Gone are the days when I would equate school to fun. Those days when my only problem was how to survive English class without being called by for an oral recitation. Those days when we have to memorize the skeletal system in front of Ms. Antopina's class. The days when Christmas parties were like grand OOTDs. When intramurals was not for athletes only but also for lovers and those who got a crush on someone because of love chain, blind date and marriage booths. The days when puppy love and hidden relationships were in demand. When doing skits and role playing were the language of English, Filipino and AP classes. When making 'gawain' and 'buod' in Sir Felmer's and Rufino's classes were just like breathing air. Those days when I feel like I am the most creative person on earth when it comes to making alibis just to spend the weekend with friends and classmates. The list probably goes on and on with the memories I had back in high school. Though it's been years since I left high school, the last days of August made me realize, it felt like high school again.
It was a cold night of August 29 when we decided to watch the Reo Brothers concert. They were amazing. The songs they played were great as well. This made us remember the band formed by En-En and company that performed 'tila ibon' during our ANHS Nite. I can still remember them practicing inside the IV-Pearl classroom after 5pm with windows and door closed. We found ourselves singing to the tune of 'tila ibon' and making fun of how we were so ecstatic to see them play that there were no other people who jumped and sang their hearts out but us, their friends and classmates.
August 30 came, the feast of Santa Rosa de Lima. We had dilemmas on where to eat for lunch but we handled it very very well! We had our lunch in three different houses. Yes three! Your read that right! Thanks to my connections, Alessa invited me to their place. It would be very awkward to go there alone, you already know what happened next. The last two houses we went, it was Cindy's 'para-paraan moves'. She was able to convince Lance to invite us for lunch! Finally for the third one, it was Katrina's house. Cindy was like, let's just walk along Katrina's house maybe we'll get invited for dessert. And so we did!
The afternoon of August 30 was like TbT, though it was a Saturday. Seeing the students performed their so called 'dance palabas' was like doing the field demonstration of my time. It was like the highlight of my year where my parents would tag along my sisters to watch me perform (awkward!). I still remember ironing my school uniform on a Saturday because I had to look presentable to everyone. That was also the time when I got to put some make-up on.
We walked, went to church , walked again and the last thing we knew, we were tirelessly sitting at Cindy's store (the ultimate tambayan during get togethers), thinking of where to eat for dinner this time. We decided to pass by Katrina's house for the second time, hoping to be invited for dinner. We sat there for quite some time figuring out where to eat, until En-En called inviting us for dinner. Time and time again, the house that saves us every fiesta. 'Hay salamat, sulbad ang panihapon! Because the house was newly renovated, this happened.
The high school feeling would not be complete without saying "Tingko ta ugma" every after fiesta. It has and will always be the rendezvous for all Alcoyanons.
I can't help but still call Cirilo 'squid' every time we see each other. It was when he broke a glass with a preserved squid inside that he was called by that name, but not always. That undying 'I'm sorry Megmeg' line by Dongdong, it just doesn't fade. Still gives us something to laugh about. Speaking of laughing, I always have this standard of laughing to the highest possible level that my eyes would be watery and my stomach starts to complain because of pain. It has to be that kind of laugh when I'm with them.
As crazy as asking the mayor to lend one of the municipal's tent for our mountain trekking activity but ended up going to the principal's office and got scolded for what they did; copying Chay - Chay's answers for an English assignment but forgot to proofread the sentences and ended up copying the word theirselves instead of themselves; being called PRETTY GIRLS by the manager because they had their own show instead of attending the school program; lending my radio cassette player to the class to ease the boredom during breaks but ended up being the cause of En-En's and Dongdong's scuffle, what we did last August 31 was like 'lista mo na' in basketball lingo. It was one for the books.
We wanted to use the raft to get to the floating cottage, to our dismay, we have to pay 30Php each. Some said no need. No need you say! Let's get that raft and enjoy ourselves. It was like we owned it. Most of the time guts will lead you to great things you can't imagine of doing.
If felt like high school again. It feels surreal that after almost a decade, we're still this loud, playful and energetic. It still amazes how sharp are memories are when it comes to things we did in high school, especially the stupid and funny ones. Pardon me for the lengthy blog but I don't want to end this, because I don't know how to. It's like our friendship, it just does not end!
Cheers!
