The Last Hello

November 3, 2012

"Hello?"

"Andyan ba si Nica?"

"Uhm, yep. Nica, boyfriend mo to diba?"


That was the first time I heard his voice - his first hello.

"Napagkamalan kang lalaki ni Mhavs. Sam ba naman kasi 'yung pangalan mo. Ang kulit. Kung hindi pa narinig 'yung boses mo hindi pa maniniwala. Andun daw sa amin eh. Gusto mo makilala?"

"Sige."

He was my best friend's boyfriend. Since I rarely see my best friend ever since I went to college and work, we weren't able to update much about ourselves, and I consider not meeting his boyfriend a lag in our relationship.

"Hello."

"Mhavs, si Sam, best friend ko. Sam, si Mhavs."

"Hi."

He gave me a high five. He's nice and good looking - I thought, but not my type. I and my best friend's types when it comes to men are total opposites. Although we both fall for handsome men, I usually go for the ultra pretty boys while she clings to the bad boy types.

But who am I to interfere with my best friend's feelings? As long as she's with someone who'll take good care of her, I'm okay with that. And besides, based from her stories, Mhavs is indeed a nice guy. Their relationship is legal. Mhavs parents like her and what's most important, Mhavs loves her a lot - to the point that sometimes, she gets a little irritated with Mhavs' clinginess. Irritated in a funny way that she nags about how her boyfriend wants the two of them to share the same plate when eating.

I guess my best friend will be happy with him, and I'm more than happy for her.



November 13, 2012,

"Boi, patay na bf ko."

There was no hello, but silence.

"Ha? Hala?"

I realized my reply was as bad as bullshit. It wasn't comforting, it was more of like.. doubting. Maybe because I was in denial or for some time I thought she was joking, which is natural of her, but she's not.

"Oo boi. Naaksidente sa motor."

Then it hit me, she wasn't joking. I wasn't close to Mhavs yet, but I wasn't oblivious of the pain. It was a rare kind of pain, but it was stinging.

My best friend is in deep pain, but knowing her and her personality which is a ton stronger than mine, I know she will surpass all of these. The recovery of losing someone eternally would surely last longer than moving on from a break up, but definitely possible.

And the situation just shows how short life is. I was shocked that he was someone I met just a few days back, and now he's gone. He's even younger than mine. I couldn't remember his voice and his hello anymore, nor I could even recall how his face was since I only saw him under the night's post lamp. My memories of him are never vivid.

The people we meet everyday, always offer them the best hello that we could give. For we will never know, that hello would be our first and last.

So, hello?