And I Feel That Way Still

6 years later, I’m still pretty close to my high school barkada, and I don’t want that to change. Ever. Though we don’t see each other as much and some of them I don’t even see for months(!), there are instances like this when we gather and bond over food and laughter and sometimes, booze.

Karla started working in Singapore on 2010 and this is the first time she came back to visit! It was a bit too short since she could only stay for 7 days. I’m just happy that despite having a really short vacation and having so many people to meet, she still had time to grab a bite with us. Kat was also there! I haven’t seen her since Fifi’s baptism last March. That’s a year already, I think.

We had a late lunch on Soledad (where else), and Kat and Karla were late so Jen (and her boyfriend, George), May, Riya and I ate first. The four of us are actually the ones who see each other quite often (once or twice a month!). Then we ate some more when Karla and Katch arrived. I haven’t seen the two for such a long time! Too bad Eneng couldn’t come because of her hospital duties. /sob I think the last time we were complete was back in 2008 during my 18th birthday.

Fifi was also there but only for a while. May had the nanny take her home. Haha.

Have I told you how much I love Soledad’s Adobo Flakes?  I’m pretty sure I’ve told you before how it’s the best Adobo Flakes I’ve ever had. There’s really nothing quite like it. If you ever drop by San Pablo and want to try it, just leave me a message and I’ll glad give you directions on how to get to Soledad. And no, they didn’t ask me to promote it. But if promoting their Adobo Flakes means getting a discount everytime I dine there, then why the hell not.

I’m forever jealous of May’s camera! I forgot the unit but it’s pretty damn nice. Even with a broken lens, all the photos are clear and I love the tone. I didn’t bring my camera and three of them brought theirs. I think this is the first time in a long time that I have this many photos in one occasion. I’m often behind the camera and am rarely in photos (or alone in photos). It’s a pretty nice change! This also explains why the photos in this post have different tones. Haha. I didn’t bother to edit them that’s why they look a bit different from each other. The photos are from three cameras so yeah.

Also, I have pretty friends and I often ask myself why I belong in this clique. So I just utter a silent prayer of thanksgiving for being associated with these gorgeous people. I just like being friends with pretty people! Hahaha.

Once we’re full, we moved to CDC and had a drink or two. But I couldn’t even finish my bottle of San Mig Light. I will never like beer or any alcoholic drink. However, Karla said I have changed. Before, they couldn’t even force me to drink a sip. But now, I gladly do so. No, wait, I don’t drink gladly. I still don’t drink like a pro but I’ve long realized that drinking isn’t all bad as long as I know my boundaries. Also, I could never drink enough to get drunk. I couldn’t stand the taste.

I was shocked when Karla said that she no longer drinks. She used to be a heavy drinker and out of courtesy wouldn’t refuse any drink offered to her. But I’m glad that she now thinks more about herself when it comes to drinking.

I miss my camera! I couldn’t use it because I lost my charger. It was frustrating because happenings like this rarely happens. It was such an important day for me because I won’t be seeing Karla for a long time. I did miss her which she likes to rub off me. Good thing I still have these photos to remind me of that day. May will be flying to Guam later this month so I don’t know when a day like this will happen again. Bring on the sobfest.

I’m blessed to be friends with these girls. I’m just happy that we’re all happy. Life isn’t always pitch perfect but it’s nice to know that we’re all hanging on. I get a bit proud when I learn my friends are doing so well in their chosen paths. I feel proud to be friends with people who are making it big and being just plain amazing with what they do.

We may not always agree on the same things, and they may not believe on the same things I do. But that should never be the reason to stop loving the people who shared a part of my childhood (we’ve been friends since the 6th grade!) and most of my teen years. Change is inevitable, and I know that things will not always stay the same. In fact a lot of things have already changed, even our choice of topics! Back in high school, we only talk about crushes and how annoying school was. But now, we’re so free to talk about work (and why it’s just so difficult to find one that will truly make you happy), marriage, relationships, having a baby (and how to make babies haha), and other perks and nuances of this so-called life.

But no matter what changes occur, I like to think that I’d stay friends with these people. They’re too important for me to lose.