Lost and Found

"Hinanap ko siya sa ibang lalaki," My colleague told me other day.

"Nawala na lang siya bigla," He continued.

I listened intently.

Stories like these, to me, are precious. Even if they narrated it out of the blue or out of boredom. I treasure each and every interesting story, like heirloom.

"Isang araw hindi na siya nagparamdam. Hindi ko alam nangyari. O baka alam ko pero hindi ako sigurado kung yun yung ugat."

"I was insecure about myself, my sexuality. He was the confident one, being the older one as well. We were in a relationship when I was graduating from college. But he was already established. Twenty-eight na siya that time. I was only 20. Aaminin ko, he became the benchmark for my future partners."

I could see his eyes. Nakita ko sa mga mata niya paano niya kinwento ito. Walang sakit, walang poot. Masaya niyang nailalathala ito. Kinwento niya ito ng walang halong malisya.

"Oh gosh G he introduced me to Government! Can you imagine? That old club in Makati. Siya din nagpunta sa akin sa O Bar."

"Mabuti ka pa! Hindi ako nakapunta doon," I replied.

"Masaya! As in. Pakiramdam mo you could live partying."

He grabbed his phone and showed me his photos from Boracay. They were still together. My colleague looking youthful and happy.

Sabi nila ignorance is bliss. At that time naramdaman ko ito sa mga litrato niya.

"Nung nawala siya, nawala din ako. I kept comparing guys to him. Ang hirap, G. Ang hirap. Three months, six months, four month relationships."

He looked at the photos again, swiping every now and then. I saw him smile a bit.

"Then out of the blue, I met my current."

He was referring to his 5-year relationship to this wonderful guy who he met through Blackberry Messenger.

"And how did he change your perception?"

"He made me realize that I have to stop comparing."

I nodded and agreed.

"He made me realize that comparing is inevitable, it's human nature. But he also made me feel that loving again is inevitable."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. Naiinis ako kasi tama siya. Masaktan ka man, magmamahal ka pa din.

"Pero naging kaibigan mo na ex mo?" I curiously asked.

"Oo, FB friends kami."

"And?"

"Hindi na G. Okay na ako. Hindi ko na in-alam kung bakit nawala siya...Okay na kami."

"Okay na okay na. Napatawad ko na siya," he said while he slowly pocketed his phone and went back to work.