Years gone by as she takes the path her aunt wanted her to be in. Even so she’s still grateful for having Melinda in many ways and all throughout her journey but things seems to mean differently with people like Sam. Despite of having what most people dream of, she’s still feel incomplete and quite unsatisfied. 

        Early this morning when she decided to face the things that pulling her down, she told herself that this is the last time she will cry for the thing she couldn’t take back. and for the last time she had her last glance and pick up all the fragments of herself from the place where she once had and lost her life. 

       People might say that she have missed a lot already and her realization won’t matter at all for she has now shorter time to enjoy life but here’s her message to people whose limiting others’ life by forcing their narrow understanding about it.

“Happiness might took a long time for others and in a short period of time for some but if you are to think and evaluate these things. Time is never certain for life can end anytime but happiness will remain happiness whether you had it at the first glance of yours  to your love ones or at the last breath of your life.”

at bars is his favorite pasttime until he become obsessed with it and loses everything.

As Tessa finishes her distorted caricature drawing of their professor, she stood up, dust the Plaid skirts that lays just above her knee, fixed her polo and cardigan she had bought while thrift shopping at the local good will store and started walking back to her dorm. It isn't that far. If her mind isn't floating anywhere, it will just take her approximately 15 minutes walking from the campus to her dorm, but that happens ever so often. Tessa is a daydreamer, just by looking around the campus or passersby or to those topless and sweaty lacrosse players in the fields near the College of Education building, her head will surely go up in the cloud nine in an instant. Though she's good at drawing, Tessa really wanted to become a teacher and a writer. She wasn't fully influenced by both her parents but the thought of being able to share her knowledge is astonishing for her. Aside from that, she knew she will not make enough money just by drawing and stuff. Through her walk back to her dorm, Tessa's phone vibrates from her pocket and reached down to see a message from one of her friends, Suzy. She opened the message and instantly squealed when a photo of Daniel Caesar's upcoming album laid before her eyes. She's a huge fan of the singer.  Tessa is a little tired  when she arrived at her dorm. It isn't too big. She has her own small space, enough for her bed, desk and drawers to fit in. She threw her backpack on her bed and put her sketchpad on her desk. She sits on the reclining chair bought by her dad last semester and scans her old drawings that are posted on her wall. She thinks that she isn't that good at drawing but she still do it because that's one of the things that makes her happy. She decided to do some assignments and some internet surfing before drifting to sleep on her chair, ready to dream about her desire to go to the Philippines and teach there.



PATRIXIA ANN BESA 

He is Renato Panaligan, a 56-year-old man born in the late 60's in a small town near the City of Manila. He grew up in a big family who constantly struggled financially. At night, he would often stare at the kids playing in the street or the groups of men drinking their woes away. He would always wonder what made those people who they were. He knew he would possibly never know the answer though. If the day has been rough for him at school, he would just sit on their roof and get lost in the night sky and the stars hiding its shine, somehow waiting for a shooting star to cross his sight. 

He grew up in a not well-off family but he had always been admired for his looks. People often say he looked like an American child with his light brown hair and pointed nose. He always receives praise for that, but what people never knew was how much he hated that. He doesn't like how he was being reduced to someone with just the pretty looks – but never that kid who works hard to get every accomplishment he desires in school. He hated how people were so easy to judge and discredit others over something entirely illogical. But he couldn't say a word - so he just stayed silent.   

Growing up, he saw how justice became unreachable for the unprivileged like him. This drove him to his dream of becoming a lawyer someday. He studied well, spending all his time learning new things. Despite everyone’s disapproval, he still continued his studies. He started working to support his own dreams. He somehow made it when he graduated in high school. It was probably the happiest moment of his life as he saw his parents’ proud smiles for the first time. At last, he was able to offer them something that’s entirely from his hard work. Sadly, his happiness was put to an abrupt end when he failed to qualify for a college scholarship – his only remaining hope for his dream.

His failure caused him to lock himself out in the darkness. He could not even look at himself in the mirror for he’s afraid to finally realize how big of a disappointment he was. All he ever wanted was to hold that diploma after four years, but everything vanished in just a second. He got lost for quite some time, refusing to move a single muscle from his body. He didn’t know where to start picking the pieces of his shattered soul. It wasn’t until that day, as he was wandering in the middle of that cold night, he met the girl who fueled his spirit and melted the ice coating his heart. Then, he realized how it has always been him who’s causing his own rain. He started seeing light again because of this girl, it was as if she waved off all the clouds covering the sun. They got to know each other, problems were met but they always walked side by side, never letting go until it finally led to their own little family. This change in his life made him stand again. He felt like he found his new purpose. 

He knew he had to hold new responsibilities as he faced a new chapter in his life. He was lucky enough to land a job in a local university nearby. Although the pay wasn’t that much, he had to make a living. He often takes extra jobs at night to further support his family’s needs. Often times he would wonder why he had to live such a hard life. He constantly asks himself whether he’s a good father and husband, he could not even give them what he dreamed for in the first place. But he never wants darkness to swallow him whole again. He’d constantly be reminded of his dream to be a lawyer, and how things might be different for his family if it weren’t for those unfortunate circumstances, but he knows there is a reason behind every fall. He will forever hold that aspiration to help those in need but everything that happened in his life made him realize that his dream is not contained in that title only. Yes, it was his dream to be called a lawyer, but more than that title is the heart and soul of a son, a brother, a friend, a father and a human who is willing to help whoever is in need – and he does it on his own little ways. 

Currently, Renato still works in that local university. Who would have thought that that guy who lost all his belief in himself would be the reason for everybody else’s confidence? He became really famous in the university as he would always spread smile and positivity every day. Never letting his problems hinder his duty. During his break, he would often listen to the professors’ lecture even from afar. He said he likes to learn new things, even the little ones, so he will at least have something to teach his children someday. He likes to tell stories to people, encouraging them to continue fighting for what they like and what they think is their purpose. Oftentimes, he would be asked why he always has that smile on his face to which he would answer, “Sometimes, life hardens us to the point of vulnerability but we must not let it win over us. I believe life is filled with different colors, what you paint in the present will determine your future and will give meaning to your past. We only have one chance… we need to live wisely.”  Though he grew up with a different dream, he knows and feels he is living up to his purpose – to inspire, give love and spread happiness. He still has that habit of staring into nothingness, but this time, he does it with a smile because he knows life might have been dark behind but there's a huge amount of light waiting to be seen ahead.