Good Riddance (DS #2)

Chapter 57

Chapter 57:

Good Friend

Year 1999.

"THEY say, a friend is a good friend once they've seen you at your lowest and your ugliest but will never sell you to other people. A friend is a good friend when they protect you in public, and correct you in private," pagbabasa ni Blair.

Nakatayo siya ngayon habang pinapabasa sa kanya ng Values teacher nila ang isang article sa kanilang textbook.

"You might mistake a 'kind' friend from a 'good' friend. A friend that is kind might listen and be there for you. A good friend, though—will listen, laugh, get angry, and cry with you..."

Napapangiti si Blair sa binabasa. She likes these kind of readings!

"A good friend is not just a good friend to you. But as a person who is consistently good with other people as well..."

Oh, right.

"In life, we will meet all kinds of friend—a childhood friend, a school friend, a work friend, a rival friend, a special friend, and what we all like the most—a best friend... They can be all good friends for a specific place and time. But maybe, a friend is truly a good, good friend if they choose to stick with us in all the seasons of our lives.

"A good friend does not owe us anything, and yet does everything to make us feel we are never alone. An ultimate good friend is willing to risk his own life for us. A good friend loves us that good."

Mas lumaki ang mga ngiti ni Blair nang maalala ang bagong kaibigan na nakilala niya last week.

Jacquin looks like a good friend! Kaso, hindi pa sila ulit nagkakausap. Nakikita niya lang ito palagi at kinakawayan. Minsan, pinapanood niya lang ang ginagawa nito...

"We can always have our own definition of a good friend. We all want a good friend. Make sure, be a good friend first."

"Thank you, Miss Delos Santos. You may take your seat."

Umupo na siya. Summer leaned towards her. "I think, nilito-lito lang tayo ng writer sa definition niya ng good friend," bulong nito.

"Hmm?" Bumaling siya rito. "I see the point of the writer, though." She shrugged. "It actually makes sense to me. Everyone can be friends with you, but a good friend is very rare."

Hinarang niya ang libro sa mukha at humarap dito. "Am I a good friend to you, Summer?"

Humagikgik ito. "Because you occasionally treat me out and give me expensive gifts, yeah."

Ngumuso siya. "Paano kapag mahirap na 'ko at walang pera, hindi na 'ko good friend?"

"I'm just kidding! You're a good friend, Blair. Kapag nagkukuwento ako, ikaw ang pinaka-nakikinig kaysa kay Faye at Chanel."

Mahina rin siyang napahagikgik. "You're a good friend, too, Summer. Kaso, I don't like it when you make simangot kapag binabati ko si Jacquin."

"Well, this is the first time you befriend a... nerd? Tapos, ano... not an eye-candy pa."

"You're mean." Inirapan niya ito.

"Bakit? Naga-guwapuhan ka ba roon?"

Mahinang hinampas niya rito ang libro. Umayos na siya ng upo at hindi na ito pinansin. Hanggang sa matapos ang klase at nag-afternoon recess na ay hindi na kumibo si Blair. Nang lumapit sina Faye at Chanel, tinawanan pa siya nang sinabi ni Summer na naiinis siya dahil nagsabi ito ng totoo tungkol sa bago niyang "friend".