Author: Angelo Caerlang

In this day and age, where casual dating is the new trend in relationships and deep connections to others don’t come as often as they used to, it can be hard to navigate the troubles of the single life. 

You don’t want to get taken advantage of or played with emotionally. So you’ve got to look for the signs, the signs that tell you that the guy you’re with is a bonafide fuckboy. Signs like

1. He tells you all the sweetest words in the world in the beginning

2. He does chivalrous deeds and makes you feel truly special. 

3. But once you have given that one YES, he starts vanishing the week after.

4. Leaving you to wonder whether you did something wrong.

5. He loves to send you text messages at midnight 

6. He only wants to date you past 6 pm. 

7. When you ask him if he’s available to hang out with you on weekends during daylight, he gives you hundred of excuses that he can’t. 

8. He doesn’t want to introduce you to his parents even if you’re dating each other for a significant period of time. 

9. He cares about his bros a lot than you. 

10. He can’t watch a movie with you tonight because he’s playing video games with Evan. 

11. He can’t fetch you up after work because he’s going to help Martin with his computer problem. 

12. He’s not cool with taking selfies together. 

13. Or tagging him with anything on Facebook, 

14. Or adding any of his friends on social media. 

15. You are a ghost person in his social bubble and he’s determined to keep it that way.

16. He gets upset when you ask him about his previous relationships, and gets defensive when you push the subject further. 

17. He lamely tells you that he doesn’t want to dwell on the past because blablabla…

18. He gives you the cold shoulder for the next few days when you don’t send him a nude photo that he’s asking for at 1 AM.

19. He plays the victim in every argument

20. He doesn’t understand the rules of 10 dates before sex and he thinks you’re too conservative to even exist in this world.

21. It takes him half a day to reply to your message although he casually mentions to you before that he brings his smartphone with him whenever he goes to the bathroom.

22. It bothers him that he doesn’t get a certain number of likes on his Instagrams.

23. He takes his amount of followers way too seriously.

24. He comes running back in your life once he realizes that he’s bored and needs someone to play games with. 

25. It’s a cycle of appearing and ghosting for him, and he thinks it’s normal.

26. He keeps saying disgusting stuff like “I wish I was there to shower with you.” 

27. Or “I wish you were here with me in my bed.” 

28. it’s like, chill out dude.

29. He’s not interested in your day,

30. Or how stressed you are in life, 

31. Or how you want to take a break somewhere. 

32. His definition and understanding of respect is vague at best.

33. He asks you to eat outside but tells you he has no money. Cheapskate has no money and he doesn’t have the decency to at least ask you nicely.

34. He doesn’t see the value in art.

35. You catch him secretly looking at people with such intense lust as they pass by. 

36. You debate whether he needs therapy for his perversion.

37. His eyes are glued to his phone while communicating with other people as soon as you start talking about a topic that’s too much for him to comprehend.  

38. He gets easily upset when you point him out his mistakes because he thinks he is the greatest fuckboy that has ever lived.

39. He threatens that he can replace you any minute. 

40. As if people are super psyched to line up for the fuckboy experience.

41. He is not a ‘fan’ of labels. He believes that casual dating is the new thing. 

42. Wait, actually you’re not dating — you’re just talking.

43. He thinks destiny and fate are utter bullshit and are only made for the film industry.

44. He uses that sweet tone whenever he needs something from you

45. When you ask him the cliche question ‘How does he see himself in five years?’ He replies with, ‘It’s too far away. Why do you want to talk about something that is yet to happen?’ 

46. Because he’s ambitious that way.

47. His social status matters too much to him. 

48. He looks at cars as measurement of a person’s worth, even though most of his paychecks go to car loans. 

49. His life is not complete without a visit to the club once a week. And he hates it when people don’t recognize him.

50.  He is useless as someone you can call a ‘boyfriend.’. And you know what? You’re wasting your time, effort, energy, and money for a fuckboy like that. You deserve better. 

The future is just a short distance away if you’re willing to be patient and work hard. 

The night is still young and there are so many crazy things to do. 

Even though sometimes you stare outside your window, look at the dark sky, and feel terribly lonely, that's okay.

There will be days when you feel like you’re running only to find a dead-end. 

Seconds when you think you’re so far behind everyone else.

Minutes when you somehow lost the passion to finish a wonderful project. 

Hours when you realize you’re so far away to start living your dreams it makes you sad.

There will be times when you finally admit to yourself that you fell in love with the wrong person at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

But then…

It's completely normal to feel like binge-watching a TV series on the couch while eating your 750 ml worth of ice cream and a bag of Cheetos. 

There is nothing more comforting than laying your bed and not letting yourself be side-tracked by your comparison thoughts and instead focus on your ultimate goals. 

