Find yourself first, and I'll find you after.

Have you ever felt like an extra in your story?

Have you ever felt like a slave in your castle?

Have you ever felt like a nobody in this lifetime?

If I have to describe myself, I am far from living in the small, unnamed village between the King's Castle and Cinderella's Château.

But I am neither Cinderella nor her stepsisters. More so, not the stepmother. Because, unlike those important characters, I am nothing compared to them.

Unlike the evil stepmother, despite her evilness, she found the happiness she longed for after years of being miserable.

Unlike Anastasia who eventually changes her spiteful ways and develops into a kind and good-natured woman, Drizella remains largely mean, selfish and rude throughout the series, never truly overcoming her hatred of Cinderella.

Unlike Cinderella, there is no happily ever after waiting for me at the end of the story.

Because, unlike Cinderella's story, mine started to be beautiful. Mine started at a wonderful once upon a time.

And maybe because of that, I am destined to have a different ending.

"But I promise you this, I'll always look out for you." He gives me butterflies ways he don't even notice.

"I promise to stay when ever you get tired of loving yourself. Let me fill the cup for you." He said as I closed my eyes and let myself sleep.

Distance often gives us a reason to love harder.

"Hi, Tita. Where are you na po?" I started. I turned left and look at myself on the reflection of the tall facade and fix the loose strands of hairs on my face. My features are really evident to be my Mom's. I miss her suddenly. I smiled at myself and continue to ask the whereabouts of my parents. "Magsisimula na po ang event in minutes. Kayo lang po ni Daddy ang inaasahan ko. Are you on your way na po?" I was excited for this event because this is the time where a well-known artist will sing one of my songs for an international branding.

I have always been in love with music and with songwriting my whole life. I use it to express myself and calm down whenever I feel like I am not in the right state. Songwriting has always been dear to me. I think I am myself when I write songs that people often relate to, that I resonate with.

I like sharing my story through music. It makes things so much better. It makes my life a little bit farther from any dispute.

I waited for Tita Shebec to answer my question. All I hear from the other line were people discussing something that I obviously can't perceive. I repeated my question even though, deep down, I already knew the answer. I still tried, hoping that I'll get a different answer.

"Tita Shebec, are you still there? Malapit na po ba kayo ni Daddy?" ulit ko. Whispers and murmurs were too loud that I can't even stick my ear to my phone's speaker any longer than 5 seconds. I rolled my eyes and tried calming myself down.