Around this time, last week.
The night was still so young as if Monday will be on hold. The streets were still noisy and busy with people from all walks of life, wearing their custom-cut Islands Souvenirs shirt. For many, Sinulog has ended. For some, Sinulog has just begun.
We checked in late to the party, because that particular holiday meant overtime in the food business. And we found ourselves settling for the last open karaoke place with cold beer.
As I sat down to the best seat in the house, with a good reach to the tagay and sisig and an excellent focal point to the flashing song lyrics, I saw them.
I could not hear what they were talking about from inside, but i could tell that they were enjoying the conversation. They were occasionally laughing, and most of the time smiling. Looking away, looking at the almost empty parking garage, looking at each other, smiling again.
There was no physical contact. His hands were clasped together most of the time, while hers were just holding the hand rail, occasionally flipping her hair whenever it gets blown by the convenient mild breeze.
They were just talking. And impressively, not once did any of them check on their phones. And they were there talking for the next two hours while I was desperately trying to sing Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing while chugging down another glass of Red Horse.
I could be wrong, but from their body language I could tell that they were not a couple. But the same body language told me they were falling in love.
If you are single and reading this, I am sharing this story with one small piece of advice:
Find someone who can listen to your repetitive stories and always pay attention as if they are hearing it for the first time. Find someone who will be interested with something that most people would otherwise perceive as boring. Find someone whose stories you would never get tired of listening, and whose jokes you would always find funny.
Find someone you can have a good conversation with. Trust me, nothing beats a good conversation.
We left just before the break of dawn. And they were still there. Occasionally laughing. Looking away. Looking at each other. Smiling.
two flat tires 