The year was 1992 (I think). Everytime they'd play that Close Up commercial on TV, I would stop whatever I was doing, and stare at the screen. Her smile was so dazzling that I'd swoon. I was 10 years old and I was in love.

Fast forward to last night. Welly asked (or forced) me to go to Ice with her officemates and drink. I grudgingly gave in, for the lack of something better to do. So we were there, laughing, drinking, talking blah blah blah... when this girl enters the bar. She approached our table and started making beso beso with everyone. One of Welly's officemates. And she looked familar. I froze. I knew exactly who she reminded me of.

I had to know. On our way out of the bar, I asked Welly. This is a rough transcript of the conversation:

Reg: commercial model ba sya?
Welly: i dont know. pero alam ko nag appear sya sa Philippine Star...
Reg: hinde. commercial model talaga. like years ago. close up.
Welly: i'll ask. Girl On TV (name withheld to protect the beautiful), were you in a close up commercial?
Girl On TV: ... who told you?!
Welly: Reg!
Reg (to myself): I'm gonna dead. (to Welly): I had THE biggest crush on her...

Later on, me and the girl on tv were alone outside Seattles Best while the others got coffee.

Reg: Ikaw talaga yung nasa commercial? (Good one, Reg).
Girl On TV: yup! naalala mo pa yun? that was like 1991..92?
Reg: ummm.... just vaguely (liar! you even remember the song!)
Girl On TV: kasama ko dun si Onemig... may mga clowns... and slides!
Reg: (nothing. just nodding stupidly. but honestly, I didn't remember Onemig, or the clowns, or the slides. I just remember her.)

Back in the car:

Welly: Girl On TV, do you know why Reg remembers the commercial?
Girl On TV: why??
Welly: Reg, tell her!
Reg: .... (i'm pretending to be asleep now)
Welly: fine! i'll tell her... he had THE biggest crush on you!
Girl On TV: really?? im so flattered!
Reg: (suddenly awake) its true its true... i even remember the song!
Girl On TV: neocolours? sige nga sing it!
Reg: "gotta get close to you..."
Girl On TV: awww... naaalala pa nya talaga!

Everything happened so fast that I don't really remember anymore what happened after that. All I know is I got to kiss her before she went down (hey, after 13 years, I think I deserved that didn't I?).

They say every story has a lesson. The lesson in this one? Watch TV. Don't forget the faces of your crushes. Who knows, after 13 years, your paths may cross.




I wish for you on a falling star
Wondering where you are
Do I ever cross your mind in the warm sunshine?
She's from the city of angels
Like Bette Davis, James Dean & Gable
Never knew what she means to me
I fell for the girl thats on TV...