Nissa and I spent the whole day together yesterday, with last-minute things that need to be done and visiting our alma mater, University of Santo Tomas. Definitely good bonding moments with her although it was a bit tiring because the sun was hot on our backs. Anyway, I told her it would be the last time we were going out together before she says goodbye to her single life and embark on a new journey being married to the guy she loves.
Gosh, I can’t believe that in three days, we will all troop to the lovely and beautiful Paco church to witness their wedding vows. We had lunch in a little nook called Pupai’s near UST, reliving our student days while eating the crispy spring chicken we ordered. We waited for the copies of the misalettes which we brought to the printing shop, Nissa brought her own bond paper, thicker than the regular thing they use for printing. She said, she craved for Takoyaki so I bought two boxes. When we passed by UST, we talked of our student days, twenty-six years apart. She said she could no longer relate, finding the place a bit too large and spacious compared to the confined office which is her world now.
“I can’t imagine myself wearing that again”, she said, at the same time pointing to the white and blue uniforms of Artlets students .
“Ako rin”, I answered back while looking at some Commerce students in their all white uniforms. Oh, and this is the nicest part of our trip there because we remembered those times that having dirty ice cream for a snack was heaven for students like us. We found the familiar cart of Sto. Tomas Ice Cream and she bought us one cone each. Back in high school, I loved to eat ice cream sandwiched in a regular hamburger bun. 
I asked Mang Fidel if they still have those and he pointed to a separate bag of bread, at the same time telling me that it now costs P15.00 each. Back in my time (during high school), you could enjoy it for P.75 cents. Mang Fidel has been selling ice cream in UST for more than twenty years now, being a part of all the latest developments in the campus and probably hundred or thousands students who walked the halls of UST. Really, this makes me smile.
We reached Gateway Mall and had wine tasting at Titania Wine Cellars where we bought gifts for the male principal sponsors on her wedding. It was fun learning about the difference between a Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Pinot Noir. They have lots of Spanish, Italian and California wines. We had to scour for wine bags at National Bookstore but we were disappointed with the price. One wine bag which we really like costs P80.00 which was a bit too much. I suggested that we just buy purple Japanese paper and tulle netting which a store at the nearby Farmer’s market was selling by the yard. A twist of light and dark purple ribbons and presto, we had well-wrapped wine bottles even prettier to look at because the colors are the same as their motif for the wedding.
It was a toss between an American meal at Burgoo ( an all-time favorite) and an Asian food at My Thai Kitchen and at Pho Hoa at Gateway Mall, my treat to Nissa. Of course, when it comes to food, Asian cuisine is the best for both of us. We had Goi Cuon (a Vietnamese spring roll) and Pad See Ew with Thai tamarind juice and Thai milk tea. I am not really into eating with a chopstick but Nissa said, it’s fun to learn it. She uses chopstick even at home sometimes but I never learned the feel of using one, always choosing the more convenient spoon and fork. It was a fun meal for us, something I will surely miss when she gets married.
We went home exhausted but the thrill of being together made us both smile.
(I don’t claim credit to the pic posted here, thanks to the owner)
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Dreams And Escapes 
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