The Lonely Little Boy From Denmark

DV: I want to be happy.
K: Don't we all?
DV: I want to be happy.

He was a little drunk when we met. DV was at a corner of the room, dancing with his friends. He was around 5 feet 7 inches tall, lean, chinito.

K: Honey, cute ba siya?
V: Yeah, boyish cute. Mga type mo.

DV lives in Denmark and was in town for a long vacation. We exchanged numbers and agreed to have dinner Monday night.

K: So, tuloy ba tayo dinner mamya?
DV: Why do you want to see me?
K: DV, relax. It's just dinner. It's not like I'm asking you to marry me.

We went to one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The kare-kare lamb and tinapa Chilean seabass were excellent and we tried a bottle of Chardonnay created by designer Christian Audigier in collaboration with the Montpeyroux Estates in France.

DV is a visual merchandiser for a European clothing chain. We spoke of his work, his family and then our conversation drifted to his ex. I learned he is still sad because of his break-up with his ex.

DV: Naalala mo ba yung sinabi ko sa iyo when we met?
K: Which one?
DV: That I want to be happy.
K: Ah. Oo. Nagulat nga ako eh.
DV: Para nga akong tanga, every time may nakikipagkilala sa akin or nakikipagkilala ako, I always say "I want to be happy. Can you make me happy?"
K: So kelan kayo naghiwalay?
DV: 2004

I nearly choked on my food. 2004?????? That's six years now; an awfully long time. It's not that I don't understand him. Everything he said resonated in me.

DV: "He was the most beautiful thing that happened to me. He was perfect and I was so happy."

How well I know those words. I have seen people take more than a year, two or even three years to heal from a break-up but six years is still quite a shocker.

DV: I was hoping to see him pag-uwi ko. Akala ko uuwi rin siya from Singapore for Christmas. Pumunta pa nga ako sa bahay nila. Hindi ako bumaba, tiningnan ko lang ang bahay niya.

He never got into a relationship after his break-up.

DV: Hindi nga ako nakikipag date eh.
K: So you don't go out with guys you meet here?
DV: Para saan pa? To fall in love eh aalis na rin ako. Eh hindi naman ako nakikipag one-night stand.

Okay, I said to myself. That means no sex tonight ladies.

While driving home, I decided to open the windows to let the cool breeze in. I realized my hair was growing longer and it kept falling into my eyes, blocking my view.

K: Nakakainis. Ang haba na ng buhok ko. Ang gulo gulo na.
DV: Hindi nga eh. Bagay nga sa iyo. Ang guapo mo.

I sat quietly and pretended not to have heard him.
"I'll never love again, oh boy, you've left me speechless," Lady GaGa crooned in the car stereo.

We parked outside his place, talked for a bit more. As I was saying goodbye, he tilted his head sideways, pointed to his cheek, smiled and said "O, kiss muna."

I leaned forward and he suddenly moved his head such that our lips met. His mouth was warm and inviting. I hugged him tightly.

K: Hmmmm, you smell so good.

I realized I missed cuddling. I miss quiet dinners, the feel of a hand in my hand.

When I got home, I received a text from him.

DV: Mr. Reporter, thank you. Thank you for making me happy.

"But I'm a loser in love baby
So raise a glass to mend all the broken hearts
Of all my wrecked up friends."
---Lady GaGa, "Speechless"