edits: none
I was sitting on our usual bench near the fountain just beside the fruitshake stand. It was Friday, the night before Halloween and I ditched Shan’s offer (because he liked his episode so much) to stay at his place and instead, I was at SM Mall of Asia, at San Miguel by The Bay to be exact. The fireworks had just finished its fashionable display and I was left with nothing else to do but stare at people frantically going back and forth. I was accompanied by wendy (ipod video) and she has this innate ability to filter out any external/worldly nonsense. She kept me busy and entertained whilst my consciousness drifts afar – stretching as far as the dark night beyond the horizon. I was almost half-asleep when this young lady, together with her brother, was standing right in front of me. She pulled my sleeve and I was startled.
Lady: excuse me but do you think you can help me?
Jxmn: ……
Lady: see, my lil bro bought this bubble-gun thingy and I think he broke it.
Jxmn: ……..
Lady: sssoooo… can you have a look at it?
Jxmn: *in my mind* there are lots of people here, go ask them. I’m having a trance for crying out loud.
Jxmn: uuhhmmm.. sure
Lady: thanks so much
I was then catapulted back to reality and to my surprise, the young lady was holding the bubble-producing gun that I’ve been itching to buy for ages. Frankly, I don’t know what’s wrong with the toy nor did I have any idea of what I am doing but I somehow fixed it.
Jxmn: here… try it
Lady: alex, try it if it’s working as the way it should be.
Jxmn: ……..
Alex: it’s perfect! Thanks kuya!
Jxmn: *smile+nod*
Lady: go play somewhere else Alex, I’ll just stay here.
As I was about to put the noise-reducing, nonsense-ridding earphone, the lady sat beside me eagerly watching over his brother, Alex. Then it hit me, of all the people and of all the names, why did I end up meeting with an Alex?! I steadily closed my eyes hoping to continue where I left off before I was (rudely) interrupted. I was just about to take flight (figuratively speaking) when…
Lady: excuse me.
Jxmn: *unaware due to the earphones*
Lady: anou….
Jxmn: ……
Lady: *pulled my sleeves again*
Jxmn: *startled yet again*
Jxmn: sorry. Can’t hear you
Lady: so I noticed.
Jxmn: do you have the time?
Lady: sure am just watching over my brother and it wouldn’t hurt to….
Jxmn: no… I mean what time is it?
Lady: oh sorry..
Lady: *looks at her watch*
Lady: it’s 8:08…
Jxmn: thanks
Lady: in a hurry much?
Jxmn: nnnaahhh… I’ve all the time that I can possibly want in an entire lifetime.
Lady: you know, you’re not the friendly type no!?
Jxmn: *stunned*
Jxmn: what!? How can you say such? You barely know me.
Lady: chill… just chill… I was just playing so we can start a conversation.
Jxmn: hahaha… am sorry for being a pain. Maybe we started off on the wrong foot
Lady: yeah, I know
Jxmn: wanna start over?
Lady: sure, sure
Jxmn: ayt here goes… excuse me but may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?
Lady: *shock*
Lady: why so formal all of a sudden
Jxmn: *smirked*
Lady: this lady before you is a goddess but you can call me Liezl
Jxmn: *jaw-dropped+stunned+was about to hurl*
8 seconds later…
Jxmn: are you serious?
Liezl: aahhmmm… yyaahh… why do you think otherwise?
Jxmn: and your brother’s name is Alex, correct?
Liezl: yep!
Jxmn: *in utter disbelief*
Liezl: and you are?
Jxmn: *spacing out*
Liezl: hoy!
Jxmn: am sorry, the name’s jex by the way. Are you really serious that you are who you claim to be?
Liezl: oo nga! Wanna see my ID?
Jxmn: nahh.. nevermind… its just…
Liezl: just what?
Jxmn: nuthin… am not actually comfortable of calling you by your name, can I call you sumthin else?
Liezl: *freaking out+baffled*
Liezl: huh!? How come?
Jxmn: just because… from this point on, I will refer to you as Gab. How does that sound?
Liezl: whatever. You have an alien name no!? Where’d you get that?
