Don't Settle For Less Novels & Stories

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."

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan sundin kung ano talaga iyong gusto mo. Sometimes in life we have to go for it even if it turns out to be something than we imagined." Lumayo ng konti si Mr. Esqueza. "But not for me. It won't work for me. I know exactly what I want so I don't settle for less. Either you change yourself for me or I'll leave you there." Humawak ako sa dulo ng desk. "Gaya ng pagtatanggal mo sa mga empleyado mo dahil wala ka sa mood ngayon araw?" "They made a mistake. There are days I don't tolerate such thing."

"DON'T LET YOURSELF BE FOOLED BY SOMEONE YOU LOVE. KNOW THE TRUTH. PS: BE READY. I'LL BE TAKING BACK WHAT IS MINE"

Kumunot ang noo ni Elkayne at binigyan ako ng di makapaniwalang tingin. "Wala namang bagay na imposible, at saka, walang masama mangarap ng mataas. Kaya nga pangarap eh, kase 'yon ang gusto nating marating sa buhay, 'yon yung nagiging rason to strive harder and do better." I nodded. "Ako, nag ABM ako kase... simple lang, mukha akong pera," I laughed. Akala ko pa naman nasa seryosong usapan na kami, hindi talaga sya nawawalan ng entry sa pag bibiro.

Natigil ang pagluha niya, pag-angat niya ng tingin, nakatitig na ang mga abuhing mata nito sa kanya. "Listen to me. You're too young. Marami ka pang maaabot. Kung pakakasalan mo ko, mahihinto ang pangarap mo dahil hindi ako nakukuntento. Hindi ka rin magiging masaya," may bahid ng lungkot sa tono nito, "Now, I am giving you a chance to run away. Chase your dreams. Use my card and my money. Please, don't settle for someone like me, Miss. Do not settle for a man who doesn't get satisfied with one woman alone."

Muli siyang nakinig kay Diane habang si Ringgo ay dahan-dahan na ring naupo muli na parang batang nagmamaktol at hindi maipilit ang kanyang gusto. "There are many people who proved that there is nothing impossible even when you are poor. They are now owning those tall skyscrapers out there - from rags to riches. Yes, they didn't have enough money when they were still poor, but they had the character which is the best armor in a battle. That is why they are now enjoying life, opposite on what they had experienced in the past. At ang katulad namin ang patuloy na nagpapahalaga sa kung anong meron kami ngayon, natatakot bumalik sa buhay na kinagisnan namin noon. Kaya nga, ngayong hawak na namin

"Mama..." "Kapag lumaki ka na, piliin mo 'yong taong sasamahan ka sa lahat. Hindi man pinalad sa yaman pero sapat na ang pipilitin niyang maging better person para sa'yo. Kaya kung makatagpo ka ng taong pipiliin ka sa araw-araw, huwag mo nang pakawalan. We, people are not perfect, Anak. But if that person truly loves you, he will do everything to avoid all the temptation..." Mama simple words build my perspective not to settle for less.

"No. Don't think that, Phoenix." "I believe that everyone is successful. It just takes time. Astsaka successful ka naman ah, may sarili ka ng lupain. You have Lola Nading, and you have me. And even if they're successful, everyone can have problems too. Grant was insecure because he was compared with his twin every time. Zef had a lot of debt. Lane's parents don't approve of Elara because she was not rich enough for him. Everyone has problems. And what did they do? They still battle it. And I believe you can do it, and you're more than that, stop thinking you could do better, start thinking that you could be better." He just stayed silent and kept his eyes focused on the road. I sighed.

I would want to seize every opportunity, to chase every dream without any limitations. In my mind, I saw myself realizing that I was still so young, with so much left to experience. The thought of being tied down to a lifelong commitment might become suffocating, a burden too heavy to bear. The desire to live fully, to explore every avenue before settling into a permanent relationship, would become more compelling.

"Sa sandaling naging mayaman ako, akala ko ang pinakamahalagang bagay ay ang pera. Akala ko, ang kapangyarihan ay ang maging pinakamalakas sa lahat. Akala ko, ang tagumpay ay ang matalo ang bawat kalaban. Ngunit sa bawat hakbang, natutunan ko ang isang mahalagang aral—na ang lahat ng iyon ay walang halaga kung wala kang kapayapaan sa puso." Sa sandaling iyon, si David John Thompson, ang dating manager ng Aspire Financial Bank na tumulong kay Winston sa simula ng kanyang paglalakbay, ay tumayo mula sa kanyang upuan sa madla. Ngumiti siya kay Winston, isang ngiti na puno ng paghanga at pagmamalaki. Ito ay isang paalala sa lahat kung saan nagsimula si Winston.