My dear readers would have noticed that I haven’t blogged for a month and days already. Well, two of the reasons why is that my writing style is getting inconsistent already and, well, sometimes I’m getting fed up of typing away flowery statements. That’s why I’m not writing here nowadays.

Months ago, I made a new free-hosted blog out of boredom, but as day passes by, I realized my inconsistent writing and that I should go back to those days where I’m just writing as myself, where I’m just an ordinary personal blogger (as if I became extraordinary before). I won’t be showing the link to it, but that blog can easily be tracked down, anyway. When you get to pass by that site, it’s obvious that I’m the one authoring it.

And I’m enjoying the company of my “offline” friends, especially to the girl I’m getting intimate with right now. Funny to hear, but we got to know each other through The Character I created. Weird and long story, actually. Anyway, we really haven’t passed by the lovers phase, but we’ll definitely get there because the feeling is, well, getting mutual.

So, what am I going to do? Kill this blog and continue my personal blog instead?

I’m not leaving The Character behind. And never will. I just want to… Let’s put it into The Character’s words: go back gliding through the white sands dominated by the red sky and black clouds and have a major soul searching. It seems that The Character formed a life of its own, and it spoiled some problems in my personal life. That’s why I’m back into personal blogging.

Then I got inspired with a progressive rock band’s third concept album with all of these “writer” and “character” thing (therefore, naming myself “The Writer” and Hellbound “The Character”) since I can reflect on the split-personality thing. Yeah, I’ll just work on a blog revamping.

Now, I got this huge plan for this blog: I’ll be making this a graphic novel-ish blog, but with the half-fictitious, metaphorical writing style retained.

The Writer and The Character, who is on blog vacation right now, will meet face-to-face again someday. And when we get back, we will be creating a blog more better, bigger and definitely more evil than the one you’re reading now.

Let me just enjoy writing as myself for now. See you on that blog I’m talking about.

He entered into the coffee house, sitting in one of the reserved seats. He’ll be meeting with his best friend for the first time in months.

He saw the clock ticking away from a quarter to 1. I can see that toothy grin inside him. He’s so excited.

1:00 PM.

Time has started, but you are not yet in the coffee house. I took a glimpse at your house. You haven’t started changing your clothes or even taking a bath. What’s wrong with you?

1:11 PM.

I get it. Your boyfriend came into your house. Had a talk, had a quick lunch and flirt with each other. I can even see that you don’t even remember that you have an appointment. Is it because you’re forgetful or is it because your boyfriend made you forget it?

Too bad I can see your best friend’s fate already and you don’t.

2:30 - 2:40 PM.

More than a hour has already passed, and your best friend’s still stuck in the coffee house alone.

He noticed his phone ringing. You called him, telling that you can’t come today for you are busy with your upcoming tests. Yes, you are indeed busy with it… and flirting with your love bird again in your house. You didn’t tell him the truth.

2:40 - 2:53 PM.

He walked through memory lane for the ten thousandth time. He drowned himself with depression, knowing that he doesn’t get to spend time with you unlike before.

Yeah, he knows and understands your current situation right now: You are happy with your intimate relationship right now. It’s just that he has no other friend unlike you - he trusts you so much, he loves you so much as a friend.

3:00 PM - 3:14 PM.

A guy entered the coffee house. He happened to be an employee of the establishment that was recently fired by the boss. With a gun, he screamed to everyone to shut their mouth or their heads will exploded with gun shots. He wants all of the money in the cashier for he is desperate of earning for his two sibling’s tuition fees.

Your friend is still stuck in the house, accompanied by clerks and other customers shaking in nervousness. Coffee is still filtering, but everyone fears that they might smell crimson as well.

3:27 - 3:34 PM.

The criminal is getting impatient with the cashier throwing all the money into his bag. He intimidates her that he’ll pull the trigger, forcing her to work faster.

Meanwhile, your best friend is with the other customers around his table, on their knees and scared that they would die in just one bullet through the chest or on the cranium. But one of them had a plan and whispered it to your best friend.

With a chair, he ran after the criminal’s back and smashed the object with it. Taking advantage of the distraction, the others ran through the exit door. He followed them quickly after that.

3:50 PM.

You are in your sofa, sighing in boredom. Your love bird is caressing your hair when the news flashed on the television screen. A criminal made a scene into the coffee house that you were supposed to be at this very moment. You saw your friend’s name over there and tears rolled down your cheeks.

He did went out of the coffee house with the others. But without getting two deadly shots in the back of his head. Aside from the criminal who was gunned down by the police, he’s the only one who died in the scene.

Too bad your last conversation with your best friend is several months ago. Now, you wanted to talk to him?

-

I’m Dan Hellbound.

