From Cebu With Love (And Apologies?)

To those who’ve seen me jumping up and down with an immense smile plastered on my face as I went home from school last Wednesday, I believe it’s time for me to explain.

It’s so hard to just be poker-faced after what happened that afternoon. It’s really difficult to keep myself from squealing in glee because of just what transpired a few moments before that. It’s rather impossible to just contain myself at that point. How could I just shut up and act normally (if that’s applicable to me!) when two of your friends from rather far-off Cebu decide to surprise you with a phone call? And as if that isn’t squeal-worthy enough, I realize that no, I’ve never talked to Charlie and Jessah on the phone, nor heard their voices (save for that video of an NSTP presentation on Charlie's Multiply), ever. Ever. Wow!

Despite the scratchy voice I acquired from screaming on the phone --- a requirement brought about by weak signal transference from Manila to Cebu and vice versa (Gosh! You should have heard it. “HI! JESSAH! HOW! ARE! YOU?!”), I totally enjoyed those few minutes Jessah and I were at long last connected through the magic of cellular phones. Finally hearing her delightful, American-accented voice full of exuberance and excitement at talking to me (I’m only presuming, okay.) was also a treat. I totally relished every second of that phone call, and yes, it most certainly made my day --- made it enough to send me squealing and jumping around in the bathroom when nobody was there. Yes, it was most certainly welcome.

This is why I was perplexed when Charlie was apologising profusely for that phone call. He says that Jessah saw my number on his phone, copied it to hers, and decided to call me up. Also, he asked forgiveness if I was offended in any way by their call. My only question was “What offense?” If anything, I was ecstatic to finally hear their (I heard Charlie in the background briefly. So yes, I heard you speak, my soul brother!) wonderful, albeit screaming voices. I told him how that call was such a pleasant surprise and how it made me smile the entire day. Plus, yes, that I’d love another one. Haha!

But you know what? In some way, I understand Charlie’s apologising. You see, we live in a world with a “Don’t bother me” attitude. People are so preoccupied with their own tasks, clique of friends and, well, world that reaching out and wanting to get to know someone on a deeper level has become not normal, uncomfortable, and even offensive to the person you want to befriend. Because we’re so comfortable with the boxes we’ve set up for ourselves, we forget to see that there are others ---- others who laugh, sing, dance, cry, eat ice cream, love literature, make nonsense stories like us, as well as others who don’t --- beyond those cardboard borders. Reaching out is considered weird now.

But, if we do, goodness is it lovely. To know that someone in the distance --- whether it’s another country, another island, another house, or another mobile phone number --- would like to have you as part of their life, look at your real self, and accept you, that is sheer beauty. And of course, who knows the impact and joy that person would bring you if you don’t make the effort to actually walk across that imaginary hall and connecting with someone?

So Charlie, no, please don’t apologise for something I incredibly appreciate. And next time? I better hear you speak too. Just kidding! Haha!