Astana, Kazakhstan

March 5, 2014

John Sabian LabraBelle Isle Labra

Dear Belle and John,

You don’t know me and I have not seen you. Your father and I were roommatesin 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 lookedat each other and it was love at first sight. He thought I was a Philipino, Ithough that he needs a roommate. We agreed to live together after 5 minutestalk. I found a room at 3444 Lincoln way #4, next to the campus and we movedin.

First couple months I paid the rent since your father needed to fix problemswith 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. Welived like rock stars. We did not care about our health and ate only meet andrice. Drinking only beer and coke.

There was a big fight in Kazakhstan among Kazakhstani and Phillipino workersthat 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 brotherfor me. For some reason Jerome always had good opinion about me. It wasactually inspiring, when he said such things as - you are an engineer, you’rsmart, etc. And I miss that.

It was a beautiful day, when the door bell rang. It was your mother. I openedthe door and she was so beautiful like an actress from a movie. She askedJerome and he was so happy to see her.

That day they spoke about some things I am not supposed to know, and thenShalom went to friend’s house, I think it was John. Jerome was angry, he waswalking 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 Shalomagain (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 werehappy that day.

Jerome introduced me to the photography. It was his passion and he was adamn good photographer. He has told me stories when he shoot some girls inbikini in a swimming pool. He said he enjoined it when he was young, but he istoo old to do that anymore. Jerome told me the story about ballet photography

when he took the correct exposition and films to get good photos and otherphotographers got yellow, dull photos.

He bought Canon 40d and taught me some photography basics and I am thankfulfor that.

He told me he once played a guitar for 5,000 people on a stadium. Jerome hasa 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 immediatelyremembered an episode, when I was listening Megadeth song - Secret Place.Jerome laughed so hard at this song and told me - ”This song should be playedat 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 willbe envy of him. We kept in touch those days. He said he was taking someMalaria medicine and it gave him a nightmares. Then he worked in NYC forsome 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 wantedto 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 orgo to the politics, he will come to help me with some PR tech. I wish any ofthat came true.

Several weeks after his death, I had a dream. It is a warm night at the oceanshore. Beautiful music is playing. Jerome and I are sitting in wooden chairs,drinking something and talking to each other. We can hear some laughs andtalks from people next to us and I know it were our friends and relatives. Itwas 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 toKazakhstan. May be you can stay in my house with my children and go to thesame school. You will learn Russian and Kazakh, make some friends here andget familiar with this culture.

I will never forget your father.

Yours truly,

Makishev Ernar

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