The cool wind was blowing and the night is getting deeper. It's already a half past ten in the evening and I'm still standing on the sidewalk waiting for a jeepney ( I live in the Philippines and this is our means for an inter-city public transportation ) to arrive. If only it would come sooner because my cellphone is blowing up with text messages from my dad urging me to go home. I had a gab session with my girl friends that I haven't seen in awhile that's why we talked for hours not realizing it's already late. I was growing impatient with the situation because the vehicles cruising on the street are getting thinner which makes my going home more delayed. I looked down the pavement trying to decide if I should wait for my ride or just call my dad to come and fetch me. But suddenly, my dilemma was cut off by the sound of screeching tires. I scanned the surrounding, startled from what I heard. I saw a blue motorcycle in the middle of the intersection make a sharp turn and speed up to my direction then came to a halt in front of me. The driver hopped off and removed his helmet. I was stunned. I wasn't prepared for who I saw. All of his 5 foot 9 frame with his signature smile was standing in front of me. Is this for real? The ghost from my past is beaming a foot away from me. My first boyfriend, my first kiss, my first heartbreak! I haven't seen him for so long it felt like ages. His long hair is gone and so are his tattoos. But nevertheless, he's still capable of making my heart skip a beat. He said hi but I was too dumbfounded to respond. Honestly, he was the last person I expected to see in my short visit here in my hometown. Maybe it's true what they say, always expect the unexpected. When I finally snapped out of my shock, I said hello back to him. He laughed at me. I guess all of my reaction was too obvious. How embarrassing.
He asked why I'm still out when it's already late. I didn't have time to answer because he shoots me another question. He wondered where have I been and why I'm alone. If it is possible to be in a second shock, that's how I felt. After these years we've been apart without communication he still hasn't changed. Still the same conservative guy I fell in love with when I was a sophomore in college. My heart was floating with butterflies. I don't know if it's because of his presence or maybe because I was holding my breath. We chatted for a little while exchanging inquiries about each others' life. That's when I found out he had to return for work at a nearby town the next day. What a coincidence that I also had to travel the next day to another city because I moved there already. I just came home to visit my parents just like him visiting his too.
Seriously, what are the odds of us seeing each other in this quiet night and talking on the sidewalk. We were at the right place at the right time. We were reminded of what we once had before moving on to our newfound lives. It was like time warped us back to 2005. I was 17 and he was 21. We were young, careless and free. The world was ours to conquer. I believe, fate brought us back together once more.
Finally, my ride arrived and we have to say goodbye. But before the night ended I'm pretty sure an old flame was rekindled.
P.S. He asked for my number.
