Distant Stars: Chapter Four

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Unbeknownst to Rigel and Capella, the unknown figure teleported them from the grassland and placed them in two different rooms but of the similar view of a brightly lit Castle. Then, the unknown figure appeared in each of their dreams to introduce herself.

Suddenly, the doors opened and made a creaking noise, sending a chill through their spines.

"It's time for you to leave the room. You have to find your way to the Castle. Remember to use your heart to feel! Good luck." whispered Arcturus.

Go to Chapter Three | Go to Chapter Five

Losing what matters

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Lately, some thoughts have been running through my mind. They usually hit me the hardest during night times where everyone was asleep and I am alone with my thoughts in my bed. Those moments have landed me with really negative thoughts at times. And no matter how many times I tried to comfort myself, all that I could feel was mental exhaustion in the end. The future seemed bleak. There were no words to possibly describe the way my feelings have already fused with my thoughts. It felt like a never-ending cycle where I could never get out of it. I closed my eyes but only to get reminded of the memories and fears. The situation seemed helpless. Now, this was exactly what I went through not long ago. And I am writing this post to walk through with anyone that are experiencing such moments now. Trust me, nothing remains forever, for the good and bad.

Close your eyes and visualize who and what matters

Remember how I was trapped in my fears and memories? I made a conscious effort to close my eyes and visualize the people that mattered to me every night. For every night that I failed to do so, I knew that there will be tomorrow with brand new opportunities. The point was to never rush into committing what your heart was not ready to do so. I always believe that our heart and mind are inseparable entities when it comes to healing our wounds. For example, my mind knew that I was doing a disservice to myself every single day but my heart allowed it. When I was finally able to visualize the people that mattered in my life - I saw their faces and I knew that I have let them down because of how I was not able to walk out of my misery. Then, I told myself that it's either I continue to let the setbacks sink in and further disappoint my family and friends or I walk out and be happy for them. But, thankfully, I ended up choosing the latter. And this led me to realize something important. That was when I began to involve these people in my life, I stopped centering myself and the so-called-problems that once affected my life no longer had that of a great impact anymore. I got to love and help myself. Regardless of the choices I make, I knew that my family and close friends were not going to leave me. And it's only when I realized all of these, I became happier than before even when it meant to go the extra mile for these people.

The words that follow I am, follow you

Everyone has received labels from your family, friends, and colleagues at some point in their lives. I was labeled as short, fat, and sensitive during my primary school. When it came to secondary school, I was labeled insensitive, childish, playful, extrovert, and talkative. Now, the point that I'm trying to drive at is whatever labels you receive, if you ever take on them, you will attempt to live into them like a role that you are given in life. Who has the rights to give you these labels? You might attempt to change how people see you, but that won't be you anymore. And these labels usually hit you the hardest when you are bottomed in life. Thus, the most important element in the human psyche is how you describe yourself to yourself. You can rewrite any labels that you once accepted in your life, make it become what you want, tell it to yourself as many times you need for your brain to be reprogrammed. This is not about self-denial. Instead, it is about developing your self-esteem to love yourself. I am caring, funny, helpful, handsome, passionate, and so on. So what are you? The words that follow "I am", follow you.

Observe your surroundings

I never had a habit of taking much notice of my surroundings. It's either I immersed myself in my smartphone feeds or I rushed from one place to another in the past. Things are pretty different right now. I love walks, crowds, and nature. When I see a group of friends hanging out happily and parents holding onto their children hands, I gain refreshing perspectives on life. These perspectives make me realize that there are so many things too precious to be missed out in life. And I want to channel all my negative thoughts into positive ones - to help as many people as I can, to uplift the society to become a better place, to be genuine to new people and towards friends that I never once expressed genuineness at all.


I have not written something personal in a long while. I hope that my experiences can bring new perspectives into your lives. Thank you for taking the time to read. 

Distant Stars: Chapter Three

Artwork by ryky

"I'm ready, Capella." Rigel replied.

