Starbucks Memories

I wasn't able to sleep last night... my internet connection has been pretty messed up since yesterday and was driving me nuts unti now. I decided to hit the gym and went directly to my favorite hangout: Starbucks Tomas Morato branch.

I've always loved this place... not just because of the coffee (duh...) but because of the memories that I have in this establishment since I first stepped in the door when I was in college.

Whenever I am here with friends, I would always say "Feeling ko may makikita akong kakilala ko ngayon dito." I have a feeling that I'll be seeing someone I know today. So far, my instinct proved me right all the time.

This is where I hanged out with my best friend 4 years ago after she came back home from America. After that, it has been awhile since we met at a chance encounter where our choir sang in a Mass and she and her violin ensemble played as an intermission number in a program. She hugged me and we exchanged "How have you been? I missed you..." during that time. That was the last time I saw her and haven't heard from her except through emails which I admit, is not frequent. All I can do is look at our picture taken while having coffee, which reflects our smiling faces and all I can do is just smile at the memory.

This has been my sanctuary after work. A friend of mine works in a pre-school two blocks away from this coffee shop.

"Ate (term of endearment for older sisters/friends) Nins, andito ako sa Starbucks... coffee tayo. :)" Ate Nins, I'm here at Starbucks, let's have coffee together. This is my usual text message to my friend, Nins. She would indulge herself with the idea and hang out with me. We would go to her pre-school and I would meet her afternoon class students. That has been a routine which I gladly took before she resigned.

Here is a picture of me with the kids in pre-school. I miss them and I bet that my friend misses them more. I hope that they are doing great in kindergarten or in the "big school".

This is where me and my choir friends hanged out when I got my first Christmas bonus and got promoted at the same time...

I met a barista who happened to be one of my classmates back in college...

Here I am with a cup of Dark Cherry Mocha (extra hot mind you :P), I look around where I am sitting. Nothing has changed since then, and in the back of my mind, I am glad. Yes, change is inevitable but then again, it doesn't mean that a place full of memories will.