and crumpled, She can still make out the portrait of a beautiful girl. She silently wonders who the girl is. She didn’t need to wonder for long, it’s the same old speech. “She thinks she’s so perfect.”, “It’s not fair.”, “She should know how it feels like.”
“How it feels to be you.” She says with all sincerity.
“Yes.” The girl whispers.
She takes out her doll and a few knives. The blades are dull and rusted, but that just makes the pain easier to inflict. She lays them in front of the girl.
“Now, let’s talk business.” She says with a smile.
*Chavacano or Chabacano refers to a number of Spanish-based creole language varieties spoken in the Philippines. The variety spoken in Zamboanga City, located in the southern Philippine island group of Mindanao, has the highest concentration of speakers. Chavacano is the only Spanish-based creole in Asia.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Chavacano-Zamboangueño Translation Rozel Mar Miranda
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Rozel Mar Miranda
Story inspired by Mangkukulam entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.
Mangkukulam Illustration and Watercolor by Marc Magpantay
Tumblr: Glassy-draws.tumblr.com