OLD FRIENDS

It been three years now since I saw him. I can still remember that there were no goodbyes or see you soon. I was left hanging and for years, stuck with my own old self… then I saw him.

It was a Saturday afternoon and I was seated inside the coffee shop and was just staring at the open and watching people laugh, smile, frown… I saw families of four, three, even just husbands and wifes, and girlfriend-boyfriends. It’s been like this since I can remember, me seating somewhere and just watching, then I saw him and I believe he saw me back.

He waved and said “Hi” and I was just staring. Couldn’t believe what I’ve been seeing. Everything came again, like flashbacks in movies or when you are dying. I can’t explain the feeling. He walked towards me and I was able to give him a smile. The thought that hunts me for years is now taking place at my own plain sight and I wasn’t ready for this, though I thought I am.

“How are you? It’s been a long time,” he said when he finally standing in front of me.

I was mum. I can’t collect any words to reply to that dark baritone of his. “I’m okay,” I was able to say.

“Are you here with someone?” he said trying to make a conversation. I still know him pretty well, the body language the words he keeps on telling when things get pretty awkward.

“Just alone. I just bought books for the holidays. You? with someone?” please let him be alone, I kept saying to my self.

“Yeah just me. I just bought a gift for a friend who’s getting married this weekend,” he said.

“Oh! is that for Sarah and Miggy?” I said.

Sarah and Miguel are our high school friends. We are from the same set of friends and we shared a lot of stuff. We were the two most loved couples in junior high. We went to double dates together, travel together until three years ago when Alex and I separated. It was a devastating event in the group. Everyone thought that I’d end up with Alex and Sarah with Miguel.

“Yes I’m back because Miggy invited me. I might be staying in town for a week or two,” he said.

Alex is now base in Hong Kong. He got a job in a IT firm right after we separated. Me I was left here in Manila, trying to continue everything.

“Oh, that’s good. At least you can keep up with the gang.” I said.

“I think so. I’m also here for business.” he said.

“Right” I said then my phone rang. “Can you please excuse me for a while?” I said without bothering getting his answer and started to stand up and went into the secluded area in the coffee shop. It was my cousin, checking if things are all set for her party.

“Yes Tina, everything’s fine. Don’t worry about the party! Everything is set.” I said even if my thoughts are spinning with Alex. “Bye Tina. I know! Just don’t worry!” then I shut the phone off.

Walking back to my table, my eyes were looking for someone. He’s not there already just like that. He left again… and, again, without saying goodbye.

“Oh great! see you then on the wedding Alex.”

to be continued…

ONE YEAR CHALLENGE

I’m a sucker for romance novels.

My fascination with Harlequin or Silhouette Romances begun when I was in fifth grade (Yes, I know! They do contain X-Rated stuff but heck I thought I was a grown up at that time). It was my aunt who introduced me to those romance novels which she brought home from the states. At first I was a little bit hesitant to browse it because I know I’m not into that kind of stuff, but guess what? I liked it. My mom didn’t like me reading pocket books, especially romance, so I tend to read it when she’s not around or when she’s already asleep and I’d gladly open my Hello Kitty red flash light and read it in our bedroom floor, luckily I still have 20-20 vision.

I love going to Book Sales as much as I love going to those boring, humongous bookstores. I get that giddy feeling when I read the synopsis  and I know that that book is “the one,” which usually lasts until I get another “the one” book. Sometimes my friends thinks that I’m a weird person because I prefer to just browse all the books in the bookstore rather than go out to have fun. I think they just don’t get it that I’m actually having fun. If there’s two things that I’m not sorry to spend most of my hard-earned money, it would be food and books (food nourishes the body while the book nourishes the mind). But don’t get me wrong, I also read classical literary pieces by Jane Austen and Milan Kundera. It’s just that I’m so inlove with Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Linda Francis Lee, Jennifer Cruise, Rachel Bilson and more.

So with more than 400 books in my closet, I’m challenging my self to at least share to you my thoughts on 150 books in one year’s time. I will try to blog why I love it, why I believe the story should have been this and not that and why it should be reproduced again for the next generation to come. I know, it may sound so lame, but hey I’m starting something here.

Fast forward to April 2, 2011, I should have write 150 book shares and a good one year in this blog!!!!

Cheers!

P.S. and oh, by the way leave your comments, your thoughts and suggestions. I can handle criticism pretty well.