I wasn’t the most active Green Media Group (GMG) member in 2005, but I was present enough to meet the then-recruits. Owen was among the more pleasant energies. That much I already gathered from our first group hangout. So, imagine my confusion when he ignored me along the corridor the following week, only to greet me with “Chuckie? What’s wrong with you? It’s me!!!” days later – as if shaking me out of a hypnotic trance. That’s how I discovered that he has a twin. 

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Our bond only deepened past graduation, specifically when he ended up sleeping over at my then-condo after a reunion, and, more significantly, when we somehow wound up in the same job. It was for a general entertainment channel, back when general entertainment channels were still a thing. It was a short-lived stint on his end. He moved to Okinawa five months later and then, eventually, Down Under. 

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It took us another eight years to reunite anew. It was during a five-day visit to Sydney, where he was then stationed. Over that lunch, we were also joined by two other colleagues, Keithleen and Leah, who’ve similarly built their lives there since. It may have been only a six-hour reunion, but it was more than enough to catch up.

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Six years and a Zoom call later, I learned that he was in town for a week. Not like he hasn’t been back before, but we couldn’t pass the chance to reconnect. We seized the opportunity last Friday, where he was checked in. 

It wasn’t the vibe I’m accustomed to. The lobby was packed with bank employees having their company Christmas party. It was noisier than usual, leaving us no recourse but to move to the third floor club. We were far from the crowd, all right, but the festivities were still audible. Still, we made the most of the conditions.

We proceeded with the quick updates. He shared that he has since moved to another state and, more importantly, to another industry – one that allows him to end his work day at 4:00PM sharp and enjoy what’s left of his day. That’s when it dawned on me, ambition can govern our ideals and choices for as long as it can. But then, there’s a certain point we’d want to slow down. We just make sure the soul asks for it before the body does. Accordingly, the “we’re getting old” bomb was dropped, followed by laughter. 

Hectic as that evening was, that rush reunion was more than welcome. We don’t know when we’ll see each other again, or who’ll visit who. But much as we’re now navigating different paths, the dynamic remains. That’s when you know a connection’s for keeps.