What-the-hell-ever and Get Togethers.

It's not just me, it's everything around me. Is the universe working for or against me? Is it being playful? Or helpful instead? 

I came back to UP after 5 months. My intention was to take all remnants I left at the university. (That's official.) The higher purpose was to catch up with my friends whom I left behind after an oddly awkward graduation dinner last April. 

At noon, I met up with Ged in his black leather shoes and ear piercing. I found myself shrinking in my slippers and deep tan. UP seemed as eerie as ever. Right away, we went to SM to watch a movie. 

Sen and Ged: attacking the pizza

My comeback, my treat. No, Ged was helpful with my documents, he deserved a break. It was 2:15pm. I scanned all films being shown:

Despicable Me - Nah, lame cartoons.

The Expendables - Too testosterone driven

Resident Evil 4 - Ged: I think you'll sleep.

Sa'yo Lamang - No, no, no please..

Splice - Let's not waste our time over a disgusting creature.

Going the Distance - ok, let's settle for a romantic comedy, whatever it is.

Really, there was no choice, the film would start at 2:30 and ends at 4 which meant we could still meet Kathy at 5 when she goes out from work. Timing is everything. For us, it was perfect. Off we went inside the movie cave. 

The film started with the usual boy-meets-girl plot. I heard Ged whisper: "Typical, I'm waiting for the climax". In my head, I knew we were getting getting there. And indeed, halfway through the film, I found myself slowly sinking into my seat as each scenes unfolded the situation I painstakingly buried the past few weeks.  Is the universe working for or against me? Is it being playful? Or helpful instead? 

spare me!

I mean, what the hell was that! I deserved a break. :-( I should be spared by everything that works. The movie went on torturing me because it had a happy ending. Nonetheless, I found myself in the film. I mean not quite, but it's freaking there. It was worth every bully from Ged. 

We had coffee after watching "my" film which by the way ended in a hilarious dry humping scene. Ged blabbered about it. I diverted the topic on other things: corporate world, business communication, and target jobs. 

Ged: "hey, so wait, what's your dream job?"

In all haste, I said: "A writer"

Ged: "Ooh, just like Drew Barrymore in the film."

What-the-hell-ever.

Later that night, we met Kathy at a pizza place with a name I cannot remember. The resto smelled cheese, pasta, and gossips. Shane arrived a bit later. Laughter filled the atmosphere. We had lots of catching up to do. Kathy finally blurted out dark, 'small' secrets. Ged finally met Shane. Shane finally met Ged. (They're both studying in UP.) As for me, well, I finally knew the date of Kathy's birthday. (September 26: deeply carved on my forehead.)

Sen, Ged, and Shane: effects of oil and crust

Kathy and Sen: September 26 ok?!

Of course, the talk about the film didn't escape the night. I laid the REAL story to rest. Once and for all, I gave my piece. Almost in chorus, they said, a better decision was made. (Hopefully.. we'll see.) 

But what struck me most was how broad they thought about it all along. Kathy was skeptical (as always!) but edgy: you never saw it coming? Ged mentioned something like losing me without proper goodbye (apparently after that brief graduation dinner). He mentioned "sayang" (what a waste) on all things I could do here. Shane: "in its own time, let it be". Amen.

Talking and laughing was a great relief. I felt like suffocating myself in thoughts of similar wavelengths: "friends can't work on a job together"; "on love, everything has its own perfect timing"; "kalaban na ta beh"; and other antics. These realizations were fun until in the middle of the conversation, 

Kathy asked: "what was the last film you saw on big screen?" 

Me: "umm.. 50 First Dates...?"

Ged: "ooh, another Drew Barrymore film."

What-the-hell-ever! I'm outta here.