papa paul

i was already fast asleep when my mobile suddenly rang. in a panic, i quickly picked it up and went out the room since kuya was sleeping as well. i had retired from the day early since i had a race the following day. on the other side of the line, a seeming familiar voice proceeded out in greetings and the usual "kamustas". i had not yet recognized who i was talking too, hoping that my frazzled brain would eventually start working before the guy realized i was just being polite by responding... however, the stupid tone in my answers gave me away. "di mo ako kilala no?" "hehehehehe, no. sorry." "si paul to, engot!"

paul! i forgot he was back in town for a break. paul was my room mate back when i worked in dubai. we shared a room for a good 2 months together, back when our company still housed us. when the lease to our apartment expired, he and my other office mates decided to find cheaper accommodations near work while my other (girl)friends and i decided to stay put. anyway... that's another story altogether.

i met up paul last night at QC as i had invited him out to dinner. he brought with him his new love, isa. well, not really so new since she was his first GF apparently, and they have been "dating" (online) and had been rekindling the old flame for the past four months.

seeing paul again, after more than 2 years since i left dubai definitely flooded me with memories. i'm actually quite embarrassed since during the entire time we were having dinner, i think i had completely neglected talking to isa since i was too occupied catching up with paul. can you really blame me though?

on and on, paul and i talked about all that has happened since i left; my company, dubai, the people i worked with, my bosses, the malls, EVERYTHING. i also got to talk about his life. just listening to him talk, seeing his face, and hearing his modulated voice again, i could not help but feel a tad bit emotional. hehehehehe. i neglect to mention that i had a mini-crush on him as well. he was a steady character during a tumultuous time in my life. i recall every time i had a bad day, just by talking to him, even if it didn't make things any better, made things, at least feel, well, normal. we all have bad days apparently.

my best memories of paul would always be by, or in, the swimming pool. he had a fractured hip from a biking accident, and when time would come when the old injury would bother him, he would occasionally go up and take a dip in the rooftop pool where the company used to house us, the waters gloriously heated by the desert to a comfortable temperature. under the arabian sky, mesmerized by the reflections and the dancing of light caused by the agitated waters, i would often find myself in deep introspection and would have lengthy conversations with paul, the topics of which were endless. those nights were like moments shared by old friends, by like kindred souls, and even in some times, by like that of father and son.

i love my papa paul.