Don't Settle For Less Novels & Stories

“Bakit hindi mo na lang tanggapin ang pera? Hindi madaling kitain ang ganoon kalaking halaga.” “Totoo naman—” “Bakit nga hindi mo na lang tanggapin?” tanong na naman nitong muli sa kanya. “Dahil hindi ko kayang ipagpalit ang pangarap ko,” may diing sabi niya. “Hindi ka maisasalba ng pangarap mo kung mawawala ka na sa mundo,” mahina nitong sambit. “We can add another million—” “Hindi pa rin, Donna,” seryoso niyang sambit matapos itong titigan sa mga mata.

Screw it! I finished my five chances without hitting at least one, while Desmons still have two. His second to the last attack goes slow motion as his dart hit directly at the red balloon considered as the bull's eye. My jaw dropped and my eyes widen. The can see people surrounded us clapped their hands and congratulated him. That is really bullshit. Screw life. For the second time, I stormed out of the booth. "Hey!" Hinihingal na saad n'ya nang maabutan ako sa paglalakad. I ignored him.

"Do something. We cannot afford to lose even a single cent." Bawat segundong nasasayang ay kawalan din iyon sa income nila. Higit sa lahat ayaw niya ng papatay-patay sa trabaho. Madalas nga siyang bansagan ng hard and cold. He doesn't want to settle for anything less.

wala sa sariling sabi ko. Tipid akong ngumiti. "Everyone deserves a second chance... But, in your case, I think you don't deserve it." I usually give people more chances than they deserve but once I'm done. I'm done. Letting go doesn't mean giving up, but rather accepting that there are things that cannot be. Life is about moving forward, accepting changes in time and people, looking forward to what makes you stronger, better and more complete. "Just give me a chance, that's all I'm asking, you don't have to like it or approve. But I just want that chance to maybe change your mind. You won't know until you give me a try..."

Sofia reached out and held my hand. “You deserve more than one night, Kat. You deserve someone who’ll show up every day, not just in moments. Someone who will love you the way you love them—genuinely, wholeheartedly, and without holding back. Because at the end of the day, that’s what we all deserve: a love that doesn’t make us question our worth, but reminds us why we should never settle for less.” Ngumiti ako ng tipid, pilit ipinapakita na okay lang ako kahit obvious na hindi. Pero bago pa ako makapagsalita, naunahan ako ni Jem.

"Ang mahalaga, magpatuloy ako. Hindi ko kailangang maglakbay mag-isa. Hindi ko kailangang maging perpekto." Sa mga salitang iyon, nagbago ang pananaw ni Liza sa buhay. Alam niyang hindi siya kailangang maging isang superhero upang magtagumpay. Ang bawat hakbang, gaano man kaliit, ay mahalaga. Sa likod ng bawat pagluha at pagsubok, natutunan niyang tanggapin na ang bawat kwento ng buhay ay may kahulugan. At sa bawat pagngiti, may mga sugat na natutunan nilang paghilumin—sama-sama, bilang isang komunidad. ---

Nagpatuloy siyang magtrabaho nang walang pag-aatubili, at sa bawat araw, lumalakas ang kanyang tiwala sa sariling kakayahan. Sa kabila ng pagiging malamig at walang pakundangan ni Xavier, natutunan ni Antonette na hindi ang bawat tao’y kayang magbigay ng pagmamahal o pang-unawa. Ngunit higit sa lahat, napagtanto niyang hindi siya nakadepende sa mga papuri o pagsang-ayon ng ibang tao. Sa huli, ang pinakaimportanteng bagay ay ang kanyang kakayahan na bumangon, magpatuloy, at magtagumpay sa sarili niyang paraan.

"Ms. Agape, I'm disappointed at you. I'll give you the consequences for violating the rule but, this would be the first and last." Tumango ako at napangiti. "Opo, salamat po." "If this is really your dream, work hard for it. 'Wag kang mang-abuso ng iba para lang tulungan ka. Instead, work hard to reach your dream. 'Cause that's more satisfying." "And you, Mr. Lorcan. I didn't know you would do something like this. I guess you're aware on the consequences."

“You’re risking the Marquez reputation. I know you resent Tito Alej, but since it already happened, we should minimize the damage—not act on impulse.” “I don’t need to explain myself,” putol ni Damion. “I do what makes me happy.” Pagkatapos ay iniba niya ang usapan. “Enough about me. What about you? Still no progress?” Agad na naunawaan ni Seth ang ibig sabihin at ngumiti nang mapait. “The falling flowers are willing, but the flowing water is heartless. Mahaba pa ang lalakbayin.” “Nothing is impossible,” sagot ni Damion. “If you persist, the clouds will part.”

Napangiti ako dahil halata namang natigilan siya sa sinabi kong iyon. "Tama ka naman. Sabi mo nga ay lahat ng gusto ko ay nakukuha ko, 'di ba? Wanna know my the secret?" Ibinulong ko sa kanya ang huling katanungan ko. Hindi naman siya umimik o ni lingonin ako. "I don't give up easily. I work hard to achieve the things I strongly desire. When you give your best in something, don't you deserve to receive rewards? When you study diligently, you deserve to be at the top of the class, right? That's just the way the world works. It only ends when you give up, Faller."