"If something happened where I had to move very far away, would you hold on to me? Or go separate ways?" quavered Capella.

There was complete silence as Rigel was briefly dumbstruck. As the couple stood under the tree, the leaves sang a melody of comfort for the couple. At last, he was ready to say something.

"Is everything, alright?" fretted Rigel. "And of course, Capella, you know me, I would definitely hold on to you. You mean everything to me, and I would fight, even if it means death, for you and for our relationship."

"Rigel, I ... don't ..." cried Capella as she tried to stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks. "I ... really don't ... know ... how ..."

Just before Capella could finish saying her words, a gush of violent winds accompanied by a bright flash caused Rigel and Capella to lose sight of their surroundings. 

"Capella!! Hold on to my hands" screamed Rigel. "Do not ever let go!!"

"Yes!! Rigel, I am holding onto your hands!!" shrieked Capella.

Suddenly, a figure with tiny filamentous wings, with hair as black as the velvety night sky, dressed in a dress of flower petals and wielding a magic wand, inched her distance closer towards the couple. As she inched closer, a determined look on her face was observed.

"Rigel and Capella, let go of each other hands" she greeted.

"How do you even know our names?! No!! I won't let you separate us!" shouted Rigel as he continued to grip tightly onto Capella hands.

"Rigel and Capella, let it go." she repeated. "Everything will soon be over."

As she inched closer, the couple slowly lost their consciousness and they finally lost grip on each other's hands.

"Rigel and Capella, all the best." she whispered. 

Back to Chapter Two | Go to Chapter Four

Distant Stars: Chapter Two

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"Wait, what? Is there really such a myth? Cmon, we are a couple, can't you just share it with me already?" weeped Rigel. "Okay, why not let's have it this way, you shall promise to tell me if I win you in a race to that tree first!"

"You do remember that I was a sprinter back in secondary school right? Don't you? Alright, I have one request though! That is, if you beat me in the race, I will need you to answer my question first and depending on your answer, I will, then, consider whether if I want to let you know, one final time!" Capella replied.

"How is that even fair!" grumbled Rigel. 

"Oh, to begin with, you do know that I don't even have to tell you, so looks like the deal is off." sassed Capella.

"Wait, wait, okay, Capella! Fine ... I was just kidding." fretted Rigel. 

The couple stood up on the nicely trimmed grassland with light soothing winds that accompanied them throughout that night. Rigel's fate in finding out what Capella has wished was all dependent on this race. And he was also aware that there remained one final challenge: Capella's question.

"Capella, will you, if, don't mind drop me a hint on what you are going to ask me before we begin our race? So, I could think about it as I sprint later on" Rigel asked. 

"Hahaha, are you being serious, Rigel? Capella cackled. "How long does it even take for you to sprint to that tree? Cmon, can you have a little more confidence in yourself? I'll ask you once you beat me in reaching the tree first, alright?"

"But what if I lose, and what if, I will never get to find out the question and your wish?" stammered Rigel.

"Then, that's how it's going to be! And I have faith in you!" Capella replied.

The couple proceeded to tie their shoelaces and also created their own imaginary start line. Finally, they were finished with the preparations. But Rigel looked lost. 

"Hey Rigel! Hey! Rigel?!" Capella yelled.

 "Um, huh, Yes ... Yes! Yes, Capella?" squealed Rigel.

"Are you okay? You look really sad! Are you really worried about losing the race against me?" questioned Capella. "At least give it a try, alright? And let's sing our favorite song's rhythm as we count down from 5 to ensure that we start at the same time!"

"Yeah, who says so! I'm fine. Okay! Sure! Hahaha" Rigel replied.

"Five to the Four, Three-and-a-two, and one, and zero" sang Rigel and Capella.

Off, they ran! As expected, Capella was leading the race. But, shortly later, things took a turn for the better for Rigel but for the worst for Capella.

