I just spent an entire month without any weekends. I covered three DotA Tournaments that one month, and it was stressful as hell. I spent 3 – 4 consecutive days taking down notes, taking photos and videos, and blogging about a single thing. It was exciting at times, but there were definitely more than enough moments of boredom and loneliness.

Once or twice, I would ask myself why I’m even doing this. Aside from the fact my cousin paid me to do it, there were nagging questions on my head whether the work was really paying off for me.

Then I would remember why I got into DotA in the first place. I enjoy gaming and have fun de-stressing while playing. More than that, playing DotA and hanging with the boys remind me of my high school days. I like hanging out with boys, more than with girls. And it’s not because they treat me like a princess. They treat me like one of them, and I like that.

The corny and lame jokes, sexually loaded talks, and even the angas boasts, it all reminds me of my high school days, which to me, are some of the best days of my life. Being among boys is a simple matter. There’s no viciousness, no jealousy, no complications. They say what they mean, and they mean what they say. So there are no complications, no walking on eggshells. I can be who I really am when I’m with them. I rarely watch what I do or say. And that feels great.

An added bonus? BOYS! Eye candies to look at in all forms, shapes, sizes, and IQ levels. Problem is, once we become friends, they see me either as a guy or as a scary girl. BOOO!

Photo by Poyt Salazar.