Happy Birthday Han!

How do you read Hannah backwards? Ha! I found myself guessing how it sounds.

Hannah, is. Hannah is a palindrome. Read it forwards or backwards, that's what you get, Hannah. Hannah, is and will always be, Hannah. She is filthy, hard-to-understand, artistic, not-in-a-good-way weird, out-of-the-box minded girl. I tried to dissect the kind of friendship that we have for thirteen years, still I could not understand how we became friends. We bicker and fight, most of the time. Ten years after understanding why we are friends, I just realized that the reason why were friends is because I too am filthy, hard-to-understand, artistic (sometimes), not-in-a-good-way weird, out-of-the-box minded girl, too.

Through the years, I have witnessed her blossom from an immature girl to a young, responsible woman. And never would have I thought that a carefree girl would turn into something beautiful and more. She is artistic. And I am her number one fan -- from her simulation artwork to her graphic arts. But in reality, I was unconvinced with the course she took. I mean, who in this world would major in Painting? Nevertheless I was happy for her courage to pursue her passion. Just as the same fact that she gladly painted my arnis stick with pink and flowers which made my teacher went agog. We have a mutual relationship.

There are events in our life that could totally change us, 360 degrees. And she had hers. Until now, I often wondered how she managed to have a baby and raising it single-handedly. Or how she can never live without her laptop 24/7 and never ran out of things to do with the computer. These simple things still amazes me.

So Hannah, my best friend, is a superwoman. But even superwomen breakdown sometimes, too. And lately Hannah has been sad. And seeing Hannah sad, makes me sad, too. Coz seeing Hannah sad is like having rain in summer. It almost never rains in summer! And I wish I could do more than babble on our canceled trip to Davao this weekend.

Tomorrow would be her birthay. And what would be the best gift could I give to a woman who made my life more bearable to live? My presence. Just the comfortable silence telling her that this too shall pass.

Happy Birthday, friend!