Paolo
Arra was my sidekick for a long time.
I am the middle child - with an older brother a few years ahead and a younger sister who was younger than Arra.
When Arra's family moved in, Pauline was too young to play outside and my other mates lived in the next street so Arra was the easiest to drag into my adventures. Arra, me and my German Shepherd Rocket would usually find something to do that would cause my mom to apologize to Arra's mom.
Speaking of Rocket, that dog was in love with Arra from the moment he laid eyes on her. Sensing her trepidation, he didn't run to her like he normally would, but when he got close he sat down so she could pat him and it was love all around since.
One time, it was digging a hole so that I could escape to another country. "But why would you want to leave?" Arra sadly asked.
"I just want to see what it's like there. Dali! Let's dig. When I get there, I'll buy you lots of pasalubong."
She got home, her pink shirt and shorts all messed up with mud.
Another time, I was doing tricks on my bike and hit a hump pretty bad. Miraculously, I got away with scrapes and Arra rushed to get her toy medicine kit and patched me up with paper and tape.
She got to pick our activity at times. Like when she decided to put up a lemonade stand so she can raise money. "I need lots of money," she declared.
"Why?"
"So I can buy pretty dresses AND so I can go with you on your adventure to another country."
I chuckled but helped her make her signage anyway. We discovered lemons were expensive so we shifted to calamansi, which was free because both our moms had plants with fruits so of course we picked them.
"Juan Paolo Cruz Perez! I told you not to pick my fruits! Dinamay mo pa si Arra!" My mom yelled.
At that moment, Arra was also being yelled at, she told me later that night over our walkie talkie nighttime planning. "Mommy got so mad. She used my whole name."
Rosa Maria Rivera Salaverria
Ang daming R di ba?
Kaya minsan, "R" nalang din tawag ko sa kanya.
R, what's a good deli here in the metro? I need some cheeses and tapas.
That text was about five minutes already and it never took Arra this long to reply.
R, tagal.
Finally, she texts back. Impatient, amp. Try Santis or Barcino.
Saan yun?
Google it.
Oo nga naman. Last, what does "amp" mean nga?
She sent a link to Urban dictionary. Alam ko na. I woke you up no?
Yes. Now shoo.
Shoo?
Yes. STOP TEXTING ME.
Stop replying!
You're annoying.
I chuckled. I know.
I hate you.
You don't.
I could picture her rolling her eyes. No. But you're sooooo annoying now.
I'll bring you some na lang. Gruyere and Jamon Iberico?
YES!!!! Bring plenty. Thank you, Popong!
I laughed. She's a sucker for pasalubong. Now, nasaan ba yung mga deli na yun?
