How wonderful, I must say, is it to reminicse those first meet-ups. Those that never really occured to you will happen but did. Those that you never knew will leave a mark in your life but have.
It was one hot afternoon in April, young as 5 years old, I was about to take my first swings in a sport called tennis. There I was, holding the end of the shirt of my dad tightly as we approached a man and what seems to be like his son. I still remember how my knees shook during those times because there stood before me was my ‘coach’ and an arrogant-looking boy who’s about my age or maybe older.
I held the racquet wrong, I swung too slow, I stepped too early; I’ve made a lot of embarassing mistakes but my coach just smiled all throughout that day opposed to the boy who keep on sniffling a laugh or looking at me as if I was the biggest loser back then.
He was arrogant, boastful, and just downright irritating.
Let me tell you one time when I unintentionally hit the ball which was supposed to be his.
“Bola ko kaya yun” he said, annoy clearly seen in his chinky eyes.
“Edi sayo!” I yelled. My cheeks grew red because of irritation as I stomped my feet and started to walk away.
Yes, I hated him. And without doubt, he hated me, too.
It went on like that for a month and, weird as it may be, we were friends. I mean, yes, we tease each other a lot but what comes with those are genuine laughs.
It was starting to get cold, October came. I was walking down the hallway of our school when my classmate purposely tripped me. I still remembered how I try not to cry but I did. And that’s when he came. Everything was a blur but what was clear to me up until now is how he told my classmate to never hurt his best friend again. I smiled to myself, I had a best friend.
We were the average best friends. We played with each other all the time; tennis, table tennis, billiards, basketball, chinese garter, jack and split, name it. We did little ‘experiments’ and mix powder, lotion, oil, and other products. We created little ‘houses’ with blankets and pillows and we’ll sleep there over the weekend. Then, as we grow up, we started to share our secrets with each other. We shared our little rants about our parents. He told me about his first kiss and I told him about my first suitor. We would always comfort and protect each other. Then? Have fun and laugh like no one’s watching when we’re together. People told us that we were like twins and we can never be apart. They told us that we were weird and crazy. Yes, you could say that. I mean, we would text each other despite the fact that our shoulders we’re touching. We would dress as each other when we go to school. Too immature for 13 and 14 year old kids? Yes you could say that, but let me tell you that those little moments are what made our relationship stronger. I mean, I couldn’t tell you we never had fights because we had a lot, petty and deep. We have different circle of friends, he was a boy, I was a girl, can I make it anymore obvious? I was too sensitive and clingy and he was too... much of a guy. He would laugh at serious matters and I would cry at petty things. But still. At the end of the day, we’d bump into each other, look at each other’s eyes, hug, and we know that we’re okay. We’re best friends and we can’t let simple things break our long and strong relationship.
Now, I sit here, asking myself,”Is it still as strong as it is before?” College came. He’s currently studying in an international university in Jeddah while I’m here in Baguio. We have time and distance between us. Yes, communication is still there but it’s very different to have him beside me wherein I could punch his shoulder when he tells me a corny joke, when I could just ran into his house when I feel like breaking down, or when I just need a hug or an ice cream or a break from the cruelty of reality. I miss my punching bag, my pillow, my vending machine, my own comedy show; I miss my best friend.
There are certain friendships that we remember forever. These are the friendships that were formed when we were children. Why? Simply because we spent half of our life laughing and crying with them. Yes, they may not know the things that you share to your current friends or you may not have the bigger and deeper problems you have now with the people in your life but, I believe, a childhood best friend will always be different. It will always be more carefree and real. You don’t have to act like somebody else or act this age. You don’t have to be this or be like that. No awkward conversations, no fake laughs, just two young adults going back to the memories of them trying to hit a ball.
*****
Paper ko nga pala ‘to sa SC 10 sa UP. =)) I made it before august ends and I just remembered my bestfriend. She’s a girl, btw. Ginawa ko lang ganyan para mas may thrill? Syempre may iba din akong binago and stuff. Mehe. :3
So yeah, just wanna say na kahit wala na tayong commu masyado, I still miss you and what not. Sorry, alam mo namang hindi ako cheesy. XD What I’m trying to say is, lagi ka lang nasa isip ko, naghihintay na gawan ng paper sa major subject ko.
