so today, or i mean earlier, one of my closest friends from college decided to get inked (itago na lang po natin siya sa pangalang ‘mumai.’). and i am sure we both understood how big of a deal it was – she has been ‘planning’ to get one, well, since freshman year…and i am glad that after eight long years she mustered all the courage she could and got herself a phoenix – i suppose the bird suits the moment. or maybe the moment suits the bird.
seeing her in flesh again (after the group’s last summer outing), sitting across the table, sipping iced tea and trying her very best to avoid the smoke as i light my cigarettes in a frenzy – just made me realize how much i missed hanging out with her. how much i missed her. it was great to know that we can just sit there and watch people walk by, occasionally talking about things that were and has been.
so we stayed in starbucks for a good 3 hours – just trying to catch up and absorb as much as we can of the things that we have gone through the past 6 months. i took a real good look at her and realized that she’s still the same great person i knew – well, with more wisdom and perspective now, of course.
one of the highlights of our conversation was asking each other: ‘are we still hopeless incurable romantics?’ we agreed on one thing – yes, we both still are. and it ain’t too bad. mumai have had a few relationships, i have one right now – which means we have more than enough ‘viewpoint’ of reality. but it was great to learn that despite the lows in both our lives (whether we’re in a relationship or not), we know that we can to turn to our ‘hope’ patches – something to give us small doses of optimism knowing that ‘the one’ is out there somewhere waiting (in my case, the one is already with me), that the world has not ran out of sporty, intelligent hazel-eyed guys for mumai (and in my case, a gorgeous muse named nosh won’t leave my side).
we went on and on talking about friends, mumai’s ex-boyfriends, our friends’ exes, my ‘pseudo-distress’ for not having an ex, my gratefulness for not having to worry about having an ex – up to this moment i get flabbergasted thinking about the volume of random topics that we can chatter about.
it’s amazing - how two women can sit together for hours and ramble about the daily strain of life and work, their unfulfilled desires and all else that falls in between – and not feel tired at all. well, i think i can blame it on caffeine this time. i was really excited when she told me that she ‘finally’ would like to get a tattoo. at the back of my head, i know that there is something so endearing about having to witness a friend subject herself to an expensive – and unconventional way – to have another person inflict pain on her. but more than anything, i am glad that she chose for me to witness a ‘milestone’ in her life. it was an honor to be there with her and for her – as i try my best to encourage and assure her that needles don’t really hurt. (yeah, i am one to ask hehehe)
i can’t help but worry about her as we walked towards the tattoo shop. i mean, I know she’s a tough girl, but i also know that being poked over and over again, (not discounting the fact that the tattoo machine sounds more like a jackhammer sometimes) could not possibly be ‘heaven’ for everyone.
mumai took the pain like all first timers would – with a little grunting and squirming every once in a while. i was actually wondering how she’s able to contain the pain well, despite her very petite frame. at one point i thought she’s going to break down, and i cannot help but feel a pang whenever she would whimper. but, like all women, she endured (the twenty-five minute ordeal) and emerged a little teary-eyed, but unscathed and possibly, stronger now more than ever.
seeing her in flesh again (after the group’s last summer outing), sitting across the table, sipping iced tea and trying her very best to avoid the smoke as i light my cigarettes in a frenzy – just made me realize how much i missed hanging out with her. how much i missed her. it was great to know that we can just sit there and watch people walk by, occasionally talking about things that were and has been.
so we stayed in starbucks for a good 3 hours – just trying to catch up and absorb as much as we can of the things that we have gone through the past 6 months. i took a real good look at her and realized that she’s still the same great person i knew – well, with more wisdom and perspective now, of course.
one of the highlights of our conversation was asking each other: ‘are we still hopeless incurable romantics?’ we agreed on one thing – yes, we both still are. and it ain’t too bad. mumai have had a few relationships, i have one right now – which means we have more than enough ‘viewpoint’ of reality. but it was great to learn that despite the lows in both our lives (whether we’re in a relationship or not), we know that we can to turn to our ‘hope’ patches – something to give us small doses of optimism knowing that ‘the one’ is out there somewhere waiting (in my case, the one is already with me), that the world has not ran out of sporty, intelligent hazel-eyed guys for mumai (and in my case, a gorgeous muse named nosh won’t leave my side).
we went on and on talking about friends, mumai’s ex-boyfriends, our friends’ exes, my ‘pseudo-distress’ for not having an ex, my gratefulness for not having to worry about having an ex – up to this moment i get flabbergasted thinking about the volume of random topics that we can chatter about.
it’s amazing - how two women can sit together for hours and ramble about the daily strain of life and work, their unfulfilled desires and all else that falls in between – and not feel tired at all. well, i think i can blame it on caffeine this time. i was really excited when she told me that she ‘finally’ would like to get a tattoo. at the back of my head, i know that there is something so endearing about having to witness a friend subject herself to an expensive – and unconventional way – to have another person inflict pain on her. but more than anything, i am glad that she chose for me to witness a ‘milestone’ in her life. it was an honor to be there with her and for her – as i try my best to encourage and assure her that needles don’t really hurt. (yeah, i am one to ask hehehe)
i can’t help but worry about her as we walked towards the tattoo shop. i mean, I know she’s a tough girl, but i also know that being poked over and over again, (not discounting the fact that the tattoo machine sounds more like a jackhammer sometimes) could not possibly be ‘heaven’ for everyone.
mumai took the pain like all first timers would – with a little grunting and squirming every once in a while. i was actually wondering how she’s able to contain the pain well, despite her very petite frame. at one point i thought she’s going to break down, and i cannot help but feel a pang whenever she would whimper. but, like all women, she endured (the twenty-five minute ordeal) and emerged a little teary-eyed, but unscathed and possibly, stronger now more than ever.
exhibit a is what i called 50% (meaning it's 50% done) - but mumai argued and said it felt more like a 30%.
exhibit b is the finished product - what a neat job, mr. ricky sta. ana!
today wasn’t just about seeing each other because mumai wanted to get a tattoo. this particular saturday morning meant affirming what we have – it meant appreciating the changes that we see in each other, mirroring each other’s depth, it meant loving that friend a lot deeper now, because there’s a bird and eight years of friendship between us.
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