BF

BF has its charm.

Tucked away in the middle of south metro manila, it has become this wonderful community of families, shop owners, businessmen and, last weekend, joggers. 

I joined Carls and Anj for some jogging around Phase 3. Of course we met up at Mio mart, the usual starting point for most of our adventures. And then, just like that, a gap had grown between me and them. Despite their obvious advantages in fitness and speed, it wasn't hard to lose them. Its easy to spot the unique running styles that they had fostered. Carls' head moves up and down so quickly, that it seems like the rest of his body is catching up, while Anj thrusts her elbows backwards with such ferocity, you can tell she's in constant suspension, waiting for someone to attack her from behind.

All in all, there I was, 20 paces back, just admiring the small houses and shops that have become our beloved BF homes. You sometimes wish more places in Manila were like this. The two that boast similar characters are the Tomas Morato area and Maginhawa or UP teacher's village, where I was last weekend as well.

After watching Ratatouille with some friends, we then met up with their friends in Maginhawa for some drinks. I cannot fathom how many times I, a non-drinker, end up with friends drinking. It's like the inescapable default bonding means of our time.

Another bonding means unique to this generation is YM. Phone exchanges shan't be exchanged, but the adding of YM addresses is the thing. And then during this inuman, I was pressured to YM this girl I had been wanting to hang out with for a while now. In a room full of men, priority number one is to force their friends to message a girl. Any girl. I was lucky that there was somebody I was mildly interested in.

Or was I. 

The thing that I forget about these impromptu declarations of interest is that you yourself would also be interested. Case in point me. After I got home and sent my emboldened message, I could not sleep.

Would she reply? What do I say if she says this? Do I look cool with one-liners or try to keep the conversation going with wordy responses that could also be a turn off?

I tried sleeping, using every trick taught to me. Look up while closing your eyes. Relax every facial muscle and breathe in slowly. Yet, when the heart pounds as fast as it does, there's only so much you could do.

I didn't sleep. And in a few minutes, I'd be joining Carls and Anj for a BF run. They'd be wondering why I was so slow that day.