Love at First Sight
I used to think that this phrase was for people who were downright pathetic. But, time and time again, my belief in this phrase grew stronger because it had a meaning that I couldn't grasp the first time I heard it. And now, I appreciate it as it pops out of situations I find myself in.
The first time we really talked about Love at First Sight was in second year high school, the year with the most promising memories. We were discussing it in Christian Living class, with Ms. Andal, I so remember. She posed the question "Do you believe in Love at First Sight?" and I immediately almost jumped out of my chair to contest that it doesn't exist in any shape or form. A few days later, I was wrong. ... We went to Payatas. I'm sure every Filipino knows about this place. There, poor families and kids have died because of the great tumble of a mountain of garbage -- remnants of things that we ourselves have thrown out of our own homes. There was a little kid named Darryl. He was probably about 9 or 10. My first image of him was playing basketball/soccer on the barangay basketball court. I came to know him, bought for him and the other kids some ice tubig which cost P1.00 -- an amount that I was amazed they couldn't even afford. We sang together, and played together and we danced together as we taught them a Christian song. Kids, they have these tricks sometimes, he made me a flower out of straw. Yes, straw that you use to drink your Sarsi or your Coke. It was faint green, I remember. He also picked out some flowers for me. Real ones this time. They were a mix of purple and pink. And they were beautiful like he was. Before we left, my bestfriend and I sat in front of the jeep, and I extended my hand out to Darryl. He held it and said "Ate, balik ka sa Krismas ha?" And I nodded knowing that I wouldn't have time to anyway. I felt a deep pang of guilt because they don't deserve to be where they were. And I could only walk away and not see them again. Still, he saw me off and held my hand even though the jeep was already starting to pick up its speed. Then, he let go. I looked back at him and he was waving. He was my Love at First Sight.
I didn't think that I would think of that phrase again until today. I visited the blog of my japanese warrior (a new nickname haha) and I was touched by the entry she wrote for me. I was about to cry but I kind of held it all back because I had to have enough energy to write and reply to what she said. =) Aren't you proud that we have such good memories? They are those that other people would love to have. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You're like my sister, the sister I never had. ... Isn't it funny that we still put side comments on the things we write? The way we use the word "even" and "sometimes I wonder" and all the other things we invent? I laughed when you said we invent our own language! Looking back, we really did, didn't we? And it's fun how we both understand what we're saying even though they hardly mean anything. =) *sigh* This girl, she has everything. She's falls into my "Loves at First Sight". From the moment she started playing piano and from the moment she started to sing. From the moment we went to music theory class together. From the moment we had recitals together and from the moment we barely spoke to each other then. Look at us now. Our friendship has traveled way beyond our means. I've probably loved her then, and I didn't even know it. Even though you're not within my reach, I still value you so much that you're the only who makes me feel totally missed. Thanks, Cucay.
at 1:01 PM
