Angel's Text

Can you be my Textmate?

Tut...tut...tut...tut...tut...

It was April of the year 2009 that my cellphone's beeping sound woke me up one night. I was only used to receiving important messages. I grabbed my cell and sleepily pushed the keys and read the message.

~Hi there! Care 2 b my txtmate?~

Not knowing who the sender was, I deleted the message right away and placed the phone on my bedside table, I tried to go back to sleep.

Tut...tut...tut...tut...tut...

I had just closed my eyes when I heard the message tone again.

~Hi there, again! Care 2 b my txtmate?~

Again, from the same number.

"Who the hell could this be asking for a text mate at the wee hours of the night?" I asked myself.

Again, without bothering to reply I deleted the message.

I was never a 'textmaniac' - someone who enjoys texting anyone and everyone even at the wee hours of night, not to mention during the day. My parents, who were always out of the country forced me to own a cellphone. They told me that having one was more convenient - they could monitor me even if they're miles away.

I wanted to turn the unit off, but since my mother was fond of calling me at night, just to check if I was safe at home, I decided not to.

Tut...tut...tut...tut...tut...

Just as I was to close my eyes, and return to my dreamless sleep, the phone beeped again.

Same number...Such determination!

~Ply reply 2 dis msg & b an angel & save me frm dis abyss of emptiness!!!~

I never knew why, but the message struck me. I got up and pushed the keys... I just realized I was replying to the message.

~Im not an angel, n f u want som1 2 save u, m not suprman... I'm just a simple prson who u wake up at dis r of my nyt!!! Nway, do I know u?~

I typed.

Seconds later came the reply.

~Nope. U don't know dis lonely soul. Nor does he know u. But I want 2 b ur frnd. I'm Dylanne Cho. U?~

~Just call me Anjelo. How'd u get my no.?~

I sent back.

~Hi Anjelo, nice 2 meet u. Just shuffled the last two digits of mine, ~

she replied.

That was the first and maybe, the last time I met someone over the cellphone. We exchanged messages and learned so much about each other that night. We only said goodbye when my alarm clock rang at 5:00 AM!

I had to prepare for school!

And that was how it all started. A day would not pass without a loving and thoughtful messages from her. It was only then I had learned to appreciate text messages, and become eager and excited every time my phone beeped, hoping it would be her. Dylanne brought out something about me that I never knew I had; I realized I could also be a romantic person, even if it's just through text messaging.