Jxmn: ouch! E d ikaw na maayos ang pangalan
Liezl: hahahahha… sensitive much?
Jxmn: nnaaahhhh!! It’s just an expression. So where are you working Gab?
Liezl: am still studying here at Ateneo taking up tourism. From the looks of things, I’d say you’re already working
Jxmn: yep. I may look like 48 but in reality, am just 38.
Liezl: hahahhahaa
Jxmn: what?! Are you mocking me?!
Liezl: hahaha… nevermind.
Jxmn: so are you in a pre-holloween get-together with your fam?
Liezl: yeah… do you come here often?
Jxmn: I used to.
Liezl: used to!? how come?
Jxmn: I come here, before, every Friday and Saturday just to watch the fireworks. I’ve been here numerous times but I was with someone else.
Liezl: was?
Jxmn: yeah. It’s a long story
Liezl: like you said, you have all the time that you can possibly want in an entire lifetime
Jxmn: ayt! Ayt! she’s also a liezl, just like you
Liezl: *smile*
Jxmn: but I never called her in such fashion. Now that I think about it, I can’t recall a single incident that I called her by her name.
Liezl: did you also call her Gab? *fondly speaking*
Jxmn: nope. But I called her numerous names the likes of which are dude, tsong, zel until I settle down with heaven.
Liezl: heaven huh!?
Jxmn: yeah
Liezl: so what happened to you guys?
Jxmn: aaahhmmm… are you in a super friendly mode? Hahaha, just kidding
Liezl: hahhaha…
Jxmn: but you know, this time around last year, she and I were having the time of our lives. Right after what happened to her and your brother.
Liezl: what? My bro?
Jxmn: yeah, Alex. Bottomline is we were having the grand time of our lives a year ago
Liezl: and?
Jxmn: so… how about you!? What’s your story?
Liezl: *pout*
Liezl: well for starters and like I mentioned, I am taking up my last semester as a tourism student in Ateneo de Manila University.
Jxmn: this may be long overdue but congrats on winning the UAAP this season and for coming as the second placer in the cheerdance competition.
Liezl: I know! Everyone at campus was ecstatic with that double whammy.
Jxmn: so are you one of them cheerdance member?
Liezl: nnnaahhhh… I can’t even bend and reach my toes hahaha
Jxmn: hahahha.. would’ve been cool though.
Liezl: yeah
Jxmn: ne, am gonna buy a drink, want some?
Liezl: lemme walk with you so I can choose what I will buy.
I’m still doubtful if what’s happening right now was as true as it can get. As Liezl, I mean Gab and I were nearing the stall, I was hoping and anticipating for the cameras and crews saying that “you got punked men!” but none of that ever happened.
Liezl: let’s just sit here
Jxmn: nnnnaahhh… I wanna sit where you originally found me
Liezl: sheeesshh!! A bit of a grouch aren’t you!?
Jxmn: hell yeah! Hahahah
Liezl: hahhaha… fine then
Jxmn: you were saying?
Liezl: oh right, well I don’t live with my folks anymore. I live somewhere near here but I won’t tell you on the account of you might stalk me
Jxmn: hahahahh. Asa (you wish)!
Liezl: ouch! Rude! Evil
Jxmn: my bad! Am just playing man… continue
Liezl: anyways, am not a sport-buff either. The figures that you see are natural, I mean it’s effortless for me to be this slim and sexy.
Jxmn: -__-;
Liezl: right… what’s with that expression?
Jxmn: nothing. Music of choice?
Liezl: I listen to a variety of genres ranging from alt to pop, from instrumental to classical
Jxmn: OPM?
Liezl: not really. I’d rather have classical over OPM
Jxmn: classical? As in Beethoven?
Liezl: yep! But the only one that I know is canon in D
Jxmn: I think everyone knows that nowadays thanks to the my sassy girl Korean movie
Liezl: eeeehhhhh!! So have you watched it already?
Jxmn: hhhmmm…. Only 8 times hahaha. And yeah! I fell in love with canon just because of the movie
Liezl: gyeon-woo for the win! Hahah
Jxmn: hahaha… fond of anime?
