T-junction

What do you when you are at a T-junction?

When you are given two choices - left turn or right turn. Turning back is not an option, as time can't be reversed. So, you can only moved on.

Sometimes, junctions or crossroads in life are not very obvious. Same as some of our roads here. Some junctions might be too small or narrow that people missed them. Crossroads might be much obvious, as they branches out to few options.

Going through the junctions in life are just like driving at times. When driving on the road, you are not the only car. There might be a few others, if not more, driving behind or beside you. So, you need to think ahead, of which way you want to turn, even before you reach the junction. Turning at the very last minute, might cause accident or even due to unforeseen circumstances, you might make the wrong turn, instead.

No wonder people always asked what you want to do in your life, instead of how you are going to do to achieve what you want. Just like most of the people will just ask, where you are going, instead of how you are going. There might be hundreds, or even thousands or routes to reach where you want to be. Just that, which one is the best route.

If the route can reach the destination you want, then nothing is a "bad" route. It is only that you might take longer time to reach, compared to others; or maybe faced more pitfalls than others. However, by the end of the day, it is still what you learnt, through the journey of yours.

last day

It's the last day.. another 18 days to go to be full 8 years here..

End of 2009
She told us that she might be moving soon to Barro de la Ciudad next year. She only has 2 options to choose, either to allow her company to relocate her there or to quit her job and find a new job there. Either choice, she still needs to be in Barro Ciudad as her partner is there waiting for her. After spending almost 8 years in Areca Isla, it had almost become her second home.

May 2002
We had all came to Areca Isla in year 2002, another 18 days to go to be full 8 years here, on the island. We are not that close during our first year together as we both mingled with different group of friends, but as we do have some common friends and had studied in the same field, we do get the chance to mix around.

She's a friendly person, though she might looks very sociable but she does have a shy part of her, too. She doesn't like to trouble people if she thinks she can handle her own problems herself. She is, like any other girls, who sometimes likes to gossip yet she don't say bad things about others, and would always try to find a reasonable reason for others' wrongdoing. She's quite naive and gullible at times as she rather believes the goodness in others. She loves life to be simple, and that's why she would prefer to stay in Areca Isla than Barro Ciudad.

Mid 2003 - Early 2005
We've become roommates during our second and third year. That 2 years, we have a real big family - 11 coursemates renting a double storey terrace house. Being a student then, of course we'll try to scrimp and save at times, especially when our fund are not banked in, in time. Though once a while we do have big gatherings or outings. Life was really merry and joyful then.

Her voice is actually quite good, and I would say, if she had the chance to undergo proper training since young, she might have made it big now. Her love for musics and biz shows make her quite a popular source to refer to when anyone wanted some musics to listen to or dramas to watch.

She ain't a light sleeper, yet she can manage to sleep for just a few hours a day. Whenever we are rushing for projects or exams, it's common to stay up late for burning midnight oil. Yet, she seems to do it quite often, though sometimes it was only for the urge of finishing a drama.

Mid 2005
Happy times always flew by quite fast. Soon, we have all graduated and it's time to venture into another new world - the working life. Some of us had stayed on in Areca Isla, while others either decided to try their luck in other cities or to return back to hometown.

Somehow, 6 of us who had decided to stay on then, started to look for jobs and a new home. Finally, we've found our place, an apartment with 3 rooms, for the 6 of us. However, after only 1 month, one of us left, leaving 5 of us. As years passed, one left after another. One left because of work that need her to be at another place while the other left as he had found a new home with his new found partner. Finally, the number dropped from 6 to 3.

Beginning of 2010
It's January, and she had confirmed that she'll be going down to Barro Ciudad as she had decided to let her company to relocate her there, though the exact date is not set yet. Come end of March, and she finally got the news that she needs to go early April, 2 weeks from then. Reality finally sunk in. Things need to be bought, packed or settled are cramped into that 2 weeks.

However, just 2 or 3 days before the departure day, her boss told them that the plan might be delayed for a week or two. Days till weeks of waiting and there's no final depature date. She's happy as she hoped to stay on as long as possible at Areca Isla, and if allowed, she would rather just stayed on.

May 2010
3 days ago, she finally got the final departure day, which is today, Sunday 9th May. Coincidentally, today is also Mother's Day. She'd start packing the remaining stuff since Friday. Her office stuff need to be cleared, and also here, at home. It's the final call, the day that she really has to moved on. A place that she had stayed on for almost 8 years, a place that's been home apart from her hometown.

Her bus is to leave at 2:30pm. At 1:50pm, I've drived her and her partner to the bus station, with all the stuff she had packed. She had almost wanted to cry when she say goodbye. I didn't want to stay on long, and went straight back home after dropping them off. I don't feel like saying goodbye, it's not final goodbyes, we are still in the same country, though far apart now.

I've lost a roommate and a housemate that I had for so long. The house is now emptier, leaving only me and Miguel. Her place is almost bare now, the place where she used to put her stuff and her computer, leaving behing only things that she don't plan to bring along. Now, only memories linger behind.

I'm not good in saying goodbyes. I'm not even good in expressing myself. There's something I didn't tell her before. Sometimes, she reminds me of my mum. Their way of thinkings (when my mum was in her younger years), their laughters, their expressions when trying out or seeing new things. Honestly, it sometimes irks me, yet I know, I've long regarded her as part of my family.

Be brave and be strong, my dear sis. This is not an ending, but instead, it is just another new beginning at a new place. A new journey that you need to embark on by yourself. Though there are times where you try act like my big sister, but, there are times too, that I feel as if you are my younger sis that I need to worry all the time, yet I know that one needs to be given the time and space to grow up.
I really wanted to say sorry and thank you for everything all these years. Don't forget the we are just a few hours apart and the world is actually just a mouse click away.
We are all far away from our own families, the family ties we had on Areca Isla is what I hold onto dearly till today. I hoped our ties will remain strong, even though we are all far apart now.

Goodbye for now, but we'll meet again soon enough. Take care & all the best!