Ode to Janine

8:16 PM

Dear Janengkler,

I hate it when you call me a bitch. I hate it when you tell me how mean I am to my parents. I hate it when you say that I’m so GC to the point that I’m already KJ.

And I hate myself all the more because I know that everything you say is true.

At the end of the day, though, you know I could never come to hate you. Somehow, I like it when you call me a bitch because I know that it takes one to know one, and thus I know that I am with the right group of friends – with fellow bitches who will understand me. I like it when you tell me how mean I am to my parents because it makes me realize how patient they have been with me all this time, and that maybe I shouldn’t be doing the things I do. I like it when you say that I’m so GC because it reminds me of the things that are more important that grades – my family and my friends, LG being among, if not the best, examples of the latter.

At the end of the day, you know I could never come to hate you. Somehow, you’re one of those people who never fail to make me feel better when I’m feeling down. You just flick your hand in front of my face, challenge me to a game of ‘palakihan ng payong’ or tell me about the flies you made out of black cartolina for your fourth year investigatory project and I reduce to laughs.

At the end of the day, you know I could never come to hate you. Somehow, you’re one of those people who I know I can trust completely, that’s why I never hold back when we have those late night chats about you know who.

Around this time a year ago, I was lying in my bed at Kalai, looking at you as you packed your things, thinking about what would happen to LG when we didn’t live under the same roof anymore. Probably be like most of the other friendships I had over the years, I thought. We’d bump into each other occasionally, say “Kamusta?” and walk away to avoid the awkward silence.

The next morning, I read the letter you wrote, where you assured me that that’s not going to happen. I wasn’t sure about it before, but now, I have no doubts. What you said was right. I’m lying on my bed right now too, but this time I’m not worrying about anything anymore. Instead, I’m thinking about our next escapade. Hong Kong, anyone?

See you next month, Ma’am! ^_^

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