At The Beginning

Flashback to two years ago. It was a rainy Sunday morning when I woke up panicking because I was late for my weekly breakfast with my parents. My dorm became my home during the gruelling months before the bar exams so my parents figured that if I couldn't come home, they would come to me. So every Sunday for that particular period, I would wake up for the 7am mass at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice with my parents then we'd have breakfast. On this particular Sunday, however, I overslept and was only able to have breakfast with my parents. No more mass together.

I heard mass right after my parents dropped me off. I was a bit late so I hurriedly sat on one of the pews at the back. I usually keep to myself in church and barely glance at the people around me. Only during the time we give peace to other people do I actually turn my head and greet my seatmates. I gave peace exactly like I did for the countless times I've heard mass at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice - first to the priest, then to my seatmates, then to whoever would give peace to me. The guy in front of me decided to turn his head and give peace to me. It was Dodie.

Dodie and I were classmates in law school, but we never acknowledged each other's presence. In fact, it's safe to say that we ignored each other. Dodie's version is that I looked mataray (which was true anyway). I happen to know that he'd look the other way whenever he would see me coming. That way, he wouldn't have to say hi to me. But we had no choice that day. We greeted each other and went on hearing the mass. I thought that was the end. But Dodie, being the friendly person that he is, decided to wait for me and walked with me back to the dorm - which incidentally was the same dorm he was staying in.

The casual greeting in church led to a long and interesting conversation. A great friendship. And a lifetime together.

Now, if only I could get that person from the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice to accept our reservation...