Bathroom, Ice cream, and Cake

I have never before cried in a public bathroom until last night. It was weird, like i wanted to cry my heart out but i couldn't. The girls in the next stall might think that i'm a crying ghost or something. But i was really sad so i cried as quietly as i could. *hikbi hikbi*

The reason? Mutya was leaving for the States with her hubby, JP. I was going to have a despidida dinner with them, her brothers, and Meryl (Moo). Moo was also leaving for Singapore for training. Both left early today, around 8 - 8:30am. I was hoping i'd get to Trinoma on time but the class (stupid! why didn't i just skipped class?! my stupid conscience was telling me to stay in case there'd be recitation) ended later than usual. I knew I was going to be late. I hurriedly ran out of class to look for a taxi. Every taxi that passed wouldn't take me there because of the traffic. I called Mutya but her battery was dying. I called Meryl. She told me that i couldn't make it. They're leaving early because of their early flights. Mutya was leaving her phone with her brother. I was planning on catching them at the airport. It turned out, they're flying from different airports! There was no way I could find them if they didn't bring their phones.

I was so frustrated! It was Mutya's last night here and I can't see her. The last time we got together was bitin. I was going to give her a gift for her birthday (Sept 26). I was going to take lots of pictures for keepsake. I was going to give a lot of bilins. *hiccup* I was going to cry, right in the middle of Powerplant. I ran to the bathroom and the tears wouldn't stop dropping.

By the time Patty found me, I was in desperate need of cheering up. I ate ice cream cake at Press and I ate a lot! Eat to your heart's content. Drowned my frustration in choco-mint gelato.

I went to Starbucks to wait for Patring's birthday. I needed to compose myself before I joined them next door at Good Earth where the party was on full blast and the beer was flowing. I didn't want to ruin the mood with my being sad. I waited for midnight (Sept 28) and bought Patring a mini-cake. I transferred to Good Earth with my little gift and was pleasantly surprised when the deliriously happy Patring gave me a great big hug for being the first person that night to give her a gift. I was so touched at how much she valued my simple offering. She shoved me a bottle of beer and we all toasted. Thank you, Ces, sa pagsalo sa akin sa beer! I've never liked the taste of beer and I appreciate the effort.

Midnight came and the big crowd that gathered for Patring's birthday bash cheered aloud. I think we occupied half of Good Earth and made all the noise. Then her Human Rights friends came with her gift box. It was literally a big box filled with various gifts which took a month to prepare. It was filled with a scrapbookful of greetings and wacky pictures, a Red Ribbon cake, a fishbowl with live koi fishes, a Panatang Makabayan shirt, and a whole lot more. The birthday girl was in tears as she hugged people while still clutching my little cake. She finally relinquished the cake in exchange for the bowl of fishes. We ate the cake, took lots of pictures, hugged a lot, made a lot of noise and filled her box with more signs and greetings. I regret that we had to leave earlier than everyone else because we had to study for the next day.

The night didn't turn out so bad. I even forgot to be sad for a little while. I even laughed and smiled a lot for the pictures even if my eyes were red and my face was splotchy. I was glad I went to Patring's birthday bash.

Happy birthday to Patring Cervantes! I'm so glad I met you. I'm so glad you're my friend. Patring, i know we're trying to make up for this birthday since you didn't get to celebrate last year due to Milenyo. *smiles evilly* But there's another typhoon coming. I think you're birthdays attract a lot of things, including typhoons. Good thing we celebrated before the hard rains hit.

Free Hugs (I Hug You!)

This is the cutest post card Patty and I saw yesterday at Fully Booked. It was very fitting for me because I was feeling down. On the back of the card, it says:

HUGS...
Hugging is good medicine. It transfers energy, and gives the person hugged an emotional boost. You need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth. A hug makes you feel good. The skin is the largest organ we have and it needs a great deal of care. A hug can cover a lot of skin and gives the message that you care. It is also a form of communication. It can say things you don't have words for. The nicest thing about a hug is that you usually can't give one without getting one.

Author unknown

It was very clever. It made me wonder whether I lacked hugging since I didn't seem to grow (vertically, emotionally, etc.). Hmmm... I need a hug!

Shared Solitude

I was down. I felt so depressed, I was in need of solitude. I went to the bookstore to read a novel, as I always do when I feel like this. A new book from a favorite author! I sat in the two-seater cushion and started reading. You sat beside me. My bag filled with books between us. I didn't notice you at first, I was so engrossed in my book. I read my book, you read yours. You stood up and left. Still I didn't give much notice. You came back with a new book. The cushion dipped as you sat. I glanced at you, you seemed to be as engrossed as I was with my book. I move around in my seat, you didn't seem to mind. You got up to find other books, I didn't mind. Three hours, we sat beside each other in comfortable silence. I finished my book and felt so much better. I didn't want to leave, but my friends are waiting. I didn't want the comfortable way we sat to end. Because it made me peaceful, this shared silence. I didn't ask your name, you didn't ask mine. I got up to leave, the cushion shifted. You glanced at me. Sorry I have to leave.
Thank you. You might not know it but you made me feel better. You were a steady presence beside me. Thank you for sharing my solitude.

What Makes Me Happy:

• A cheerful smile or greeting from a stranger
• A big hug from a friend
• A great conversation
• Laughing my heart out while hanging out with my friends
• A sincere and unexpected compliment from someone i look up to
• A phone call (plus, i like hearing my ring tone) ^_^
• Eating a fave dish
• Cuddling a fluffy something
• Holding hands
• Sitting back to back
• Sharing food (weird habit from college days, eating from someone else's plate)
• Meeting new friends
• Renewing bonds with old friends
• Sitting in the prayer room
• Singing with other people (i joined the choir, finally had the courage)
• A good cry
• A good recitation
• Adrenaline rush
• A beautiful song (will share in a bit)
• Ice Cream

three of the songs that tops my playlist right now: (i have copies, will share if you ask nicely ^_^)

• Hana (flower) - by Orange Range

This one is the theme song in the movie "Ima, Ai Ni Yukimasu" (Right Now, I'm Coming to be With You) aka "Be With You." A touching movie from the writer of Heavenly Forest, Ichikawa Takuji. The next song is the theme in the drama version of the same book. I like both versions even if critics say that the drama version was dragging. Hmmm, I probably like it because it stars Hiroki Narimiya, who i find adorable.

• Kizuna (Bonds) - by Orange Range
  

Oh and they used a traditional japanese stringed instrument. A beautiful mix of the traditional and the modern. I think i'm starting to get attached to this band!

• Rain of June - by Hu Ge (i couldn't find a better radioblog version so here it is, youtube version) I'm super in love with this song.