nina and sam

while i was having my after-lunch smoke by the office stairwell, i thought of two of my dearest friends.

one being the opposite of the other, nina and sam have a lot going on for them--one is their commitment to each other. i have known them for four years already; met them first when i got back in manila from a two-year scholarship grant in Silliman. i got in touch with them because of my masters thesis--something about the development of a philippine literary theory of lesbian criticism. my department chair in S.U. was keen on making me work on that primarily because i am into women's studies.

when i first met them, i marvelled at the way they radiate the differences in their personalities. nina is the more outspoken, opinionated one. she writes while sam critiques her. sam, on the other hand, is quiet but when she speaks, she's got a lot to say, i tell you. sam babies nina and i like it when i witness them that way. i become even prouder that they're my friends.

i was there when they got married about two years ago. i was the wedding camera person so while everyone was dressed rather nicely, i was in my usual tank top-cargo pants-sneakers getup.

when the guests saw sam coming down the spiral staircase of the ballroom, silence fell. and in that silence, awe and joy were felt. sam was lovely in her purple (or violet?) wedding dress...

when they exchanged their vows, sam's voice quivered while nina tried to appear cool.

i miss them and that is why i am probably writing about them now.