Friends are one of the best blessings that you can keep for a lifetime. They say, the more friends you have, the merrier the friendship will be.
“Calli, have you finish our by pair activity last weekend?” One of my friends, Yuki asked upon sitting on the nearest armchair next to me while putting her pink backpack on the floor.
Inabutan ko muna ito ng panyo nang mapansin ang iilang butil ng pawis sa kaniyang mukha at tinanggap niya ‘yun.
I nodded.
“I’m sorry for not being able to catch up. My mom got sick, no one will take care of her other than me.”
The looks in her eyes were with pure sincerity. And right at that moment, I know she really feel sorry for ditching me at the coffee shop with the task all alone.
“It’s alright.” But honestly, my eyes tells the otherwise as I yawned and stretched my arms out wide getting ready to sleep anytime.
“Thanks.”
—
As everyone in the class were preparing those things needed in answering the quarterly test, Trista and Ela came near me with a smile crept on their lips.
“Nag-review ka naman siguro para sa exam, bes,” Ela uttered.
“Just a bit coz I overslept at the middle of reading notes.”
While Angela let out a chuckle. “Ay, sayang. Tanungan na lang later, ha? Mag-signal ka.”
Agad na nagsimula ang exam.
“Calli,” tawag ni Ela nasa likuran ko. “Psst, ano sagot sa number 13 doon sa multiple choice?”
“Letter B.”
“Pa’no mo nasagutan ‘yung essay part? ‘Di ko maintindihan. Pa-explain.” Angela dropped her pen on the floor to hear what I had to say.
“Wala pa ako roon.”
“Ito na lang, numbers 2, 5, at 7 lang ba ‘yung true sa modified true or false?”
“Hindi. Number 3 lang ang true sa sampung tanong.”
Sumali pa ulit si Ela. “Last na, alam mo ‘yung capital ng China?”
“Bei—”
“Calli? Are you cheating?” asik ng aming proctor sa harap.
“N-No ma’am,” pagsisinungaling ko.
I know I should’ve never tolerated their mistakes and wrongdoings.
But they’re special to me.
Friends should always be at your side during good and victorious times and do help you during your worst and weakest days.
I’m just returning the favor. Why? Because that’s what friends should do.
After I recheck some of my answers, I stood up from my seat and gave the paper to Ms. Cruz then left the room.
“The papers will be distributed tomorrow.”
—
“Ela, what’s score?” Trista asked once Ela received her paper.
“45/50, ikaw?”
“I only have 1 mistake. How ‘bout you, Calli?”
“Perfect,” and at the same time, the only highest.
“Huh? Paanong...” Angela took my paper and checked it carefully as if looking for my wrong answers.
‘Di naman makapaniwala si Ela at tuloy pa rin sa pagkokompara nang may mapagtanto ito.
“Ang daya mo naman! Sabi mo ‘di ka handa.”
Why does it have to be my fault if they used their remaining time to waste it for nothing rather than to save it for studying?
You can’t put all the blame in me if they couldn’t take their responsibilities seriously.
But I came to my realization and uttered,
“S-Sorry, sorry talaga.”
—
Pasado ala sais na at kasalukuyan akong nakatayo rito sa may waiting shed nang sundan ko ng tingin ang kung sino mang papalapit dito.
Si Rain.
“Rain, kamusta na ang lagay mo?” Inigaya ko siya para makaupo at niyakap nang mahigpit.
I missed her presence alot. Hindi kami matatawag na barkada kung wala ang isa.
Mabuti na lang at may makakasabay na ‘ko sa pag-uwi.
Kumalas naman siya r’on at pasimpleng ngumiti. “Thanks sa concern, bes. Pagkatapos kong ma-confine ng isang linggo sa ospital ay umayos na ang pakiramdam ko.”
“Teka, ba’t ‘di mo kasama ‘yung tatlo? Iniwan ka na naman ba nila?”
I shook my head.
“They were absent today.” Liar. Ela, Yuki, and Trista didn’t even manage to tell you that they are going to watch movies and buy new designer clothes.
Ang masakit ay sa iba ko pa malalaman kung nasaan sila.
And I ended up sitting here at the waiting shed with a frown face.
“Can I tell you something?” out of nowhere, she broke the silence between us.
“Sure,” agad kong sagot. In our circle of friends, Rain is the good listener.
And at the same time, my closest friend among them all.
Pagdating sa kaniya, hindi ako nag-aalangan na mag-open up sa kahit anong oras. Siya na kasi ang unan at panyo ko sa tuwing nalalagay ako sa alanganin.
Naalala ko noon, tinawagan ko pa siya upang may mapaglabasan ng sama ng loob.
Mom caught my dad cheating with another woman and couldn’t help but to burst out her tears and anger.
Same as mom, it felt like my heart broken into pieces. Dad was my ideal man, sort of... when I was still a little girl.
Hanggang madaling araw, walang tigil si Rain sa pagbibigay ng payo at pagpapatawa sa’kin.
She was my hope and the only person whom I can lean on more than anyone.
“Hindi ako ang napiling mag-represent sa section natin para sa Mr. & Ms. United Nations,” Rain began.
“And the sad thing is, huling taon na natin ‘to sa Junior High pero ni minsan ay hindi pa ako nabibigyan ng chance. Alam mo naman kung gaano ko kagustong masungkit ‘yung title, ‘di ba?”
I felt a pang of pain in my chest, guilt written all over my face when she turned her gaze to me.
“I have no idea. Si Sir Ryan lang naman ang kumukuha ng ipanglalaban.”
“Pero kung gusto mo...” I paused then slowly held her hand. “I’ll inform this to him directly so I can manage to back out without pressure.”
“What if—”
“No what ifs. Besides, joining contests aren’t my cup of tea.”
Yup, that’s true. My family’s a bit struggling because of financial matters.
