The End of Your Song

Fate's Handiwork

"I won't be shedding anymore tears", yan ang sinabi ko sa sarili ko, it will never be like the last time I was here. Marami na ang pinagbago dito, pero madami pa ding pareho. I can't help feeling nostalgic, I was happy here...and was also broken here.

Naka-ilang ikot na din ako kahahanap ng parking, to think I'm early, dahil kailangan kong i-meet muna ang mga kaibigan ko, two of which belong to the committee. This parking building used to be just a ground level parking area, now, it's four levels. Madami na ding kainan sa loob ng campus, around the parking area.

Dati kailangan pa naming lumabas ng school if we like to eat fastfood, or karinderya food (pag tight na ang allowance). If tamad kang maglakad ng malayo, tiis ka sa campus canteens. Though the predictability and homogenous tastes of the food will really make you want to go out, a few or several times a week. Besides, going out is more exciting, you'll never know where you'll end up eating. Dahil kailangan mong mag adjust, depende kung saan may pwesto. Madaming estudyanteng kasabay ninyong kakain, madaming kaagaw sa pwesto kahit saang kainan. Now, I wonder kung andiyan pa din yung mga favorite naming kainan sa labas noon.

Kahit almost 5 pm na, on a Saturday, puno pa din ang parking, or puno na. Sabagay, bukod sa magaganap na grand alumni homecoming mamaya, may ospital sa loob ng campus. Doon pa lang malamang napupuno na ang parking na ito. Finally, a break, may mag-asawa, or mag-boyfriend (you can never really tell these days, they're about my age, so maybe they are married), they are leisurely strolling towards a car, holding each other's hand. So, baka mag-boyfriend pa lang, haha! I'm being cynical, I know some married couples who still hold hands while walking. I also know a lot, who already feel awkward being sweet to each other. Please let them be leaving, or else, hahanap na naman ako ng parking slot kung saan.

Thank God, that's their car, and it looks like they are leaving. They are taking their time...bakit nga ba kapag hinihintay mo ang papa-alis na sasakyan sa prospective parking mo, parang sadyang tinatagalan nila? I'm starting to be in a foul mood, maybe it's just me, baka feeling ko lang matagal silang umalis.

It's not really a foul mood, I'm jittery and excited at the same time. I'm excited to see my friends, lima kaming barkada noong college. Last time we were complete, it was fifteen years ago. All these years, isa lang ang nakikita ko sa kanila regularly, if you can call seven times within that period regular. One of them, I saw twice, the other two, isang beses lang...we just haven't find the right time to see each other. It's not our fault, it's nobody's fault actually. After graduation, friends part paths, living their own lives. Even if you make promises to keep in touch, life doesn't work that way.

Buti na lang maraming means to connect via social media, but it's not the same. Iba pa din ang personal kayong nag-uusap at nagka-kasama. Still, I'm hoping that nothing's changed in our friendship, maybe like our school, there are changes, but it's basically the same.

I checked my face on the rearview mirror bago bumaba ng kotse, kotse ng pinsan ko. She kindly lend it to me, para di daw ako mag-taxi going to the reunion. I don't really mind riding a cab, pero she insisted, mas convenient daw pag may sariling sasakyan. Sabagay, kapag ginabi ako, mahirap nga naman mag-taxi. Maybe, one of my friends will be kind enough to give me a ride home, but I better not take chances.

I appreciate good relatives, though in my case, medyo konti lang kami. Parehong may isang kapatid lang ang Mommy at Daddy ko, I have a maternal aunt and a paternal uncle. Pamangkin ng Mommy ko ang favorite at mabait kong pinsan na nagpa-hiram ng kotse niya. She studied dentistry in another school, di iyon ino-offer dito sa school ko, kaya ako lang mag isa ang a-attend ng reunion.

Both my parents are living in the states, different states. Sa Las Vegas si Daddy, with his new family, while Mommy and her new family is now in Tampa, Florida. Well, di talaga "new family", my step-siblings' age ranges from 18 to 25. I have a brother, he's three years older than me. He is actually the nearest family I have, distance-wise.