Law of Sacrifice: You can't give everything to everybody

I learned that "law" during a Marketing competition that I joined last weekend.

Oh yes, I am part of the top hundred up and coming Marketers of the Philippines and I am so proud of it! Thing is, so is my YOUNGER brother.

Apparently, he joined the same competition and I knew about it only days before the 2nd phase. I hated the idea of him being there. I hated the idea of me being so scared that I might lose my chances of becoming part of the last batch standing because of him. Why does he even have to consider the idea of joining a competition that is so MINE? Or so I think it is.

He's always been VERY successful in all his endeavors. He's running for suma cum laude. He holds top positions in all his organizations. He won almost all the competitions that he's been into during his whole stay in Ateneo. He has organized countless successful events such as parties, fashion shows, etc PLUS everybody loves him. What's worse is that I do too. Hard as it may be for me to admit the idea, I know I do love him and that I am so proud of everything that he has accomplished. In fact, during emo moments, I feel so proud to be his sister.

But the night before the 2nd phase of the competition, I despised him. I can't accept that he's gonna be part of someting that I've been wanting to have for months. I was such a chicken shit because I knew that he could actually be part of the chosen group. I knew then that I had to do everything I could to win, not against all the other participants, but against my own brother. Losing is hard enough, but losing while you're brother gets accepted was so unacceptable.

Everything changed when he started doing all those sweet gestures during the competition. "Good luck, ate" "Tabi ka nalang sakin" "Good luck! :)" Ugh! He's so good at that that I just couldn't resist! What's worse is that I knew he was sincere. I hate it. I like it. Ugh.

I did my best and I am very sure he did his part too. I feel less selfish now that's why I'm ready to actually say this: I'm fine as long as one of us gets in the Top 25. If it's the two of us who are chosen, then lucky us. I am proud of how far we've come in terms of our goals in life and I hope that we'll both be successful in our chosen fields. Next time though, let me know about the competitions that you'll be joining so that I can join too. Boo yah!