the sweetest things

Sometimes, the sweetest things are the little moments and small favors done by those who love us.

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This happened during college. There was a time when I had problem with my feet, something about my blood vessels. It was a period of stress and I wasn’t allowed to walk or stand for more than an hour, nor walk with strappy, high-heeled sandals. I did both. My feet swelled. And I couldn’t wear closed shoes for a while. It was pretty much okay, except for the part that I could’t walk much on flat, solid ground and go up and down the stairs using alternate pattern. So you can imagine how fast it takes me to get anywhere.

Our class was in third floor. After 10 years, I finally got in the classroom. And bright kid that I was, I didn’t bring lunch with me. Now friend knows about my uh... feet condition. Now, this friend wasn’t part of my clique then. He was from a different barkada. The moment the prof left the room, he came up to me and asked me what I’d like for lunch. This he did even before my barkada thought to ask me if I have lunch with me.

How thoughtful can anyone get?
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I am one of those people who hate spicy food. When I was a kid, I didn’t even eat V-cut because I find it too spicy for my taste.

Lunch time and I went down to buy food. I bought caldereta. I didn’t know that caldereta is supposed to be spicy. This information I learned soon after. I wasn’t able to eat even half of my lunch then.

It was the period of Great Depression for me. For some reason, I was perpetually broke then. I was like, okay, there goes lunch. After classes, I usually go home with friend. We travel the same route. Before we went home, friend invited me to go out and eat first, his treat. I was a bit surprised. We don’t really do this very often. And when we do, it was mostly because we got out of class way later than expected, or because I asked. When I asked him why, he told me, “Gutom ka pa eh. Di ka kaya kumain masyado nung lunch dahil maanghang yung pagkain mo.”

I had no idea anybody noticed.
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I was on the way home with friend. And I was telling him about this guy I was totally crushing on. I was feeling a bit insecure then. He was sorta’ courting me, but I felt that he was way too good for me. And that I should try to be something else. I was enumerating my long list of flaws to friend then, when he stooped me mid-sentence and told me (this is totally cliche but sweet nonetheless), “if hindi nya na-appreciate who you really are, sya yung hindi worth it."
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It was the worst day of my life. I just found out that the love of my life, the guy I had been crushing on for months, the guy I had been seeing exclusively for months, has a girlfriend. Information he failed to tell me.

I was devastated.

I cried buckets of tears, and cursed him for hours. I, of course, told friend about it. I have work that night; I was still doing graveyard shift. I get out by 6 am. Friend arranged to meet me at Pancake House at 7 am for breakfast to forget about the whole sordid affair. Friend was only in Manila for a brief period. And he didn’t have anything scheduled to do that morning.

Who else in his right mind will wake up that early just to go for breakfast?
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I have a very lousy sense of direction.. None existent would be the closest thing to describe it. I was scheduled for an interview in Makati. In a building I have never been in, in a street I have never heard of. I was in a phone conversation with friend then when I brought this up.

Friend’s only question was, “Anong oras natin kailangan pumunta dyan?”
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This was the time that The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was shown. I was then doing work at a certain hospital.

My shift end at 5:00 pm. So my friend and I had set to meet in the hospital at 5 to watch the movie at 5:45 pm. He was there by 4, with tickets. I rushed through my notes to get out of the department by exactly 5. he waited for me at the patient’s waiting area.

To give you a brief description of what it looks like: it was set on the hallways with around 8-10 plastic chairs (the kind you see at bus terminals) on one wall, and white blank walls in front. The area has no signal. It’s in the basement. he told me that he was tired of walking around so he’ll just wait until my shift is over.

At exactly 5 pm, I was in a hurry to get out of the door. That, however, wasn’t our day. The head of the department called a meeting, and didn’t appear until almost six. She gave us this long, terribly irritating lecture on her issues. Basically, I was annoyed as hell with her for three reasons: (1) she was mostly ranting about me; (2) she was taking up too much of my time when I have someone waiting outside; and, (3) she just made me late for the movie. The lecture ended at 7.30, way past the start of the movie. And we’re talking LOTR here. The movie is 3 hours long. The next one will be shown around 9, and will probably end past midnight. Definitely not the timeslot I can watch. For obvious reasons, watching the movie at that time was out of the question. I went out of the department fuming at the department chief. Friend was patiently waiting outside. I ranted and ranted the whole time we walked to Megamall. I apologized to friend for making him wait hours outside with nothing to do, and for canceling on the movie. He was really very nice about it. We went to the cinema, sold our tickets, and went to Kitchen to eat. He even treated me sushi as he knows food is the best way to lighten my mood.

Where else do you find friends like that?
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I was going with a co-worker to Naga for work. But another officemate/friend went with us to the bus terminal. They don’t really let people who aren’t going in the bus inside the terminal. I forgot to bring my stack of candies for the trip. I usually bring a plastic-full of those for long trips to avoid getting lightheaded. I also always have a thing for apples. It’s the only food my stomach can tolerate in any situation.

While waiting in the terminal, friend suddenly appeared with candies and apples for the two of us leaving for the trip. Ain’t that sweet?
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It was one of those really stupid days where I left my wallet in the house.  I was on the way to patient this time to do homecare, and I assumed mom would pay me so it's all right as long as I get there.  Unfortunately, mom wasn't at home.  I only have enough coins with me for a jeep and a bus ride. 

i texted friend: shet.  i have no money na.  left wallet at home. 

friend replied: san ka? sunduin kita?

can you say knight in shining whatever?
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If I list everything I find sweet, I will be writing this forever.

How lucky can you get to find friends who’ll love you as much?