I'll Write You a Love Song

Date a girl who writes.

          Date a girl who may never wear completely clean clothes, because of coffee stains and ink spills. She’ll have many problems with her closet space, and her laptop is never boring because there are so many words, so many worlds that she’s cluttered amidst the space. Tabs open filled with obscure and popular music. Interesting factoids about Catherine the Great, and the immortality of jellyfish. Laugh it off when she tells you that she forgot to clean her room, that her clothes are lost among the binders so it’ll take her longer to get ready, that her shoes hidden under the mountain of broken Bic pens and the refurbished laptop that she’s saved for ever since she was twelve. 

Kiss her under the lamppost, when it’s raining. Tell her your definition of love.

          Find a girl who writes. You’ll know that she has a sense of humor, a sense of empathy and kindness, and that she will dream up worlds, universes for you. She’s the one with the faintest of shadows underneath her eyelids, the one who smells of coffee and Coca-cola and jasmine green tea. You see that girl hunched over a notebook. That’s the writer. With her fingers occasionally smudged with charcoal, with ink that will travel onto your hands when you interlock your fingers with her’s. She will never stop, churning out adventures, of traitors and heroes. Darkness and light. Fear and love. That’s the writer. She can never resist filling a blank page with words, whatever the color of the page is.

          She’s the girl reading while waiting for her coffee and tea. She’s the quiet girl with her music turned up loud (or impossibly quiet), separating the two of you by an ocean of crescendos and decrescendos as she’s thinking of the perfect words. If you take a peek at her cup, the tea or coffee’s already cold. She’s already forgotten it.

Use a pick-up line with her if she doesn’t look to busy.

          If she raises her head, offer to buy her another cup of coffee. Or of tea. She’ll repay you with stories. If she closes her laptop, give her your critique of Tolstoy, and your best theories of Hannibal and the Crossing. Tell her your characters, your dreams, and ask if she gotten through her first novel.

          It is hard to date a girl who writes. But be patient with her. Give her books for her birthday, pretty notebooks for Christmas and for anniversaries, moleskins and bookmarks and many, many books. Give her the gift of words, for writers are talkative people, and they are verbose in their thanks. Let her know that you’re behind her every step of the way, for the lines between fiction and reality are fluid.

She’ll give you a chance.

          Don’t lie to her. She’ll understand the syntax behind your words. She’ll be disappointed by your lies, but a girl who writes will understand. She’ll understand that sometimes even the greatest heroes fail, and that happy endings take time, both in fiction and reality. She’s realistic. A girl who writes isn’t impatient; she will understand your flaws. She will cherish them, because a girl who writes will understand plot. She’ll understand that endings happen for better or for worst.

          A girl who writes will not expect perfection from you. Her narratives are rich, her characters are multifaceted because of interesting flaws. She’ll understand that a good book does not have perfect characters; villains and tragic flaws are the salt of books. She’ll understand trouble, because it spices up her story. No author wants an invincible hero; the girl who writes will understand that you are only human.

Be her compatriot, be her darling, her love, her dream, her world.

          If you find a girl who writes, keep her close. If you find her at two AM, typing furiously, the neon gaze of the light illuminating her furrowed forehead, place a blanket gently on her so that she does not catch a chill. Make her a pot of tea, and sit with her. You may lose her to her world for a few moments, but she will come back to you, brimming with treasure. You will believe in her every single time, the two of you illuminated only by the computer screen, but invincible in the darkness.

          She is your Shahrazad. When you are afraid of the dark, she will guide you, her words turning into lanterns, turning into lights and stars and candles that will guide you through your darkest times. She’ll be the one to save you.

          She’ll whisk you away on a hot air balloon, and you will be smitten with her. She’s mischievous, frisky, yet she’s quiet and when she has to kill off a lovely character, when she cries, hold her and tell her that it will be alright.

          You will propose to her. Maybe on a boat in the ocean, maybe in a little cottage in the Appalachian Mountains. Maybe in New York City. Maybe Chicago. Baltimore. Maybe outside her publisher’s office. Because she’s radiant, wherever she goes. Maybe even outside of a cinema where the two of you kiss in the rain. She’ll say that it is overused and clichéd, but the glint in her eyes will tell you that she appreciates it all the same.

          You will smile hard as she talks a mile a second, and your heart will skip a beat when she holds your hand and she will write stories of your lives together. She’ll hold you close and whisper secrets into your ears. She’s lovely, remember that. She’s self made and she’s brilliant. Her names for the children might be terrible, but you’ll be okay with that. A girl who writes will tell your children fantastical stories.

          Because that is the best part about a girl who writes. She has imagination and she has courage, and it will be enough. She’ll save you in the oceans of her dreams, and she’ll be your catharsis and your 11:11. She’ll be your firebird and she’ll be your knight, and she’ll become your world, in the curve of her smile, in the hazel of her eye the half-dimple on her face, the words that are pouring out of her, a torrent, a wave, a crescendo - so many sensations that you will be left breathless by a girl who writes.

Maybe she’s not the best at grammar, but that is okay.

          Date a girl who writes because you deserve it. She’s witty, she’s empathetic, enigmatic at times and she’s lovely. She’s got the most colorful life. She may be living in NYC or she may be living in a small cottage. Date a girl who writes because a girl who writes reads.

