But first, coffee.

So, it’s been a while. Hi. I’ve had a couple of ideas about what I should write here—reflections, lessons, words of encouragement—and now that I’m finally sitting down, all of it feels like it’s evaporated. But here I am. It’s a Sunday night. My phone is far away from me, and I’ve got time. Just a while ago, I spiraled into a stretch of unkind thoughts, until my head ached and my neck…

The room felt stuffy, so I decided to freshen it up by vacuuming and changing the bed sheets. Now it feels light. Crazy how a few adjustments in the environment can make all the difference in one’s mood. I took the opportunity to clean my room since I had some free time tonight. Ate Mae Ann was cooking for dinner (usually it’s me), and cleaning my room beforehand means that I would have more…

For a while I thought you had the tendency of bringing out the worst in me, especially in our arguments, and this is reason enough not to continue pursuing what we have. After all, shouldn’t love bring out the best in a person? But you actually reveal the worst in me, setting fire to my triggers, exposing my deeper layers, and unmasking all the shows and smiles I’ve put on for so long – my…

When you submit yourself to someone, you become so fragile that you give them the permission to completely destroy you – body, mind, and soul. Yet you trust them enough to nurture you like a flower. You give them everything there is of you to give. You strip your masks off, expose your scars and imperfections, all the while believing that they will accept you with the kind of love that will heal…

Written on 14 June 2022 Some friends come Some friends go Some will leave a lesson for you. Some friends stay When everything’s okay The grey skies tell whoever’s true. But once in a while You find a good fellow Who sees through what you put on show And when they defer Despite the weather Keep them close to your heart.

Written on 20 June 2022 You don’t need to frequent my Instagram stories To see if I merely mask my merry miseries My life is swell—can’t you tell? Three years passed since your aftermath. You don’t need to fantasize of an alternate universe Where all is well and never more marvelous You played all the right cards to get to me But got lost in the shuffle of this reality. You don’t need to skim…

Written on 10 December 2022 I’ve often wondered What it feels like To be on the other side of the pain. Perhaps you’ve wandered, Sought for sunlight, Only to be caught in the stone cold rain. Perhaps you’ve carried The trauma into your skin buried Now it’s crawled out to collect its dues, And you’re baffled why it leaves you furious When they pry apart your scabs Who knew treachery could cause…

I keep a journal in my back pocket I scribble to-do’s in receipts, in store pamphlets I hold on to photographs to put in a locket This is me trying not to forget.

I gaze a little longer into your eyes I hug you a little tighter before goodbyes My eyes close to feel your kisses and sighs This is me trying not to forget.

When my memory fails to recite your every detail Will you remind me, my love? Tell me of Mabini St., of roses in the passenger’s seat Tell me of calls past ten, and quiet moments unwritten.

Tell me that your love won’t ever fade How the wind felt as we lied under the shade And the sunlight danced in between the leaves Darling, only you can put my mind at ease.

I feel absolutely dreadful doing audits or any accounting-related work. The pay is okay though, it helps me with the bills.

But it really feels different to do something I ACTUALLY love, something I actually enjoy doing. And to get paid for it? That must be nice.