Of Life-long Friendships

Imagine a small girl, entering a big new world with no one to talk to, or be excited about the first day of school.

That was me 16 years ago.

I can still remember the first time I walked in to the gates of St. Jude Parish School. I was a fifth grade transferee, which means I knew no one. We just moved in to our new house in Cavite, and the friends I made in our place didn't go to the same school as I was.

Good thing Mama came with me. I was a really shy girl back then, so I didn't have the guts to ask anyone about anything, even where my classroom was. And then a woman came up to talk to my mom. They chitchat for a while, then suddenly Mama grabbed my hand and pushed me beside a girl. Turned out she was transfer student, too, and we're in the same grade and class.

She became my best friend.

Fortunately, she wasn't the only friend I made. Of course our friendship wasn't exclusive only for the two us. When we entered high school, we made a circle with some other classmates, who up until now, are still my friends.

I honestly cannot recall how we all became close. Maybe when we became group mates for a project, or shared the same interest in a sport. Or maybe through hellos and genuine smiles, moments when we were our real, young selves. We're a weird set, a mix of different personalities, but we magically meshed together.

Unlike in the movies, my high school experience was one of the best moments in life. There were a lot of good and bad times, but we braved them all. We may have parted ways in college, but we still keep coming back to our little merry group.

I think the beauty of our friendship is that it started simple and innocent. We grew up together. We shared stories, and laughters, undergone body changes, and faced teenage years practically beside each other. Through that we realized that in those times we spent, we have built a special kind of bond that would last forever.

It feels really good to have people you can rely on, who wouldn't judge you, make you laugh your ass out. People you could run to when the world feels just a little too suffocating.

This is us today. We spent a whole night celebrating in a hotel for a friend's birthday. Nothing grand, just some booze, non-stop talk and lots of fun. We're not complete here, though. Sad. :(

We all live different lives now, but I am proud that our friendship withstood the test of time. We never forget to reach out to each other, keep everyone updated of the latest happenings in our adult lives. I guess this is proof that we're gonna be friends until we're old. and crinkly. Together we created a safe haven, a place where we can enjoy each other's company, and have no worries.

Only a few people are blessed to find true friends. I'm lucky to have got mine. We may not be related by blood, but I can definitely say that we are a family. :)

P.S. Happy 10th Anniversary to us, Hudas! Long Live Batch '07!

#Musings #Friendship #HighSchool