I'm devastated when he passed away. I had no idea, his death, came without any warning. Shock, was the first emotion, disbelief, overwhelmed with sadness and completely lost in an emotion that was unfamiliar. It felt all that, much worse because I haven't had a chance to held his hand when he was fighting for his life, most especially I never had a chance to say goodbye. I know deep down, he knows how much we love him but I never thought that time is running out for him... So much left unsaid.

First year college... that's when our path crossed. I can't remember how Garri and I officially met, all I know is that we belong in the same class, that's it! We have different set of friends, until such time we've learned that we are on the same wave length. Then the best thing in my college life happened, FRIENDSHIFT was formed.

one of our oldest group picture Gerkie, Renziepopsie, Lubay, Me, Barang, Jodie and Jhigz we are missing dhang and issa on this pic!

I was elected as the president of our class, which I still take as a well played prank on me. Each time that our college held a president's meeting, which i'm oblige to attend to, he always accompany me even it means waiting for a couple of hours outside the meeting room... alone. Afterwards he'll asked to have a snack and we'll talk anything or everything under the sun. I misunderstood him then.



City life or if I may say my college classmates, (most of them grew up in Manila), "culture shocked" me when I've learned that they are not into partying, drinking, smoking or any vices at all. Hahaaay, television always exaggerates everything huh?! Disclaimer, I'm not proud... smoker. Anyhow, uhmmm yeah... I do smoke when I was in college, and since college classmates doesn't have any vices at all. I kept it to myself. After tummy-filling-lunch-time at Aling Luchie's eatery, I run to a store near my dormitory to puff a cigarette (uhmm by the way my dormitory is just outside the university). I always made my next subject book or stuff as an excuse to get away with the group.

However, as they said secrets are not secrets forever...



As my routine goes, after sinigang for two (lubay and me, my lunch buddy) and 2 half rice (well counted as one order of rice! hahaha! we always love this eatery joke! "Pa-Order nga dalawang half rice!"), gone with my excuse and straight to my oasis (uhhmm.. sari-sari store?! hahaha!). While I'm standing on what I called my "oasis" and looking at my worn out shoes, I noticed a brown leather shoes across mine. When I looked up to see  the owner of the shoes... "UUHH...  UUHHMM... HI GARRI!"



Garri was far away thrilled to see me that day, his eyes was all condemning and weary, uhmm angry, naah! he was all exasperated. I clearly remembered his litany that day...

"Orange, Ano yan?! Yosi! Masama sa health yan! Ano susunod dyan, mgdru-drugs ka?! tapos mgkaka-anak, asawa ng maaga?! Ano yang ginagawa mo?!! "

Not only his words put me in awe (i know!! he over-reacted!), I was speechless when he took my cigarette away and stubbed it out on his palm... Ohh yess! His palm! HIS PALM! HHHIIIISSSS PPPAAALLMMM!! (okay, that's me.. uhmm over-reacting! hahaha!) I was moved by his act and in the same way distraught me, so my defense mechanism was to act annoyed, since he over-reacted (LOL). I wanted him out of my sight at that very moment, so I again used my excuse that I need to drop by to my dormitory to pick up my stuff. He didn't leave my side. He insisted of coming with me because I might go back to "my oasis", he escorted me as if I was a prisoner. After that... we didn't speak to each other, or I may say I haven't spoken with him... one month. Pretending he didn't exist. I misunderstood him again...



But then Garri is a jolly person in nature. I assume that he's composed of 99.99% funny bones and remaining is just a cartilage. LOL! I even acted ill towards him, uhmm... He just brushed it off and still do the joking once in awhile. I remember singing the song of Sixpence None the Richer...

"Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight, Lead me out on the moonlit floor, Lift your open hand, Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance, Silver moon's sparkling... So kiss me"