She is just a girl, yet to be a woman

Today, October 16, 2018, a dear friend of mine celebrates her 18th birthday so here is a speech for her.

There is a girl who kept on bursting colors in this black and white world even though sometimes the color within her fades. She is full of hope, ambitions and dreams. She accepts struggles with arms wide open taking it not as a problem but a stepping stone to success. She stands up and fight for what she think is right. She is determined, optimistic and somehow verbose. She always have something to say to everything (mostly bad). She's a box full of wonders (a plank perhaps, kidding!). Her playlist is full of wonderful songs from wonderful singers and bands. She's amazingly beautiful or maybe way beyond that. Im sort of wondering if she stares at herself in the mirror because she's got no idea how beautiful she is.

She may be happy, witty and brave but behind her strong demeanor, there lies sadness, fear and pain. She is just a girl, a typical girl who envies, who gets jealous, who has "what ifs" running 24/7 in her mind, who doubts herself, who is timid and shy, who is afraid of all the wrong things, who is afraid to break the rules and take the risks, who is grade conscious, who has a dark side and deepest secrets.

She always says that she wont get married, that she doesn't need a lover. But we all know somewhere deep in her heart, she yearns for someone, for her prince charming, for her happily ever after. She is fascinated with love stories, weddings and relationship goals. And one day I know for sure, someone will come and I want her to be brave enough to try to love with all she's got with no inhibitions and doubts. That'll be my wish for her, for her to love and be loved in return.

She's vulnerable with shallow tears, she could be a hanker chief collector because of that. She has her fears. She's very picky with food. She cannot take a lot of stress. She hates responsibility but is always the one put in charge for everything. She makes mistakes, a lot. She rants about things most of the time. She's judgmental and can find a spot in everything.

She's gone through a lot of friendship issues already, and other issues of some sort.

She is just a girl but a strong one. She manages to show a tough facade amidst the situation that can break her fragile heart to pieces. She may seem independent, but she's not. She may say that she like being alone but she don't fancy being lonely. That sometimes in her distance and quietness, she's silently screaming for help and attention, for people to understand what she feels and wont invalidate her sadness. We, as her friends, already know that when she doesn't hang around us and is quiet and distant, she's on a bad mood or has a problem. She may not notice but a lot of people cares for her. Who knows how bratty and opinionated dimwit she is, but still loves her anyway.

She's just a human with no immortality and power. I could go on for everything that she is and everything that she is not but it wont matter because she is still growing up. She is just a girl yet to be a woman, and she goes by the name Veronica Gadingan.

She is one of the most amazing people on this planet. And if the devil comes knocking at my door at 3AM with a box of doughnuts in exchange of her soul, I'd gladly pick the doughnuts. Kidding! But seriously, that'll be a hard pick.

She's always in an emotional whirlpool and we, as her friends, wont save her, we'll join her instead. Now that we are here, she wont have to face her problems alone. She have us. We're more than willing to laugh at her when she fall. But seriously, we are here to stay with her in bad times and in good times, with food or without food.

If she is here somewhere, I want her to know how much I love her no matter how annoying and offending she can get. And that even though its already our last year in highschool, our last year in Gateway, our last year as classmates, she'll stay in my heart forever. And im hoping for more years of dumb moments, bad choices, wrong turns, and more gossips to come. I will always remember you Veronica, I hope you do the same for me too.

Whenever you need me, you can always hit me up. Just remember that my parents are strict and I wont be able to come over at 7PM onwards, or on swimmings or to somewhere really far. But I swear someday, we will reach our goals together. Don't think of giving up alright? Hold on for the better days. Keep fighting because we are are fighting with you.

Always remember that eventhough you're NOT the friend everyone wishes to have, (youre so lucky yo have us!) you are for keeps. So dont go around begging people's attention alright? You deserve all the best in the world.

Again, I repeat, she is just a girl yet to be a woman and she goes by the name Veronica Gadingan.