Five summers, four lovers and three checkbooks ago, I've been here, as I am today. Same corner, same shade of gloomy day, and about the same volume of falling rain, still a one-call-away favorite friend of pain. Only now I am much more clever and conniving, more calculating and dare I say, more frightening. My approaching steps are the pitter-patter of the storm starting, the thundering warning of my arrival is Manila's hour rushing. Words from my lips are news you'd rather miss, however I can't say the same about my infamous kiss. I am older, and longer are my to-do lists. My patience is longer, but my heart no longer sighs or beats.