"Eeek! Ouch, my feet! Rigel!" groaned Capella. "They are numbed! I'm in pain!"

 "Capella! What happened!" Rigel panted. "Let's stop the race!"

What started out as a race, has become a demonstration of love and concern for each other. Rigel piggybacked Capella for the remaining distance towards the tree.

"Rigel, go and touch the tree first." comforted Capella.

"Huh?! We are still racing?" wondered Rigel.

"Yes, Rigel, we are."  Capella affirmed.

Rigel touched the tree as told.

"Are you ready for the question?" questioned Capella.

 Back to Chapter One | Go to Chapter Three

Distant Stars: Chapter One

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Once upon a time, there sat a couple, named Rigel and Capella, who gazed up at the thousand tiny glistening stars across the dreary cold night. The skies were clear and the stars were shining more brightly than ever before.

"What a beautiful night, don't you think so?" Rigel said to Capella. "How I wish every night would be filled with stars, clear skies, and light winds." 

"That would only exist in our dreams." laughed Capella. "Some nights will be brighter, and that's the beauty of nature!" 

"Sigh looks like we have to cherish what nature provides us with every single day" lamented Rigel. 

Amidst the silence, the guy held the girl's hand and the girl leaned her head over his shoulder as they continued to admire the stars.

"Do you believe that one day we will reach the stars in the sky to play with them?" Rigel whispered into her ears. 

"Ah, when will you stop with all of your imagination." giggled Capella. "But, this is what makes you unique too, nobody would have thought of that, better prove it to me that it's possible."

"Sure! I will make it happen" Rigel nonchalantly replied.

Suddenly, a shooting star spanned the skies and the couple was in disbelief.

"Hey Capella! did you ... did you, see that?!" Rigel babbled. "Was that really a shooting star?! I thought they exist only in fantasies or storybooks! I can't believe it, was that really it? I never expect to witness one in my lifetime! Er ... according to one of the fantasies I've read! We are supposed to make a wish right now!" And Rigel babbled on and on without giving any chance to the girl to reply anything.

So she finally cut in, "Stop! Stop! Relax! Yes, Rigel, we saw a shooting star! Quick! Let's make a wish together!"

The couple stared in silence for as long as the shooting star took to disappear in the skies.

"So what's the wish you've made?" Rigel called to Capella.

 "Hey! Don't you know that we were not supposed to share? It's a secret!! Hahaha" Capella called back at him.

Go To Chapter Two 

Hiatus is over

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Hello everyone! I'm back. :)

This year, 2018, marks the fifth year of blogging. I remembered that I wanted to start a blog due to pragmatic reasons: to improve my writing skills and to connect with past and present friends. While I understand that there are many social platforms to share our lives today, I have decided to stick to the traditional way of penning down my thoughts on my life this year. To my friends, I understand that my blog gets rather dry and amateurish since I am neither a professional writer nor graphic designer. So I thank you for your support and patience with me over the past few years. It has certainly been a bittersweet journey for me. Since I get variegated responses from all of you: in terms of post views, comments, and likes, whenever I attempted new ways of presenting my thoughts. Take, for example, I have tried different styles of writing, the attempt of GIFs, and many different genres to reach out to you all. 

I got to admit that not every attempt was well-received and/or encouraging for me at times. But I do believe that every cloud has a silver lining, and I hope that I have not remained stagnated, but rather, improved from where I began five years ago.

These days, I would still browse through my old posts. And I smiled to myself and said, "Wow, just, wow, I have written these things". To me, it was just like a memory lane for me as I looked back on my thought processes, on what I cherished and so on. But I always tell myself, "Memories are not supposed to hold you back; they are supposed to shape you to become a better and stronger person"

To mark the fifth year of my blog site, I will be releasing the viewerships for my top 10 blog posts throughout these years:

Thank you for the support all these years. I will work on producing better articles to make our community a better place for all. I have a few ideas which I hope to discuss in the year 2018 as well. Do watch out for them. :)