Besides the light from nearby infrastructures, the only illumination came from the flickering fire light of our bonfire. The orange and red colors seemed to twist and twirl above the bluish-green hue below. The colors seem to melt into each other and form a river of sparks. Dancing and swinging, the figure reaches to the sky as if to grasp the moon. The fire was as hot as lava it burned the core of my soul. Bright yellow-orange flames danced and flickered, knowing they were being watched by an amazed crowd. The fire was a dragon roaring with fury and spitting charcoal, with the immense heat that slapped your face. You could smell the wood as it was burning. The smoky scent of the air was nothing to the circle of friends surrounding the fire. Above, the dark black clouds were low and hairy in the skies, like locks blown forward in the gleam of our eyes.
Excitement filled the air. We were in high spirits. The music from Kim’s laptop was in harmony with the unheard blissful voices we had in our hearts as we sat by the fire, warming up our numb hands, roasting marshmallows and hotdogs. The whisper of the cold breeze across our scarlet-tinged cheeks was nothing to the nice, warm feeling that permeated the atmosphere. But the satisfaction of seeing one another after how many months and years was enough to turn the cold dark night into something bright, dazzling and spectacular. The brimming laughter of friends, the long overdue stories and the anticipation of a wonderful night was what mattered most and was enough for me to invigorate my incessantly depressed personality.
All it took was their company. All it took was for me to see them smile. All it took was for me to witness how they fared. All it took was for me to be with someone who could drive the fear and the worries out of my internally dead yet precisely engineered body with ubiquitous admiration (hehehe… atleast in the eyes of the Lord). All it took was for me to know that I am still a living person with a mind that of which has helped me create this manuscript, with a body that of which needs carbon dioxide to fuel the respiratory center of my brain (in the medulla) and keep me breathing, and with a soul that of which makes me who I really am. But most of all, all it took was the camaraderie and the memories we created that night. All it took was Karen and Armando’s long overdue courtship to blaze; Lester and Armando’s new-fangled attraction to one another; Karen’s usual self and never-changing personality; Lester’s cheerful character complemented by his boundless stories and brilliant jokes; Armando’s or rather MHANDE’s super-active growth hormones (Somatotropin) which has given him his present taller than tall state along with his sweet smiles and forever young countenance; Kim’s premiere hospitality and unfading succor; Wilfredo’s still up and about state after drinking bottles of beer topped with tales I never would have remembered if not for him; Brent’s unusual silent and slumbering self inside his van; Jacob’s sweet dimpled smiles and top-notch jokes; Nathaniel’s usual silent and seemingly undetected or invisible self unless stumbled upon; the wonder of Brett’s intolerance to alcohol and nicotine; Terry’s harassed and badgered presence encrusted with her apparent but calm and warm irritation (in a friendly way) towards Wilfredo’s never-ending taunts (because according to Biag, Rose was not there for him to tease… sutil talaga…); Rose’s lingering presence thanks to advances in technology (Smart, you’ve yet to upgrade your facilities though, but thanks still for bridging the gap between Baguio and Sagada and the world for that matter); and nothing more tops Wyler’s ‘praying’ state (though now that I think about it, I think he really was praying that time) as well as his contagious laughter and drop-dead gorgeous smiles.
It was twilight hour and the moon was still full, casting emotionless shadows along the horizon but yet there we were exchanging stories and experiences, reminiscing the old times and creating new memories. We bothered not about the frosty wind, the smoky air, and not even the floating stench of distilled spirits.
It was a few hours from dawn and yet none of us were unperturbed about the schedules each of us had for the day. I for one had a job to finish and send to my employer. Terry was also going for work in Bontoc. Armando, taking advantage of his good-looking physique was to attend his sibling’s wedding as a Bestman. Brett on the other hand, taking advantage of Armando’s presence was to accompany Armando to Aguid (heheh… just joking, Brett. Peace!) Wyler had to tend to 3 weddings as he was a part of the officiating clerics. Lester had a niece (or was it a nephew or a cousin) to look after and then later on get ready to head again for Baguio. I heard Karen was also attending a wedding of her aunt. I’m certain Nathaniel would have clients to accompany to the lovely tourist destinations embracing Sagada. Kim and Wilfredo had things to do, too since they’ve got to take care of the visitors lodged in their respective hotels. I’m sure Brent and Jacob had other things to do, too.
Yet here we were enjoying each other’s company and though the fire was reduced to ashes, still the atmosphere was warm enough to last us a winter. Sleep crept upon us and one by one I witnessed all my friends fall into deep slumber. Jacob and Brent have already left, as with Wyler and Terry. Brett’s (slightly drunk?) unremitting pestering of the comfortably snoozing Armando about the time since they still had a wedding to attend was the only sound you could hear from miles away apart from the crackling blaze of the fire near us.
Finally, before the sun could rise from the east, we started off towards home, walking the forest glade-like scenery of Kim’s wonderful abode embellished with the coarse expanse of rocks and vast array of lush green trees atop the mountains. And then it was the fresh scent of the early morning air and the sweet sound of birds humming their early morning songs which has made the very cold and early morning hours more wonderful to endure. With a new surge of energy and wide smiles of satisfaction pasted across our faces, we walked the path as we never had done before, bearing with us the latest memories and moments we created altogether.
Thanks for everything, guys. Once again you have laced my dusty, somewhat deteriorating unraveling memory with freshly-painted pictures of our moments together and the lovely sight of your faces. Endless thanks to all of you for spicing up my life with your presence, your colorful smiles, and your interesting stories and experiences.
Keep the faith, guys. A long as you have faith in yourself, in others and most of all in the Lord God, you’ll never walk astray and you’ll be able to move mountains.
Electricity’s back on and here I rush to check my e-mail messages and send messages to my family and friends whom I have not been able to contact for a while.
