Don’t wear black unless in mourning, or a relative will die soon

Maris:
Uy, Jelo! Why are you wearing black today? May lamay ka ba?

Jelo:
Wala naman. Why? It’s just a T-shirt. It matches my mood—“tired but surviving.”

Maris:
Ay naku! Don’t say that. You know the rule: don’t wear black unless you’re mourning. It invites bad luck… or worse, someone in your family might die soon.

Jelo:
Here we go again. Maris, it’s just a color. If wearing black could magically trigger death, half of Manila would be gone—especially during payday Fridays when everyone wears black for the “slimming effect.”

Maris:
Hindi, seryoso ako! My Lola always said that black attracts “kamatayan energy.” When my cousin wore black to a birthday party years ago, our neighbor’s grandmother passed away three days later!

Jelo:
Maris… she was 94. Living to that age is practically a bonus round. That’s not a curse—that’s biology retiring peacefully.

Maris:
Still! The timing was creepy. And admit it, black feels heavy, di ba? Like something dramatic always happens.

Jelo:
Because teleseryes trained us that way! The kontrabida always wears black, lightning strikes, tapos dramatic music. But that’s fiction, not physics.

Maris:
Eh what about funerals? Why do we wear black there if it doesn’t mean something?

Jelo:
Tradition and symbolism, not supernatural cause-and-effect. We also wear white to baptisms and red on Valentine’s—but we don’t think wearing pink will make us fall in love instantly, right?

Maris:
Depende. Some people treat Valentine’s like it’s magic.

Jelo:
Okay, fair. But look—black absorbs light, not souls. It’s literally just a shade that doesn’t reflect many wavelengths. No scientific mechanism connects fabric color to a family member’s lifespan.

Maris:
Pero you have to admit… sometimes traditions feel safer to follow. Parang precaution.

Jelo:
Sure, but sometimes precautions just limit your wardrobe. What if you’re late to a meeting because you spent 20 minutes avoiding every black shirt you own?

Maris:
That… actually happened last month.

Jelo:
Exactly! See? The real danger isn’t death—it’s bad fashion options. Also, if black really caused misfortune, goth kids worldwide would be walking disasters. But they’re fine… just emotionally poetic.

Maris:
Laughs Okay, that’s a good point.

Jelo:
Look, I’m not saying ditch your beliefs. If it brings comfort, that’s okay. But don’t let it scare you. Traditions can coexist with logic, as long as one doesn’t hold you hostage.

Maris:
So you’re telling me nobody will die just because you’re wearing that shirt?

Jelo:
Promise. If anyone dies today, it’s from the heat—not my T-shirt.

Maris:
Fine, fine. But if something weird happens, I’m blaming your outfit.

Jelo:
Deal. But if nothing happens, I’m making you wear black next week.

Maris:
Whoa. Let’s not rush the science experiment, ha. Baby steps.

Jelo:
Laughs See? Progress.