Rainbow 25

The 8-Shaded Rainbow –Part 25

Vibrant Again

As was my shout out in my social networking site profile, I have to say it again, that for the last few months, amidst stress at work and missing my family back home at the same time, I almost knocked myself off balance.  True to the saying: You cannot serve two masters at the same time, I was totally worked out - that wasted feeling everyday; feeling weak to my knees even just as the week starts; troubled and unmotivated; the end results, myself,  being incompetent and short on both ends - Oh, I so wanted to pack my bags and go home, if only I could.

Then I met these people - some I befriended and are closest to me now, some are random acquaintances; still, they are individuals and each of them, are "stories to tell by themselves alone."  So all in all, I have met...hmmm... quite a good lot. 

By midweek, Cherry, a friend whom I met through Laura and Noreen, came over to my place straight from work, for a little nap.  Cherry is 6years younger than me - but we get along pretty well.  She is dating this guy, who happened to be a graduate of the Computer University in the Philippines where I used to be a Computer Instructor (so naturally, we have common peers, friends and memories from and of the institution.)  Cherry, maybe being young and a woman, (it could be another reason, for all I know) is the type of person who changes her mind more than the average woman does.  Up until this time, she still is in the middle of an almost undefined dilemma of what and who she really wants in life.  Not that it is any of my business though.  I mean, I could be friends with a person and totally detach myself from his/her personal preferences and choices in life.

Anyway, I went for steam sauna, swimming and hot tubbing with Cherry and Reiley that day.  Of course it was fun!  And while we spent so much time for photo opt (it seems like it) than swimming, I noticed the instant bond between Cherry and Reiley - which is not very surprising given the outspoken nature of both.  After a while, I urged to step back a little from the conversation, leaned a bit closer and listened more to them.  I am not sure if I am just being indifferent and hypercritical, but as I set adrift on my drive to observe, I noticed so much of a nonsense in what looks like more of a yapping and blabbering scene.  Cherry and Reiley are my friends, I know that - but at that moment, I can't help but tell myself how so petty they both are - the endless drama of "I like him, but I don't know if I love him;"  "the percentage of being able to let him go is far lower than that of myself wanting to keep him;" "I haven't gotten over my ex totally yet;" "I am scared to give my all;"  "we are not together, but I like him;"  And then there's Reiley, keeping the conversation going with the same questions, like that of a TV host trying to stretch the interview portion so as to compensate the airtime.  I don't know, it could also be that I am just tired listening to the same things; same sentiments; same drama.  Personally however, I hate people saying one thing and acts otherwise.  I hate people blowing an anthill into a mountain.  I hate people who cannot seem to recognize and stand by what they really wanted.  I hate shaky perpectives.  I hate wobbly convictions.

The next day was a whirlwind escapade - impromptu and all, Alex offered to drive around and just do the "anything goes" trip with me - just the two of us.   Funny how interesting our friendship has become.  I am not quite certain yet, but I do see myself and Marcus in Alex and Chelsea's situation - and how I so wanted to help them both to patch things up as soon as possible, became my sort of, advocacy.   What I see so much in them, is the love that is still obviously there; their compassion to one another; the undeniable care - it was all just too beautiful to waste.  I don't know, but something inside of me, keeps telling me to save them from the turmoil that Marcus and I inevitably sunk in, because we were young too back then, and because we don't have that much of support system from the people around us.  Marcus' friends pulled him away from me, my friends did the same to me, until we drifted so far apart that however great the love we still have for each other, circumvented and confined itself right in the middle, where the distance between us encompassed the hollowness of pride and defeat.  

All throughtout the almost 45minute-drive, I lured Alex to confess about his thoughts, discreetly.  Well, I may not have needed such an effort, because the moment we hit Anthony Henday Highway, Alex, in high spirits, started narrating his and Chelsea's happy beginnings  - how they started; her, being his bestfriend's biggest love; and him, playing the bridge between his bestfriend and Chelsea; him, having the biggest crush on Chelsea at about the same time but kept it to himself in favour of his bestfriend; how the bestfriend died in a car accident on Alex's birthday celebration some 10-11years ago; how he and Chelsea, went to the funeral together and how the lights went off when they both looked into the coffin; how the dead bestfriend's face was all covered with mold when the lights came back on; how him and Chelsea started to realize that they liked each other long since; (they were friends and allies since grade school) how their baby was born; and then they get married; and then finally fell so deeply in love with each other; how they are now threatened by the possibility of somehow losing each other; and how he is trying to stop that, even when the circumstances all point out to that direction and against him.  Alex, shared with me the fun times they had; how so funny was the turn about of their civil wedding - with both of them almost totally missing out on the date of the ceremony, should the officer from the city hall haven't given them a courtesy call - they didn't have time to buy their rings then and they settled for fancy ones just to make it through the day; how they were giggling while repeating after the vows and how, among the rest of the couple who wed that day together with them, only the two of them are the odd pair, both wearing jeans and shirt.

So, Alex and I went malling and found quite a bunch of pretty interesting stuff and best finds at  my price range!  I was so excited - and Alex looks lighter than he ever was.  In different stores that we went in, we of course went separate ways because he goes to men's section.  He later told me that Jaz phoned and he told her that we are together on a date!  So, yeah, I, obviously and instantly became the villain.  Apparently, Alex has planned all these.  And he deliberately used me as his gorgeous prop, to ditch Jaz.  Sweet!  Surprisingly, I didn't feel guilty at all.  Alex took me to the billiards hall afterwards, thought me the basics, and we ended up bursting with fun!  Alex said I did well for a beginner - and I wanted to believe him in as much as I was thinking, that he might just be compensating the trouble he got me into, telling Jaz that we are out on a date.  Well, whatever!

We got home and started drinking with Reiley right away.  And then Matt joined in, Ethan too and then we went out to get Michelle - Ethan's special girl before Maya (it was just Thursday, so Maya is not in the duplex yet).  Jaz arrived too, but after a brief argument with Alex upstairs, she left the duplex, saying goodbye in cracked voice.  Alex, came down and told us that he ditched her (like, again?)  Of course, they fought over me somehow, but Jaz's jealousy wasn't really about me snatching her boyfriend but because she was smart enough to know that Chelsea and I are allies - that more than going out with Alex, as if on a date, I did go out with Alex to somehow get the connection back between the husband and the wife.  When we finally completed the elements of the night, Loraine noticed how so much fun it was with only the few of us altogether.  Later on, or could it be a little after midnight, we decided to hit the club and had a blast!  Even Loraine, who is due to give birth anytime soon, came along.  We hit the dance floor, the guys hit the billiard balls.  Then the stinger (it turned out to be) followed on the way home, coffee for them, hot smoothie for me at a coffee shop nearby.  I barely had a couple of hours sleep and then work hours is here.  Lo and behold! My stomach was upset all morning.  I didn't know how was I able to make it through the almost 9hour work schedule, but I did.  I collapsed to my bed right after work and was sound asleep until the phone rang - the whole gang is here again!  I didn't have a vivid idea of how fast I was able to wash my face and get dressed.  The next thing I knew was, I am in the van again, hitting the road with the familiar laughter of the familiar people around.

When the smell of ginger and lemon grass-based soup from the hotpot and the smoke from the Singaporean grill stung my nostrils, I know it is going to be a delicious night!  Asian Hotpot and Grill dinner with Matt, Loraine, Maya, Ethan, Alex and Reiley - now, that's a grand Friday night finale!