High School Best Friend

I felt like an outcast; it was the first day of class in my new school. I was already in the 2^nd year of high school, wore a red checkered skirt and plain white blouse with strikes of red checkered vertical line on each side. Flag ceremony on Monday morning, I was beside no one even until we reached the classroom and knowing no one I chose to sit at the very back of the room. This Rapunzel with dark shiny hair seated near me, we talked because we were both scavengers asking for who has a piece of paper. From there we became friends; we had formed a 4-member friendship and named it BRG (Beautiful Rockin’ Girls) with Franze Cabarrubias and Charlene Rivera. We became very close, we treated each other like sisters, and we learned that we a lot in common.

Whenever her mom sends some chocolates from Bahrain we eat it under the teacher’s table so that no one would ask for some. I would guard the front door and she would guard the back door and no one is allowed to enter not unless they give us food. Yes, we’re kind of bully but not so. During flag ceremony we throw our bags by the gate and go to school a bit late and no one would know because our bags are there. She’s makes silly stuffs like she writes an excuse on our Correspondence notebook and we’d get out of school freely. At times we cut classes, whenever we feel lazy to go to school we’d go straight to SM Manila McDonald’s and wait for 10am when the mall opens then play at Worlds of Fun or stroll around. Sometimes we head out to SM MOA the times when the flat rates of cabs were only PHP20, with a budget of 500 pesos we are able to survive just for the sake of gallivanting. Though we are both crazy we never forget to do well in class, we’re the partners in crime. She sleeps over at my pad and I sleep over at hers. We’re total lunatics that we tend to speak sarcastically when around anyone.

I remember than whenever I get close to someone else she has this obsession of bullying that someone to keep them away from me. Yes, a total lunatic indeed but I know that she just really loves me as much. We eat a lot, we love eating but actually she loves cooking and eating while I only love eating. I have no interest in cooking that’s why whenever we’re together she wants to hit me with the pan because as she is cooking I keep on eating. I came from a very profound exclusive school in the Metro so I was culture shocked when I transferred there but she made it worthwhile. I was really “maarte” but she taught me how to be “jeproks”, how to live simply yet cool. During recess and lunch time our way was that she would bring a can opener and I would bring canned goods then we will just buy rice at the canteen and ask for plastic utensils because we are broke and we are saving up our allowance so we can bond outside school. As for our drink, there is a drinking fountain at the corner so no worries. We would just tear off the plastic where the rice is and eat it then and there with the canned goods. Solved! I was supposing to study there for only a year but because of her I’ve decided to finish high school there. Junior year came but sadly we’re not classmates, we both had to deal with it. We gained new friends but still we go to each other’s classroom just to check out each other and still “pasaway” as we are, we cut class and stay at the comfort room since no one checks students there. I find it hard to make new friends without her because she’s the only one who got me so comfortable in this new environment but though we’re not together she never left me. She was always still there for me, best friend. We still go out often as much as we can even until our Senior year, when we went to college things were totally different. We saw each other again during her sister and my brother’s high school graduation (since they are batch mates as well), but the last time we saw each other was during her debut. It was very heartwarming to know that she never forgets me even until now that she has graduated college and working abroad. We may not get to communicate nor see each other anymore but the friendship still remains and would never fade away. She is the wind beneath my wings, my best friend, my tol. We may find it mushy but I love and miss you tol, my best friend.

You're now starting a new chapter in your life and it came as a surprise. You were never secretive not until now that you're married and expecting a little munchkin on the way, we'd be oceans apart but you know that I would always be here for you. 

(NOVEMBER 2015)