i remember the first time i met my good friend maki when he transferred to our team in etel, he was this super perky guy that i was really annoyed at first. i used to say "ano ba to feeling close naman to," until his perkiness dragged me into being a happy person too. we talk a lot, chat a lot and text a lot -- i enjoy his company because despite being constantly sick -- you will never hear any negativity in him. he is hands down one of the most jolly person i have ever met.
he's a regular in hospitals ever since, and it would amaze me how was he able to chat with me and send me his dextrose pics while he's confined. he used to tell us, "sakit ng mayaman to no!" and then we would laugh and the guys in our team would tell him to shut up.
i will never forget this one time when i had problems of the heart. he sat beside my workstation and started to chat about this new girl he's seeing. it took him one look at me to know that i am not okay and won't stop asking me to spill what's wrong. after telling him briefly what happened, he just hugged me and joked -- "sige para sayo magbbrowse ako sa adult friend finder at ihahanap kita ng the best guy in town! kaw kasi ayaw mo sakin e!" then i laughed and felt better afterwards.
i cannot remember any incident wherein he did not hug me whenever he sees me in the hallway or along northgate. he's line is always "katsu!!!" then he would open his arms really wide until i go the other way to avoid his hug. when he left etel, it hadn't stopped him from staying in touch with me. he's one of my daily quote senders and would always text me when he's around northgate so we could meet up.
we went home together twice last november, he's already in hsbc and he would text me telling me that he's along the waiting shed waiting for me. i told him my plans of leaving the company and he was bragging to me the cool discount card from Victoria Court that he got from his friend. i laughed at him and told him "eh wala ka naman paggagamitan nyan e!" and then he said, "display lang baket!"
he would force me to go on early break just so i could go down and smoke with him during his break time at hsbc. and during ondoy days he was at the office and waited for me so he could share my umbrella, "masisira getup ko!" -- when all he's wearing is his familiar blue jacket.
my last memory of him was last month, it was my last day at etel and i was walking around northgate -- he's at his usual spot smoking. he called me and asked me if i can wait for him so we can go home again together. i was pretty tired then and i wanted to go home asap so i said i couldn't wait for him. few steps forward, he called me again and walked toward me and whispered, "ayusin mo shirt mo sa likod nakikitaan ka na, ikaw talaga." .. and i never even remembered to say thank you. then a month after, he's gone.
i could go on and on about all the happy and sad moments i had with him, but i know our friendship remains in my heart. i didn't know it was this painful losing someone, he is not just a colleague -- he is one hell of a good friend.
thanks for being a part of my life maki, i love you my friend -- i will miss you forever.