After an hour of riding the way home, I hopped on my Hellbound chopper and traveled to the vast world of moving poetry. I stumbled upon a this human being, who’s acting like he’s the one owning the yard, trying to intimidate me with all of his Karate shit - the calm yet deadly fighting stance, the “O” mouth and those widely opened eyes.

He really doesn’t know how sick and twisted I can be. He doesn’t know that he has confronted an evil entity from the kingdom below with hellfire burning in glory.

But those are not the statements circulating around my cranium. See, all of those martial arts stuff is being done by a God-knows-what-months-old-he-is infant in peach-colored baby clothing and a mean streak attitude that’s so funny.

As I looked at him longer, I became hyped up. I almost fell on my knees, pointed at him and laughed at him so hysterically, my stomach is mostly like to hurt like a thousand fingers with 3-inch fingernails pinching at it.

I realize that I really don’t want to waste time for that, so I burned the rubber away and left the infant behind.

Another thing that made my day, indeed. Though I can feel the fact that he can beat me to a one-on-one match somehow. I think I have underestimated him. I can feel him whispering…

Don’t underestimate Mini Me.

Anyway, I already left him. I don’t want to go back and face him for I need some rest. Rest, I need some.

-

Inspired by this video.

I’m Dan Hellbound.

I just needed to stop blogging for a month for a reason.

I was in some soul searching on a desert of white sand dominated by the red sky and black clouds a few weeks back, realizing that I should loosen up for a bit and spend some quality time laughing at other people’s misery. Er, spending quality time with my close friends.  This juggling of words I always do on Malebolge is depriving my social well-being.

But then again, I am here, typing away some thoughts on this blog. A habit would be really difficult to rehabilitate, wouldn’t be?

So, this is my return post. Here I go again.

I’m Dan Hellbound. I can’t think of a good title for this post, so there. Not even a good post entirely.

You see… You have your heart broken a couple of times. Yes, two times are a few in numbers, but the pain itself can never be measured by words or even statistics. It’s all because you expected too much. And the fact that people are telling you to let things happen for itself and you wouldn’t learn from it.

You don’t want to do the same mistake again, do you? I bet my butt you’ll being saying “No” at me.

Therefore, the solution is to apply your methodical being into this situation. Like how you eat your food or delaying your blog post publishing, take it slowly and easy. Just make sure you feel your presence at her and exchange words with her, nonsense or with sense. Communication is the key.

Enjoy all the text messages. Enjoy all the online conversations running until midnight. Enjoy all the lunch breaks. Enjoy all the train rides every after class. Enjoy the special dates. Enjoy all the cuddling, the patting in the head, the poking in the fingernails [and arms, hands, cheeks…], and the holding of hands during you and your significant other’s private time. Just enjoy being together.

Remember your date with her recently? The moon is staring over you and her at the balcony, people are walking around the baywalk area beside the mall, and you are whispering words with her while you’re hugging her very tightly.

Twin, I know… That you know that you like. You don’t know if the relationship will work that well.

We have the rest of our lives to find that out.

The both of you smiled, and hugged each other even tighter. That’s the highlight of you and your friend’s first date, you told me. Funny thing is, Mexican music is playing over the bar beside the balcony you and your twin are with.

Anyway… See? That’s a sign for things to come. Good things to come, that is. Or sort of?

Anyway, just enjoy being with her. I know she’s enjoying her time with you, as well. Relax. You and your “twin” will get “there”. Chances are it will.

By the way, you oh-so in love. Awkward. That’s so not you.

-

I’m Dan Hellbound.

My favorite mellow song, “One Thing” by Finger Eleven, was being played after the third song. The gentle acoustic guitar riffs instantly flashed an image of a friend. That friend happened to be someone special to me - even more special than my closest friends - even though we only knew each other for, like, a month and half only. She happened to be the one I really like for almost half a year, that’s why.

The way she dresses in a eccentric manner, the way her long, a-bit-curly hair rests on her shoulders, the way she smiles and giggles, the way she stares, her gentle voice… She had me with all of that. And I got to know her more, letting my admiration for her going deeper.

Other than that, words can’t really depress how much I love her.

Then I was drifted into the city of fascinating, unconventional images, with the use of the Finger Eleven theme’s steaming musical staff as my mean of transportation. Imagine me on Aladdin’s carpet. I hovered into to the heavens, getting myself on the mushy mood with one look on the skyscrapers’ silhouettes, the city lights sparkling, and the night sky reigning over the area.

From the buildings and into the city park, my boots landed on healthy, greenly grass. A ray of light was emitted by the moon like a flashlight, pointing to the highest part of the park. I saw my friend sitting on top of the hill. She was, like, thinking of something very deeply. Or maybe she wants to be bored for a while.

Then a voice inside my head whispered.

