Big shoutout to all Participants of the Challenge. Here are the winners in order

1. iamcrypt0ny -- ₦25K

2. gideon1 -- ₦20K

3. Licia -- ₦15K

4. anthonyjoseph9 -- ₦10K

5. alex -- ₦5K

Send an email to admin@ourPalaver.com to claim your winnings. Use the email you used to signup.

I am not a hater,

but your smiley face doesn't mean kindness.

I have seen that smile before.

It showed up at the office meeting

when you took my idea and called it yours.

It was there at lunch

when you asked how I was doing,

and looked at your phone the whole time.

Your emoji in the group chat

says "happy" but your words feel cold.

You type "lol" after you shut someone down.

You say "just kidding" after you hit where it hurts.

That is not kindness. That is cover.

Real kindness is quiet.

It is my mom saving me food without posting it.

It is my friend who shows up late at night

because I said "I'm fine" in a weird voice.

It is the guy at the shop who fixes my change

and does not make me feel small for miscounting.

So I am not a hater.

I am just tired.

Tired of reading faces like books

that lie to me on the first page.

Smile if you want.

I will smile back.

But do not ask me to believe

that every grin means good.

I learned that the hard way.

I am still learning.

But I am not a hater.

I am just honest now.

I am not a hater but.... Not all friendships last. Some friendships expire and no one really prepares you for the quiet way it happens.

There's no big fight. No dramatic ending, just a slow, almost invisible distance that grows between two people who once couldn't go a day without talking to each other. One day, you realize that the conversation feels different; shorter, colder or forced. And you start to wonder what have shifted in the atmosphere between you both.

It's confusing because nothing "went wrong" yet everything feels wrong.

You replay memories in your head, the laughter that came so easily, the inside jokes that no one understood, the way you both showed up for each other without keeping scores. Back then, it felt permanent, like this would last a lifetime, like nothing can ever come between you both.

But people grow. Priorities shift and sometimes the version of them you were closet to no longer exists.

That's the part that hurts the most, not just losing them but losing who they used to be to you.

You try to hold on, you make excuses for them, you tell yourself that everything will come back to how it was but you know deep down that it is over, it can't be salvaged.

And slowly, you stop reaching out the same way. Not out of pride, but out of exhaustion because you know that friendship isn't something that should be begged for.

Some friendships aren't meant to last forever. Some come into your life to teach you something, to shape you, to be exactly what you needed a certain time and leave when their purpose is fulfilled.

It doesn't erase what you once shared, it doesn't make it any less real.

It just means the chapter has ended.

And sometimes, the most painful part of growth is accepting that.

And so, you make that decision for yourself to let go and move on even while it hurts.

I am not a hater but… what is shown online is often a highlight reel, not reality. Many people feel pressured to live up to unrealistic standards.

I am not a hater but… real growth begins when you face hard realities about yourself. It is uncomfortable, but necessary for improvement.

I am not a hater but… silence can communicate strength, wisdom, and control. Words are powerful, but so is restraint.

I am not a hater but… staying in familiar spaces can limit growth. Progress requires stepping into the unknown.

I am not a hater, but not everything needs to be explained sometimes, silence protects your peace. It protects your focus. It protects your energy. I am not a hater, but not every situation deserves a response sometimes, moving forward quietly is the best move.

I am not a hater, but growth doesn’t require approval. You don’t need validation to start learning, improving, or evolving. I am not a hater, but waiting for permission delays progress start anyway.

I am not a hater, but your habits define you. What you do consistently becomes who you are. Good habits build you. Bad habits limit you. I am not a hater, but change starts with what you repeat daily.

I am not a hater, but focus is rare. Distractions are everywhere. Notifications, trends, entertainment it’s constant. And attention is divided. I am not a hater, but the ability to focus deeply is a competitive advantage. Because where attention goes, results follow.

I am not a hater, but working hard without clarity can lead nowhere. You put in time, energy, effort but if it’s not aligned, it doesn’t produce meaningful results. I am not a hater, but direction matters as much as effort. Because moving fast in the wrong direction is still a mistake.

I am not a hater, but time can pass quietly. You stay in the same routine. The same environment. The same mindset. And before you realize it, years have gone by without real growth. I am not a hater, but comfort can delay your potential.