Last Friday, Vanny and I were supposed to catch a German film at school. But due to a fateful mis-communication, we ended up missing the film altogether. (We couldn't find each other. Hm... well, actually, she couldn't find me. And I naively thought she was simply late. I should learn to stop assuming.) We hung out at CSA instead and sat with Don and Merryan, and I can't forget the part when they all point at you, Vanessa, and tell you you're cool. Heehee. *smiles for you* I think your job is awesome too :D
So we walked around, right, and had dinner. You, and egg sandwich and me, soggy undercooked noodles. We had pretzels after and sat around while you tried to convince me that I'm not weird (I forgot how that conversation went). And afterwards, you found me a piano (two, actually) at Abelardo Hall and we stayed there until the not-very-nice janitor told us to go away. Also, we found an ad that says it's selling a baby grand piano. I texted the number and didn't expect a reply.
We walked a bit more and I finally saw the black kitten you were talking about. It is incredibly adorable. And loved. By it's mother. I don't think I should take it home. Then suddenly you were struck by the fantastic idea of dropping by the Observatory. You don't know how it's changed me.
We trudged deep into the night and I wondered if perhaps something sinister might befall us. But soon enough we were ensconced in the cold flourescent lights of the UP Astronomical Observatory. Awesomme. They brought out the telescope for us (it seemed pretty heavy, didn't it, and we felt a little guilty for all the trouble they had to go through, but they didn't seem irked. Perhaps they do it all the time for people). The nice astronomer
Vanessa: Astrologer ho kayo?
Man: ...
Vanessa: Ay, astronomer ho?
Man: Isa akong astronomer. Hindi ako si Madam Auring.
Me: (laughs) *makes a joke that nobody got*
showed us Jupiter, Jupiter's satellites, the star Beetlejuice (haha), the Orion nebula, the moon close up, and pointed out all the constellations. In that place at that moment, the sky seemed to come alive. It moved and beckoned and I couldn't look at anything else. The man answered all our questions, and seemed to delight in the two lost girls brimming with questions about the stars and the lightyears and the skies. We stayed there for a while and I didn't want to go (you didn't either), but it was getting late, and perhaps the astronomer might want to get back to what he was doing. So after thanking him a lot, we left waving at his sillhouette.
Then I got a text message. It was B Grand Piano. It was selling one for 450k and another one for 230k. I guess I wasn't expecting it to be 450k or 230k because I remember sputtering out my incredulity. I showed it to Vanny and she sputtered too.
"I wonder what I should reply?"
"Umm..may discount pa ho ba yan? UP student lang po ako."
Hahaha. I forgot the other ones we thought up.
That night I dreamt of the stars. They were bigger than ever, and I felt so moved I almost cried.
This day made my week. It made my following days too. I can't help but grin when I think about it. Heehee. Thanks, Vanny. I wonder how this blog post suddenly turned into a letter?
the observatory part- :o i wanna try that out toooo. my first ambition was to be an astronaut. haha you two drop by csa some more, k X)
ReplyDeletei visited the observatory once when i was in 6th grade to see mars. we waited for hours outside because the lines were so long. your post made me want to visit again. :)
ReplyDeleteMerryan! Yeah, you definitely should XD they are open 24 hours. The astronomer said that Saturn appears close to midnight :3 Heehee, it's never too late to shift lols.
ReplyDeleteNot to worry, not a lot of people go there these days. We were the only ones there that night X3
ReplyDeleteyou're right, where do i get me some astronaut lessons! :)) anyway, yup, excited na ko. :D
ReplyDeleteYou read my mind. You're learning.
ReplyDeleteYou made one of the first pages of your new journal at the steps. You got coaxed/pressured to talk about one of your more private affairs in what Don called our little circle of four people. Potato chips were brought into the conversation, and as that crave was being satisfied, you pointed out that it has no nutrition, having instant noodles right after.
We sat at Sunken Garden together, relishing our little circle of two, and it had only felt public when a kid approached us and asked for the empty pretzel box.
We stayed at the stone table below the EL Dept. corner at FC. We owned the surrounding area, bleak in lamp light and nobody else in sight. There, safe in privacy, we could laugh as hard as we can, stand on the tables or emulate crab-walk.
Abelardo Hall closes at seven. For the rest of the day, there are available rooms with grand pianos around. *nudge nudge* Bring piano sheets. *wink wink*
We got into the Observatory and had successfully reached both ends of the Acad Oval. You pointed out your obscure classroom in your obscure college with an obscure floor plan. You made a joke the man and I didn't catch because I was too busy being embarrassed, and he was too busy being amused at his own comeback and aiming our machina to the moon. He said the moon had a red ring around it at the clouds as a sign of low pressure in Mindanao then, and I couldn't understand how the sign would show when the pressure was so far away. I went "Huh?" and he thought I was daydreaming. You were asking him where certain stars were, like Cassiopeia. You showed me where the Small Dipper was. You eagerly dragged my pointing hands to stars of the Taurus constellation.
Responses to text:
"You're crazy." (Hilarious. I sorta wish you sent this.)
"Tama ba yung price? Baka space dapat yung zero." (Come on, half a million!)
My skipping Bible study has been divinely justified! All is well. Eandra! спасибо!
Naunahan kita magreply, beh!
ReplyDeleteWe forgot that bit about jazz violins and the meaning of planets.
ReplyDeleteHeehee. And actually, I do not understand how the low pressure in Mindanao is related to the shining red ring around the moon. I was just too embarrassed to admit it.
Hmp!
ReplyDelete