A familiar face walked inside the elevator I was riding. I didn't know I kept staring at her when she nodded her head off to signal that she recognized me as well. The only problem was how, where and when did we meet or at least "saw" each other. We just exchanged a couple of words regarding our work and tenureship.

When I got off the elevator, I was still trying to recall when I had met her. I was at the middle of the street when I later realized that she was a former schoolmate (a batch lower) in high school when I studied in Dumaguete.

All the whole the places circling through my head: Davao? Dumaguete? Bacolod? Cebu? Dumaguete? Manila? golf tees?

and between those cities were schools also juggling in between: Stella Maris? St. Paul? San Agustin? Pleasant Mount? COSCA? San Carlos?

My, my, the hassle of recalling my schoolmates I only recognize by face. The upside (or downside) of having been able to study in different schools. The pressure of stepping up a notch because of newer people coming in. The depressing note of my memory failing me.