Leslie & Belle: The Reunion Part 2

Belle is now here in Dubai. She arrived at the DXB airport at around 11:10 pm of 23 June and at 1am of 24 June, she arrived at her Oasis Village accommodation. By 3am, there was an overly-excited me searching for her room. Walking the corridors of her block reminded me so much of our almost inseparable dormitory days.

When I finally found her, as expected, there were no traces of the 6 months we have not seen each other. We were giddily jumping like high school girls.We tried to have an early breakfast in between our stories but stories proved their importance as we were not able to consume our food. Then we made a call to her family. That was the only time I heard Tita Thelma cry, asking me to take care of her daughter. Of course I will even without anyone asking me to. Belle and I have been there for each other in numerous instances and we plan to keep it that way. Besides, I will always be gratefully indebted to the Pajarillaga family when they helped me during my Ufreshies enrollment period. Belle and I were just 16 then. I could not go to UP as my family did not have money for my fare to Manila. I did not need to pay my tuition dues being part of the STFAP scholarship, but at that point in time, no fare money means no UP. I already said my goodbyes to Belle and decided to stay back and study in our province. But God sent the Pajarillagas like angels and lent my family some money. So I could say if not for them, I would have not been to UP, never met the people I know and never experienced the life I had. Maybe I will not even be here in Dubai trying to eat my oven-heated cheese roll.

By 6 am, we were already among the early birds iin Madinat Jumeirah waiting for the bus to transfer us to my place. While waiting, a photoshoot of Belle's first few hours in Dubai took place..


View of the Burj Al Arab at her back *** Belle at Fort Island, madinat Arena


The Mina A' Salam "harbour of peace" *** Souk Ampitheatre and the abra display


entry way to Mina A' Salam

Leslie & Belle:The Reunion ( ooohh, this is scary)..

5 tulog na lang at darating na si Belle sa Dubai..Di pa rin ako makapaniwala.. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Arvin, wala na yata kaming balak maghiwalay na dalawa. To think na part lang ito dati ng mga daydream sessions namin. Pangarap naman namin talaga na mag-abroad together at sabay na mageexplore ng buhay. Actually, London talaga target namin o kaya Paris. London dahil andun yung Tita niya at saka para baka sakaling makita namin si Prince William o baka makakita kami ng sarili naming prince na blue-eyed at w/ British accent pa. O kaya, Paris kasi romantic daw dun tsaka gusto namin masagot si Paolo Santos kung "Does the moonlight shine on Paris after the sun goes down? haha, babaw namin no pero okay lang pangarap lang naman e.. Tapos gusto din namin dati na magwork sa Disneyland HongKong. Akalain mo, gusto pa namin magcrash course ng Mandarin dati para lang matanggap kami..para kaming mga high school na kinikilig sa sobrang excitement habang naghahanap kami ng dictionary sa Powerbooks.. and to think professional na dapat kami umasta nyan kasi last year lang yan.. tapos pag marami na kaming pera, magbubusiness kami ng clothing line.. naglalakad kami sa Glorietta habang nag-iisip ng brand name na gagamitin namin. syempre gusto naming may initials namin. then we came up with "Lesbian" with the tag line "it's fun being a girl".. hehe..

Bago ako umalis, binigyan niya ako ng diary. Makakalimutin daw kasi ako. At least kung recorded lahat ng events ng aking life dito sa Dubai, wala akong makakalimutang ikuwento sa kanya pag nagkita na kami ulit. Pagdating niya dito, magsususlat pa din ako sa diary na bigay niya dahil it does not change the fact na makakalimutin ako pero at least maikukuwento ko na sa kanya personally ang mga kagagahang ginagawa ko dito. Actually, baka nga di ko na kailanganing ikuwento kasi for sure, kasali siya sa mga kagagahang iyon.

as i always said, Dubai has been good to me.. but im sure, it's gonna be much much better with belle around...