it all started with a text message i received as i was on my way home this past thursday afternoon. i was looking forward to an unexpected three-day weekend due to one of our systems being shut down for maintenance and we were forced to take saturday night off. the message came from a person i didn't know, but apparently knows me and what i've been through with someone. i wasn't able to save the messages that were sent to me (i don't usually do that if it's from someone i don't know) because initially, i thought that it was a prank being played to me by someone i know. to the best of my recollection, the exchange of messages went this way (some parts were in filipino, so i translated it here, of course):

texter:  hi, is this mark?

me (surprised at the message):  yup, who is this please?

texter (took a good five or so minutes to reply back):  it's not important who i am. what is, is that you need to know about what happened to someone you deeply care about.

me (even more surprised, but still doubtful):  who are you talking about? who is this?

texter:  you know who she is. i'm sorry if i had to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems that you didn't know what happened to her a couple of weeks ago.

me (was getting quite impatient at the "charades"):  look, i don't have time for this. it'll save us both a lot of time if you could just tell me who it is and what happened.

texter:  it would be best to find out on your own. check her friendster profile and you will see what i'm talking about. i know how you feel about her and i believe that it was a shame on what she did to you the last time. i was hoping that she would come to her senses and decide to be with you, but for some reason i can't figure out, she didn't. it's just sad that something special between two people failed to even start. this would be the last message i'll send. i'm not her masquerading as someone else, if that's what you're thinking. we already met when she introduced you to me. i thought she would at least tell you out of respect and your history together, but i'm not sure what's on her mind during those last couple of weeks. anyway, it's good to have met you. you're one of the rare good persons i know and i hope all goes well for you.

me (dumbfounded):  can you at least tell me who you are?

the person didn't reply anymore. though i was somewhat intrigued by the messages, i still did not take it seriously until the next day, friday. i was checking my yahoo email when i remembered the exchange of messages. i logged on to friendster and looked for her profile. what i saw gave me one of the most surprising moments i could recall. she got married sometime in september. messages of well-wishes and congratulations from friends filled her testimonials section and pictures of her and her husband together with captions were on her gallery, although from what i remember, there were no wedding pictures of them posted. it took a while for the feeling to sink in and to realize that everything between us is over–most likely including the friendship we have…  or had.  i was already logged out of friendster when i decided to log back in and send her a message.  it read:

guess what i heard is true.  congratulations and i hope you have found the happiness you're looking for and deserve.  take care always.

so there goes another chapter in the encounters i have had in my life.  one that has no real closure because we haven't had the talk, and it ended with questions rather than answers.  yet somehow it did not feel as bad as i thought it would be.  probably because i have gone through the same thing before.  though not exactly, but the scenario is almost identical.  so much for lightning not striking twice on the same location.

so here's my own… let's say, version of farewell to donna, who at one time, meant everything to me.  whether you may read this or not, it doesn't matter.  despite the empty promises you made, misunderstandings and arguments, i would rather remember and think of you as the person i spent almost half a day with during that easter sunday back in 2005.  though there may be things i want to know and questions i'm seeking answers to, it's not up to me anymore.  maybe we'll cross paths again, maybe not.  but i really and honestly hope and wish you all the happiness that you seek and long for.  and i thank you for the things both big and small that you did for me.  do take care always.

  – me and donna during "happier" times