Then She Happened

8: Best Thing I Never Had

Pagkagising ko, hinanap ko kaagad ang wallet ko. Kahit panaginip lang yun, alam kong siya talaga yun na kumausap sa akin. Alam kong inililigtas niya lang ako sa sarili ko.

Nang nakita ko ang wallet ko, hindi ko na napigilan pang umiyak.

Sa wallet ko, nakaipit ang isang papel. Ang papel na nagpapaalala sa akin sa naging simula ng friendship namin.

It was the note she gave me 2 years ago. The list of her dislikes. Pero may mga naidagdag.

List of my dislikes:

-someone invading my privacy

-bullies

-playboys

-noisy people

-conceited b@st@rds

-big fat liars

-jerks

-cowards

-pests, specifically your kind

-I like chicken joy (No, I love it)

-my feelings (Dafuq is this?! I think I'm starting to fall for you)

-I hate to love you

P.S. Oh well, even though this is not related to my list of dislikes, it's the only piece of paper I have that reminds us of the start of our friendship... and how I started loving you. I just want to say that life became complete because of you. Thanks for coming into this black and white world of mine. Now I have a reason to live my life to the fullest. Damn, I'm becoming corny because of you, bastard!

And if you're curious about how this paper went to your wallet, I put it here because I know that the only thing you get in here is your credit card. Di mo na pinapansin pa yung mga nakalagay dito kaya I think this is 50% safe in here. Subukan mong alisin 'to sa wallet mo, papatayin kita. By the way, it silently says, "I'm always by your side." Tss, don't laugh, bastard.

I smiled. Not a bitter one but a smile that tells, "I'm going to live for you."

Siya ang rason ko kung bakit buhay pa ako hanggang ngayon. Patuloy akong lumalaban para sa kanya dahil alam kong kapag sumuko ako, she will be disappointed. And I don't want that to happen.

Nag-aral ako ng mabuti. Tinapos ko ang nalalabing high school years ko with her as my inspiration. Nagsumikap ako. Gusto kong ipakita sa kanya na magbabago na ako, kung nasaan man siya.

Palagapak na ako noon pero dahil sa kanya, umahon ako.

I graduated college as the summa cum laude. Para sa kanya. Para kay nerd panda.

Nakakatawa lang kung gaano kalaki ang pinagbago ko. Tinatawanan ko na nga lang ang pagiging immature ko dati.

Kung tinatanong ako ng mga tao kung para kanino ko idinededicate ang place ko, I always smile and say, "Kay nerd panda."

It's my second chance to live for the two of us.

Now, I'm the CEO of the company my father started. Nang ipinamana niya sa akin ang kumpanya, natanggap ko ang mga katagang "Son, I'm so proud of you". Walang katumbas na saya ang nakuha ko.

All this time, ang akala ko wala siyang pakialam sa akin. I locked myself from everyone at hindi ko napansin na may nagke-care pa rin pala sa akin.

And I want to say thank you, my nerd panda. Because of you, everything changed.

Maybe if I didn't bumped into you, I will still be that same old jerk that uses his power for the sake of fun.

Now I knew better. At hindi ko na gagawin pa ang mga ginawa kong pagkakamali noon.

Thank you very much for the lessons you gave me.

Thank you very much for being there for me, always. I know that you're always by my side—happy of what I've become.

Thank you.

I love you, my nerd panda.

And I will always love you until my last breath...

Even though you're the best thing I never had.