The High School Date
As a compromise for not going to the funeral wake of Honey’s
grandmother, I confirmed to Agooh a Saturday night hangout at GST (again!). It
was already quarter to 9 (but only 9pm in real time) when I left home to meet
him, Shen and Honey at McDonald’s just beside GST and I hated the fact that I
was already dressed up at least an hour earlier.
It was a mix of nerve and excitement as I walked alone to
the meeting place and ironically I was the last to arrive. Soon, I felt warm to
see the three of them after such a long time. They immediately noticed my thin
(or thinner, as they said) physique, and much to my hate, no one cared that I looked
good wearing my cool off-white shirt with suspenders print. Agooh looked same
except for his thick mustache which he carried very well. Shen was casual in
her striped collar shirt and bare face. While Honey is still pretty even if
with her braces, sporting a body-hugging sleeveless top and denim jeans. Soon
the four of us found ourselves sitting on a table at Hotshots (same spot as
last time I’ve been here) whose amiable owner is the now familiar to me, Kuya
Joel.
Over bottles of light beer, sisig and pizza (which Michelle
ordered and paid for, ok it’s Shen but the pizza box had that mistaken name),
we talked and did the most catching up we could do that night: Agooh is doing
well in nursing school, now on his 3rd year and has already mastered how to
perform vaccination. His LL is just as great (and even given me an advice or
two), his first time to have a different kind of lover. Shen is loving her work
in Antico and is currently balancing a long distance relationship with a nurse
now based in Ohio,
US. Honey’s now a daunting mother (Happy Mother’s Day!) to Richard and Richmond, living with her
husband in the mountainey (her own description) area of Rizal. While I shared
to them my not-so-happy career, my still-zero-almost-boring LL, and my sad encounter
with an ex-crush from HS.
Of course, we also chatted about our other classmates in RI
and how their lives have changed after the years that have passed.
Coincidentally, we saw Ana May passing by in GST but too sad that she can’t
stay for more than 5 minutes with us. We were already running out of things to
talk about and we were already on our fourth beer for the night when TJ, who
Agooh texted to come, finally showed up. As usual, he provided the best comic
relief and the juiciest gossips in town.
It was past 1:30AM when we decided to end the night. As
agreed Shen and I shared the bill, and thank God the cash I had left on my
wallet was just enough. I hugged them all except TJ who was somewhat jealous
that night because I was flirting with his friend before I took the ride on my
way home. It was 2:30 in the morning
when mom halfhearted opened the door for me (about quarter to 1 in real time).
I texted the three of them thank you and how I had such a
great time with this date. Agooh replied saying thank you and wishing me
goodluck to my LL. Shen sent a message too hoping that there will be a next
time and that it won’t happen after a year.
As I put my
semi-drunk self to bed, I felt happy knowing that there’s no love lost with my
high school friends despite the lack of communication all these years.
