Paper Rings | K. Izana

To You

My Dear Reader/s,

 

Hi, Mika here. I am writing this short letter to express my gratitude and love towards you. Sabi ko, I’ll write a letter nung before Christmas but busy ako that day kaya bawi ako. Let me start na, okay?

Una sa lahat, first, and foremost hahahaha. I just want to congratulate you for surviving this year. I know how hard this year for us. We cried and grieved for something or someone important sa buhay natin. Thank you for being strong and brave.

How are you? I always asked this question kapag nagpo post ako sa message board and I was glad na some of you are answering to that question. At least, alam kong okay kayo and you’re still here fighting. I know most of you aren’t well kasi nakakapagod at drain na. It was really hard to be honest. But, I’m glad na kahit sobrang hirap hindi kayo sumusuko.

If you want to know how’s my life lately, the answer is exhausting. Ever since, college life started I had a lot of things na natakbo sa isip ko. Kung para sa ‘kin ba talaga ‘tong kursong tinatahak ko? Kung makakaya ko ba ‘tong apat na taon na ‘to? Should I give up? But despite those words— hindi ako pwedeng sumuko. Naumpisahan ko na. Isang sem na lang din naman, second year na ako.

Life has been tough lately. I lost someone. Hindi ako nakapagluksa masyado because of my academics. That’s the only way and thing na pwede kong maging coping mechanism. I lost a lot of people in life kasi they’re not good sa mental health ko kaya I cut them off. Anyways, I am okay. Hindi sobrang okay pero kaya ko pa.

Writing stories. It was one of my escapes sa reality. Akala ko nga nung una Paper Rings lang ang isusulat ko but I found myself publishing more stories para sa inyo. I found comfort in writing Section Uno’s stories. I wrote Paper Rings because of that one crush na gusto ko since JHS but hindi kami nag end up with each other. Bawat Piyesa, it was like opening a fresh wound because lahat ng mga nakasulat doon ay naranasan ko. Youth, it was for my best friend. I liked him for years but we never take a risk. Mas importante friendship. About You, for someone I want to forget pero kahit anong gawin ko hindi ko magawa. Tingin, for someone who I admired. I continuously admire.

I was happy writing these kind of stories kahit na minsan I want to stop for a while. Nagkaka writer’s block na ako kaya I’m sorry if I can’t write or update for weeks or even month.

I was happy writing stories for all of you. It feels like I am sharing a part of me sa inyo by using the characters in my mind especially the woman in my stories. Thank you for listening, reading, or even commenting na nakakarelate kayo. Hindi lang pala ako yung may ganoong klaseng pinagdadaanan. You guys are all brave for facing those kind of situations. For surviving those things.

I am confident na you’ll achieve more great things in life. I am proud of you for the small achievements na natatanggap niyo in life man yan or academics. And those failure? it was all part of our life. Take that as a motivation na you’ll get better sa field na tinatahak niyo. Small steps, okay?

Thank you for making my life bearable. Despite my shortcomings in life and as an author, thank you for supporting me. Thank you for always waiting for me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for loving Section Uno. Thank you for constantly assuring me na naghihintay kayo palagi. Thank you so much.

Thank you for being my emotional support when everything seems to fall apart. Thank you for being patient. Thank you for staying here by my side.

Thank you for surviving this year. Thank you for being strong. Despite the problems na pinagdadaanan niyo, nandito pa rin kayo. Thank you. I am proud of you.

Let’s end this year together. Forget all the bad things this year na naranasan natin. We shall look forward sa better days.

Let’s face 2024 with a happy heart. Continue to be happy and brave. I love you.

Mahal ko kayo higit pa sa salita at mga numero.

-with all love,
Mika.