The Pencil and Eraser

>Kreiss' POV<

Nandito ako ngauon sa kwarto kung saaan si Sheloah natutulog. Hindi pa siya gising. She's still taking her afternoon nap. Nag ske-sketch ako ngayon sa tabi niya. Merely sketching what is in my thought right now. And what's more peculiar, is pinili ko pang i-drawing ang pencil at eraser. Tapos ang binigay kong title para sa kanila simple lang. "The Pencil and Eraser." Pero hababg ginagawa ko ang simpleng sketch na ito, napapaisip ako ng malalim.

Simpleng eraser at pencil lang ba sila?

Pag nagkakamali ang pencil, agad itong binubura ng eraser. Pero ang eraser, nababawasan basta paag ine-erase ang pagkakamali ng pencil. Ang pencil naman hindi nauubusan. Ang eraser lang. At nung naisip ko ang simpleng gamit ng pencil at eraser, I suddenly reflected in my life.

Who is the pencil, who is the eraser?

Sa totoong buhay, marami bang tulad ng pencil? Na nagkakamali at hindi niya ito mababawi kaya yung iba na lang ang gumagawa ng solusyon para sa kanila tulad ng eraser hanggang sa maubos ito? Masamang tao ba ang mga tulad ng pencit at mga tanga ba ang eraser dahil binibigyan nila ng solusyon ang pagkakamali ng pencil?

Sino ng aba ako… pencil o eraser?

Naalala ko tuloy ang kwento ng tito ko. Noong 15 years old ako at pinagsasabihan niya ako tungkol sa mga actions since teenager na raw ako at tumatanda na. Balang araw, gagawa ako ng mga biglaang actions. Masama man ito o Mabuti. Kwinento niya sa akin ang "Pencil and Eraser" at simula ng kwinento niya 'yon, pencil ang tingin ko sa akin.

Kinuha ko sa ilalim ng kama ang manipis na libro kung nasaan ang kwentong iyon. Kwarto ko kasi ito rati kaya hanggang ngayon, yung mga gamit ko noong bata ako, nandito parin. Binuklat ko ang libro, at sinimulan ko itong basahin.

The Pencil and Eraser.

Once upon a time, the pencil was writing on a piece of paper. He committed a mistake and wanted to change it, but he can't. He asked help from the eraser and the eraser gladly accepted his request. The pencil's mistake was big, but despite the mistake, she erased it as if it didn't hurt her. But the pencil was shocked hearing her cry because bit by bit, a part of her started to disappear.

"I'm sorry," the pencil said and the eraser was curious.

"About what?" the eraser asked and she smiled despite the pain she has.

"Because of me, you would make my mistakes disappear but as you do it, you disappear little by little and hurt yourself," the pencil answered and the eraser just smiled at him more.

"It's okay! It's my job, anyway. Besides… I enjoy doing it because I sacrifice a part of myself for your happiness even if it hurts me. I love you as I love my job," the eraser joyfully said so the pencil just agreed and went on with his work.

As time passes by, the pencil committed more mistakes than usual. He thought that the eraser won't ever complain so he just continued making mistakes. He would notice that her body would grow smaller than usual each day, but he wouldn't care because the eraser would forcibly say that she's fine. Until one day, the pencil made a mistake again and the eraser was too small for her to make it disappear. Only now that the pencil realized that he made the wrong decision of doing mistakes over and over again.

"Eraser… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to!" the pencil said, not knowing what to say anymore.

"It's okay, dear Pencil!" the eraser answered, forcing out a smile.

"No, it isn't! You're about to disappear. It's all my fault. I'm stupid. I kept doing mistakes. I was insensitive," the pencil said and the eraser just giggled and erased the pencil's mistake slowly.

"It's my job and besides… I have fulfilled my mission and I am going to be replaced, anyway," the eraser said and with that, she disappeared.

The pencil was alone until the owner bought a new eraser. He thought that all erasers were the same but having a new companion with him made him realized that no matter how many erasers there are, everyone is unique and important in their own little ways. He just has to realized their worth and how important they are. There will be no one there to always clear up his mistakes so he has to choose his actions and look at the consequences.