You will wake up one morning after a refreshing 10-hour of sleep and feel energized to pick up the pieces of that project and begin again. 

You will pursue a hobby that’s going to make you appreciate the present and make your dreams less than far away.

There will be nights when you listen to a current pop song, sing, and dance like crazy, and realize why you’re better un-partnered. 

You will grow up and be wiser in choosing people who you’re going to trust with all your heart. 

You will look back objectively and know that even in an alternate universe, things wouldn’t still work out between you and that person you fell in love.

What’s comforting is knowing that one day you will be given second chances to pursue your dreams again and redeem yourself against the mistakes you did in the past. 

You will find a better place than the one you left behind and be surprised to uncover why leaving does you only good in the end. 

You will meet a guy you like so dearly who’s going to respect you and tell you how much he loves you.

Because there will be mornings or nights one day when you find something as equal as a gem that’s going to make you fall in love, look at the sky then smile, and whisper to yourself, “You made it.” 

For more of his writing, you can like his Facebook page here: Angelo Caerlang

Sometimes we get exhausted. We’re tired of all the questions that don’t die inside our heads, questions that we honestly don’t have any prepared answers, questions that maybe we won’t get to figure out. We’re exhausted with the modern dating schemes, and we’re even more exhausted to see some people patronizing them.

We’re in pain when we remember the relationships we had that only lasted a short period of time. We’re tormented about the times that we sacrificed our happiness in hopes that someone will love us back. We’re hurt that some people think it’s okay to manipulate us, take advantage of us, rob our innocence, and play with our feelings. 

Sometimes we get scared. We’re worried that maybe there’s something wrong with us, something that drives people to step back and turn around, and something that gives them an excuse to run away from us. 

We’re afraid that maybe we talked too much when we had our first dates, or our personalities came off as too strong for them to handle, or we weren’t cool enough to sit with their friends.

We’re scared that when it gets dark, and we’re left alone in our own thoughts, we can’t help but ask ourselves, “What If I never love again?”

But I think we think too much.

I think that when we’re with our friends, they see us as the fun type, the kind they feel energized to be around with, and maybe we are the people who are sometimes the life of the party.I think that when we’re with ourselves, we’re vulnerable, soft, and humble. 

And I think we’re okay. We’re perfectly fine. I don’t think that there’s something that we should change about ourselves, something that we need to adjust for someone, something that we need to do more or do less. 

We are who we are, and for a lot of good reasons, people love us. We will not give up on love because whenever we see people who found the ones they were looking for, we get our hopes up again. We get inspired to achieve the love that makes us believe in second chances, a love that is sweeter the second time around, a love story that is more beautiful when re-written. 

Someday, we will meet our someone who’s going to be the answer to all the doubts that consume our minds. We will not give up on love so we can show ourselves that our fears have no power to haunt us, to bring us down. We want to prove to ourselves that we can live a free life that is not based on impressing other people and desperately trying to make sure they are happy. 

We want to stand in the face of sadness and let it see that it can’t provoke a tear in our eyes, or even trigger any insecurity of us. 

We are too strong to give up on love.

You see, sometimes we get discouraged to give love a try because we’re so scared to fail again. But we have to persevere, to be patient, and to be optimistic in searching for love. 

Because one day when we’re all curled up on the couch with the people that are meant for us, we’re going to look back on our lives, and be thankful for the moments that we didn’t give up.

For more of my writing, visit my Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/angelo.caerlang

It’s depressing whenever you scroll through your social media during the times that you’re so tired and you can’t help but come across with photographs that have captions, ‘#RelationshipGoals.’

It especially sucks when everyone in your group of friends is already taken, and you can’t help but feel like you’re way behind in love department, or life in general.

But isn’t that the wrong way of celebrating your single status?

Your singleness isn’t supposed to be sad, and gloomy, and full of misery. Nor should it be the kind of journey you want to avoid.

You should see yourself as someone who has so much freedom to do whatever you want, to go to places you wish, and to eat any food you love without worrying if your weight might disappoint someone. 

You should be happy that you can spend all your night outside, and no one gets to tell you what time you should head home. 

Being single helps you boost your confidence.

It allows you to love yourself with respect, to discover who you are in the deepest of your core, and to realize that not having a significant other isn’t  the end of the world.

So what if you have no special someone to celebrate Valentine’s Day? So what if most of the people you know are surely going to have fun? So what if you’re likely to have dinner alone on that day?  

You should be comfortable in your own skin without depending your joy to anyone, or anything. 

You are beautiful in your own way. You are a special person who shines bright with your captivating personality 

You might consider entertaining the thought that you are lonely right now. But know that one day, someone’s going to walk in your life and makes you realize that all those days that you survived by yourself, is going to be worth it.

