Don't Settle For Less Novels & Stories

“What shall we do?” halatang bagot na siya sa ginagawa naming pagtigil dito. Iniintay ko lamang ang sasabihin niya. “Tara, mag-swimming na lang tayo or magpamasahe. My treat. Dun tayo sa kabilang resort. Hindi pa nman kasi fully developed itong Ava’s. Mga isang baranggay pa mula dito. Pack some clothes and toiletries.” Akala mo si Flash ang lalaking ito kung makapag-utos sa akin.

Ngumisi ako. "If I go easy on them hindi sila makakaramdam ng challenge, and that's what life is all about. Kailangan nilang malaman iyon habang bata pa sila. You don't get what you want the easy way. Kung may gusto ka paghirapan mo and if you're really determined then don't give up."

"No worries, Mary. Tapat ako sa mga salitang binibitawan ko." I promise myself I will get everything I want, especially justice. I won’t stop until I have succeeded in everything. I need to find a way, because this is the only key to peace and calm for me. I will walk forward, step by step, with a fire burning inside my heart. The world around me is quiet, but my thoughts are loud repeating the promise I made to myself. I know the road will be long and hard but I am fucking determined. Every day, I look for ways to move closer to my goal and to find the answers I need.

Ang complicated pa rin hanggang ngayon ng relasyon nila, susmiyo. “You really need to ask him, mare. Dahil kung hindi, mahihirapan ka lang,” payo ko. Ayoko rin naman kasing mag-settle siya sa less because I know that she deserves better. “How?” “Huwag mong planuhin. Kung magkakaroon kayo ng oras para makapag-usap patungkol diyan nang kayong dalawa lang, then go. Pero huwag mo namang biglain, ha? Pakiramdaman mo rin.”

Sa katulad niyang mahirap mas imprtante ang pakikisama sa iba, hindi niya alam na sa mga taong katulad ni Xavier, mas importante pa rin ang pera. “Kung ganoon ako ang paalisin mo, huwag ang kasambahay mo, ako ang may kasalanan, sinubukan niyang gawin ang trabaho niya, ako ang may ayaw kaya ako ang paalisin mo dito, huwag siya.” Agad nabalot ng tensyon ang hapag kainan nang manatiling tahimik si Seth, tila ito isang mabagsing na leon habang siya ang binabantayan nitong pagkain.

Alam kong malayo pa ang lalakbayin namin pero sigurado akong hindi siya mahihirapang abutin ang pangarap niya. ".... I want to remind all of us that we can always do more, so why settle for less? Let us always strive harder. Maybe our grade will not define our future, but it will show how ambitious we are. It is free to make a dream, but it will cost a lot of energy to reach it. Let us not waste our energy; time will not stop waiting for us. Let's make everyone proud. No, make yourself proud of yourself. I can do it, and you can do it. I hope the next time we meet, we are already bragging about what we have achieved. So, my fellow graduates, congratulations to all of us for passing another s

“You’re still here.” And somehow, that made me smile. --- Late Morning Naglatag ako ng clean page sa desk. Binuksan ang laptop. Pero hindi agad nag-check ng email. Instead, I opened my notes app and typed: --- “What I Deserve:” * Peace * To be chosen * Love na hindi ko kailangang ikompromiso ang sarili ko * Work that makes me proud * Boundaries * Respect, regardless of job title * A love that shows up. Loudly. Publicly.

Sigaw ko habang umiiyak. Naaawa ako sa sarili ko. Bakit kailangan kong mag settle sa taong less ang treatment sa akin? Paano ko nakakayang bigyan siya ng pagmamahal, aruga at pag iintindi kung siya mismo ay hindi niya kayang maibigay? What the hell is wrong with me? Am I blind not seeing this bullshit after a two f*cking years? Ayoko na! Pagod nako! Pagod na pagod nako! Ilang beses pa ba akong masasaktan? Ilang beses paba akong luluha? He's just a man who can't see my worth! "Wake up Allyza! Forget your feelings about him, he don't deserve that. . .please. . . s-stop crying." my voice is shaking.

The applause swelled as I took a moment to soak in the collective warmth of appreciation. "As we move forward, let's remember that our worth is not solely determined by the labels we carry but by the impact we make on the world. Each one of us has the power to contribute something unique and valuable, and it's the diversity of our strengths and experiences that makes our collective journey richer."

"Minsan kasi mga bagay kahit nasa tamang panahon, wala na ring saysay kapag wala na 'yung mga tamang tao sa buhay natin. Kasi mabalikan mo man ang lugar, hindi mo naman mababalikan ang panahon at pagkakataon na pinalampas mo para sa mga taong mahalaga sayo." "Do not be afraid of failing, as long as you keep learning, you keep winning. Never stop growing. Never stop pushing yourself. Never be afraid to try new things. And remember, no matter how dark and hurtful the past was. Bear in mind that these are the foundation in building a sturdier version of yourselves." "Hindi man ikaw ang pinaka magaling sa klase, ang pinakamagaling sa math, ang pinaka magaling na musikero o ang pinaka magaling na