See you around, EJ.

EJ thinks I'm a wimp. He thinks I'm a lot of other things, too. Like a klutz and a weirdo. But he must really think I'm a wimp.

You see, most people don't readily know that EJ is the one person who has seen me cry the most number of times in the office. Not that he was the reason for all those pathetic tears. He's just the person I go to when the waterworks start. Ironically, I hate crying. So I don't do it often. And I hate myself whenever I can't help myself.

EJ is one of the best listeners I've ever met. He claims that he's just nosy and is always ready to hear 'tsismis'. But I know better. No one can fake concern that well. I used to be messed up with a recurring issue in my life and he never, never turned me away whenever I had to rant about it. Sheesh, if I had to listen to myself go on and on, over and over again about that same old thing, I'd have snapped at myself. No, make that - I'd have smacked myself straight in the nose. And unrepentantly left myself bleeding. (Ok, too much violence.)

When my mother got sick and I couldn't concentrate on work, I used to sit on the empty corner desk beside EJ and just bury my head to cry. He wouldn't say a word. Every now and then, he'd just pat my head a few times and go back to his work. When I would finally look up with swollen eyes, he'd ask, "Ok ka na?" I'd nod, thank him, and then go back to my workstation.

I also have a propensity for taking off to take brisk walks in the middle of a workday when I get too upset. Yeah, yeah, I know. Such a drama queen. Or more like, such a macho thing to do. We were jabbing and I just said I need to be not there right now and left. The extensive exposure to my crying probably gave him a built-in radar whenever I have a lachrymal activity because after aimlessly walking, I checked my phone and found a couple of missed calls and messages from EJ. One said, "Where are you? Let me be there to help you." I would find out later that he was worried I was going to be hit by a car while I was crossing the street distressed.

Yeah, that's me. What a wimp.

Another one of the good things I like about being friends with EJ is the fact that we have very similar values. We often agree on what we think is wrong or right, what is unfair or just. Although, I must admit we have very different views on what is funny or not. His humor mostly consists of watching me make a fool of myself - often unintentionally. But behind all those jokes and wisecracks, he has a good heart. He told me once that he should probably start listing down names of the people that he wants to include in his prayers. He feels guilty whenever he forgets someone; there's so many people to pray for.

Today was EJ's last day at the office. As a send-off gift, we gave him an Umbra Fotofalls and the scrapbook I completed at 2 am that morning. He treated a couple of us to Italian food. Afterward, he and I waited for Yza in Starbucks. And when it was time to go home, I cried again to EJ. This time, it was finally his fault.

We'll miss spending every day of the week with you, EJ. But you don't get to rid of us that easily. See you around. ^__^