Happy Halloween!

We don’t usually celebrate this kind of holiday in our place because around this time, we actually visit our loved ones who had already passed away. This day though, my family was busy applying wallpaper to our living room and bedrooms. I’m excited to finally redecorate the room that I share with my sister after more than a decade of just rearranging stuff around.

Anyway, I’m doing the 8^th part of How To Really Know Someone today because I’m bored and I just remembered that it’s been a while since I’ve done this.

I’ll be answering number 76 to 100 because why not?

• If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

Cole Mackenzie from Anne with an E. I don’t like how he was treated by Mr. Phillips, his boy classmates, and even his own family, but what made me want to choose him is that he has great friends, and he has found someone who is willing to support him even if they weren’t related at all. Plus, he’s an artist so that’s that.

• What’s the first thing that compels you to an individual?

It’s only applicable to work setting. It’s only when someone is new and no one is really interacting with them.

• Who are your closest friends and why are you friends with them?

Many people will say “former classmates” to this question, but for me, it’s my workmates. Whenever I need someone to talk to, they’re always there for me. Even after days or weeks or months of not chatting, we’d always message and check up on each other. There’s always a sense of understanding. Also, we always have fun whenever we’re hanging out, both inside and out of work.

• Do you like having children around you?

Simply no. I immediately leave the area whenever a kid approaches and pretend I don’t see them. I know, it’s rude, but I just don’t like children, and I don’t exactly know why.

• If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for?

Just a karaoke night with a few close friends. It’s just to celebrate life. Yep, boring, but that’s who I am.

• Would you be willing to have horrible nightmares for a year if you would be rewarded with extraordinary wealth?

My mind’s scarred enough already. I don’t need another one.

• Would you like to be famous? In what way?

Somehow, yes. Through art or writing, but people will only know my nom de plume and not my real name. It’s far from reality, and I still have to polish my craft, but why not?

• Define a “friend”.

Someone who understands you. Someone you can easily get along with. Someone you can trust your secrets with. Someone who’s there when you need a shoulder to cry on.

• What are some risky sports/activities you would want to try? Why?

Skydiving has been in my bucket list for some time now. It looks kind of freeing, and I feel like it’s going to give me a feeling of being at the top of the world, literally and figuratively. I have a small fear of heights, but I’ve already tried zipline, so I wanted to level up.

• Do you have any biases or prejudices?

I don’t think I have. I always try to look into something first before sharing an opinion.

• When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

It was just night, October 30, after I wrote some letters for colleagues who are also my friends when I cried alone. It was when realization (that I’m leaving those people behind when I resign from work) hit me.

The last time I cried in front of another person was about 2-3 months ago (I think), when I had an anxiety attack. I forgot most parts of that day, but I remember going the resident doctor at the time telling me to have my sick leave for two days, and just take a rest.

• What would you name the autobiography of your life?

Finding Myself

• What was the most cherished memory that you had growing up with your mother?

Listening to her sing in general. I have a lot of memories of my childhood wherein 70s and 80s music would play and she would sing along. It’s hard to choose from those.

• Where do you stand on religion and why?

In some ways, it divides people more that it unites because of the growing number of religions. I mean, I’m not against people who live their life by the bible, but once they start berating others just because they’re not what the sacred scriptures say they should be, and avoid the positive things like being accepting, it’s already out of the question.

•  (question missing)

• How do you deal with stress?

Sometimes, writing, drawing, or reading. Most of the time, sleeping eating, and listening to music.

• How do you feel about being alone while eating lunch at school? What about a whole day alone?

Eating alone has never bothered me, as I rarely spent lunch break with classmates. Same with spending a whole day alone. I’ve always been a lone wolf.

• What are your favorite books?

I can’t enumerate because there’s a ton. Right now, I’m enjoying The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith, and Puddin’ by Julie Murphy. Still awaiting for Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan to be released here in my country.

• Would you save an extremely talented musician (whom you like) who has the influence to promote good values for the world or your father in a situation where it is certain you must choose one over the other?

My father, no second thoughts. There a lot of people out there who have the influence to promote good values, but you can never replace the person you call your father.

• How similar are you and your sibling in personality? Appearance?

We are quite different individuals when it comes to personality. The only things we have in common is that we only go all out enthusiastic when we’re together. On appearance, my youngest sister and I used to be mistaken for twins. My younger sister and I got some of our facial features from our father. If you would include our voices, people would say that we sound the same, and sometimes unidentifiable over the phone.

• Have you ever woken in the middle of the night and done something apart from going back to sleep?

I’m the only person in the house who eats full meals in the dead of the night, so that’s that.

• What music do you like but do not identify with (guilty pleasures)

Pop. I rarely listen to that genre now.

• How do you feel about parties?

It depends on what kind of party and the individuals there. If it’s a big one filled with people I don’t personally know, I don’t want to bother since I would just feel out of place and I’ll easily tire. If it’s either a big party with friends, a small party with people I don’t know, or a small party with friends, that I can handle.

• Can you sing seriously in a nonmusical situation?

My sisters and I used to practice harmonizing, so I don’t know how you would identify that.

• What music do you like and identify with?

Most of the time, Indie, and I really enjoy listening to songs from musicals.

Aaaaaaand that’s it for today’s How To Really Know Someone. Hopefully I’ll be able to remember to answer the rest of this before the year ends. See you again next time!

-claude