I went down to feed my aching stomach and lo to my flabbergasted self, I saw a shadow of my past or should I say, he saw me. A shadow from my childhood memories, those crazy, playful "Tink" days. He went up to me and said "Hi, Kuting!", at first I was unable to recognized his odd, bedimpled face but in my mind I thought or I knew that I've seen him somewhere in the past. I was really in shocked and didn't know what to say because for one, I am already starving to death that if I did not even squint my eyes, I would've thought he's one great food and the only thing I could utter was "I'm sorry. Do I know you, sir?" - with that Atenean accent huh! And this food err boy err man.. whatever, said was "Why? Its me Rafael! Whatever happened to that unforgetful Tinkerbell? You're forgetful now?"
I was still so blank as I stare on his face and then the light suddenly grew as the moon rises on me who he is and who he was in my past. Oh my! He looked so different now. He's no longer that "tabachingching" in my Tink days. I could feel my heart in my throat and all that I could blurt out was "Maryosep! What happened to you? You're payat na ha?!"
Colored flashbacks keep coming in. Colorful memories. Rainbow Connection.
The last time I saw him was in 1993, we were in 4th grade and 6th grade respectively - I am the younger one. The last time I ever talked to him was in 1999, few days before our High School Graduation Day.
He used to be my pog playmate and one of those "beauty and brains" in the boys' department. He who played one of the Lost Boys of The Neverland while I played the part of Tinkerbell. He who liked to tease me for absolutely no reason at all. He who was my constant caller. He who first asked me out after class but I declined. He who first asked my Dad if I can go out with him ( I was in 5th grade then).
And then flashbacks no more.
Though he is almost 26 now, he meets new people and new enterprises with the impulsiveness by which his boyhood friends remember (including me) him. He never seems grow older. We ate together and I watched Raffy, sitting in front of me, so smooth and sunny and well- cared for, and thought of how he used to run around the school gym with so much dirt on his white polo. Prrrtttt! And then have to leave, I still have a lot of analysis to do, you know.
When I turned my back to my cube, that dining place seemed pleasant than before. Raffy had left something warm and friendly on that place, How I loved to hear his laugh again! And before I could sit down on my office chair, the miracle happened; one of those quiet moments that clutch heart, and take more courage than the noisy, excited passages in life.
I thank God for the many earthly angels that come in and out of my life.
I was still so blank as I stare on his face and then the light suddenly grew as the moon rises on me who he is and who he was in my past. Oh my! He looked so different now. He's no longer that "tabachingching" in my Tink days. I could feel my heart in my throat and all that I could blurt out was "Maryosep! What happened to you? You're payat na ha?!"
Colored flashbacks keep coming in. Colorful memories. Rainbow Connection.
The last time I saw him was in 1993, we were in 4th grade and 6th grade respectively - I am the younger one. The last time I ever talked to him was in 1999, few days before our High School Graduation Day.
He used to be my pog playmate and one of those "beauty and brains" in the boys' department. He who played one of the Lost Boys of The Neverland while I played the part of Tinkerbell. He who liked to tease me for absolutely no reason at all. He who was my constant caller. He who first asked me out after class but I declined. He who first asked my Dad if I can go out with him ( I was in 5th grade then).
And then flashbacks no more.
Though he is almost 26 now, he meets new people and new enterprises with the impulsiveness by which his boyhood friends remember (including me) him. He never seems grow older. We ate together and I watched Raffy, sitting in front of me, so smooth and sunny and well- cared for, and thought of how he used to run around the school gym with so much dirt on his white polo. Prrrtttt! And then have to leave, I still have a lot of analysis to do, you know.
When I turned my back to my cube, that dining place seemed pleasant than before. Raffy had left something warm and friendly on that place, How I loved to hear his laugh again! And before I could sit down on my office chair, the miracle happened; one of those quiet moments that clutch heart, and take more courage than the noisy, excited passages in life.
I thank God for the many earthly angels that come in and out of my life.
