F: Natulog lang tapos ayun, he forgot to wake up, I guess.
L: You’re kidding, right? Online kaya siya ngayon.

Nnumerous calls confirmed it’s true. In shock mode, I stared blankly. Cried and prayed. There he goes in my list, I can see his name. He’s still online. Freaky, but still I took the courage to send him a message. Of course, I did not expect him to reply. Hala, mamaya magreply yan sayo. Shrugged. Okay lang. Cold creeps. I thanked him for the friendship and I said sorry.

When we we’re in college, he’s like our Papa who would shut us up everytime we’re in panic. He’s our general commander. I find him conceited those days. I could still remember the fight we had once over software engineering projects. A scandal. To the extent that both our parents we’re called by the Ateneo guidance. But after the storm, we manage to remain friends. We can’t afford not to, because we are in the same group and with common friends.

Now he’s gone. Crashed hopes. Shattered dreams. Died young at 26. We’re still waiting for the final schedule of burial. Hopefully weekend, so that all of us, his friends here in Manila can go home.

Leo Marco “Butch” Oliva | August 25, 1980 – November 9, 2006.
Rest in peace, Butch. We’ll miss you.

YM offline messages: Butch: Oi!
Goose bumps. Someone signed in to his account I guess, to logout him forever.