“The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness.” (Victor Hugo)

I’ve been trapped in something I thought I had left the moment I graduated from high school.

In a world of different individuals, you expect that there will be clash.

This is different, though. A betrayal of its own kind.

It involves a couple of girls who have known each other for four years. In a spur of the moment, everything they built shattered.

One of these girls was so close to my heart…and she managed to prick straight to it.

My dear friend said I shouldn’t be even bothered.

But I am. Because she was a friend to me. And I loved her dearly.

I don’t know her that well, to tell you honestly, but I admired her, because she stood out to me. She was a different personality, all on her own. She doesn’t give a damn about anybody.

Sadly, she did not give a damn about me. Or the family I have become one with.

My DevComm sisters are the family who embraced me for the past year and a half. The girls I did not know I would forge ties stronger than anything I have known.

These girls who embraced all my flaws. These girls who made me comfortable for who I am. These girls who made their way out despite hectic schedule when I was down with dengue. These girls who cried with me when I was down. These girls who did not give a damn about how far Calauan was…how little money we had…how difficult classes were…everything. With these girls, I saw the beauty in perseverance, faith, and simplicity. Together, we learned to savor every moment, to treasure every minute we had with each other and with people whom we love and respect so much.

So when we sang for the most respected and awesome individuals on the planet on Teachers’ Day, they cast the first stone at us.

And all we did was to show our love and appreciation for those who made our stay and experience extraordinary, because we’re grateful.

Say what you want. “Haters will go hatin’…” anyway, am I right?

I’m not the most patient person, but I am very forgiving. I do not have the biggest and most generous heart, but I do my utmost best to put myself in others’ shoes.

A professor whom I love and respect so much taught me the value of open-mindedness and the beauty in “seeing beyond the façade” of everything.

I try to look at every angle why you and the other folks have to say such mean things.

I do not expect you or the other folks to come clean. I know…it’s not easy.

Yet a tiny voice in my heart says I should not lose hope.

I do not hate you. I just hate what you did.

I will pray for you. And I really do wish you all the best.