Liezl: not really, but alex over there watches a lot of them.
Jxmn: wwoohhooo!
Liezl: and you?
Jxmn: well somehow I can say that we tend to be alike on some aspects. For instance, I love classical, instrumental and classical crossover music. I also listen mostly to alternative/emo music but mostly OPM and j-artist.
Liezl: OPM? What band?
Jxmn: well as of the moment, am nuts about silent sanctuary but I ain’t sure if you’re familiar with them
Liezl: fill me in
Jxmn: I like their current single hiling. It’s a story about a dude who will embark overseas since he was accepted in a prominent university but at the same time he was unaware that his girlfriend was preggy. Just youtube for the video.
Liezl: aahhh… I know that video. The one with the violin and that they met in the school campus
Jxmn: bingo!
Liezl: well I listen to Marc Enfory’s music. He’s not an OPM but I dunno where to classify him
Jxmn: *shocked*
Jxmn: Marc Enfroy? As in Reflections in Deep Blue Marc Enfory?
Liezl: yeah! How’d you know?
Jxmn: because that’s what am listening earlier.
Liezl: wow! Can’t believe that I’d find such a person
Jxmn: what’s that supposed to mean?
Liezl: you just ain’t the type that will listen to such
Jxmn: don’t assume. In fact, never ever assume
Liezl: ok po, ok po
Jxmn: hahaha.. am just sayin that based on experience
Liezl: so what are you doin here?
Jxmn: huh!? Like I sez, am just here for the fireworks
Liezl: the fireworks’ long over dude… I mean what are you REALLY doing here?
Jxmn: nothing… it’s just that, the other liezl’s been in my dreams extremely a lot for the past god-knows when
Liezl: ahhh… is that a bad thing?
Jxmn: nope! It’s actually a wonderful thing but I can’t help but miss her, which leads us to now. I came here in an effort to “relive” the moment when she’s with me. I thought that it would make me feel a lot better
Liezl: and?
Jxmn: well, let’s just say it hadn’t helped one bit.
Liezl: wanna go for a stroll?
Jxmn: huh!? Where’d that come from? I mean are you serious?
Liezl: well yeah. When am lonely, I just took a stroll and see where it will lead me
Jxmn: sorry, am what you call the “aliping gala” type. I ain’t got no wheels.
Liezl: it’s fine, I have mine parked over there *points her finger*
Jxmn: are you serious Gab?! Your ride is 6?
Liezl: 6?!
Jxmn: Mazda 6.
Liezl: yeah. Wanna go for a stroll?
Jxmn: hold up!! Hold up Gab! Did it not occur to you that I might be a deranged, psychotic maniac?
Liezl: well yeah, but you proved me wrong when we took that stroll to the stall
Jxmn: huh!? What’s that got to do with the psychotic maniac thing?
Liezl: nothing. I have my own reasons. Plus if you were a maniac, then you wouldn’t have told me your story nor give me another name
Jxmn: point taken. But what if I just made those stuffs? I mean, what if am just trying to lure you in?
Liezl: if those were just some man-made stories then how do you explain your eyebags?!?
Jxmn: *smile*
Jxmn: ayt! Ayt! You got me! But the night’s still young. Let’s just stay here for a little more while. It’s been ages since I last went here.
Liezl: sure! Whatever you say. You pay for the gas though
Liezl: *demonic laugh* (well not really but she was laughing nonetheless)
Jxmn: I changed my mind. I’d rather stay here pala.
Liezl: evil!
Jxmn: hahaha… am just playing… sure I’ll pay for the gas. What about Alex and the rest of your fam?
Liezl: well, let’s just go over and tell them that we have plans
Jxmn: wwhhhaattt!? Are you out of your mind? Just go over? In the first place, am just a stranger that you met here in this bench.
Liezl: you don’t have to do anything
Jxmn: of course I don’t have to do anything
Liezl: you’re right….
Jxmn: damn straight!
Liezl: you’re right…. Coz here they come together with Alex
Jxmn: huh!?!?!?!?!!
Jxmn: *faints* (well not really but Gab’s folks were literally inches away)
