CL Stories – The Road to Fame [Chapter 46]

Popularity was a big thing when we were high school students. It helps in defining our character whether we are the one who likes the spotlight or not. There is a constant need to be known not only by our class but as well as others. School organizations and extracurricular activities is a must. The pressure we have at this stage in life is just so great that If we don’t know how to handle it we will have a hard time establishing our character amongst the crowd and be like a little sheep amidst a pack of wolves. This is probably the most selfish stage in our lives where we care about nothing else except for ourselves. We barely know what our parents or teachers are going through. They are obliged to show strength even if they are in their toughest times so that we may learn to do the same thing when we grow up. I have been a part of an independent film lately and I was reminded of my high school years (due to the fact that the shooting took place in the school I was in during my fifteenth and sixteenth year). I got acquainted with some new friends and met some really cool people. It felt like I was back in my high school days. The unique smell of the classrooms (to which until now I still don’t know why they smell like that hahaha!), the lockers, corridors, and the famous toilet rooms (where gossips are usually started and distributed among the students). The canteen, auditorium or gymnasium, faculty room, registrar’s office, guidance councilor’s office and last but definitely not the least the Principal’s office. The film that we are doing just made me realize teenage years have something more in them not more on the students’ side but more on the teachers’ side. I wish I could have been a little considerate on my teachers in those times. But that time is over and I’m glad that somehow I now have an idea what might have been going on in the faculty rooms or teachers lounge. Witnessing how a film is made is just great but knowing what it’s really about behind the scenes is just equally fascinating. I give Kudos to all the people in front and behind the camera, the scriptwriter, the producers and specially the director (Who happens to be my classmate back then and probably the most successful individual in our batch in both career life and love life hahaha!). This will surely go down in history and it will be great! Thanks for inviting me to experience this kind of thing and I hope there will be more in the future.

"Behind every meaningful painting is an inspired artist, behind every captivating picture is an appreciative photographer and behind every great film is a creative director. Let us appreciate not only the product itself but the people behind them which is the very reason why they exist."

CL Stories – Time [Chapter 45]

 It's 7:01 AM and you are now officially late for your first day at work. 6:30 PM and you are now hated by your crush for being so late for your first date with him or her. You are on the phone with a technical support agent from 9:00 to 11:00 AM trying to resolve some internet issues you have at home and you get pissed since you still have the same problem. Time is so precious that people cannot bear to waste them. It is probably the most precious yet intangible thing in this world. It is something that in which if you have given you can never take it back. It is something that when you utilize it well enough gives huge amounts of rewards in different forms. Time heals all wounds may it be physical or emotional. It is always cherished and valued alongside memories that you will never forget nor regret. A time with your colleagues for a fun night out, a time with your family for a sumptuous lunch and a time with your special someone for sweet and simple nothings. Time is also one of the miracles created by God Himself. No matter how long or short the time you spend with someone, as long as you value that time you give value to the person you are spending it with. You share one of life’s greatest miracles and a bond is formed between the two of you which cannot be severed. May it be a friendly or intimate bond it won’t matter, simply because the important thing is the time you have spent with each other. These are the times you will look back into and simply put a smile on your face. When someone will ask you to think happy thoughts, these times and memories will be the ones that will keep you telling stories of happiness, joy and hopes. The times spent with the people you value are the most important ones for it will go down not in the world’s history but in your own. You will cherish them and value them relentlessly and vigorously in times of great despair and sorrow. You will look back to the happiest and the most joyful times and memories when you are right in front of life’s end. Time is gold and precious, value it and treasure it. But more importantly value the people you spend it with.

"Spending time with someone is giving a part of your life that you can never take back."

 

CL Stories – Friends with Benefits [Chapter 44]

I've been hearing a lot of comments about the movie friends with benefits. It's probably one of the most interesting films to hit the silver screen this year. I haven't seen it myself but based from the comments I hear from people it's actually a good one. What makes it a good movie? What does Friends with benefits really mean? What are the limitations? What are the do's and don'ts? What are the pros and cons? Why do some people resent it and why do some people fancy it? When I first heard the term “friends with benefits” probably about 5 or 6 years ago it only meant one thing for me. The pleasure of having a friend you can have sex with. Let’s be blunt about it. Sex nowadays is as common as the liquors you drink every weekend. Ages ago talking about sex is taboo. The word itself sets your parents in a steroid-like rage. That might be an exaggeration but nonetheless it is true and it gets them upset. I myself am not washing my hands clean of this “friends with benefits” act. I have tried it but I do not intent to keep on practicing it. If you will ask people what “friends with benefits” is for them, I’m sure that they will give synonymous answers. Some will say it has no strings attached and no emotions involved. No ifs, no buts just plain friends with a little side dish called “sex”. In my honest opinion, it is impossible for this thing to happen successfully without any strings attached or any emotions involved. If it’s a total stranger that you’re having sex with (not that I’m judging people with that kind of lifestyle, on the contrary I admire them for the kind of courage they have to do that!) then it’s not friends with benefits. It’s just a plain hook up. Friends with benefits involved the two of you having known each other for an ample amount of time which will be sufficient enough for both of you to be sexually comfortable with each other. Just from the point where the two of you became friends there are already strings attached but is just not too tight and there are already some emotions involved but not too deep. Eventually by preferring to have sex with your friend it creates an atmosphere of intimacy and emotional investment wherein either both of you are just simply ignoring that fact or you are hiding your true feelings towards each other since it didn’t start right and by doing that you uphold each side of agreement to the label “friends with benefits”. It may or may not be true. There is still very little of what we can understand regarding human emotions and human psyche. It is a case to case basis and maybe further studies may prove that the label “friends with benefits” may indeed involve strong emotional connections between the people involved.

“You don’t have sex with someone you don’t love. It is certain that you love that person even at an infinitesimal smidgen. That’s why it’s called LOVE MAKING”

CL Stories – Heartbeat [Chapter 43]

Heart is one of the most amazing organ in the human body.  It is the one of the organs that can also be compared to the motherboard of a computer, the engine of an automobile, a power plant that supplies energy to numerous cities and the very sun that is the core of our solar system. It is the organ that pumps roughly around seven thousand liters of blood in a day. It is the organ that defines the line between life and death, ill and well, bad and good. An organ that can blow the cover of all the lies the human mind can generate. It is the most famous organ that can be co-related to the human emotions that signifies or characterizes love, trust, honesty and so much more. It is already fascinating enough how it functions physically, let alone associate it with human feelings. Sky is the limit when it comes to interpreting its physical reactions to human emotions. It may beat slower or faster simply by just talking to the person you really fancy. It becomes hard to figure whether it is a simple infatuation that you feel or what could be a possible love that can give you a long term relationship. The beat of the heart gives away the truth behind all the lies of all the people who went through the Lie Detector machine. It is responsible for putting some of the worst criminals behind bars as well as being the source and start of some of the greatest love stories of all time.  We all must learn to take care of our heart both the physical and emotional aspect. A healthy heart promotes a well being and a sound mind. It helps keep your stress in tolerable levels and keeps you grounded and focused on your goals in life.

“The physical heart is capable of revealing the truths that the emotional heart falters to tell.”