Aeneid and Iliad are two different stories but still they have some parts the same. One of those is the time when the wife of the heroes in each story pleaded them not to join the war and just take care of their families.

In Aeneid, Creusa told Aeneas not to join the war and just stay with her and their son. But Aeneas refused since he didn’t want to be a useless man who did not fight for his homeland. He just let his family stay in their house while he was still on battle. And after that, they reunited and let them join in his journey to found Rome.

The scene in Iliad for Andromache and Hector is almost the same as in Aeneid. Andromache foresaw Hector’s death so she pleaded him not to continue on the battle. But as what was expected, Hector refused because he wanted to be a hero of the Trojans even if it costs him his death.

Both scenes showed loyalty to their land. Those heroes fought for the freedom of Troy with all their might. They prioritized Troy as a whole than their personal lives. And in the case of the wives, all they wanted was for their family to be intact. They were so concerned about their husbands who may die in the battle. It showed how a mother and wife cares for her own family.

The two stories expressed the same values. They don’t differ that much. The heroes cared for their people and the wives cared for their family.

People experience a thing called `blessing in disguise’. It is when something unfortunate happens to you yet some time later, a greater opportunity comes. It is a form of blessing through some hardships. It just disguises itself as some bad luck, that’s why it’s called that way. And ever since this world began, it has always happened.

Troy’s fall speaks of ultimate victory through terrible loss. You may be thinking of how that is supposed to happen. Have you already forgotten blessing in disguise? It was a tragic defeat for the Trojans to lose their homeland and even their friends who died in the war. But it was a blessing in disguise if you look on the bright side. Troy may have fallen, but it served as an opportunity to find a better place for the Trojans to live in. And then, they founded Rome. They lived with freedom after a traumatic event that they experienced.

With hope, they continued their journey. And with faith, they moved on with their lives. They might have been defeated once, but their belief in such a blessing caused them to act as one.

Trickery is one of the most fearsome things, for me. It is when you’re seeing something face to face but you see nothing bad, yet something evil is hiding deep within. You may never know if who you’re talking to is a friend or not. And the worst part is when you give all your trust yet you’re just taken for granted and tricked.

The Trojan War is a form of trickery. Greeks have prepared to hide their soldiers inside the belly of a wooden horse, which was told to be a gift. The Trojans were celebrating that time since they believed that the Greeks have fled their country. But their happiness was taken for granted. By the night that they were sleeping, the soldiers inside the horse secretly attacked them. All the Trojans wanted was freedom and peace, but what happened? Troy fell along with its men.

The story itself is sympathetic, to begin with. Trojans were attacked in their sleep. Of course, they didn’t know about it and weren’t prepared. Who would not feel sympathy to the people who only wished for freedom but were killed in their sleep because of a trap? It’s a very tragic event for the Trojans. But on the other hand, Aeneas was destined to found another city for the Trojans to settle in – Rome. It lessened my sympathy towards them since they would have a place for them to live in once again. Also, it was great that even a few Trojans still found their place in this world.

There are a lot of theories regarding Mona Lisa's smile. Some says her mile hides different emotions - surprised, happy, angry, sad, ..., and neutral. Some doctors even said that she suffers from muscular atrophy. But for me, Mona Lisa is just a depiction of a simple lady from Europe, painted by the famous Leonardo Da Vinci.

Simplicity is the best noun to compare with Mona Lisa. There’s nothing in the painting other than her and her smile. There are no extra gaudy things needed to make the painting more beautiful because Mona Lisa is beauty herself.

Da Vinci had made a beautiful masterpiece with simplicity. And this characteristic makes the world wonder about the painting. They could not imagine how beauty and sophistication were combined in this simple work of art.

Suddenly, I woke up and found myself in a dark place. When I looked around, I saw a building that looks much like of a school. I went on and entered the school. There were a lot of rooms, from biggest to smallest. I wonder what’s inside each of them.

1^st Room – The Sleepyheads

A part of students’ life is to sleep late at night because of homeworks and also distractions. As a result, they become sleepy at the time of their classes. As punishment, their eyes are made to be always open.

2^nd Room – The Late-Comers

These are the students who do not care about punctuality and always go to school late even when reprimanded many times. To punish them, they will always hear an alarm clock ringing until they become deaf and be depressed.

3^rd Room – The Crammers

Cramming has never left a student’s character ever since. So in order to punish them, hundreds of homeworks are given to them every day that need to be passed the next day.

4^th Room – The Excessively Grade-Conscious

They are students who only care about competition and their grades. As punishment, they always get low scores at any activity in school.

5^th Room – The Slothful

These are the lazy ones. They never get anything done. As their punishment, their hands were taken off.

6^th Room – The Sycophants

They are the teacher-flatterers. They always flatter their teachers so they can have a good image while certainly they don’t. As punishment, all the teachers hate them.

7^th Room – The Cheaters

They are always cheating at every activity at school so their punishment is their eyes were taken off so they would not see.

8^th Room – The Parasites

These students are the worst. They get the highest of grades when they don’t truly deserve it since they only use other students without giving them anything in return. So to punish them, their bodies are filled with parasites, inside and outside.

Dear Niño,

I actually don’t know how to start. I guess I’ve already told you all the things I wanted you to know.  But anyway, hi! J

So first thing’s first. I’ve never thought of being in love in high school. The only relationship that I wanted was friendship and nothing more. However, you showed up and life became complicated.

In our first year, I didn’t personally know you. I was just hearing your name from fellow freshmen and that’s it. I guess it works the same way with you. You didn’t know me, either.

But by the time we stepped on the second year level, we finally met. Even just at first, Eyo always teased us. I don’t know. He would always say that you like me and we’re fit for each other. But I just ignored him. Like, who would believe that kind of thing? First week of school and somebody likes me? Pfft. Impossible. I always thought that he was just kidding.

Time passed by. I fit in with the class and got comfortable with everyone, or at least that’s what I thought. Among all of my new classmates, you were the only one that I was awkward with. Seriously. I couldn’t even look at you straight in the eye nor talk to you without any struggle. Every time you came close to me, I felt butterflies in my stomach. And I think that’s weird. That’s the time I was starting to realize that I like you, but I wasn’t totally sure of it.

Then one day, you confessed to me. You told me you like me. I was in total awe. I felt blood gushing inside my body. My heartbeat suddenly rushed. I knew that time that I was happy. And it gave me the courage to say what I also feel about you. I was able to tell you that I like you, too.

For quite some time, we had felt awkwardness, but later on, it was wiped away. My feelings grew each time we’re together. It’s not the feeling of “like” anymore. I felt something greater than that.

Each time we talk, we talk about the future – how our life would be if we become together. Sweet talks, pick-up lines and such are what fill our everyday conversation.

But recently, a gap was formed between us. Bitterness filled the air. I wasn’t expecting something like that. I was hurt so badly. I thought that there won’t ever be a chance to save what we’ve started. I thought that you would just leave me behind broken like it was hit and run. But you proved me wrong. Though I’ve said it’s enough, you put in your greatest effort and took the things I’ve said as a motivation to never give up. And in the end, it was overcome. We passed a very difficult test and it was all because you stayed.

I can feel that our bond grew even stronger after what had happened. I guess it was, after all, a blessing in disguise.

I’m fragile, as what you’ve said, so you promised that you’ll take care of me and you will always stay. And here, I’m giving you all of my trust, one last time, to hold my heart, expecting you’ll never let it be broken again.

Seasons change, flowers do fade and hearts may break. But one thing’s certain, my feelings will never wane.

I love you so much, Niño. I will always do.

Yours forever,

Gabrielle