Let the Wind Blow unto thy Face

1. “Alsatian” — it made the three of us laugh. Answering “rich” instead of “banker” was already funny, but “Alsatian” just sealed the deal. Now we laugh at our scores, then sleep a bit at our prof’s discussion, then laugh again at the “life lessons” he teaches us. How to become a swindler and a mistress are definitely the best lessons in Lit & Society.

2. Cool prof is wearing long sleeves on a Valentines’ Day. We can’t help but whisper about the Valentines’ date he probably has, why we’re dismissed 30 minutes before the time.

3. Eating lunch together with a whole bunch of people coming from the same high school and ended up in the same university when I actually know only 1 from them, we can’t help but laugh when one of them brings a classmate along and then I introduce myself as coming from the same high school. Now I’m not sure how to spend lunch time alone.

4. Not listening to the prof, doing homework in class, rearrange seating arrangement— these probably bonded our class. Homeworks are never submitted without everyone having the same answer. We meet each other everyday and so I talk to you the most. We accompany you in spying on your crushes and then we let the whole class know. It’s one of the hardest subjects in the system but who knew this can be fun?

5. Confidence— you exuded that. I was a bit awestruck at you but I feel like I made a “soul friend” in you. You admitted that you felt like you were an introvert but our loud class won’t allow you that. I thought no class would be more fun than last year’s History class, but we’re really different. A 7 am class is worth looking forward to because the high school classroom setting I missed is here.

6. Chatting and laughing while it rained, I still remember the day clearly. From then on, every Friday I give my 10 am to spend with you. And now you stick to me when your partner’s absent even though I exchanged you with someone else in the first place.

7. Lucky Unicorn— I don’t really remember how it started but you started calling me that. Every girl in class is spazzing about how cute you were and yet I just boss you around. Even though you always forget things about me, you wouldn’t exchange your “lucky unicorn” for anyone else, would you?

8. “Perfect PE Barkada” I was actually touched when you told us that. Having lunch with you even though I have to pull out of prior engagements and I have to use up my extra money, I’m always excited.

9. You were quiet and kind, I was… just the opposite. But somehow, we clicked together. Even though I was caught sleeping in class and I delayed the progress of our paper, you never doubted me as a friend. Now I don’t regret not watching the play with the rest of my class because I’m watching it with you… in a better time slot for me.

10. Asking me if this was the line for the Journ students, you were the first coursemate I met in person. I just nodded at that time but now I consider you my college best friend. No boyfriend can stop me from hugging you whenever I see you.

11. My loudness is probably my trademark character, and it’s probably why you voted me as your leader. I lack in many aspects and my attitude sucks, but you accepted me anyway. Some of us are planning to leave but our friendship would always be like a home we would get back to from time to time.

12. 3-hour break, I was afraid of it. I was used to not having anyone to eat lunch with, but to spend 3-hours doing nothing made me feel so alone. But then who knew I wasn’t the only one in the boat? Now I miss you and I just have to hug you at every opportunity I find.

13. Self-appointing myself as “Free Cut Committee Chair”, the times that our prof was absent probably made our class bonded. Some class start to get dissolved in the middle of the sem but we, we actually survived. A grade conscious student like me, I’m still proud to be part of “Tropang 2.25”, for you were still the first people I became actually comfortable with in this whole new world.

For 17 years, I didn’t know how to actually make friends. I just went with whoever was available, specifically during lunch times. In just one year, it’s surprising to see how much I changed in this department. It actually feels nice when you have people to have lunch with, rather than just wandering and sitting with whoever was there. <3