Ernar Makishev writes a letter to Belle and John, the children of his deceased friend and former roommate Jerome Labra. Ernar describes meeting Jerome 20 years ago when they were assigned as roommates in graduate school in the US. They became close friends and Ernar was Jerome's best man at his wedding. Ernar shares fond memories of their friendship and Jerome's passions for music and photography. Ernar expresses how much he still misses Jerome and hopes to stay connected with Belle and John in the future.

1. Astana, Kazakhstan
March 5, 2014
John Sabian Labra
Belle Isle Labra
Dear Belle and John,
You don’t know me and I have not seen you. Your father and I were roommates
in the US and it was the best year of my life.
We first met during the orientation meeting in the corridor of graduate college.
I was lonely and frustrated. I just got to the ISU from Kazakhstan. We looked
at each other and it was love at first sight. He thought I was a Philipino, I
though that he needs a roommate. We agreed to live together after 5 minutes
talk. I found a room at 3444 Lincoln way #4, next to the campus and we moved
in.
First couple months I paid the rent since your father needed to fix problems
with his scholarship, however he repaid me later and I never had any doubts.
We had such a wonderful time sharing the apartment, food and drinks. We
lived like rock stars. We did not care about our health and ate only meet and
rice. Drinking only beer and coke.
There was a big fight in Kazakhstan among Kazakhstani and Phillipino workers
that year. Jerome laughed and said that there is no fight in our apartment.
I’ve never been close to my elder brother, but I felt like Jerome was a big brother
for me. For some reason Jerome always had good opinion about me. It was
actually inspiring, when he said such things as - you are an engineer, you’r
smart, etc. And I miss that.
It was a beautiful day, when the door bell rang. It was your mother. I opened
the door and she was so beautiful like an actress from a movie. She asked
Jerome and he was so happy to see her.
That day they spoke about some things I am not supposed to know, and then
Shalom went to friend’s house, I think it was John. Jerome was angry, he was
walking in the living room telling things - ”They did not let her stay with me.
What do they think? We are children?” And that was so funny.
He cut his hair later, since he swore not to cut his hair, until he sees Shalom
again (that’s what he said).
I will always remember their wedding day. Jerome was very serious about it.
I was his best man, and I saw what Shalom meant to him. Everybody were
happy that day.
Jerome introduced me to the photography. It was his passion and he was a
damn good photographer. He has told me stories when he shoot some girls in
bikini in a swimming pool. He said he enjoined it when he was young, but he is
too old to do that anymore. Jerome told me the story about ballet photography

2. when he took the correct exposition and films to get good photos and other
photographers got yellow, dull photos.
He bought Canon 40d and taught me some photography basics and I am thankful
for that.
He told me he once played a guitar for 5,000 people on a stadium. Jerome has
a great taste in music. We both liked Soundgarden and Audioslave. However,
he liked Soundgarden more, and I liked Audioslave.
When I heard that horrible, devastating news about Jerome, I immediately
remembered an episode, when I was listening Megadeth song - Secret Place.
Jerome laughed so hard at this song and told me - ”This song should be played
at my funeral. I will hear it, wake up and say - Stop this sh**!”
Who knew it was so close.
He went to Africa in 2007 (he always said Aprica). Telling that his father will
be envy of him. We kept in touch those days. He said he was taking some
Malaria medicine and it gave him a nightmares. Then he worked in NYC for
some rich guys. I don’t know much about that period.
Then when he came back to the Philippines, I gave him a hand once. I wanted
to visit him at the Philippines, but I though I had years to come.
As I said he had a very good opinion about me. He told me when I got rich or
go to the politics, he will come to help me with some PR tech. I wish any of
that came true.
Several weeks after his death, I had a dream. It is a warm night at the ocean
shore. Beautiful music is playing. Jerome and I are sitting in wooden chairs,
drinking something and talking to each other. We can hear some laughs and
talks from people next to us and I know it were our friends and relatives. It
was so real and I was so happy. And then I woke up.
I guess that’s how the paradise look like.
Dear Belle and John.
I miss your father so much.
I want you to know, when you get older. I will be happy to invite you to
Kazakhstan. May be you can stay in my house with my children and go to the
same school. You will learn Russian and Kazakh, make some friends here and
get familiar with this culture.
I will never forget your father.
Yours truly,
Makishev Ernar
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