Come high school, we all joined COCC (Cadet Officer Candidate Course). Well, they joined first July. Then I came in October. I can’t imagine my life without them. My batch is the spice in my life. I couldn’t think of having better friends. We trained under the sun, under rain, in puddle of mud, crawl and roll our way to the hot concrete of Saint Francis School grounds. Cry ourselves out through the drama of teen life. We danced during JS prom and he was shaking! I had a  crush on him back then. Why? He was a gentleman. The fondness didn’t grow further than that. We eventually had our own lovelife and heartaches.

At first, it was only I who could tell the twins apart. Aside from the mole which Edwin has on one side of his face, and Edward on his upper lip, I look at the gentleness of the face. Even if they take out the moles, I can still tell which one is which. Edward has a smarter, more edgy look on his face. While Edwin, on the other hand, has more subtle and gentle features.

Come Senior year, Marl, Michellin, Charade, Edwin, Kiel and I belong to same class. It was my best year ever. We had power, we had fun, love and everything a teenager could ask for under the sun. We have good friends. Guys, ya’ll a gem! It was not all good times though. Edwin and I were teasing each other when eventually I got pissed off. I can’t even remember what it’s all about. Mrs. Miranda, our commandant, saw me crying on my way to the headquarters. Voila! We got our own dose of medicine. “Squattrash kayo jan hangga’t hindi kayo nagbabati…” Mrs. Miranda shouted. Edwin and I never spoke a word to each other till December 25, 2001. We were in college.

He and Edward studied in Adamson while I studied in Mapua. Ellen, on the other hand, is between us, TUP. We had our own lives back in college. Even though, they were there during my 18th birthday. They were there everytime I got my heart broken. When Geoffrey left, when Noel and I broke up, countless times. And every Christmas, we have this so called, Batch reunion in which the same people attend every year. We lost in touch with our other batchmates. But still, Edwin, Edward, Loy, Mar, Jim, Marl, Jepoy, Ellen, Robert, Mark and I keep in touch…JC and the rest, ocassionally.

So what’s next? We were yuppies now! I lived in Pasig while some of us stayed here. There was this one time where I tried to make it to our yearly overnight reunion, and I just end up sleeping at their couch. He always gives me pillows whenever he thinks I don’t feel comfy. The giant telecoms also played a role to keep us apart. I was using Globe, they’re using Smart. Haha! They always greet me during special ocassions, Christmas, birthday and sometimes, just out of the blue. And then I transferred to Alabang. The spices of my life is back. I was closer to them more than ever.

Then one fateful day, I woke up early. And heard my phone beep. It says, Matatag, mejo di maganda ang morning…Edwin is dead. He was stabbed to death last night…

Edward lost his twin brother…

Tita Nanay lost his bunso…

Matatag lost a brother…

Jellaine lost a loving boyfriend…

Brian lost his tito…

The world lost a better person…

Up to this day, I still can’t believe it. It’s like a dream. Looking at his casket, it’s like someone else is there, a mannequin…For nights, I couldn’t sleep without lights. And I can’t continue writing anymore………

I can only remember our kulitan thru email…

Tin promis u treat u kami s sweldo db.. sbi u sken ung dun tau s aplaya.. It’s time to shine! hehehehe

And his last words the last time I saw him alive…

Alagaan mong mabuti si Martin ha?