How come rainy nights makes your thoughts go wild? Last night it was raining hard and while my wife was still in the living room, I already was in bed trying to get myself to sleep as I have work tomorrow. I opened the windows so that I can listen to the sound of the rain to help me get sleepy. Various thoughts run into my head, and one got stuck.
Several years ago, my mother have just died then, I fell into a big depression and have sort of become a recluse. I just finished college then and was in the process of looking for a job. All the time I want to be by myself and I have avoided my friends altogether. My mother's death was such a major loss to me as I was the youngest; and, yes, I admit I am a mama's boy. Well, it can be said for both my parents as they do love me being their youngest child. To while away my time, I got into activities that will not require any companion, and one of them was fishing.
One early summer morning, I was inspecting my motorcycle for a fishing trip to the next town on one of my favorite spots. Our neighbor's son came up next to me watching me as I go about checking the motorcycle. He was a few years younger than I am, so I really am not very close to him despite being neighbors. All the while he kept asking me questions about where I will be doing and about fishing in general. As I was about to wrap up the inspection, he popped the question that I was afraid he was going to ask-- that if he can come with me. I thought he doesn't have classes as it was summer vacation, and I'm pretty sure his parents wouldn't mind. That was a start of a wonderful friendship that sadly only lasted about a couple of years.
We have grown so fond of each other that there isn't a day that passes that we don't spend at least a few hours together. That even during his school days. We are quite confident about our sexuality and I am sure it was not anything about romantic or sexual affection. It could be that I sort of have seen in him the youngest sib I never had; and in me hoe sort of have seen someone to emulate. He took after me not only the love for fishing but other things as well such as skateboarding, nature trekking, and even my passion for electronic music. Through him, I also began to mingle with neighborhood kids. Most of my neighborhood friends my age either already have families of their own and have moved out, or they have relocated somewhere else. That was the reason I don't have many friends in the neighborhood. I do have regular friends though and they always have been there for me all those times.
My neighbor friend however, who goes by the pet name of Tantan, has become almost like a next of kin to me. A little brother, even, which is closer than I could ever get with my friends. Almost the instance we became friends, he lifted me up away from depression and I have become more and more amicable and outgoing.
There was no permanent jobs available in the town then during the course of our friendship, and I hopped from one job to another. Then later I did land a semi-permanent job managing an internet cafe and as a resident dj for a club at night. Having these two jobs though took a toll on our friendship as I rarely have anymore time to spend with him. Soon after he just stopped seeing me and I have then moved out of our house to live on my own apartment near to my place of work. Still furthermore I then met my wife and we have decided to live together. I have completely forgotten about Tantan as we finally moved here in Metro Manila for my current job.
That was until last night. I was thinking if I have been a good friend to him. He helped me out of my depression and we shared so many good times together, and all I did was forget all about him in time. I don't even know where he is now or if he even got married already. I am prettty sure he already have finished schooling by now, or at least in his last years in college. I also don't know if he is already working or if his family still is living in the neighborhood.
