Fate gathered mishaps and gave you a bunch

You wouldn’t be burdened if you couldn’t handle this much

From schoolwork, family loss, break-ups

and a virus that makes you paranoid whenever someone coughs,

Though you believed in yourself, you weren’t sure if you were doing enough

Now, like a mountaineer reaching the top, you catch your breath

An author on the verge of finishing her greatest work yet,

You’re a vault jumper getting ready for her last attempt,

Your own version of Lightning McQueen,

Slowly approaching the finish line, red lights turning green

As the season draws to a close

Get ready to take a bow

To own the centerstage, absorb the applause of the crowd

Because once the moment’s gone, you’ll have to step down

You’ll begin another adventure, maybe here or in another town

Now, enough with the reruns—I’ll give you the trailer for my sequel’s Episode 1

The sun shines brightly, signaling you to begin

As if in a 2000s movie,

Before stepping forward, you take a deep breath and hold it in

You remind yourself it’s going to be different this time,

The feeling’s got you singing, “There’s something about the sunshine.”

But before you know it, busy days will fall upon you again,

So you scold yourself for thinking this wouldn’t happen

Deliverables will pile up, even on free days,

Then you’d keep on insisting that, “We were on a break!”

But you’ll stop being such a clown afterwards and do them anyways

After graduation, you’ll be mending your own heart

Because there’s no one you can trust to do that part

In exchange for this, you’ll have more time

For loving and annoying your friends and family,

And some binge-watching of The Big Bang Theory

As you reach the climax, another plot twist takes place

You’ll receive countless emails from universities you cannot face

With the first two letters, there’s a chance you’ll be heartbroken

Your morale will be down, tears will build up

But with shaky hands you’ll open the letter and feel like you’re back on top

But, woah, stop!

I know the trailer has you excited, but there’s no need to rush

The next season’s release is not for another five months

So do not make haste, my dear, this isn’t a race

Make sure to end this season first with your affairs in place

You’ve made your boundaries crumble, like ashes burned by flames—

And would you look at that, Steve Harvey just called your name!

It’s time to lava-walk and strut your stuff onstage

“Gusto mo bang magkasakit?”

Dadalhin ako sa nakahandang hapag
Papipiliin kung Milo ba o gatas
Paaalalahanan akong bilisang ngumuya at huwag tumunganga
“Baka naman kahit online class ma-late ka pa,” pangangantiyaw niya

Dahil sa dami ng paalala
Parang gusto ko nang tumanda
at mabuhay mag-isa
Para wala nang problemahin pa

“High school life oh my high school life…”

Bago umuwi si Inay dapat malinis na ang bahay
Dapat nakapagwalis na
at nakasaing pa
Kundi high blood na naman siya

Utos ni Inay na walang kapantay
“Kunin mo yon, hugasan mo yan!”
Sabay sabing “Ma, mamaya na!”
Lagi mong ayusin ang ayong tinulugan
Kunin mo ang iyong damit at isampay

Nang tumibok ang aking puso
nagalit si Inay at ako’y pinalo
Pinaalalahanan niya ako
“Di ba sabi ko pagkatapos na sa kolehiyo”

Wala pang diplomang naiuuwi
Ngunit utos niya’y isinantabi
Pero imbis na siya’y magalit, niyakap ako buong gabi
Nang puso ay wasakin ni Javi

Sa dami ng utos at panuntunan,
Parang gusto ko nang tumanda
At mabuhay mag-isa
Para wala nang problemahin pa

“Umuwi ka na baby…”

Sa araw ng pagtatapos naghanda na muling magsimula,
Naghihintay pa ng mga email, baka may hahabol pa
Ting! Tumunog ang telepono, “Mama!”
Dali-daling kinuha ang laptop at nagsiksikan sa isang upuan dahil sa kaba

Nang puso ni ina’y kumalma,
Nagsimula na kaming magbasa
“Congratulations, welcome to…”
Hindi na natapos basahin ang liham
Dahil sa kakatalon, kahihiyaw, at ‘di maubos-ubos na luha

Naghanap na kaagad ng malilipatan,
Sunod-sunod na crash course tungkol sa kuryente, tubig
at paghingi ng tawad sa pamilihan,
Inabutan ako ng pera para sa upa at mahigpit na niyakap
Pagkatapak sa bagong bahay, ako’y biglang natauhan

Lilipas ang mga araw na walang kasama,
Babalutin ng katahimikan pati ang aking umaga
Sapagkat ang ibo’y lumipad na mula sa pugad,
Ang dating pinakaaasam, nagiging bangungot nang nais takasan

“Ayokong tumanda…”

Sigurado na ba akong gusto kong tumanda?
Pakiramdam ko’y gusto ko pa ring maging bata
Dahil sa aruga ng aking ina
na hinding hindi mapapantayan ng iba

Lubos ko nang naintindihan
ang mga payo at bilin ni Inay
dahil bandang huli hinahanap-hanap
ko ang mainit niyang yakap

Hindi na ako naniniwala sa Itchyworms
Na gusto ko nang tumanda
Mas naniniwala na ako sa kanta ni Daniel Padilla
na gusto ko na siyang kasamang tumanda.