Twenty-seven.
You’re 27 now.
That is a great number.
There are 27 bones in the human hand, and mine long for another 27, which is yours.
Thank you for another year of you.
Thank you for staying soft, for choosing kindness palagi, for being the calm in my chaos. Mas gumaan lahat pag nandiyan ka (paulit-ulit ko ’tong sinasabi HAHAHA), and I don’t think I’ll ever stop being grateful for that.
I’m so proud of you.
Of how hard you’ve worked, of how you kept going even on the days na pagod ka na at nagdududa ka na sa sarili mo. And now, here you are, stepping into a new job, a new chapter. No more DTRs, no more memos (nakalaya na siya sa SMC XD), and soon a School Counselor Associate. The kids are lucky to have you to guide them knowing the amazing person that you are.
I know it’s scary, and I know it’s exciting, pero I want you to remember: you’ve earned this. This is you, being the person who never gave up.
I know you overthink, and you plan everything, kasi ayaw mong nagugulat.
Pero hindi lahat nakaplano, and that’s okay.
We can plan the next part together, o hindi na lang, one day at a time.
Whatever comes, the long days, the big wins, yung what-ifs mo, I’ll be right here (sana in person na lagi soon).
Cheering the loudest, listening to your stories after work, and reminding you to rest your mind kapag nakakalimutan mo.
Someday we’ll travel, gaya ng mga plano natin, maybe somewhere you’ve already mapped out in your head. But I can’t wait for what the future has in store for us.
Last year, I said I couldn’t wait to be there for all your birthdays after that one.
Well, here’s the first.
And I promise, hindi ito ang huli.
생일 축하해, Kayle.
Happy birthday, baby.
I love you so, so much.
You’re 27, and the world is still so lucky you exist.
– Cy