Make a move. Approach her. Confess to her. The voice kept on repeating those phrases. Make a move. Approach her. Confess to her. Make a move. Approach her. Confess to her. Make a move. Approach her. Confess to her. DO IT NOW, DAMN IT!

I want to grab the chance of talking to her heart-to-heart and tell her how much she means to me, how her smiley-only replies and my moment with her brighten up my day and even my entire life. But I can’t follow the voice’s orders. My heart is beating faster, sweat glands are secreting its liquid for a bit profusely, and my knees and arms are shaking.

Our friendship hasn’t reach the 1-year line and I don’t want to end it within a burst of a bubble. What if she stops being friendly at me? What if all of those endless talks and lunch breaks together would end?

I don’t want that to happen. Cheesy and unbelievable to hear from someone like me, but I love her so much. I don’t want to lose her.

Then the voice stopped being redundant.

Make a move. App… Dan. Why would you fear that? And why would you fear a thing, anyway?

I guess it’s do or die for me. Confess, Dan. Don’t expect anything a lot. Just confess.

-

I’m Dan Hellbound.

I’ve just noticed that it’s been almost 3 weeks since my last wordplay exercise with you, but I am always “online” during my indefinite “leave of absence” on my instant messenger software and on my social networking accounts. With that, I’m so sorry.

You see, I just want to get used to waking up early again in the morning to make my arrival on school as early as possible. I have a cool schedule now, with Thursday being my favorite day of the week since I only get to attend 2 classes and it has my earliest dismissal time. Yes, I don’t have any classes running until 6 in the evening, where rush hour takes place and trains are packed with people with are either tired of work or sweating profusely and emitting the deadly body odor. And yes, I’m busy with my homework. I have to get it done on time.

I’m feeling that you have a follow-up question: What did I do during free time? The usual things like satisfying my angry stomach bi-hourly with consuming food and listening to music. And I enjoyed the free time I had so much, I didn’t get to share my day-to-day updates with you. With that, I’m so sorry.

And please understand that I don’t get to interpret what had happened in my life into words always. And my wordplay powers got drained from all of the school stress I acquired, leading me to not tapping on your shoulder and have a little talk. I know that I have to be the one to strike the conversation, not you. With that, I’m sorry.

Another reason is that during those 3 weeks of not interacting with you, some things happened that painted a smile on my face, brightened up my day like sun rays tickles the greeneries, and made me sleep comfortably. It soothed my sleepless self [which was recently awaken… Again.].

What are those things that had happened, you ask? It’s not the right time to tell about it, maybe some other time. Clue? Let’s just say that those things that had happened are like a sweet kiss from a girl, it made me feel better. And not that I’m saying that you’re not my ultimate stress reliever anymore. You still are!

See, I made you a letter. If you are not my stress reliever anymore, I wouldn’t be making one. You’re still my special friend who is always willing to listen to my daily narratives without violently reacting.

Oh wait, you’re a blog. And you don’t talk. Oh well. Anyway…

Asking for your understand, Malebolge. I’ll get back to blogging in a jiffy, OK? ‘Til then.

Dan Hellbound

After the theatrical [fine, maybe not…] display of fireworks over the midnight sky, people would share to their friends verbally [or on their blog, social networking account, if they have one] about their New Year’s Resolutions. I am one of those people.

I have a lot of things that I want to accomplish, like finishing my K2 template, reconstructing my website, buying a digital SLR camera or Apple MacBook [or both], work on my drawing, graphic design and writing skills, make my mullet hair longer and be friends with that weirdly-dressed girl I’m crazy over in school.

But the two words I’m going to mention creates my top priority for this year. That is…

Gain weight. I don’t want to wish that I am as small as my “chibi” version, but I do want to be as “healthy-looking” as it. In short, I want to gain weight.

Actually, I am not underweight throughout my life. My undernutrition crisis began when I am diagnosed with asthma in fourth grade. That f’n ailment attacked my anatomy, flushing my fats right down the toilet.

Until now, my weight doesn’t fit my age. And here’s the weird part… My craving for eating heavy meals contrasts to my slim physique.

Every time I join my friends at break time, their jaws would drop while I grind, chew, taste and swallow my usual meal in school: 2 cups of rice with 8 pieces of either beef, shrimp, or crab wanton with sweet [or sweet chili] sauce. Add up a plate of pasta, either spaghetti or carbonara, and I call it a meal. Yes, that’s my common meal for that particular break time, not my meal for the whole day.

Breakfast would be my lightest meal, eating a cup of rice and the usual partner with it [bacons, eggs]. But when I go out, I would eat 2 hot dog sandwiches topped with mayonnaise, catsup and mustard.

At midnight, I would make a raid on the kitchen and confront the refrigerator. I am like the fridge foods’ nightmare every 24th hour. If there’s chocolate cake, I would usually take 3 slices and chew the spongy cake, making it melt in my mouth.

