Chances
Written in Bear Notes February 22nd, 20:55
February 17th
I went to Katipunan to meet you. You took me to Tetsuo, which will become my soba and karaage place of choice. We talked about the Pacific nations as you are quite passionate about it, coming from teaching in the Marshall Islands for the past 5 years. I wanted this conversation to be ours that you barely heard my voice and my happiness. As we talked, we barely noticed that we were the only customers left, and the chef and servers were already cleaning up around us. I urged you that we must go, but you weren’t quite finished yet. We stayed for a little bit longer, enough for the food to be safely tucked in our guts. We left this quaint Japanese place along Abada.
I said that we must go drink; it’s been ages since I’ve drunk in that once familiar corner of QC and which has also served as home for me for a few years. You said you needed to fetch your laundry. I sat by the store side while you conversed with the laundromat owner. “Not done yet.”
You suggested Perfy’s Gastropub near the old Flaming Wings site. We climbed its stairs to be met with a group of college kids singing quintessential Filipino karaoke songs, which I found exhausting, and somehow I cringed as a budding tito. You chose a table for us while I bought you a San Mig Light and a Pale Pilsen for myself.
Thus began our hours-long conversation of different topics. I was quite amazed about how much we have in common and will be too many to write in this tiny space. You amazed me with all your knowledge and with the feeling that I can relate to you about most things. You were surprised by how much I know about the things you talk about. I love having conversations like this. We drank 3 bottles each. You went to the washroom countless times. We prepared to leave after almost 3 hours, and we were oblivious of this fact again. Time really does fly fast. How do I slow it down just a bit?
We got out of Perfy’s, which all that time I thought was Walrus. You went to the washroom again while I ate the durian candies you gave me. I can eat it in one sitting. I went after you finished, then we left. We walked along the closed stores and the sleepy condominiums. I told you KFC is my sober food every time I come home from drinking during college. I’ll stop by KFC then walk home late at night to my place near CCA. You asked if I wanted to eat and I declined.
I insisted on walking you home. Walking has never really tired me; in fact, I have grown fond of it. As thoughts raced in my head, so did my feet. We went to your subdivision and walked until the front of your place. The keys were not with you so you called the caretaker inside but she wasn’t there. I was sleepy and you said I should go back now. I refused. I asked you for a place to sit and we settled with the steps. You sat with me. I saw your hand then grabbed it and kept it close to me as I laid my head on my arms. You just let me. You said that there are retreat places in that neighborhood, around 3 if you remember correctly. I answered mindlessly as I held your hands even tighter. The caretaker opened the door so you pulled your hands away. You told me I should go, and maybe I should as it was a Monday and I have work the next day. It was already 2am. You went inside then I left.
Is this it?
I think this is it.
I hope this is it.
Let this be it.
