Muntinlupa

Actually today, I accompanied my lifelong friend to Muntinlupa. We've planned this two nights before, along with the excuses we're telling our parents as to where we really are going. But she was just so transparent that her parents found out, but surprisingly, did not erupt as we had been imagining. They just shrugged off the fact, and we were glad. Somehow, at that point, we felt victorious. Thing were going on fine.

We left at 9am. Bad move. The traffic was so darn congested in EDSA. She told me we should've left earlier. I thought we shouldn't worry -- visiting hours is until 3pm anyway. Thing will be fine.

On the way to Muntinlupa, we're laughing on the bus, joking around, and we're full of positive energy. Upon reaching the city, we bought pizza and fruits as pasalubong. She's getting nervous, I can tell. As we're getting nearer and nearer, our talk became less and less. Today, I told myself, I'll support her the best that I can, the most that I can give. And on the final tricycle ride, I kept quiet beside her, and that's how it was until we reached our destination -- the Muntinlupa City Jail. We've reached it. We're fine.

But things were not as smooth as we had planned.

I will always remember the half-hearted smiles she threw at me while on the bus ride home, one hour later. I just kept quiet. It's not that I'm loss for words, but during highly emotional moments, I have a tendency to keep silent. I'm weak at these kind of things, and I know that my words would never be a source of comfort, so every now and then, I would rub my hand on her back, or pat her on the shoulder, and give her a smile that I know would never be enough to soothe her feelings. I'm sorry, but by then we both knew...things did not work out fine.

Later on, she finally talked. She said that the reason she was so sad and hurt was not because we weren't able to see HIM, but because he wasn't able to see US. And in her most serious tone, she told me "pero seryoso, salamat talaga." I just smiled inwardly. I would never hear those words from her again, not in that way.

We've been FRIENDS since before we even learned the meaning of the word. We're dorky, we're happy, we're always goofing around, experimenthing things around, experiencing sad and happy moments together. But today, I felt our bond grew stronger, went up to another level. In my entire life, this was the first time I felt that I actually helped, that I actually supported someone from behind. I'm also thankful that today, I was there to share her sadness. Because tomorrow, we would be back to our same old self again, all happy-happy together.

This was truly a moment to remember. After the incident, she already closed that chapter of her life, and she closed it with me. It felt nice. I would even indulge myself with the thought that maybe -- maybe I existed to be her friend, and be THE friend to be with her this day.

I'm glad to have friends. I will forever be thankful to them.