Mariah and Her Necklace

I can still remember vividly. I was 3rd Grade and my classmate Mariah, was smiling at me. It was creepy, the kind of smile that  you see from a horror movie.  What she did on that day though, gave me one of the most important lessons in life.

She was not a close seat mate but she definitely did not usually talk to me. Her group of friends were different and more entitled. They had fancy pencils, neatly pleated and ironed out school uniforms (the type that  cuts you with just looking at it) and most of all, they had beautiful bags and accessories. She wore necklace and cute bracelets in 3rd grade.  All the things my parents could not afford to buy for me.

So it was rather unusual that she thought of saying ‘hi’ and talking to me for the first half of the school. I thought, well, she must thought I am cool with my torn erasers, unmatched socks and my short, boyish and un-even hair. So I took the chance and, opened the idea that she and me could be best friends.

And then her necklace got lost after lunch and all hell broke  loose. I remember how she got so frantic that she cried. I helped out with finding it, bending and crawling down and trying to search for that heart shaped necklace, but to no avail. I had go through dust and  look under the desk, which was honestly smeared with snots and gums.

When I finally got up, I saw her just about placing her necklace to my bag to make it look that I took them. When she realized I knew what was happening, she immediately took them back and acted like nothing happened.

Since then, I have been very cautious of choosing friends and keeping my circle as small as possible. I am still the type to believe that every one has an inch of kindness but you rarely find friends that would really stick up to you and would not betray you. While the world is a beautiful place, humans are also prone to weakness and, let just say, “bitchness”.

It makes your life better when you have friends that you can share common grounds with. Friends who do not only need you when something arises or when they need something from you. It is always satisfying to know that your friend would be there to accept you for the monster that you are. It makes your life easier and happier when you are surrounded with people that you can learn and grow with. Friends who will be brutally honest and tell you what is right. Friends who don’t place their necklace on your bag to make it look like you stole them.

So be careful. Do not choose a Mariah.

Falling for Mr. Bamboo

Have you experienced falling from the stairs? Trust me, you never dance to the tune of Ariana Grande.

This is probably the 2nd time I fell from the stairs. The first one was when me and my friends were on a vacation. Inside our friend’s house, they suddenly heard 3 loud bangs. They thought it was an earthquake. They heard me groan and whimper and to the shock of their lives, they found me sitting with my butt on the ground thanking I am still alive. They worried and laughed thru it because, that time, each had their own disasters but mine was stellar. Up to this day, we still laugh about it.

The second incident was just recent. About a month ago, I was so happy that Mr. Bamboo was coming home from work. I danced in the middle of the stairs and showed how ecstatic I was. I was tap dancing in the platform found in the middle of the stairs but did not realize that it was already near the edge. And, all of a sudden I was four steps down. I was trying to hold onto something that can save my life, but nah, I found myself at the bottom of the stairs, again, and then felt that familiar pain forming.

I have known Mr. Bamboo, my better half, to be less emotional. But darn, that face that bore the worry and stress, was a fascinating scene. He was frantic realizing that it was too late to save me because it was all too fast. I saw it in his eyes, his love and his compassion towards me and my well being. He kept asking me if I was okay for 10 times. But he did laugh about it and gave a me a massage, which was the best part!

The experience has taught me one thing. I’m gonna try to fall from the stairs again to elicit his emotions and this time I am going to make it really, really, really painful.

I am just kidding. Of course not.

All people, however difficult they may be, have kindness in them. And I believe in that. Couples go through rough patches and we are both humans. In my previous blogs, I seemed to have given everybody an impression that he is a monster. My fault entirely. Sometimes, when your hormones are up, stay away from your laptop.

It takes two to tango for any relationships. It’s not just about him. Besides, he is right about not putting the knives on the kitchen sink.

Sometimes at night, he kisses my forehead when he thinks I am already sleeping. This happens when we argue. I was watching TV yesterday and I caught him looking at me with so much admiration. I remembered, on my first day in Toronto, he brought Filipino food for me and that is way too romantic compared to giving flowers. Roses are overrated, at least for me.

And so, whenever I doubt his love for me, I will always remember that day I fell from the stairs. I am not saying it takes a fall to realize that he is a good man and that he truly loves you. But these moments, however minuscule they are, are there to assure you of that.