Some of us make a living from blogging, while others simply want to share their lives and passions through writing. It was incredible how much we grew from the very first day of our blogging journey and how it tremendously affects our lives right now. We have various inspirational testimonies on how writing changed us completely and in what way it saves us financially. It’s no joke to write, think, and publish daily blogs, especially when there’s nothing fancy going on with your life.
Aside from that, blogging helps us gain virtual friends all around the world. There is no limit to forming friendships, and communication is becoming stronger as we converse with each other. I’ve become friends with a lot of Filipinos and Nigerians in particular. Something that amazed me was how somehow blogging became an instant instrument for retired introverts, aspiring writers, and artists to share what kind of life they have and inspire others as well.
One thing I always look forward to is meeting a virtual friend in real life. I’ve never had a chance to meet anyone, although there are people near me. It’s just that they are quite older and busy with their lives. Meeting up is beyond their schedule. However, my wish came true when a friend of mine asked me if I could help him buy clothes and juices for their year-end party. I think we had planned our meet-up before, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen.
Now that the opportunity has arisen, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. It was around 9 in the morning when he messaged me, and our meeting time was around 1 p.m. In all honesty, I was very excited to meet 
When he messaged me that he was finally outside near SM Bacoor, I was quite nervous, and I didn’t know why. The moment I saw him from afar, I was completely speechless. I believed he was the one who spoke to me first, and my first sentence was, "You’re tall!" Our heights were almost the same, and I kept staring at him from the side because I felt surreal. We just strolled around the mall, and he was fitting some polo shirts. There were outfits that looked the best, but he didn’t buy them.
We went to the fourth floor of the mall because the food court was there. There were plenty of people dining, as expected since it was Friday. We ordered a box of pizza and bottled water. I believed we had to secure our budget for that day since, personally, I couldn’t afford to spend much. The pizza was good and creamy. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of that pizza. Honestly, I treasured the moments we had together rather than capturing the moments. I don't want to be known as someone who is somewhat rude and is constantly on the phone while speaking. Especially since it was our first meeting,
We went shopping at the mall once more. I suggested to him to buy some clothes and pants in the thrift shop in front of SM Bacoor. Personally, I loved to buy secondhand clothes rather than brand-new ones because they were still the same. We managed to find some quality pants with a bright color. It fit him well. That particular thrift shop already filtered all the items, so all of them are in good shape. Thus, some are branded, like those from Uniqlo, Zara, and Tommy Jeans.
After he bought a pants, we headed back to SM Bacoor because he’ll now buy boxes of juice for their year-end party in their class. The price per box increased tremendously compared to previous years. The inflation is so real. Then, I secretly took photos of him at the back. I guess he wasn’t aware at all. It was fun having a conversation with him. I didn't expect him to talk more than I did. I just wanted to listen to whatever he was saying, and most of the time, I nodded and answered briefly.
Before we went out of the supermarket, I decided to buy my favorite healthy snacks. I bought 100 grams of chamoy and 200 grams of dried plums. I told him that this was healthy, and he decided to buy it as well. Its sweetness is natural, and it's the perfect snack for me while writing or watching a film.
After we paid for them, it was time to say goodbye to each other. Our time together wasn’t long, but I totally enjoyed it. I didn’t go away because I waited for him to hop in the cab first. It was the next day that it sank into my mind that we really did meet, and I hope we’ll meet again soon. It’s the same wish among my other virtual friends as well.