Brotherhood

 

I will tell you a story. A tale full of love, patience, understanding, care, and support. Many of you already know this story, but it is a tale worth telling.

Once upon a time, there were five young men from faraway lands. None of them knew that the others even existed. There was this young bubbly boy who loved to dance and mingle with people. He loves to smile and tell jokes, much like a jester. He worked multiple jobs to support his education and help his family until his body finally gave up. After his body recovered, he had to leave his loved ones to recover financially. He was naturally adorable, which is why it was not surprising that somebody offered him marriage. He could've had a good and peaceful life, but it was not what he wanted so he returned to his homeland, to his family.

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From somewhere far away, there was this shy, young boy living in a nice house. He could have had most of the things he wanted in life, but his imaginative mind took him somewhere else. Towards the path of creation and artistry. His biggest dream was to act, but never had a chance to showcase his talent, not because he was bad at it. It was because there was something better out there. This boy was a young creative with a limitless imagination. Unbound by boundaries set forth by norm and tradition.

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The two have totally different lives, so this young boy from a rural land, surrounded by mountains and oceans. He grew up wondering what it was like to wake up in the morning with his mother in the kitchen making breakfast, or his father by the front door drinking coffee. He was so shy yet talented, but his insecurity often got the best of him. Growing up, he wondered about a lot of things, but mostly it was music that captivated him.

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Miles away is another young man with a brilliant mind. His is a deep well of knowledge and an unending yearning for new learnings. He constantly craved things most people would never care to understand. Many misunderstood him, and more became fascinated by him. He had always been a

 paradox, a mystery to those who could only dare to dream. But a shadow had long been lurking in the crevices of his mind, a voice whispering to him: "You must do more, become more than this."

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And then, there was this young man living a much different life. The kind where he must endlessly climb a steep mountain even when he's bloodied and bruised. He fought his battle alone and survived, but tougher fights were well on their way to greet him. There was no time in his life when he felt at ease for he constantly had the need to claw out of dark holes and mend himself. He was constantly staring into the abyss, wondering if there would ever be an end to his suffering.

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Days passed and they all went on with their lives. Some of them met occasionally, and two have become true friends. Their casual encounters were never enough to provide a hint of what the future had in store for them. As fate would have it, these five young gentlemen joined a quest to greatness among other aspirants. They were taught to become better versions of themselves, but nothing could have prepared them for what lies ahead. For years, they sacrificed their future and stability for something unclear and uncertain.

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They prepared themselves for a long and brutal journey together. The five of them, basically strangers to one another, learned to bond and trust each other. They saw each other's strengths and weaknesses, fears and dreams, and kept them in each other's hearts. Forming a trusting and caring relationship with people you barely know is hard and sometimes impossible for others, but these five opened themselves up to each other until the day they finally opened themselves to the world.

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Nothing came easy for them. They were bashed, hated, and insulted by people who barely even knew them, but the most painful of all was the insults they received from those who were supposed to know better. Five innocent hearts agreed to give a new meaning to Filipino music, but the masses became their enemy without even giving them a chance. They could've given up, instead, they fought harder and held on to one another just long enough for one person to notice them and everything changed.

For years, their relationship with each other was never perfect, but what relationship is? They had ups and downs, misunderstandings, and fights, but what made them stronger was their willingness to compromise. They treasure each other so much that no matter how rough the journey is, as long as they have one another, they know that they will always come out the other side stronger. Despite their differences, however many things they hate about each other, one thing will never change. Their love for one another only grows stronger.

Whatever the world throws at them, fame and glamour may fade, but the love they have for each other will transcend through time and history. They are no longer workmates or friends, they are brothers. A family they chose a long time ago and will continue to cherish even when they grow as individuals and have their own careers. People can only speculate about what is going on behind the camera, but one thing is for sure. Their bond can weather any storm as long as they remember why they remained together for as long as they had. At the height of their success and fame, their story will continue to flourish and grow. We have not seen the last of them. The future is here and they are clearly ready for it.