CotDs

I was running late to meet Dianna Yap and Gio Mauleon in school but stopped in my tracks when I saw Karl Libongco just as I was rushing out of my condominium building's lobby. From afar, he looked like Gio so I briefly wondered if Dianna had anticipated my tardiness and had Gio pass by for me. But, when he turned to wave at me, Karl's posture was so distinct that I could have had my contact lenses off and still be sure it was him.

Karl has a very...relaxed and leisurely way of moving. It's hard to describe Karl's carriage accurately, but he always gives off the vibe that he has all the time in the world--but not in a lazy, I-have-nothing-better-to-do way. Karl has a way of moving that makes you think everything he does is so instinctive that, when he focuses his attention on you, it's as if he deliberately and painstakingly rearranged his body to accommodate you. I noticed that when we first met and, when I voiced out my observation a year later, Faith Sta. Ana et al agreed. When he talks to someone, Karl turns to face the person very slowly, his upper body sort of leans away from the person (giving the impression that he's studying the person) and he has a look of carefree absorption on his face, as if he's weighing your every word but couldn't care less if you get something wrong.

I made that observation during the SOSS Night of our OrSem. I wasn't really into the bands playing and it was so crowded so I spent most of the night with him, Andre Co, Kevin Santiago, Faith S.A., Rootbeer Napiza, Bojie Bartolata and Randhel Laurente on the floor of the covered courts, drowning our sorrows in...mineral water. Haha!

Me, RBeer, Dhel and Karl (June 2006)

See how relaxed Karl seems?

Karl and Andre (June 2006)

I miss hanging out with Andre, Faith and Gina Tumlos. Andre (whose shirt in the picture reads 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink') left after freshman year to become a successful DJ (who has odd fan girls, apparently) and business major at the Entrepreneurial School of Asia. He had weird hair back then and I called him Coco (His family name's Co. He called me Gaga.). I spent most of freshman year (when I wasn't in debate training) with him. He'd drive me and Gina to and from school--even if we could've just walked. I have to schedule dinner with him and the girls soon.

Anyway, Karl and I talked for a bit and I laughed at some of his responses (non-verbatim):

Me: Karl! What are you doing here??

Karl: Bum ako! (shrugs with his signature easy smile)

Karl: Grabe, super proud mo kay Rootbeer!

Me: Of course. I mean, she's really determined to do things her way and I know a lot of people used to think Rootbeer's indecisive. In that way, I kinda thought pareho kami. But, well, now,she's showing them! Self-confidence boost!

Karl: Oo nga eh, picture niya kasama si Robin Padilla, pinost mo sa Wall mo!

Me: We all go through a wild-child phase.

Karl: Kakaiba naman yung wild-child phase mo, eh!

Of course, when I finally met up with them at the library, on our way to the caf, Gio had to have his share of CotDs (Like QotDs but C stands for Conversations. Haha!) too:

Me: (teasingly) Naku, hindi ka na nga nag-gym kasi tamad ka tapos kakain ka pa!

Gio: Iinom na lang ako ng pangpa-buff!

Me: (to Dianna) Para-paraan talaga, noh?

Gio: Once, uminom ako ng pangpa-buff tapos nakalagay bawal to take it with alcohol. Hindi ako naniwala. One week akong nagkasakit!

Me: (incredulous) And you're still going to take them??

Gio: Dati, sobrang buff na nga ako! Tapos pumayat kasi nga nagkasakit ako ng one week!

Me: Grabeng one week naman yun! What were you sick with--dengue??

Me: Hmm, so maybe I should go to the Coheed and Cambria concert na lang, noh?

Gio: Why?? Are you into emo music?? You're going to pay to listen to emo music??

Me: Well, it's open bar.

Gio: Huh. Niiice motivation.

All in all, I had a mellow Friday. My parents didn't want me venturing too far from Katipunan because the rain wouldn't let up so I decided to stay in and watch Friends all night. I've been needing a bit of alone time and I slept like a baby! Today, I'm having lunch with Victor Baguilat then coffee with Shivs Parmanand. My dad's arriving tonight so we're probably going to eat out for dinner and get a bit of shopping done, then I might catch up with Vic et al in Makati. I'm going to lock myself up tomorrow to wade through (a ton of) readings and do my International Eco case study, so I want to just take it easy today and not do anything too taxing.