The Paper Dragon Boy

Dear friend,

1. It's been a year since you've left, how have you been?
2. Thank you for appearing in my dreams.
3. Last time i saw you, you're so happy, more than you're usual quiet-happy self.
4. I planned to punch you in the tummy--one that would really hurt, but seeing you so fine, I couldn't.
5. Idiot, why'd you go?
6. I couldn't explain the sticky mixture of pain and happiness.
7. You seemed so much more than fine in my dream.
8. You said heaven is so awesome and God is so good. "He's so, so good," you said, your eyes beaming. I was glad to hear that.
9. You were my favorite.
10. The little magic gets multiplied when you come over.
11. We didn't do anything amazing you know. Eating here, walking there, going to school, laughing, talking about nothing substantial, getting into trouble.
12. You loved surprises, I did too.
13. I hate your last surprise, though. You think it's funny.
14. Paper folding colorful dragons, all the time.
15. You told me to name each fold so I would remember. It was fun to do. The "ramen fold" is my favorite but I can't remember it anymore.
16. I don't think I want to make dragons again. We made dozens!
17. Your weirdness sticks like an annoying LSS. But I have to say that it's my favorite song.
18. I wish you didn't go too soon.
19. But i'm happy that you're happy.
20. I want to make a bridge that will continue your quirky dreams up to the sky! Guess what, I think I will.
21. Did you ride paper dragons on your way up?
22. Why must you be so excited about everything including leaving?
23. You promised that we'll make a huge paper dragon using a single paper. Is it possible?
24. Can I see you again?
25. Remember when you wanted to eat the sickly sweet chocolate cakes but ended up giving them to the kids selling sampaguita because it was too sweet?
26. Remember bumping your head on the payphone while you were texting? 
27. Remember your dream of me? That we were under a tree, and you blushed, and you don't know why. That's a cute story.
28. Remember being so scared of the Killer in the Woods story that you didn't want to go home that night anymore?
29. Remember hiding your love life from us your girl friends?
30. Remember spending all your allowance for the week that you can't come home on a Friday?
31. Remember not bathing before going to class and showing off your dandruff to me?
32. Remember all your yucky selfies before the word was invented?
33. You were hilarious.
34. Your drawings on my to do list notebooks, i wish i kept.
35. Remember celebrating your 18th birthday with us in Freedom Park? You wore your Giordano banana yellow jacket.
36. Remember selling us that jacket? You were wearing it already.
37. Remember always coming over always pestering us girls with your bright ideas?
38. Remember us saying our farewells when you decided to transfer to another university? Remember at the jeepney stop, our good-bye hug, and the jeepney going away when you we're just about to ride it. We should have re-hugged so it would have been less embarrassing.
39. Remember riding your bicycle and colliding with a motorcycle on F.O. Street? That. Was. Embarrassing.
40. Remember the day you thought we graduated and you went to campus to see us but we weren't there?
41. Remember walking home at night, under Mr. Sad Lights on Pearl Street?
42. Remember feeling the wind at the park, you said "I feel like the wind!" (from the line in Windstruck) and me saying you're not wind, you're fart, and you being quiet. I'm sorry. It's just that teasing you makes me happy.
43. Remember dropping your underwear at the dormitory hall when you were moving out? Good thing I didn't see it.
44. You loved your siblings so much.
45. They say you're my brother from another mum. Maybe.
46. They say we laughed about our corny jokes at the living room. We did?
47. I can't remember saying thank you when you we're still here.
48. Thank you for being my friend.
49. Thank you for filling up my laughter bank.
50. Thank you for your smile, like a warm summer sunlight.

Me and our Paper Dragon Boy met in 2006. He taught me how to make paper dragons just because I was so fascinated by them. To make paper dragons in 50 folds, here is the link: http://www.zingman.com/origami/zingoridragon.html

We all have crazy friends, and some times we'll only appreciate them when they're gone. This friend of mine taught me that life is short and we can't love too little.