@browntulips....

"sweet revenge"

A simple quote that was pasted on my mind until now. One, two, three, four. Its been four years since she last told me those quotes that keeps hunting me in my nights of loneliness.

It was a cold night, a dinner with her before a trip to Regional Schools Press Conference '07. My father and my mother had just broke up the day before the trip to my contest. I ate quietly, I don't wanna talk, because in my heart the pain still remains.

I cant hold my tears anymore so I looked down and let the tears flow in my cheeks. She noticed me and she stopped eating too. She began asking me what had happened. I decided to share to her the incident. I don't know where to go, how to raise my little sisters. My tears pour down realizing how bad my situation was. Enlightened with her keen advises, I told her, I will try to moved on. Although we didn't won the contest, I came home enlightened. Enough price for my weary heart.

Months passed, our recognitions coming. I still cant move on. But as I stepped forward, the worst things come. My spot in the top ten caused envy from my classmate, my rivalry for the top 2 spot. In all of the invitation letters,I was held second. But in the middle of the awarding program, our principal came on stage. Apologizing about the invitation letter. Telling the crowd that the invitation letters were written wrong. They calculated the grades again and the result was I was just topped sixth. I felt humiliation's striking me. I took the boo's of the crowd. I didn't cry,"who cares?" I told my self. I still do get my awards. Changing the second placer medal into a sixth placer ribbon.

I enrolled in a math advancement class. I sacrificed my vacation to know how does it happen. I discovered that what were written in my card, were not my grades. It was the grades of my friend.I ask for my school paper adviser for some help. I wanted to put some lessons to my third year teacher about the manifestations that ruined my identity. She just told me that the sweetest revenge I could do is to let them see I conquer amidst their blocks.

At first it was so hard, I cant face my school mates straight. I lost confidence, it enables me to join contests. I seldom wrote for our school paper. She advised me again. She reminds me of the things she told me the night we talked after my parents separated. She told me that I am strong enough. That I am worthy of the award. I studied hard enough, again, I joined contest and won some. I actively participated school activities.

The graduation came. Our adviser met us in a general meeting. Announcing every part of he graduation ceremony and who will do the parts. My closed friend did the Pledge Of Loyalty and one of the honorable mentions was obliged to do the doxology.The valedictorian's speech was assigned to me. I was so overwhelmed. I made it. From first year to third year I never made it to the top. I could see my rivals smirk as I personally thank some of my friends for the support, and also to my teacher who motivated me to do things in a sweet revenge .

Now I am not in her side anymore. After the graduation, we live our own lives. We lost each others communication. I was stocked. Working for my sisters and for myself, cant even save me from guilt. I promised to her that I will finish college by hook or by crook. I will let my parents know that we never gave up life. That to put my parents together, I should get a diploma.

I always wanted to give up. After a hard day work from an internet shop where I worked, I would beak down, crying. I don't know why, but there's just this feeling inside that pulls down my fate. Thinking that I was made as a failure. She will never know if I made my promise or not, but I always tried to find remedies for my education.

Every time I think to give up my dreams, its her words that keep shouting in my head. Every steps I walked back, its her words that pushed me to walk two steps ahead. The only thing I never lost was the writing passion she injected in me while we are together. As she said, "outside the four corners of a classroom, you gotta learn something that will lead you to your dreams. Not all the necessary things are taught inside." I learned to write even in the rocky part of my road. Even without proper education, I know I will reach my dream. Because I got 20% motivation and 20% inspiration, 10% perspiration and 50% faith. The sweetest revenge as it is. I know I'll be there, sooner and not later. As what every character in the movies says,

"Akin ang huling halakhak." (The last laughs mine.)#

JONAFE YABOT

5991 Tramo St. San Dionisio,

Parañaque City, Philippines.

Contact No's.: 09062098131 or 8264932

09303218685

email: jonafeyabot@yahoo.com

kazuma_91@yahoo.com