Antipodes

Ang pag-ibig natin ay walang hanggang paalam.
– Joey Ayala at ang Bagong Lumad, Walang Hanggang Paalam


From: china_dahl@yahoo.com.uk
To: “Laren” (lalvarez1225@lycos.com)
Sent: Feb 25, 2003 21:13 GMT (Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London)


Laren dear,


It’s been ages, hasn’t it? I miss you guys tons. Not one London pub is like TOSS… if you only knew how much I miss those days…


I’m doing all right here, finally found a job. I’m teaching music classes to seventh-years; the school is not far from the new flat Dad found for me. Mum’s finally moved out of my old one and has flown back to the US; their divorce finally came through… I just wish that they could at least be friends. It’s hard enough when Mum wants me to always take her side over Dad when they argue, but Dad’s never asked me to choose between them (and being the sweet man that he is, I can’t help taking his side instead).


Did Denise tell you that we were able to get together when she was here for her show? I was so proud of her (as I am sure you all were – and are, of course) when I saw all the praise for her art, it was wonderful. (I even managed to scrape enough to buy the little sculpture she made out of your story about a falcon, a swan, and a seagull; she told me how inspired she was by it. I can imagine how poignant it must be, seeing how much effort and detail she put into it).


Denise tells me that you now teach maths at Adamson University. She also says that you scare your students to death, that they call you “Lord Vader.” Seeing how bad I am at maths, I’d probably be scared too, but do you have to be so frightening? Laren, dear, it wouldn’t hurt you to smile more often, you know. Do you still write, though? I miss reading your work, it’s been ages since I first read them.


I asked for your number and email address from Denise, but after trying out your number a few times I wonder if it is the right one? My calls never go through. I hope we can talk again sometime, it’s been far too long.


Will you write me back? I haven’t heard from you for the longest time. I know that I said that it was for the best if we let things go, that there would be no point in holding on to what we may never have again, but I miss you. Please write.


Love,


Samantha


p.s. The picture is of a lovely little café I saw in Florence, where my students and I went on holiday. I wish you were there with me.





From: “Laren” (lalvarez1225@lycos.com)
To: china_dahl@yahoo.com.uk
Sent: May 11, 2003 21:13 GMT+08:00 (Taipei, Hong Kong, Manila)
Attachment: walang_hanggang_paalam.mp3

samantha,

remember that i promised to translate for you that joey ayala song you liked but whose lyrics you never really understood? the song you did a violin solo of at chase’s place, a long time ago? here’s an mp3 of it… just don’t ask me for the translation just yet. i’m not sure i can do it for you. not yet.

maybe i could, maybe one day. until then, there’s nothing much i can say except that i’ll always remember bolinao, and i can’t go back there yet.

laren

p.s. wish we could’ve had coffee in florence.

> From: china_dahl@yahoo.com.uk
> To: “Laren” (lalvarez1225@lycos.com)
> Sent: Feb 25, 2003 21:13 GMT (Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London)
>
>
>
> Laren dear,
>
>
>
> It’s been ages, hasn’t it? I miss you guys tons. Not one London pub is > like TOSS… if you only knew how much I miss those days…
>