T.O.R.P.E.

TORPE – is a Pinoy adjective that describes someone who is too shy to pursue amorous desires.

“Nung nakita ko kayo na magkayakap, sumabay yung pagpatak ng luha ko sa paglakas ng ulan. Pero ang tanga ko kasi kahit anong sabi ko sa sarili ko na makakalimutan ko rin yung nararamdaman ko para sayo, meron pa rin dito.. sa puso ko.. umaasa na mapapansin mo ko.

Kahit ayaw ko, naitanong ko din sa sarili ko.. ano bang meron siya na wala ako.. tapos sa huli, naisip ko.. kung ano.. kung sino.. yun ay IKAW.”

Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse
Listen here:

I just finished reading a Pinoy e-book titled “TORPE”… and it really captivated me.

The Skinny: A college guy, Christopher or Toph, earnestly talks about his hesitations in expressing his feelings for the girl he likes and his journey in finding his one true love.

One can already tell the larger part of the story just by the title. It sounds cheesy but when I started reading, I couldn’t help but turn and turn the pages until Chapter 103. (I didn’t even notice that it’s a 103-chapter story.)

I love the author’s writing style. I feel like I really know the characters (like friends). It’s an easy read, funny and not too melodramatic. The dialogs are as simple as what we naturally use everyday but the significance and the meaning behind the words are profound and personal – something that anyone can relate to.

I think Toph (or the author) is just about my age. The situations, the songs, the hype, the words and the jokes are all familiar. It’s like I’m experiencing my college days again. (I miss you, guys.) ^^,

John Christopher Delgado – the main protagonist. I adore his character in this novel. He’s not a boy-next door type. He’s not rich. He’s not genius (but still smart). He’s not someone that you can easily differentiate from the rest. He’s not perfect. He’s not ideal. He’s just a typical guy whose nature certainly grows with the reader.

And yes, Toph’s character grew in me. I like his naïve observations and thoughts on simple things. I like his caring relationship with his parents and his sister. I like how he scolds himself when he unintentionally done something wrong. I like his reactions, how he cries when his heart is broken, how he is so honest and sincere to anything he runs into, how he silently talks to himself, creating a role-play at the back of his mind, analyzing the foolish actions he does.

Oops. The last one is kind of weird but I always do that, too. In the bus, in the mall, in the bathroom, in my bed or while walking, I let my thoughts wander and go to places or situations I could never reach in real life. I scold myself, I ask, I dream. It may seem crazy but I feel that I could better understand myself that way. Maybe that is another reason why I got really into Toph’s character, I found myself in him.

I also like the instances where Toph tries to consider situations and understand his feelings. He doesn’t rush love. He doesn’t force things to happen. He patiently waits for the right time. He thinks about his intentions, his actions. He thinks about what the other person would feel. He doesn’t misunderstand. He takes control of himself and doesn’t let the surge of emotion determine his actions. It’s admirable, really.

Nowadays, most people just tend to go for the feelings. I know it’s a good sign but I also believe that one still need to use the brain along with the heart. And when I say use the brain, it’s not to determine what is good for one’s self; rather, what is best for the other person.

I guess what keeps my interest in this novel is that it is narrated in a guy’s point of view. For a girl like me, knowing a guy’s whereabouts and thoughts about love and friendship is indeed something to be curious about. It feels like I am reading from a guy’s diary. And I must say that I understand them better after reading the novel. Well, I guess I should remember that some things are not always what they appear to be.

I don’t know who the author is… and I swear I tried to search all over the internet to find him or her… anyway, whoever you are, you deserve a credit. You’ve done a great job. Thank you for sharing it… for free.

For friends out there who visits this blog, just let me know if you want a copy of the e-book. I swear it’s worth reading. ^^,

God Bless everyone. Stay inspired.