I've met her only twice and I can remember nothing but kindness and laughter from this woman. I can still hear her now, tormenting the boy I loved for most of my teenage years (erm, her brother) during our phone conversations years ago. "Uuy, uuy... kinikilig! Bakit ka namumula?"

There was an event at school the first time we met. I was a gawky highschool freshman standing at the hallway and she was an attractive girl - woman - asking me where 1-Pilot's classroom was, and if I knew her brother. I think my mouth dropped open and I can only nod. I was that smitten with her brother, and now, with her. 

Seven years later we were in a hospital room, her brother recovering from surgery. It was getting late (those days 8:00pm was tagged as already "late") and she wanted to go back home to her "babies". Her brother pouted, not wanting her to leave, and she said mischievously, her eyes twinkling, "Nandyan naman si Chat." This brought snickers out of their other family members who were present at the time.

I've met her only twice and never really knew her the way sisters or even friends do, but it brings me extreme sadness knowing that the next time I'll see her, I won't hear her laugh or see the light in her eyes. But I hope to see her smiling, so I'd know she found a more lasting happiness in heaven.

R.I.P.