Sticky Friends

by: krh

I’m sure many of us will agree that friends we make from high school stick till the day we get Alzheimer’s.

In 1992 to 1996 at St. Paul College QC, some 10 to 12 high school girls met up and formed a friendship that sticks. And thank God Alzheimer’s hasn’t gotten the girls yet.

Now on their 30s, the girls are still together: having coffee when they can; eating pan de coco while in their favorite salon; drinking beer like they used to; organizing parties or events for their kids (for their kids nga kaya o para mag chikahan sila?); and even having Christmas parties on February just to be together. And like always, still laughing over the same old stories of their not so past past.

This friendship is tight. Tried and tested through time. They went through all problems together. Problems that evolved from boyfriend or crush rivalry, to cigarette lighter theft, to sunduan dilemmas, allowance shortage, and to much serious ones of financial problems, relationship or marital issues… blablablabla. They are just always together no matter what. Too tight that no secret can be kept from each other. The slightest change in action, signals all the girls that something is wrong.

Katseye is part of this group. Recently a problem arose and Katseye tried to keep it from her friends. But for some reason, Katseye’s friends felt the problem and would call, text, and message her asking if there was indeed a problem. There was no way the girls would allow Katseye to carry the burden on her own. She had to share it. Katseye couldn’t keep it (she should have known better, makulit ang barkada niya). She had to tell the girls.

An emergency bonding meeting was called for on a Thursday evening. The girls had dinner at Ristra’s and had a drink or two at some bar. And then the story began.

Over beer Katseye blurted it out. It’s CANCER. Although not yet confirmed that time, Katseye’s doctor was pretty convinced that it is CANCER

Tears rolled down as Katseye explained how CANCER got her. The girls gave out their own set of tears. But they kept it very showbiz like – very composed, wiping a tear or two while talking. No one really had a “hagulhol” moment, nakakahiya kasi sa mga waiters. But never the less, the girls tried to keep a strong disposition to keep Katseye strong.

It was a slap on the face. The girls felt vulnerable as CANCER was perceived to be an old man’s illness and not of a 30 year old. Nakaka-stress!!!

Although faced with painful news, some old high school stories came rushing in giving the girls reason to laugh again.

With heavy hearts, tired bodies, and tipsy heads, the girls vowed to be there with Katseye in fighting CANCER.

Nothing destroyed the girls then and nothing can destroy them now, especially not CANCER.

Prayers, love, and science all put into one posion is the weapon the girls choose to bring in this war. This is just an illness. If the girls flood cancer with their “poison”, CANCER will and has to give up sooner or later.

This friendship is tight. The girls are still along way to meet up with Alzheimer’s, and CANCER just needs to back out.