          A girl who writes will understand reality. She’ll be infuriating at times, and maybe sometimes you will hate her. Sometimes she will hate you too. But a girl who writes understands human nature, and she will understand that you are weak. She will not leave on the Midnight Train the first moment that things go sour. She will understand that real life isn’t like a story, because while she works in stories, she lives in reality. 

Date a girl who writes. 

Because there is nothing better than a girl who writes.

The Lucky One

          Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never actually shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting, or laugh with you when you make a fool out of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather, they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy, or competition, but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song, or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid, it’s like being young again. Colors seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where, before, it was infrequent, or didn't exist at all. A phone call or two during the day always helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you're quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind, or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soulmate who will remain loyal until the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.

Anna and the French Kiss - Stephanie Perkins

          Just another teen love story, but definitely a good one. Even though the words used were simple to the point that i wasn't able to quote a lot, i'd give it two thumbs up. :) Stephanie Perkins knows how to catch the attention of young love. You know, that usual start of a love story. From strangers, to friends, to lovers, to becoming strangers again, but still end up being together. DESTINY. :)

          But what I really love about this book is the setting. PARIS. The City of Light. The City of Love. <3 It has always been my dream to be able to visit this place, at least once, in my lifetime. There's really something about the Eiffel Tower that i can't stop thinking about. Paris' history is just so rich that there's so many places to visit. Museums, cafes, and theaters. I'd also want to see the Point Zero, so that i could make a wish. Haha. =)) So much for dreams, but i'll definitely give it a shot. :)

Like i said, it wasn't a very quotable book. But these are the lines that i liked. :)

How many times can our emotions be tied to someone else’s — be pulled and stretched and twisted —before they snap? Before they can never be mended again?

Sometimes I think there are only so many opportunities . . . to get together with someone. And we've both screwed up so many times that we've missed our chance.

The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.

Home isn't a place. It's a person.

Jump then Fall

Fall in love with someone who writes.

They know how to create beautiful words,

that will crawl into your heart and soul,

making you fall for every note that slips from their lips.

The ink from their pen will drip off thoughts about you.

The paper written on will mold the feelings felt.

The writer will inspire the words that will make you fall in love,

with every letter shaped together just for you.

Intense

          So, my brother's girlfriend, Kaye, came to visit him today. I was on the computer writing, as usual, and they were talking while watching tv. Kuya excused himself. While he was gone, Kaye asked me if she can show me something. So i let her use my netbook. She opened Kuya's Facebook account and clicked an old conversation dated year 2012. She told me, "Basahin mo mula simula ah? Wag ka munang magsasalita or magrereact hanggang di mo natatapos." And so i did. It was a conversation between Kuya and some random girl she knew on Facebook. Based on the dates, the conversation  lasted for almost a year, which Kaye traced were the times when their relationship was somehow shaky and almost falling apart.

          After i read through the whole conversation, Kaye asked me. "So... Ano naramdaman mo after mong mabasa?" I didn't know what to say. All i did was shook my head and shrug.

          Honestly, i know that Kaye was hurt. Maybe, the reason why she showed it to me was because she wants to know what or how to feel about it, if we have the same opinion. But for me, reading all those lies Kuya said while flirting with someone he don't actually know, and telling her things that aren't true, is like a punch in the face.

WHAT HAPPENED TO BEING HONEST? TO BEING FAITHFUL? TO LOVE?

          I know that Kuya has his reasons. Maybe, he wasn't really him during those times and he completely forgot about  certain things considering Kaye. Of all the girlfriends Kuya had, i'm pretty sure that Kaye has been the one who influenced most of the good things in him. I mean, we're Catholic. But because of Kaye, Kuya was willing to follow the Christian outlook. He no longer go to church with us. Instead, he goes with Kaye. Also, he's been reading the bible more often than i can remember and other self-realization books which Kaye's church offer. God was the center of their relationship. That's what he told me. And for my parents, they don't mind if Kuya changes his religion as long as he still believes in God, whether it's in the form of other outlook.

          I just hope that Kuya realizes what he has done. I mean, Kaye is a great girl. She's nice, funny, understanding, God-fearing and always there to forgive my brother. I want her to be the one for him. I know that Kuya will be forever loved. He just have realize that Kaye is a keeper and i know he will be happy with her.

          So... about the title. "INTENSE". That sums up everything that happened today. I was in the same room with Kuya and Kaye when everything broke down. Kaye was crying confessing her fears, troubles and doubts and Kuya was listening and trying to explain his part. And me? I was just listening, scared, thinking that something worse might happen. So i lay down. And you know what happened next???

I FELL ASLEEP. -_____-

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. =))

Play with Me?

THE PLAYGROUND

Carelessly slipping off the slide, creating castles and fortresses in the sandbox and having the best ride on the seesaw with a playmate.

Don't you just miss being a kid?

Running like it's the first time you're going to see the world and no one's going to stop your unleashed freedom. We always have that special place in our childhood where everything's fun, free and magical. ;)

Oh, Summer

Remembering how I used to enjoy every moment of summer..... is everything i long for as of the moment. How the sun touches my skin, how the sand gets in between my toes and how the the water splashes against me leaving marks of dampness upon my bare skin.

Picture anything?

Yeah..... THE BEACH. :)

Summer isn't complete without any sun exposure, a dip in the pool or the absolute feel of the summer heat. As for me, i can no longer enjoy these simple pleasures.

But at least, some time ago, i was in the midst of these.