An old friend came home for a visit several weeks ago. I didn’t even know she was back until she called. What was amazing was that I didn’t have the same number at the time when she left for the States. So she actually made the effort to look me up. The thing was, we weren’t that close to begin with. She was more Gina’s friend more than mine. But, hey, she was still a friend, so I agreed to meet up with her at her temporary flat near Greenbelt 1 Makati while she was here.
And when I went up to the doorman and asked to be announced, I heard a voice saying she’ll be right down, I immediately knew it was her. I sat at the comfortable couch in the front foyer thumbing through a worn and tattered copy of Sports Illustrated and waited… and waited… and waited… Well this is one thing I didn’t miss about her.
But when she stepped out of the elevator, it was a totally different person. I mean, it was still her, but, she cleaned up real good. She wasn’t much of a looker before she left for the states, but, now… What can I say? She didn’t have any plastic surgery done or anything, but when girls start putting on makeup when they didn’t used to, start wearing their hair stylishly, and change their just-graduated-from-college wardrobe for more trendy threads – well, wow.
She gave me one of those hugs girls like to give when they haven’t seen you in a long time, and we went out for a late breakfast. Chili’s this time, as it was the closest place that she remembered from the old days.
Well, everything started out very awkwardly – after all, she was a friend of Gina’s - and we cautiously felt each other out, looking for topics to talk about that were safe. We talked about old friends, old things we used to do with the guys, movies we saw, places we went (for me and our old barkada, this inevitably included the old QC Parks and Wild Life, Tagaytay and, yeah yeah, don’t laugh – Luneta).
The thing was, aside from the stylish new do and trendy clothes (and a slight American twang to her speech), it was still the old her: still easy to talk to, still slightly nerdy, and still fun. And soon, we got comfortable with each other again, with no forbidden topics to talk about (save one). And, after a lengthy breakfast, which she paid for (hooray for equal rights, which allowed me to not be embarrassed about her picking up the tab), we decided to walk a bit. However, she felt a bit ill-at-ease, as Makati felt different but just familiar enough to make her feel out of place. So we ended up driving, going around, with no particular destination. Once, I ran out of gas, and it was a good thing we were like a few feet away from a gas station and the attendants were game enough to push us near one of their pumps.
As the smiling gas station person filled up my little car’s tank, I couldn’t help but sneak some looks at my friend. She wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous, but definitely pretty. She used to be chubby before (in fact, very very chubby), but now, she was sporting curves in all the right places, and thank goodness her dieting didn’t affect her… upper torso much. It was all I can do to not stare.
And for the girls out there who would call me a pig, well, I can only say two things in my defense: first – well, I am a guy, after all; second – you had to have known her before to see how much she’s changed, and not just physically.
Pulling away from the gas station, I felt quite tongue-tied. Here was an old friend of mine, a platonic kind of friend, and I was actually attracted. It brought to mind that argument of Harry’s in that old movie, When Harry Met Sally, where Harry said that men and women can never be just friends. It never used to sound true, but now, I am starting to rethink the argument.
But despite being suddenly struck by shyness, we had a heck of a good time, just talking and getting to know each other again. Amazingly enough, we ended up in Enchanted Kingdom in the afternoon, and we never really went on any of the rides, except the bump-car ride which has always been my favorite, and we stuck around for the fireworks in the evening. We then made the 2-hour drive back to Makati, and had dinner at Shoemart’s Food Court before I dropped her off. All in all, an amazing time.
After dropping her off, I couldn’t help reflect on the fact that I never really tried to be close to her “in that way,” not that I ever was good around girls. And this was my pal, after all – definitely not girlfriend material. The following day, I joined her in an impromptu reunion with the guys, and the others had the same reaction as me. I had the upper hand though - I was more than at ease around her, having spent the previous day with her.
I never did catch on to what the guys were thinking, but apparently everyone thought there was something going on between us. And the only reason I know this was because my best bud from the barkada took me aside and asked a few “innocent” questions. It made me reconsider the idea again, and actually made me think that I had a chance.
And then Gina walked in. The glacial silence that accompanied her was obviously caused by me, so I made a lame excuse to go to the bathroom. What can you do? And when I walked back into the living room, everything seemed normal again. Sort of. But Gina was full of catty remarks that night, and actually left early. I couldn’t help wonder if she was acting jealous. And the mean side of me went, “mwahahahahah!” But then, should she have some reason to be jealous? Hmmm… ponder ponder…
Well, my friend had to go back to the States a few days later, but she told me in confidence that her contract was up by December, and she had decided not to renew it, with plans to move back home. Well, that gives me around four months. Maybe by then, I’d understand it all better. And maybe even be prepared. If only things could be like the movies.
p.s. As you can see, I tried keeping names out of this to “protect” the innocent. But, although if any of the barkada should happen to see this, I’m sure they’d figure out who’s who. Well, they all know about it, anyway. And, I’m hoping that if she does read this, I hope she keeps an open mind, and that she remember Harry and Sally.
