While driving along Quirino Avenue going to Roxas Boulevard:
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---Tropa 1: Imagine tol, five years ago, estudyante lang tayo. Ano bang pakielam natin sa trabaho-trabaho. Basta hindi mawawala ang kupalan sa loob ng isang araw, solb na solb na ako.
Me: Honga eh
Tropa 1: Pero isipin mo, ngayon nagmamaneho tayo dito para pumunta sa binyag ng anak ni pareng ________, ilang taon pa trenta na tayo.
Tropa 1: Hindi natin napapansin tumatanda na tayo. Maya-maya may anak na pala tayo tapos yung mga anak natin marerealize na lang natin, magcocollege na pala. Ang bilis ng oras no?
Me: Silent... Looking at the street children sprinting across the street.
The moment I left college, my first aim was to get as far away from them as possible and reinvent myself somewhere without their influence. I was so eager to sport a new image that for some months, while most of my batchmates including them were busy jobhunting in Makati and Ortigas, I hid myself behind the shadow of my dad's company. Many times, they would ask me to hang out with them, but I would pretend that I'm busy. While I was busy exploring my newfound sexuality, they were holding the remants of the group together, ensuring that years would pass and we would remain connected to one another.
The first time I decided to show up to them, I showed a great act of indifference. I deliberately arrived late for the reunion, and insisted on going home earlier than most of them. It was just a mere courtesy call to a group that I am trying to forget. In fact, when Angelo wished for us to have a last beer session at home before calling it a night, I initially declined to be the host. If not for the long and brotherly talk I had with another tropa (the guy who was married yesterday), I wouldn't retract my initial decision to deny then access to my place.
A couple of years had passed and things cooled down between me and my straight barkada. Last Christmas (or the Christmas two years ago), Angelo sent us a Christmas Card. Inside the card was a brief message reminding us not to forget PGC. After reading his letter, I vowed to support every reunion we would have as a group. Beginning with the toma session we had last February, I never failed to show up whenever they would ask for my presence.
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After the reception last Saturday, my two companions and I agreed to spend the rest of the afternoon bonding together. Initially, I suggested that we should hang out in Tagaytay since it's much cooler there compared in Manila. However, they both declined my proposal citing that it's too far away from Kawit, Cavite.
So we went back to Manila without any destination to go. As we drive along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, the sight of SM Mall Of Asia never failed to catch our attention. The weather was very humid and we thought that chilling out in a cool place would be a great idea. After I told them that I haven't been to SM yet, they outrightly agreed that we should proceed to the mall despite the ongoing sale there.
The mall is extremely big, just like what the press releases have claimed. Compared to the other SM Malls, the Mall of Asia was designed to maximize the breezy air coming from Manila Bay. Inspired by the Alabang Town Center, some boutiques are found in an open air location.
We strolled a little, checking out Nike Park and other sports shops in the area. My two companion's favorite item is shoes so we went from boutique to boutique checking out prices, which though affordable, is still are too painful for our wallets. "Alam mo tol, bakit noong college tayo, ang dali lang para sa atin ang bumili ng ganito." I said to tropa number 2. "Pero ngayong ang laki na ng kinikita natin sa trabaho, hirap na hirap tayo maglabas ng pera para sa ganitong mga bagay." With a smile that showed great irony, he agreed with me.
Realizing how stressful it is to mingle with the huge crowd, we decided to chill out in Gillis Island after hanging out beside the massive Ice Skating Rink. As we lounged and drink Cali Ice while waiting for the sun to set, music from Eraserheads and other local pinoy bands played on the stereo. Like a crossroad between the past and the future, the setting inside the bar was nostalgic without the traditional kupalan that we used to do before.
We parted ways minutes after the final rays of the sun were finally consumed by the nimbus clouds coming from the north. We vowed to see each other again after Angelo finishes his bar exams two weeks from now. They wanted it done out of town. I gave my assurance that as long as it would fall on a Saturday and that it would be easy to go back to Manila anytime I want, they could count me in.
After years of meeting PLUs and talking about boys, vanities, parties and divas. Such reunion with my straight barkada gave me a perspective to a life that I have long forgotten. Subjects like Basketball, PBA, UAAP, hot girls in the campus, girl perversities, which are some of the binding factors of the group suddenly become trivial and interesting again. Perhaps, I just found the reason behind the complete deletion of my Gethsemane entry several days ago.
Written there was a vow never to reveal my preference to any straight guy again. One act of discrimination from someone who I though accepts me is enough. Though my former tropa doesn't know about my sexuality. Hanging out with them and hearing subjects and topics, which my ears are not familiar anymore reminds me that...
There's a fascinating life beyond the homosexual realm which I belong to right now.
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