SAHC: The Empire Strikes Back Part II

i just remembered that i never got to finish this story. and for those who want to refresh their memories... try this link

the next few days were torture for all of us. we were not congregating in big groups. those in relationships were suddenly single. we were all just too scared of the consequences. the humiliation. what would our families think? what would become of us?

we would be seen in twos or threes, but never as the big group we once were. we were all depressed. and we were dreading the day when the principal was supposed to make the public announcement.

i remember we had c.a.t. (citizen's army training) on the day before the grand celebration of the school. we couldn't concentrate. and we were casting furtive glances at each other. and we all had just one thought. we were hoping the earth in that football field would just swallow us all. we couldn't bear it.

the day came. it started with a mass for the entire high school. and then the general assembly in the football field. we were trembling when the principal took the stand. i remember gripping the hand of sef. and as he spoke, i even closed my eyes, not wanting to see the reaction of our classmates should he finally reveal our names, the names of those wretched baklas and their boy friends who have tarnished the holy name of the school.

and then, his speech ended. and he left the podium. there was no announcement. nothing. we looked at each other. relief was so palpable. we were almost jubilant. but we knew, too, that they won. they got to dismantle our group. and should we defy them, we knew they would 'dangle' that threat in front of us again.

but days passed, and everything normalized. we started to hang out together as a group again. and those in relationships were being seen around, together again. no matter what they did, they couldn't put a wedge in between those solid bonds of friendship.

so strong are those bonds that till today, more than two decades after, the friendships are still here, the laughter still so loud, the love and care still so fresh, despite a few wrinkles, some hair-thinning, and a few unwanted pounds. and that's what bff really means.


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