4th of July 2k2
- thursday -

dear Anche,
treat this as my humble way of thanking you before i leave. so you're not the sweetest and kindest friend (that's a given :)) but boy am i glad i was given the chance to know the REAL you. i have seen you in the best and worst of moods; albeit i can only swallow your angst and cruel words with my pride, you find a way to make it up to me by the laughter you send my way. i'll always be grateful for inspiring me to pick up my sketchpad again, and enjoy an old hobby i have forgotten i was passionate about. you introduced me to stuffs i never knew exist, yet now i am a BIG fan (i'll allot a big budget for my C&H collection :)) but, probably, the greatest memory i'll be thankful for is how you trusted me with your 'you-know-who' story. ok ... confession time!

back then when we would talk about her, you, the situation, the circumstances, i was in the deepest imaginable pit of sadness. i wanted to block off people, i wanted to shut off and care less of the world. mostly because the break-up was fresh, and the feeling of 'being so unneeded' is at its peak. my self-esteem was low, my laugh was hollow, and my eyes were frequently puffy. and then you popped up with a story to tell, with woes to spill, with a scant regard on how the world sees you as.

i wasn't ready to exercise my social skills, but somehow, for reasons i just couldn't understand, it wasn't hard for me to welcome you as a new friend. yes you were too difficult at times, and the lashes of your kasungitan hurt so bad. but i overlooked them because i felt needed. it felt nice to have someone who treated me with a trusting, different kind of kindness that made me stretch my patience and build my character.

i still may not be able to describe you, because i sense how deep you are still as a person, but i'd thank you just the same because of the times you allowed me to get to know you -- and for the time you tried to get to know me. i'd like to stop complimenting you, because i know you're a pathological narcissist :), but heck ... it's my nature to appreciate and be vocal about it ... so i'll take the risk anyway. you're a great person, you're endowed with talents, and you know how to tap them ... that's why i know you'll go far. you may not know where to go after today, but at least you are starting to think of how to deal with that quarter-life crisis. ganyan talaga pag tumatanda na :)

and hey, what's a letter without the usual topic that is LOVE :) i know how passionate you can be, and i can boldly say the girl you'll love is sure one lucky gal. when you do find her, win her with you poems and sketches, and prove your worth, and never let her go. show her that YOU you've shown me ... be your real self and love every minute of it. if you'll remember to share the story, i'll be happy to listen and empathize. and i hope it'll be soon ... para happy ka na (in HAPPY's truest sense) :)

Thanks for the manga experience too. that was indeed so exhilirating an experience for me. Itsuki 4ever :) And hey ... stay brave enough to be different, yet resilient enough to fit in. I'm glad you've started to go out of your shell and see the faces around you.

Goodluck, and see you whenever, wherever :)