So put your chin-up on Valentine’s Day. You are going to alright.

For more of his writing, you can visit his Facebook  page here: Angelo Caerlang   

i wonder,
how many words
can make
my heart numb
from the agony 
you gave it. 
how many 
empty cans of beers
can make me forget,
about you 
about us
everything

they say time
heal all wounds.
bullshit.
is it?
because every night,
every second,
i remember you.
you, of all people.
that damn face
i can't forget

the worse part?
i know,
with all my heart
you no longer care
the worst part?
i'm not sure
you ever did
and it sucks

it sucks
i'm only a trash
in your eyes
that i got lost
in no time
when you look at me

maybe i'm a martyr
maybe you're insensitive
maybe that didn't make us 'we'
but maybe i'll be stuck
with endless maybes
because that's how we'll ever be
maybe

half of me died
when you walked away
the other part
is slowly decaying
waiting for you,
waiting for an end.

i want to hope
heal, and love
again with a fresh start
i might not know
how to do it
see the light
see the beauty
in the darkness
shattered heart
and pain

but i will
because i'm more than this,
more than you.
i will.
for myself,
for the one,
who will love
me.

I lied to myself when I said you no longer have a place in my life. Because when I've had one too many drinks at the bar, I still search for your face in the crowded room, hoping you'd be there.

I wasn't honest with my friends when I told them that you're not the reason why my heart keeps beating anymore. But whenever I hear your name be brought up in a conversation, I froze and suddenly all the memories we made wash me away from them.

I was wrong when I declared to the world that I'm perfectly fine without you. But during some cold empty nights that I had no one to talk to, I still think about you and I can't help but cry.

I still mourn for your loss. And maybe that's why I'm not yet over you.

Maybe the saddest truth is you're still the man I picture spending the rest of my life with. 

You're the only one who could bring the sweetest smile on my lips. 

And I just want you to know it hurts so bad that I have to live every day without you by my side.

You have no idea what I would trade to have you back in my life, and to give our relationship another try.

I miss you every second that passes by. 

I wish I know how to quit you, but, I'm not sure if I ever will. 

I hope that wherever you are right now, or whatever it is that you're doing, you think of me the same way that I think about you.

I'm so tired of lying to myself and to everyone, because honestly you're the only one that I want. You're the only one who has a power of filling up the void inside of me that's slowly eating me alive.

I still want you to save me from this loneliness, and heal my swelling heart with your love. 

I'm afraid that you might hurt me all over again. But there is no fear that could stop me from wanting you back.

It’s inevitable to feel jaded by your single status, and to feel lonely on a day when couples go out to the world to celebrate their love for each other.  

But the good news is, you’re not the only one who’s dreading for the Valentine’s Day. So instead of spending your 14^th of February being ill-tempered, here’s an hour worth of playlist you can jam with to boost your morale, and to remind you that it is okay to be single on Valentine’s Day.

1. Love Myself (Hailee Steinfeld)

Gonna love myself, no, I don’t need anybody else.

Tbh, I don’t think there’s something else that can uplift your single spirit other than this line

2. Love Song (Sara Bareilles)

I’m not gonna write you a long song

‘Cause you ask for it’

Cause you need one.

– Newsflash: Just because she dated you doesn't mean she'd write about you

3. Sorry (Justin Bieber)

Is it too late now to say sorry?

– Scream YES every time you hear JB sing this part

4. Shout out to my ex (Little Mix)

Oh baby, I'm cool by the way 

Ain't sure I loved you anyway

Go ahead, babe, I'mma live my life, my life, yeah 

-Go ahead and belt those lyrics

5. Single Ladies (Beyonce)

– What a classic single-girl power song.

 6. Chunky (Bruno Mars) 

Shout out to the girls that pay their rent on time

– Who needs a boyfriend if you can pay your rent on time?"

7. Here (Alessia Cara) 

Excuse me if I seem a little unimpressed  with this
An anti-social pessimist but usually I don't mess with this.

– For the girls who will be dragged to a V-Day party they're not interested. Play this.]

8. Love in the dark (Adele)

But I can't stay this time cause I don't love you anymore.
Please stay where you are

– Adele just gets us EVERY.SINGLE.TIME

9. Boy Problems (Carly Rae Jepsen)  

I think I broke up with my boyfriend today
And I don't really care
I've got worse problems

-Too turnt for some boy troubles. Leave ‘em

10. Heart Hope (Oh Wonder)

Cause I need something more than  everything
A higher self-deep within.

