Blast From the Past

I was browsing my messages in my email up to the very first message I saved. I found thread of messages from cityniceguy dated March 2002:

first message: (verbatim)

Dear Rester,
Congratulations! You know, I just came from the AVR, I was exactly there when our President announced the second placer of the quiz bowl, Congratulations. You did not tell me you are joining the contest, I should have given a standing ovation for you. Anyway, thanks for the time u spent with me last Monday, I hope we could meet again, I’ll go with u next time, sugot ka? Di bitaw. How are you now? Still busy with your projects? I guess I could not help with respect to programming, I’m still using C++. Anyway, I’ll pray for you. Just don’t forget to ask God’s guidance in everything u intend to do. Hope to see you soon. God bless. Reply pls.

second message: (verbatim)

Rester,

I got your mail last week, I did reply, but there was something wrong with our internet connection (Library). I tried to send it but I could hardly sent, til I logged out. Anyway, you are very much welcome about it, how can I let you walk alone to the terminal, you’re pretty and as what I have observe, you’re such a nice and deserving person I’ve ever met. Thanks also for the time u spent talking with me, although you dont know me yet.About your problem, I guess that guy is desperately falling in love with you. I never felt any buffling mystery when u told me, ang cute mo kasi. I’m sure also, he is one of your admirers, if I’m right, that is not the prudent way of courting. Anyway, what’s ur last subject during mwf? what time, what room? I can wait you, or even accompany you Rester, I wanted to know more about you. Please tell me more about urself. Rester, if you need my help again, just call my name and….I’ll be there. I can be ur hero sweetheart.Til next time, I’m looking forward to seeing you again. Can I have one of your photos? If you hate to give, I understand, if you like please do. Jeffrey is there, he can bring it to me. Thanks. ALways remember, I’m always at your side, willing to help, willing to do anything for you. I’m lucky to have a friend like you.
Missing you,

another message: a greeting card

Hi rester ,

Ok, I’ll try to call you. I wanna see you again.

And I found this message for him on the Draft folder of my email. I am not sure if I ever did send this: (verbatim)

I’m sorry, I can’t make it on Sunday. We already have a plan with my sister on going out before you asked me. If you like , you can come with us. Honestly, I don’t usually go out with a guy alone especially if I barely know him. I’m sorry, I need time to know you better..and I really don’t know how long it takes . I just can’t give my trust right away. I hope you can wait for that time. I think your feelings for me can wait. Why don’t we just enjoy our friendship? We should take one step at a time. I just want you to be friends with my friends and my sister – because they are important to me. Jesslee, Ed and Epoy are like brothers to me. We’ve been together for six years. Well, that’s me. I’m very sorry if I disappoint you.

Please also consider of knowing me better before saying things you are not sure of..you just don’t know, you don’t like me after all.. Take care…

I was 18 at this time. I remember I met cityniceguy (this is his email id) when I tried to get away from my stalker. The stalker was this guy who always wait for me outside the gate of the school and then followed me until the bus terminal. He never approached me and even tried to introduce himself. He was a working scholar like me who worked near my office. One time, I smiled at him and then the next day, he sent flowers and love letters. I freaked out. He followed me almost everyday to the bus station. One time, I intentionally stayed late at school – I have to finish a project anyway – to get-away with him. Surprisingly, he was there at the gate standing. He followed me and I got really nervous and afraid — haller..who wouldn’t be. So I tried to squeeze my self in a group of student who were walking ahead of me. One of them was cityniceguy. He started talking at me and I tried to converse back – to make it look that I was not alone — that I was with him. When I turned back, the stalker stopped and just looked at me from a distance. He didn’t follow me anymore. I was relieved. Now, cityniceguy was being really nice to ask me if he can walk with me to the terminal. We introduced ourselves, etc. Apparently, we took the same course and he was also a working scholar. I was ahead of him one year for he stopped school for a year. We exchanged emails. I didn’t have cellphone back then. He asked me when he could see me again and I told him that I’ll be in the AVR the day after.

The first message was sent by him two days after we met. I joined a quiz bowl and he was there. From that time on, he called the office where I worked and walked me to the bus station. I was really “kilig” at that time. He was guapo, nice, smart and a perfect gentleman. I introduced him to my friends Ed, Epoy and Jesslee. I even introduced him to my little sister who was a freshman back then. He wasn’t comfortable with them and I wanted him to accept them. He was already courting me at that time and I was considering him to be my bf. But I didn’t see any effort coming from him to be close to them. So I told him that I don’t think “me and him” will work out.

This is how I value my bestfriends — Ed, Epoy and Jesslee are important to me. They can never be replaced. Love you guys and I miss you!