*reminder: this will take much of your time if you're planning to read this.
The friend that Ive known, partied with, laugh with, shared stories about love, life, fashion, who's crazy about my sopas, will be saying adieu in few days time. Sad as I may be, i still feel ecstatic of how her life had changed from better to best.
REMINISCIN'
At this time a year ago, we have done nothing but partying, and going to bars, friend's abode, sipping wine, puffing cigs, travelling, shopping, and talking about her ex's and my crushes and what's in and out in fashion. We had countless dinners having fun, no dull moments. We always make fun of "my getting married" issue. We never talk about her, or Myla's, or Thess' settling down this year. We talked about serious matters too, but we never let it get in our way of having fun.
THE STORY
And then she met Mr. ultra-mega-hyper-in-a-good-way Patrick. Back from her vacation in the US, she called me.
Her: "Mars, punta ka dito. Andito na mga pasalubong ko sayo."
Me: "Hi!!!! Welcome back! Cge I'll drop by tonight. "
Her: "Ok See yah!"
Me: "C u."
I was sure that aside from just being excited on telling me how her vacation has been, I knew right there and then that she got more interesting to tell me. So I went that night. Blah blah's and then...
Her: "I'm getting married!"
Me: "What? With whom? Di nga? Are you... I mean, wow, uhmmm, orayt! Yay!"
What? I am speechless! Thunderstruck as I may have been, but I was euphoric, very very very much happy for her. But as soon as I regained my equanimity (hey, don't whine. here's where I can only use the big words ive read from the piles of books i have at home), with a wide smile on my face, I asked her to tell the story. Yeah of course, I asked questions too. Lots of it. How they met, who is he, how everything happens. Being a friend, I asked for details. Don't get me wrong, but at first I thought it was all coming too fast. That she's just being impulsive. I am no cynic about love, believe me, I am a big fan of it as a matter of fact, but I know my friend so much. So I asked...
Me: "Buntis ka ba?" *which i later on realized that's it's impossible for you to know that in less than a month's time.*
Her: "Hahahaha sira! Lika panoorin mo tong ginawa nyang cd for me"
And so we watched. The pictures from her vacation and the proposal. I cried. Im sorry but I was touched by everything. I don't know the guy enough for me to say that she had found what she truly deserve. But I still told her that she had. She deserves the best.
THE PROPOSAL
Lemme tell you little sumtin about the proposal. She was on her way back to Singapore from her vacation. While Patrick's niece is filming the entire dramatic scene, few minutes before she board the plane, he knelt down, took her hands, said his lines and then pop the question! Oh, shoot, it was more romantic watching the real thing really than me telling you about it.
MEETING THE GUY
Come february, her birthday, her last singapore birthday, party at her place. Few drinks, invitees that some I've only know from the parties we had, few common friends, and then she introduced me and bebikoh to her fiance. We had a blast that night. We went to Insomnia afterwards. Did it ever occurred to you that the saying "First impression lasts" is not true after all? Well, he had somehow embed on me at first that he was a typical fil-am guy. A latino style, conceited, too-much-air-there, kind of a guy, if you know what I mean. He was really funny, and very sweet to her but I still thought he was arrogant. And when they invited us for breakfast the morning after, I suddenly dreaded of not going there, bec I dont want to hurt my friend, not that my opinion matters to her. Anyway, I know that I cant do that to her, so we went there. The meet-ups became regular and now he's back again to be with my friend until she got her visa. And now, as I recall those firt impressions, i can't help but smile. She really have found the best as he had found the best in her. They deserve to be with each other. He's very ultra mega hyper which seems to me and everyone around him find it very amusing and matches my friend's manner being "mababaw ang kaligayahan" she is.
Soon it will be "saying goodbye" time. I have done this a lot of times to my friends who had to go to a direction different from what we used to have, but none of it makes it easier for me and prepares me for the next. No matter how I tried to be ok with it,I still can't face the fact that another friend is leaving - for good. Im just glad im living in the era of new technologies - Emails,Yahoo Messenger, phones. So now, im here, pretending to be working, facing the only stable in my 5 years here - my monitor who's my solitary viewer seeing the melancholy on my face.
Well, to you annie, the fun things we shared wil never be forgotten. I wish you, Mrs. Simon, *how do you like that, huh?*, and Patrick, and Joshua Ray, all the strength, fun filled, full of love in this new chapter of your life as one. Luv yah... Really crossing my finger to see you again in 2007, either at your wedding or at mine. Yeyyyyyy. Take care always and let's keep in touch. =) You're one friend that I'll never get tired of remembering.