– In case you need a little reminder that you will love again

11. Cool girl (Tove Lo)

I'm a, I'm a, I'm a cool girl, I'm a, I'm a cool girl
Ice cold, I roll my eyes at you, boy

– In fact, too cool to be wasting your time for a useless guy

12. Words (Daya)

Don't want a good  heart to break

When we're touching, those three little words  feel too easy to say

But, but I'm not ready

– Not ready for love yet? This one’s for you

13. SweetSexSavage Album’s Intro (Kehlani)

My condolences to anyone who has ever lost me
And, to anyone who got lost in me
Or, to anyone who ever felt they took a loss with me
My apologies for the misunderstanding or the lack thereof

– The feels for this poetic heart-wrenching album intro.

14. Fireworks (Katy Perry)

You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July

– Guess this is also fitting for Valentine’s Day, when you feel so low

15. She Will Be Loved (Maroon 5)

My heart is full, and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want yeah.

– To the girl with a broken smile, a guy will love you like this

16. Fuck you (Lily Allen)

 Fuck you very, very much
 'Cause we hate what you do
 And we hate your whole crew
 So, please don't stay in touch

– Feelin’ trashy but wanna be classy? This song is the one!

17. Girl on Fire (Alicia Keys)

Oh, she got both feet on the ground
And she's burning it down.

– Fierceness is real, Alicia. You go girl.

18. Shape of You (Ed Sheeran)

Girl, you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me

– Sometimes you just need a song that will make you feel sexy, you know.

 19. Fake Love (Drake)

I got fake people showin' fake love to me
Straight up to my face, straight up to my face

– Daddy Drake’s songs are worth a dance in front of a mirror 

20. I would like ( Zara Larson)

I would like to get to know you baby
Like to get under your sexy body

– Crushing over a hot guy? You might need this kind of inspiration

I don’t know if I’ll ever meet more brave-spirited friends than you. Who else will risk their lives sitting on the edge of a cliff for the sake of good Instagram shots, will explore the depths of an ocean for the sake of the unique experience, will immerse themselves to unfamiliar territories for the sake of the thrill?

Thank you for making me smile when I was downhearted and felt like my days were dragging through the same story over and over again. I will always remember the jokes you rehearsed just to cheer me up and the brutally honest truths you gave me when I needed them. 

Thank you for bringing color into my world that was slowly becoming black and white.

I appreciate all the fun times we shared. I will always remember the hours we spent owning the world. I don’t think I’ll ever get the same set of kind-hearted friends who cry over Disney movie endings. 

There's no way I’ll ever come across such wonderful, thick-skinned friends who erupt into uncontrollable laughter at coffee shops and don’t care about the icy stares from people around us. I am glad for the adventures I've had with you that helped me prove to myself that I’m stronger than I imagined.

Thank you for showing me how to live a life that is worth remembering.

You’ve made me realize that life isn’t only about finding purpose, or looking for your better half, or being successful, but also searching for friendships that will last for a lifetime.

You are the solid foundation that I hold onto when I lose someone I love. You are the safe haven I run into when I can’t trust anyone. You have become an integral part of my heart, one that nobody can replace. 

I’m grateful for every single second that we’ve shared with each other. 

I have no idea what the future holds, but there’s one thing that will not change: you will never be forgotten.

So, thank you, really, for all the times that you made me feel like I'm home.

Forgive me for snapping back at you every time you tried to fight me. 

I should have shut my mouth and shouldn't have defended myself, regardless if I was right or wrong. I should never have stood up for myself.

I am so sorry for trying to help you improve yourself. Your mistakes are your mistakes, they are not mine to point out.

And also for making you think I was trying to make myself the hero and you the villain.

I just thought I needed to help you to grow because I felt it was my responsibility as someone who cared about you and someone you were in a relationship with.

Yes, sometimes my opinions come off strong. And I know you get hurt when I disagreed with you, but do you really want to live a life where nobody tells you you're wrong when it's obvious to everyone else that you are?

I see that you didn't get my point on the days that I slammed doors in your face. You convinced yourself that I was being rude and difficult to you. 

But have you ever tried to wonder out loud that perhaps you did something incredibly stupid before I started acting 'different'?

But, I digress. I apologize.

I'm sorry if I was a complete bitch.

I'm so sorry that I knew my worth, that I fought for my right, and that I speak my thoughts.

If you were man enough you'd understand and handle a strong bitch like me.

But instead, you felt intimidated that I was the kind of bitch who had a lot to say.

And you felt threatened because I knew how to win an argument.

I realize now that you're too weak to be in a relationship with someone like me and you're even weaker for breaking up with me.

You need someone who's not going to outshine you; someone who's willing to let you drive the wheel 100 percent of the time.

I couldn't be her. I'll never be her.

So for the last time, forgive me for being a complete bitch to you.

But wait… maybe I'm not really sorry at all… in the slightest.