Westlife Splitting Up

                Twelve hours ago (1am, Oct. 20, 2011), I was reliving the moments of the Westlife Gravity Tour here in the Philippines last September 29. I searched for my used ticket and paste it in my 2011 planner as I usually do with all my tickets, whether for concerts, basketball games, or movies. I wrote a short description of how I felt that night, not realizing what’s gonna happen 12 hours after that.

                Waking up, I was thinking, there is something with Oct. 20. I can’t exactly remember and recall if somebody close to me is celebrating a birthday or something important happened last year or years ago. Reaching the office, I connected to the wi-fi and checked my facebook account. I saw this: RT @gonzobyrne gone thru this b4. time heals. Believe me: there are worse things in life than your fave band splitting up #westlifeforever. Yes it was shared on facebook. I was clueless. What’s happening? So I checked my twitter account as people there know more than people on facebook. And I saw this from WL_Lighthouse: #NextWeek starts our album giveaway J #GreatestHits #WlMemories. They also tweeted something about #ProudBecomeFanofWestlife to all your followers. What’s with the ‘memories’ and the ‘being proud’? Okay, I already get the idea from that #westlifeforever tweet. I just don’t want to entertain the  idea or I can’t handle the idea. I was still negative about it. I was waiting for a confirmation from the band themselves. Twelve hours ago, nobody even give a hint about THAT, no rumors, no gossip, no nothing. Nicky’s brother Adam tweeted “So, how are you?” Nothing unusual right? But you know when paranoia hits you, you can fuss almost about everything. 

                I was following every Byrne family member on twitter and his brother and sister tweeted these:

@Adamdoodles: I’m gonna hazard a guess and say, ‘not good’, then? pic.twitter.com/UEnfmcg8

@Adamdoodles: Gonna be a Sugababe. RT:@Byrnebyrne @adamdoodles With no more Westlife soon you’re going to lose all relrevance, so what is your Plan B?

@NailligEnryb: Chin up chicka ; ( RT @Fran_Tastic1: There’s no words to describe what feelin right now, I’m numb an emotional wreak but the show must go on.

                I am nearly convinced about the Westlife split up with this. Again, I was waiting for the band themselves to confirm the rumor. Adam again tweeted and shared a video but I can’t open it since Youtube is blocked in our office but he mentioned something about being sorry to hear that people are all “gutted” etc. I wanted to go straight to my Westlife list to see if anybody from the band, within the 10 hours that I last checked my twitter account, tweeted but I can’t seem to confirm the fact. I was nervous and trembling. Then finally a Westlife official US account talked about the news that Shane Filan is going solo, Mark Feehily a song writer, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne doing television work. All in question mark but aside from that, I can’t find anything from any of the band members. That’s when I decided to check my list.

                I saw a tweet not from the band members but from the band’s official twitter account that says, please read an important official statement from the band. Before doing so, I already knew what I was about to see or read. But there’s still little hope beating in one corner of my heart saying that the announcement would be to deny the rumors of splitting up. And as instructed, I visited their website and the letter, the official statement, confirmed my troubled thoughts and made it even more troubled. Really!? From the Westlife Live in Manila 2011 to Westlife to Split Up? You really broke my heart. It’s like giving me heaven then taking it away.

                I was thinking that they should not have come back to Manila after all. They only added more memories that I’m gonna have to learn to let go and they only made my Westlife memories fresher than ever, even more difficult for me to move on and accept the painful truth that my favorite boyband is about to split up. But then I thought, at least I was able to see them perform live before they’re part ways. I’m happy to have lived the dream for one night, two hours to be exact

                Why do they have this perfect timing of announcing things and breaking people's hearts? My heart, especially? First it was my 17th birthday when Bryan announced his departure from the band. Then this one. I finally remembered what's with this date. It was the same date, three years ago, when I passed the 4-day CPA Board Exam. It was the most treasured moments of my life. BEST.DAY. And now, Westlife ruined everything. Oct. 20 will be my best and my worst as supposed to be just THE BEST.

                It was my dream before to visit Ireland and see them do a concert there. I guess Irish people are crazier than people here when it comes to adoring Westlife since all of them are from there, some from Dublin, some from Sligo. Nothing compares to homie kind of love. And I want to feel that same emotion and vibe that I always see in their videos; those goose bumps effect every time I hear them sing; that feeling of almost wanting to cry every time I see them perform; that suppressed smile every time I hear them talk; those giddy laugh every time that crack a joke.

                Sending big hug and big kiss to everyone whose heart is broken by this devastating news. I know they still have a year before they are officially over but just the thought of them not making an album together and not performing together is already heartbreaking. I am hoping for a miracle that maybe on May 2012, I can go to London, it may not be Ireland just like my dream but London, and see just one of those farewell concert tour.-C