I believe our barkada started out on our sixth grade in elementary when Janna wrote to me what seemed like a love letter from a suitor on a stationery asking me if I can be her best friend. When I read it I felt a bit weirded out. Janna was a new student in our school and I was not that kind of girl back then who loved to approach people and become perky. It was actually the first time a person popped me such question.
I said yes anyway after a day or two of wrestling with my own thoughts. Why don't I give it a try? She looks friendly anyway. Apparently (and I just knew this almost two weeks ago), she also wrote and asked the same question to two other girls, Roane and Tin.
Roane and Tin knew each other before our sixth grade. They were already classmates back in, I believe, fourth grade. I was in the morning class while they were attending the afternoon session. Although we did go to the same school, we just knew each other by face.
I don't really clearly remember how it went the first day we got together as a group. I don't even remember a feeling of awkwardness or timidity. What I do remember is how we clicked as a group -- and we sure were a very happy one!
We used to eat lunch together, laughed at and teased each other, shared secrets and made fun about other people, wrote letters to one another, and talked about anything under the sun -- the kinds of stuff a typical girl group (as far as what I have watched in movies [but not those mean girls kind]) would do. I won't go through the specifics since it will take me months if I tell everything about what we did and talked about back then.
Of course, we also had moments where we had miscommunications within the group. There was a time when three of us already had love interests and the other one felt left out. Eventually, we had things patched up and everything went fine again.
As we matured, we pretty much stayed the same. Our bond stayed like this up until our second year in high school when Roane and Tin moved back to the Philippines. Janna and I's bond continued until our third year when Janna eventually flew back to the Philippines, too.
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The four of us had communication for quite a time, but not at all constant.
Roane and I lived almost near each other in Metro Manila, but it was only seldom for us to meet, mainly because of our class schedules.
Tin studied in Baguio for a while. But had to stop because she had to go under medication for her stage 4 Lymphoma. When we heard about the news, we prayed hard for Tin's recovery. And, thank God she did. We just saw her struggle and recovery through pictures she posted in Facebook, and a little bit of text messaging. And that's all. We planned to visit her, but because of our schedules, we never had the chance.
With Janna, we had constant communication. Back when Friendster was still the fad -- up until the end of our second year in college (most probably around 2008). After that, we eventually lost track of each other.
So we had to live and move on.
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It was just only early last year, 2010, when Janna and I reconnected again. And, oh how time flies! She already had her first baby! Because of this news, we were sending messages to each other again, but this time, through Facebook, which has already taken the lead in social media. She was already residing in Ilocos Sur with her family, all happy and fulfilled. Roane and I were really happy for her.
When she had the chance to travel to Metro Manila, I really made it a MUST that we meet. So I immediately sent Roane a message to set up a date.
And so, we did! After 5 years for me and 6 for Roane, we finally saw Janna again in SM Megamall.
Nothing really changed that much. I was still a cry-baby. Janna has still a boisterous laugh, and Roane is still comedic.
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| Me, Janna, and Roane |
On January of 2012, Janna will be married to the love of her life. We are uber excited for that day! We'll finally see Ja wearing her wedding dress. It was just like yesterday when we were crazing about our own prince charmings. :)
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Thank you for the long weekend that took place two weeks ago. If not for it, Roane and I would not have the chance to travel to Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija and finally visit Tin.
She had recovered from her Lymphona, though not yet diagnosed to be fully clear from cancer.
She hasn't changed much, too (well, aside from the fats she gained from eating so much! Haha.) I think eating became her habit.
When she was telling her recovery story to us, we were just happy that the girl in front of us was strong enough, both heart and soul, to battle for life. I'm personally thankful to still have the chance to see her again, alive and kicking, after 7 long years! If not also for the help of her loving family and supportive boyfriend, Martin. <3
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| Roan, Tin, and I |
We are yet to be complete again (hopefully around October, November, or December, we get to visit Tin). We can't wait for that day where we'll be kids again, laughing and teasing each other and talking about anything til the last of us snoozes. And we'll do all we can to make that day happen.
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Ours is not a perfect friendship, and I admit that it never will. But it will always be next to perfect, for we have and will still overcome time and distance. And in the end, I know that it will seem that we never left each other at all. :)
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Cheers and long live to the best (and only) girl group I ever had!
I love your friendship. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ate Cara! :D
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