My plan to hit the sack early last night got derailed when I noticed my old Ace hard-shell suitcase, which I'd left unopened for years because I had forgotten the combination key (code). I suddenly felt the urge to unlock it.
However, the lock was stubborn. I tried every combination I could think of to no avail. While both the secondary locks and side latches were open, the dial locks remained shut.
YT tutorials didn't help either, as I couldn't find any reset pinhole. A brute-force method attempt could work, but it would take longer, so I stopped and started to open it by force. Even so, it wasn't easy. I used heavy-duty knives, but it wouldn't budge.
What could be inside? It piqued my curiosity, so I kept on even when it took most of my evening. I nearly gave up, but when I pulled one of the knives out, the stubborn lock finally gave way.
And aha!
Uniforms on my first job, a big folder, a vintage tin box, some diaries, and yeah, the suitcase's user manual馃槄
I slumped on the floor and took out the contents. There were old diaries, envelopes, letters, greeting cards, innermost secrets, and lists of creditors (whom I loaned money to). I don't even recall if they paid it back (no notes in it either)馃槄
Flipping through pages and reading some, I was surprised there were many things I had forgotten. "Did I really do that?" I started conversing with myself in disbelief.
"So I had been helping them all those years?" "Wh-a-a-a-t? I had been cheated on?" "Oh... So I was terribly hurt back then..." It felt like I was reading someone's diary, although the names mentioned were familiar.
Most of the small and airmail envelopes were letters from a long-time pen friend. We were schoolmates in grade school, but he moved to the Visayas, and we wrote to each other for many years until I left the country in early 2000. What a friendship that was!
And I didn't know this rare collectible was hiding a precious memory that had somehow slipped away.
Meanwhile, my little boy has made the suitcase his new turf.馃槄 It gave me an idea鈥攎aybe turn it into his cozy bed! Although I doubt he'd use it for long. He'd rather be beside me at night.
Anyway, I hopped into bed at 11 pm after my little trip back through the years via the diaries and some letters. It occurred to me that I had lost many memories, including how my siblings and I exchanged letters, saying I love you to each other when we were all younger. Those made my heart swell with joy and warmth.鉂わ笍 I'll keep those keepsakes, as some really good (past) versions of myself are packed in them.
As for the other things, I might burn them.
All photos are my own unless specified. 04102026/09:36ph