and he said "HELLO"

AND HE SAID “HELLO”

It has been more than 25 years but I still think about him.

I still can’t believe that after all these years I would see him again, and of all places not in this remote province of Dumaguete.

It has been a habit every time I visit Dumaguete, I would stroll by the Boulevard and take pictures of its ever-changing scenes and sceneries – as if there are changes.

 It was near dusk. I was just going thru my usual routine. Walk along the Boulevard, look, take pictures of the landscape and its people. As I scan the faces of the people thru the viewfinder I suddenly froze. The face I was focusing on and who was looking straight at me was very familiar. I lowered my camera, looked at him when he suddenly smiled.

I smiled back. He stood up and walked towards me. The man has dark curly brown hair with a hint of gray.  His smile was friendly reaching his brown eyes. As I look in his eyes, there was a familiar glint. When he was about five feet away, he said, “Hello.”

I said, “Hi.”

Then he asked, “Tabs?”

My heart skipped a beat. There is only one person who calls me that. “Tisoy?” I asked back pointing a finger at him.

He laughed so hard it brought me back to reality. A laugh so familiar it brought warmth to my heart.