He was a barber. He was a "kabayan" thats why
he is the only one i trust for my haircut.
The first time i set foot on his shop, i was
quite uncomfortable because my first impression
to him is that he was gay. As a first timer
as a young professional worker in a foreign land, especially
its in middle east, you all have the worries on
your mind. One of which is the trust you will give
to every stranger you will meet. And for this barber
im not sure if i will give him that trust as a friend
.Im afraid that he would do something. Something not nice.
Not nice that i would regret coming into his shop.

When i was in the chair, he started to talk.
The usual conversation of getting to know's.
Im watching his every move. Im very vigilant and quite
nervous. Nothing unusual happened. That was the first
haircut.

After a month, i needed to come back to the shop again.
This time i am still nervous. He always had that
smile that was very mysterious. Then he started to talk.
But this time, he opened something up that changed
everything. He opened what he believed in. He is a
Christian. He asks me whats my purpose and the purpose
of life itself. We exchange views that mostly are the same
Then he started to show his sons
and daughters pictures. Even his grandchildren.
My impression on him started to revolve 180 degrees.
He is not a person to be feared, but a person to
be looked at. Then i started to realize that he is
a such a good person, father and grandfather after
all his stories.

In life, first impressions are not that important until
you look into a persons heart. He is Abel. He is my barber and my friend.