andiecrafts

Last Saturday probably contained the best 30 minutes of my life. After two-and-a-quarter years of not seeing the first person who took me as a friend for who I am, we were given only thirty minutes to spend with each other. Sure, the thirty minutes were fast, but the two-and-a-quarter years seemed like a day, and the memories we made on the thirty minutes we spent with each other were enough to last me a lifetime (although I fervently hope that it would not take another two-and-a-quarter years before we could get to see each other again.)

Anj and I last saw each other on October 2004. But the way we laughed and talked and fooled around last Saturday made October 2004 seem like February 9, 2007. We talked about all the kinds of things we would normally talk about on a school day, while walking all the way to lunch. Sheesh, I miss high school. I seriously doubt though that I would miss it half as much as I do now if I did not meet Anj.

Anj and I met while we were high school freshmen. We each knew that the other existed, and that was it. I had my own set of “friends,” she had hers. Although a few grudges for those “friends” that I had still exist, I am partially grateful for them for were it not for them, I would not have known how great a friend Anj is.

We became classmates when we were sophomores. I was still hanging out with the “friends” that I had, but the relationship was becoming a little stressed. I have made a lot of theories why, but this isn’t the right time to express them. Eventually, I fell out of the group. I still hold strong onto the fact that the falling out was never my fault, and that they never apologized to me (well, they did after almost three years… on our retreat! Man! We do become Tupperwares on retreats… obvious ba ang galit?). Anyway, it just so happened that a few days after the falling out, our teacher rearranged our seating positions. Lucky me, for I ended up beside Anj. That’s when I realized how great she was at art. You should have seen all the sketches she made! She would sketch on her notebook instead of copying notes, then she would just cross these amazing works of art out, then I would express my want to kill her for wasting a masterpiece. That was the start of our crazy moments together.

It took a relatively long time before I allowed Anj into my heart. She was the best kind friend one could ever encounter in this world (she never looked at the kind of person she was having as a friend… she only looked at herself and thought of the things she could give as a friend), but I was heartbroken because of “friends.” We hanged out a lot, laughed a lot, and did crazy things together, but I was a little uncomfortable of calling her my best friend. I can’t exactly remember when I finally loosened up, I am just thankful that I did.

What are the things I remember most about Anj? Well, I like poking her chin, that’s one. I remember skating on Magsaysay Park, and ending up with sore butts the next day in school. I remember the entire school recognizing her talent in art because of my big mouth (the Disney princess task Ma’am Angie gave her was her debut work of art). I remember wall-climbing with her. I remember eating lunch and talking about our food, trying to gross each other out (ie, “Uy, pansin mo, mukhang maggots ang rice ko… sa ‘yo rin o!”). I remember crying and she would just sit there and listen. I remember her talking about things I would never experience, and how she longs to see the person again, and how I kept calling the name I saw on the telephone directory (it’s just that nobody would answer the phone). I remember graduation and how it broke my heart to know that she would be studying 10 hours away. With Anj, happy moments are just as memorable as the sad ones. I would never have been the person that I am now if it weren’t for her, With Anj, it doesn’t matter where you are or what you are doing: as long as we are forever friends.

To Anj (if you are reading this): Thank you so much for so many things. You taught me how to share, and that receiving is not all bad. Thank you so much for making my day last Saturday. You made me remember how good it was to be with you back in high school. You reminded me that even though the world may be mean sometimes, being with good friends can take away all the pain. Best friend, sobrang maraming salamat. Labyah, bestfriend!

ganda ng bestfriend ko!