I have never met someone quite like you, and I mean this with every bone in my body, as cheesy and pretentious as it sounds. The way your mind spins thoughts into gold, and the way your words cut through noise, it always leaves me in awe. You are proof that genuine greatness truly exists, and I have no doubt that whatever you set your heart on, you will achieve. You don’t just inspire me to be better in writing, in thought, or in debate; you make me want to be better in life. To live with the same passion, the same depth, the same courage to be unapologetically myself.

Happy birthday, Kat. You live with a sweetness that makes people so so so so SOOO lucky to know you, especially me. I’ve loved every single second of the time we’ve spent and will continue to spend together. I can’t express in words how grateful I am that the world was kind enough to grace me with your presence. And with that, I owe you more than I can ever say.

— Imong babe, mareyaaaa

Beyond the conversations, I have never felt so seen either by anybody but you. Every time you check up, the small gestures that reveal that you actually care like the times you followed me doon sa field when I was feeling down or the hours we’ve stayed up late at night to keep each other company, I’ve never really been able to share a dynamic like this with anyone before and I don’t want to with anyone else. I can’t imagine anyone else, nor do I want to imagine anyone else I’d rather have what we have with. 

I know there’s a lot on your mind right now, the worrying weight of the worries surrounding you, but I also know you’ll do everything to get through. You’ll stay strong, and you won’t need to be alone through it all. Reading some of the notes here, I’m so glad that you have friends like these in your life. They will be here, I will be here. Always. I’ve probably already made my identity pretty obvious HWHAHSHAHA (i tried to conceal it guys, i really did), but I hope you also understand just how much you mean to me as well. Happy birthday, Katrina. Ily erika