“AS IN O-M-G! Mukha talaga siyang julalay…” your flamboyant friend struts down the busy sea side of Mall of Asia and waves his hands around theatrically to prove his point. Heart of the topic: a hunky varsity player and his unattractive girlfriend. “Biruin mo ‘yun?” he partially covers his mouth and continues,“Sa chaka din pala siya babagsak?” You nudge his elbow and politely whisper, “Gaga… Ang ingay mo.” He raises his right eyebrow at you, “Eh sa totoo naman e. Kung alam ko lang na jupangit pala ang type nya, pumila na sana ako.” You nudge him again, “Hindi naman siya chaka.”
You pause and think for a while then say with a naughty smile, “Hindi pa lang siguro uso ang pagmumukha niya!” You both burst into laughter. Pedestrians look at you – some amused while others feel abused.
In an instant, colored ornaments light up the tall tree. Program audience, bystanders and spectators applaud as it begins to drizzle. As you wish deeply that snow fell instead of rain, the music of the season fades in from the background. As people seem to group in pairs, you wish that you were with a charmingly romantic date instead of a talkative friend. As the Yuletide feeling swell all around you, bitterness flood from deep inside your thick coat.
“Bakit ganun?” your friend stares at the tree, like a melodramatic scene in an overrated telenovela. “Bakit ano?” you pretend that you are not affected by his predictability. “Bakit ang pangit, nagkakarelasyon? Ako hindi. Pangit na lang sana ako…” he closes his eyes and looks down.
“O-M-G!” you slap your friend at his back and exclaim, “Oh my Goddess!” He lunges forward theatrically, as always. “Vaket?” he looks at you, surprised. “Bitter ka ‘no?” you say as you bend forward to help him straighten up. “Bakit mo ako tinulak?” he asks, irritated. “Huwag kang mag-alala,” you take on a compassionate tone, “Kasama mo naman ako eh.” She smiled, and somehow, the feeling of bitterness wasn’t there anymore.
As soon as the split second moment you felt okay, you burst into laughter. As your amusement fades, a bystander jumps into dance. You look at him, puzzled. Another stranger jumps in to dance as well, following the same steps. In the corner, a group of five students follows the same danceable beat. And then behind you, several more pedestrians thump their feet. Dozens join in, followed by scores… until you are surrounded by a flash mob of dancers!
This season is not just about you and your lonely heart. It is also about looking around, giving thanks for what you have been given and celebrating life, as you know it.
You pause and think for a while then say with a naughty smile, “Hindi pa lang siguro uso ang pagmumukha niya!” You both burst into laughter. Pedestrians look at you – some amused while others feel abused.
In an instant, colored ornaments light up the tall tree. Program audience, bystanders and spectators applaud as it begins to drizzle. As you wish deeply that snow fell instead of rain, the music of the season fades in from the background. As people seem to group in pairs, you wish that you were with a charmingly romantic date instead of a talkative friend. As the Yuletide feeling swell all around you, bitterness flood from deep inside your thick coat.
“Bakit ganun?” your friend stares at the tree, like a melodramatic scene in an overrated telenovela. “Bakit ano?” you pretend that you are not affected by his predictability. “Bakit ang pangit, nagkakarelasyon? Ako hindi. Pangit na lang sana ako…” he closes his eyes and looks down.
“O-M-G!” you slap your friend at his back and exclaim, “Oh my Goddess!” He lunges forward theatrically, as always. “Vaket?” he looks at you, surprised. “Bitter ka ‘no?” you say as you bend forward to help him straighten up. “Bakit mo ako tinulak?” he asks, irritated. “Huwag kang mag-alala,” you take on a compassionate tone, “Kasama mo naman ako eh.” She smiled, and somehow, the feeling of bitterness wasn’t there anymore.
As soon as the split second moment you felt okay, you burst into laughter. As your amusement fades, a bystander jumps into dance. You look at him, puzzled. Another stranger jumps in to dance as well, following the same steps. In the corner, a group of five students follows the same danceable beat. And then behind you, several more pedestrians thump their feet. Dozens join in, followed by scores… until you are surrounded by a flash mob of dancers!
This season is not just about you and your lonely heart. It is also about looking around, giving thanks for what you have been given and celebrating life, as you know it.