I always have a war going on my head at times that I don’t want to mingle with other people. Sometimes, when I want to be alone, I grab a good book, have something to drink and stare at blank space- hugging the book and letting emotions flood my system. When I am in my solitary moments and people (may they be close to me or not) pass by, my attention shifts to what they do and everything about them.

I have the habit of having my moments in the swing outside our home in Ilocos Norte. My grandmother has a sari-sari store and people come and go. Those times, when I’m enjoying my solace, and they just walk around not minding me minding about them, I begin to think on what they are in my life.

I remember my Tito (my mother’s brother) as the first person I saw last Monday. He’s just there, at the far side of our home, on a deep thought and I wondered if he was thinking about his daughter who just died last May. I became his partner in taking good care of his pregnant wife in the hospital for two weeks. I should be in Baguio by then, passing my requirements in my internship classes, but hierarchy of loyalty as it is, I stayed in Ilocos Norte for him to have a company. I was not that kind of person that run up and down the stairs of hospitals just to buy foods, medicines and everything we need. I hate hospitals. I hate sleeping inside a hospital room. I hate the feeling of someone close to me is ill again- because last year, I was in that same hospital, taking care of my Mom, who had an operation because of Myoma. But I stayed, despite of my tight schedule because of SK activities last summer and despite of the other loyalties that I must take into consideration, too that time.

It dawned on me that he is my Tito that kept on picking me up on bus stations even on midnights, he is my best friend that fights for me when I need him to, he is my fraternity brother that I share the same principles with, and he is the older brother that I never had.

I can never thank you enough!

Handclasp*

P.S. Passed this article to my Speech Communication 101 class.