TGIF

Prologue

Barkada. A Filipino slang meaning a group of friends. Synonyms: Tropa, 'Kada, Gang

When you have an older brother, more or less, his friends become your friends. But, it's way better when your older brother is just months older than you. The bond is pretty much stronger and you can talk about anything under the sun and you'd get each other. The best part of it is that his friends aren't way older than you are.

"So, kelan na ba tayo aalis?"

That was Alyssa Saldana, leaning on my brother, Jake's shoulder. They've been going out for about a week, but Aly was already super clingy kay Jake. She has the right naman, cause Jake courted her for almost a year. Thing is, lahat ng plano ni Aly, mejo may pagka-drawing.

"Kapag ready ka na sumipot sa call time."

The ever so frank Percy Diamandis. Jake had to chuckle on that one, kasi totoo naman. Plus, parang brother na din nya si Percy. They high-fived, which made Aly roll her eyes on them.

"Alam mo kasi, Aly, ganto yun... kapag may plano, kailangan sumipot yung nagplano nung gala."

That was Rafe. Oh, my ever-so-handsome Rafe. We've been going steady for a few months. He's Jake's batchmate. Although, nung highschool lang sya nagtransfer sa school ni Jake. He came from another exclusive boys' school in QC; he needed to transfer because his dad was kinda getting pissed na with the traffic. We were holding each other's hands and playing footsie even if the guys were there. Even if my brother's there. Wala naman silang magagawa eh, kami na yung pinakamatagal na couple in this room.

"Pwede bang tama na PDA???"

Raffy Cruz was the barkada's gentle giant and the most conservative person to walk the face of this planet. Okay, mejo exaggerated, but he doesn't really like it when Rafe and I are being so sweet. Parang sya tuloy yung Kuya ko, kahit hindi naman.

"Inggit lang you!"

That was me. Bella Mendez. Jake Mendez' not-so-younger sister and the legit party planner of the barkada.

The thing about our barkada is that parang fusion na lang din kami eh. Jake's barkada and my barkada fusing together to form one big group. Also, almost laging sa house namin ang gathering cause it's like the center point of everybody. Not too far from Antipolo and not too far from Montalban. Our parents' and their parents know each other because of PTAs and school activities, kaya kapag kami magkakasama, okay lang sa parents namin. Kahit mag-overnight pa kami sa bahay ng isa't-isa... well, except for Aly na may curfew ng 6PM.

Aside from the people at our house now, madami pang members ang barkada. There's Taz – short for Benedict Anastacio – na laging kasama ni Rafe magbasketball. There's also Guchi – short for Alfonso Gutierrez – who tried to court me twice but failed. Then, we have Gio Arguelles na best friend ni Jake and ni Aly. Then, my ever so loving BFF, Roxy Antonio who's dating one of Jake's friends, Tom Sermeno. Next to us, sila yung pinakamatagal na nagdedate sa barkada. Then, si Joey Espiritu, the soccer star of the barkada na super presko pero mabait naman... mej. Too bad, those people aren't here to plan the next barkada's trip.

Highschool will always be the best years of our lives. We all believed in it. Feeling ko nga, mas matagal pa sa forever and ever and ever ni Basha and ni Popoy yung forever naming ng Barkada eh. Feeling ko lang naman. Although, I am wishing na sana, ganun nga.

It was getting late na. They all had to leave, so Jake and I walked them out of the gate.

"10 years from now, mag-uusap-usap pa kaya tayo? Friends pa din ba tayo?"

They all looked at me and smiled.