In our twenties

In our twenties: Life is wonderful

In our twenties: Life is wonderful

“I’ve been waiting for this time. Finally, nakarating na rin ako sa book signing mo.”

Napangiti ako sa sinabi ng isang reader ko. She asked if we could have a picture together and I gladly said yes to her.

It’s not only them who’s waiting for this time to come dahil maski ako mismo ay matagal ng nangarap na sana dumating ang panahong ito. I thought being a successful author is just an impossible dream for me, but life is so unpredictable.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga taong nakapila at wala akong masabing iba kundi ‘wow’.

Sobrang dami ng tao, at ito na yata ang pinakamaring taong dumalo sa book signing ko so far.

“Miss A, advance happy birthday po.”

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa isang 17 year old na babae at ngumiti sa kanya.

“Thank you,” sabi ko.

Oo nga pala, today is the last day of my twenties. I’m already 29, and after 12 hours, I’ll be 30. Halos hindi ko namamalayan na ang bilis na pala ng pag-ikot ng orasan. Parang kahapon lang nag 20 ako pero ngano malapit na akong lumagpas sa kalendaryo.

But I have no regrets now because I’ve done so many fruitful things in my twenties. I’ve realized so many things.

In our twenties, life will become tougher. You will just realize that living doesn’t mean just barely breathing but being alive physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Because life is more than a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes you will just wish to become a mushroom because you cannot take the harsh waves of life anymore. It’s drowning you already. You’ll struggle enough that you will just wish to give up.

Life as a young adult can be scary just like the ghost from horror movies. Because adulthood means responsibility, maturity, and so many bills. The word responsibility is enough to scare every one of us because being responsible for some things is like pushing big mountains with your bare hands. It is indeed too difficult.  But life has so much to offer. It’s wonderful.

Before our twenties, we’re just living in the life that other people set us for us. We are so obedient to other people that we forgot to realize that this is our own life and we should be the ones ruling over it. But our twenties allow us to start molding the ideal life we want for ourselves. We struggle on our own, and we survive on our own. We felt alive, and for the first time, we’ll feel we are our lives boss because that should it be. But ruling the waves of life is never easy.

Because in our twenties, we start becoming lost. Others will start chasing their dreams after graduation. Some were chasing careers and then some of us will be stuck in a place and feel insecure about the success of everyone that we try to be like them, in the hope that we’ll get success through following their footsteps. However, in the midst of chasing those dreams things will start to crumble because things that aren’t meant for you will never become yours. You will feel devastated. You will feel useless and lost and don’t seem so motivated to function again.

We start to question things because we can’t just get what we really want and some people that we value will start leaving. And I’ve learned that it’s basically normal to feel those things. We may feel alone but we aren’t really. We just need to go out of our comfort zone and explore things on our own, because life has so much to be explored for but it would take you some effort to get what you really want. Bare that in mind.

It takes a thought to make a word, a word to make a sentence, a sentence to make a paragraph, and a paragraph to make a masterpiece, and it works the same in life. It takes a lot of effort to get what you desired. Small steps will help. Make your steps slowly but surely, because some things will fall in their own timing once you’re ready. Because the point of life is that you’re not waiting for the time to become right, you make yourself ready for it because the timing will become right when you’re ready for it to be right.

Life is a beautiful mess. You’ll struggle yet you’ll be satisfied at the end.

“I’ve been looking for you. Didn’t know you’re just here.” My attention was all caught up when the familiar voice of Tom touches my ears. I turned around para salubungin ang tingin niyang nakakatunaw.

I smiled at him. He smiled back and just continued walking forward to me and then slowly snakes his arms around me. Ngayon pareho na naming tinitingnan ang malaki kong portrait sa sala kung saan nakangiti ako nang todo habang hawak ang kauna-unahang aklat na nailimbag ko. He’s the one who took that picture.

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered.

I pouted. “I’m proud of you as well,” Sabi ko.

That’s how we exchange I love yous to each other. We just have so many of ways to show our affection to each other.

Tom is was again promoted in his work, and he just recently graduated with his Ph.D. Meanwhile, I become a professor at the university I graduated and I just recently graduated with my Masters's degree as well. I now become a published author and he became my number one supporter. He always read my stories first before I posted them online. He always supports me in everything. Since the day I met him, he was already there supporting me.

“Let’s go outside? People are waiting already.” Sabi niya kaya sabay na kaming lumabas ng bahay.

It’s now 11:58 in the evening. 2 minutes left before I turn 30.  Plinano naming salubungin ang kaarawan ko ngayon para maiba naman daw. This is my first time celebrating my birthday at midnight, so pumayag na rin ako sa gusto ni Tom. Simpleng kainan lang sa harden namin. Kami-kaming magpapamilya lang. Narito ang iilan sa mga pinsan ko, at nandito rin ang magulang ni Tom. Nagpunta lang sila rito just to celebrate my birthday, na touch nga ako eh.

I was about to say something when I saw a firecracker was lighted. The night sky glowed with different colors and my family greeted me with their heart’s content.

My mother was holding a cake. She’s nearing to us so I could blow the candle.

“Make a wish!”

Pumikit na lang ako at humiling na sana hindi matapos ang masasayang araw ko. Then I blow the candle.

They cheered kaya natawa na lang ako. But my cousins were giggling na para bang kinikiliti.

“Woaah! Sanaol!”

May nginuso ang nanay ko sa likuran ko kaya lumingon ako at hindi ako nakapagsalita sa gulat. My eyes began to water.

Grabe ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Pero hindi nakakabahala ang kaba ko dahil ibang klaseng kaba iyong nararamdaman ko. Kaba na may halong tuwa.

Tom is now on his bended knees holding a ring, looking at me with his sincere eyes.

He wet his lips before uttering some words first. “Princess, life is so beautiful, isn’t it?”

Ngumiti ako nang payak habang patuloy na umaagos ang mga luha ko. It’s not a direct question but I am not stupid enough para hindi ito makuha.

Nilahad ko ang kamay ko sa harap niya mismo. “Indeed. But it would be more beautiful with you in it. Let’s enjoy the rest of our lives together, Tom.”

With so much joy in his eyes, he stood up and inserted the ring on my finger. Then he attacked my lips with his warmest and sweetest kiss.

In life, it would take some suffering for satisfaction. So we don’t need to be too harsh on ourselves. Let’s not rush things. Because when we are ready to move forward, the road will rise to meet us. That’s how wonderful life is.

The end…

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