Looks like my stomach doesn’t know when to stop eating for almost bi-hourly. Is their a python or sort of a monster lying in the internal organ?

But my fast metabolism is hindering me from transforming myself slowly from the walking twig into the healthy guy I wanted to be. I guess the question now is how to slow it down.

Anyway… I want to gain weight. There’s nothing wrong with that, right? And yeah, I would keep my weight in check, for I might gain a lot of pounds. Being overweight would be a big problem for me, too. I want to end up being a healthy guy, not some kind of a sumo wrestler.

I’m Dan Hellbound.

Anyway, I would like to ask you, my dear readers: What are your [first or not] impressions on me, Dan Hellbound? Even if the testimonials will put me in a bad light [so when did I have a good reputation?], I don’t care. Make a shoot promo, if you will.

I am looking forward to the comments, especially to the ones made by the people who have never encountered me personally. It will surely be fun to read.

Now, I’ll go back to the kitchen and go for another round of “pigging out”.

I’m Dan Hellbound. Happy 2008 to everyone!

And in closing, I, The Hell Bent, would like to have a rundown of all things that became a foundation of my roller coaster ride this year. Shall we start?

Blogging became a definite part of my life this year. Around the third week of April, I sent my druids to other humble web acres and broadcast the good news - my blog, that is - at them. Since then, Malebolge gained a readership. I only get a few comments - but at least that’s better than 1 or 2 reactions per entry.

I would like to thank the following who have passed by my online refuge of brain farts [even those who have gave comments only once or twice] and to the ones I’ve already met personally: Ann, Fruityoaty, Neil, Juice, Arnel, Christian, Skye, Jake The Miserable, Monique, Talamasca, Coy, Irvin, Agent Grey, Cars, Jhed, Mike, Ade, Arnel, Euri, Billycoy, Aaron James, Arlo, Jennifer, Chabs, Karlo, Joe, Pat, Jigs, Paolo Mendoza, Reymos, Charlene, Kim, Rens, Karla, Jed, Liz, Ikay, Yna, Shari, Ms. Janette Toral, Anna, Xienah and Kevin.

To the loyal readers, thank you very much. To the one-time readers [now 2-time], thank you very much. Thanks for giving a damn about Malebolge, I appreciate it.

And I would also like to thank my buddy for her overwhelming support. Cheesy as it may sound and awkward as it may hear from the mouth of a evil entity, I want to say that I miss your comments. They’re not lengthy, but it didn’t matter.

Druid no. 10: That’s so cheesy of you, Your Majesty.

Dan: Shut up.

[I’ll be adding a list here later. Hopefully.]

A Dan Hellbound fact: I am NO movie junkie. Not that I don’t want to. Actually, I love watching those lengthy prose in motion for hours while I’m munching on lots of popcorn and sipping larges tumblers of Pepsi. It’s just that I don’t have much time for it.

And I’m planning on changing that. Hopefully.

But of all the flicks I have watched throughout the entire year, the Transformers movie is my personal favorite. Actually, it’s my favorite movie ever. The epic story between the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons that I always love since childhood, the awesome visual effects that made metal-to-metal slugging showdown so realistic, those common yet so-shiny vehicles… Mind blowing.

[I’ll be adding a list here later. Hopefully.]

May 14 of the year painted a smile on my smiles, as my favorite band, Linkin Park, released their third studio album, Minutes To Midnight. I am so surprised that their approach to making music changed yet they still retained the band’s aura. I am also surprised that Mike Shinoda had a few tracks featuring him singing solo. I can say that it’s a refreshing take on the band’s sound, and I’m loving it!

Enough of the LP fandom. Let’s go down to the list. In no particular order…

• The City Is At War - Cobra Starship
• Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
• What I’ve Done - Linkin Park
• The Running Free - Coheed and Cambria
• Better - Regina Spektor
• Doomsday Clock - The Smashing Pumpkins
• Paralyzer - Finger Eleven

Albums.

• Them Vs. You Vs. Me - Finger Eleven
• Riot! - Paramore
• It Won’t Be Soon Before Long - Maroon 5
• Minutes To Midnight - Linkin Park
• Zeitgeist - The Smashing Pumpkins
• The Shade of Poison Trees - Dashboard Confessional
• Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters

So, there. Haven’t finished the entire post just yet, but I’ll be adding some more later.

It’s been one hell of a ride this 2007 and I would like to give a toast to that. And I’ll be looking forward to another blazing ride on 2008. Get your imaginary motorcycles ready and burn rubber on the leap year journey!

And for the bloggers who are going to celebrate the New Year with a bang - with fireworks, that is - please do it with caution and be careful with your fingers. How are you going type your thoughts on your blog without them?

I’m Dan Hellbound. Happy New Year, everyone!