Lino entered his room in the apartment that was located a few kilometers away from the university.

While dressing up, Lino kept thinking about Ersel. He still could not believe that he would meet Ersel again about ten years since they have not seen each other. Another thing he could not believe was that he was able to recognize Ersel, yet Ersel failed to recognize him.

Ersel didn’t recognize me, huh? Lino thought. How is that possible?

Lino stared at himself in the mirror.

Am I really that unrecognizable? Lino thought gloomily.

Lino felt both bitterness and sadness knowing that Ersel did not even leave him a letter before disappearing ten years ago and that Ersel failed to recognize him. He had also planned to give Ersel a souvenir upon his return that time.

Let us go back to that time when Lino came back from vacation with his parents.

When Lino returned, he went to the same beach where they first met as five-year-old children. He brought with him a wristband that he had planned to give to Ersel as a souvenir. That same wristband bears Ersel’s name on it, and Lino himself has another matching wristband that bears his own name. Those matching wristbands were a reminder of their brotherly bond.

Lino waited, yet Ersel did not come. When he looked for Ersel, he found their house to be locked already. He asked around and eventually found out that Ersel and the whole family moved to Manila, leaving Lino emotionally devastated. He felt intense bitterness and sadness that not only was he not able to talk to Ersel for the last time but also that Ersel failed to leave even a letter of farewell.

Tears began to fall from Lino’s eyes. As much as he tried to hold back his tears, he could not do it. He gently wiped his tears while they kept on pouring down his cheeks using his right hand.

Why? Why am I crying? Lino thought desperately. Ersel, you bastard...If I hadn’t met you again today, I wouldn’t be like this right now. Why did I have to meet you here again, of all places?

Lino punched the wooden floor to help in releasing his frustrations that have been bottling up inside him. His tears kept on falling, and the white in his eyes began reddening.

Then Lino’s Android phone rang and vibrated. He looked and saw that the person calling was Pia, his girlfriend.

While trying his best to hold back his tears, Lino picked up his phone and answered the call.

“Hello, babe,” Lino said.

“Hi, babe!” a sweet voice answered over the line. “I missed you so much!”

Lino smiled for the first time.

“I missed you too, babe,” Lino answered sweetly.

“Oh, that’s so sweet of you!” Pia replied. “So, how was your first day at school?”

I can’t tell her that I felt bitter when I met Ersel again. Lino thought before answering his girlfriend’s question.

“It was fine,” Lino reassured. “I can’t tell what college life will be like yet, though.”

“That’s great! I started in college today too.”

“How was it, babe?” Lino asked.

“Same as yours, babe,” Pia answered. “Nothing much since it’s my first day.”

Lino chuckled.

“I see,” Lino declared. “I guess we don’t have to worry too much right now. Right, babe?”

“Yeah. Let’s do our best, then!”

“Yeah,” Lino declared determinedly. “By the way, want to meet up and have a date this Sunday?”

“Sure, no problem!” Pia answered in excitement. “Where shall we meet?”

“At the usual Jollibee restaurant in Bacoor,” Lino answered.

“Alright! I will set that on my calendar!” Pia declared eagerly. “You set it, too.”

“Will do,” Lino replied eagerly.

“Great!” Pia ejaculated. “Also, babe...why were you crying?”

Lino’s eyes widened and let out a little laugh.

Did she notice it? Lino thought.

“What are you talking about? I wasn’t,” Lino answered as cheerfully as he could.

“I noticed it when you answered my call,” Pia declared worriedly. “Are you okay, babe?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” Lino answered. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll let you know if something comes up.”

“Okay, I understand,” Pia answered. “If you need someone to talk to, just call or text me. I’ll listen to your problems.”

“Thank you, babe,” Lino replied sweetly. “Okay, I have something to do. I’ll be hanging up now.”

“Okay. I love you, babe.”

“I love you too, Pia,” Lino replied. “Bye.”

“Bye, Lino!” Pia answered in a sweet tone before Lino hung up.

Lino looked at his phone wallpaper. The wallpaper was that of his smiling girlfriend, lifting his spirits again.

Pia, if it wasn’t for you, I‘d still be crying right now. I’m so glad that I have you. Lino thought while smiling and looking gently at his phone wallpaper. Also, thanks to Tinder, I was able to meet you.

Lino recalled that he first met Pia via the dating app called Tinder. He jumped for joy upon seeing that he and Pia got matched. From then, he began meeting and courting her. He received her sweet “Yes!” about a year ago.

As soon as Lino switched off his phone, Ersel came back to his mind. He has been thinking about whether or not to tell Ersel about his true identity.

No, I won’t tell him who I am for now. Lino thought. I’ll let him discover it by himself. I don’t want to talk to him for now either.

Lino then cooked and ate his dinner and took a bath. While wiping himself dry, he saw the matching wristbands that bore his and Ersel’s names.

Ersel, I planned to give you one of these ten years ago, but that chance was taken away from me. Lino thought bitterly. You said back then that you wanted a souvenir, so I bought them. I don’t know if I’d be able to give it to you now.

Lino dressed up and took his phone to check his Facebook and Messenger updates. One of the messages in Messenger was from Pia, and it went like this: Good night, babe. I love you.

Lino smiled and replied: Same to you, babe.

As Lino slowly fell into a deep slumber, he thought of Ersel again, knowing that the former would have to confront the latter eventually.

Ersel, I’ll definitely confront you and make you apologize when the right time comes. Lino thought before sinking into a deep slumber.