Few But True

If I were to delete my Facebook friends and keep the close ones, and by close I mean those who I spend quality time with and I know I can count on through thick and thin, I’ll be left with less than ten contacts.

No offense to my FB buddies. But we all know that not everyone in our FB list is the closest pal we’ve got. Some are friends of friends, while others are mere acquaintances. What saddens me is to see most of my contacts have the chance to spend time with their real barkada. I envy them.

I wasn’t the popular guy in high school. Neither was I the smartest nor the athletic, heartthrob type. I was just an average student. And with being ordinary I had a few good, close chums who, admittedly, helped me get through HS. After graduation, I started to lose communication with them one by one. But thanks to modern technology and social networking I am rekindling some old friendships.

Things kind of turned differently in college. I was active and visible; I joined various guilds, won contests in and out of school, appeared in a few productions, and did absolutely well in my studies. I worked with several people, developed rapport and gained confidence with some.

It was in second year college where I worked in a small group of people for an advertising project. We were tasked to launch our own agency and part of the job was, of course, to think of a company name. We had several ideas then but we settled for MiDAS. We thought we can turn everything we touch into success, that we can achieve anything, and that nothing is impossible. We did pretty well during the launch. But what I didn’t see coming was the effect of the project to us. Because we worked well together, we decided to stick with one another for most of our other school assignments. We lost a few members along the way but welcomed new ones that made the team stronger and better. The working relationship, later on, developed into a deep, meaningful friendship.

We supported one another in every undertaking – school projects, student elections, competitions, financials, family problems, dealing with partners and ex’s, dealing with professors. We lied, encouraged, inspired, fought for one another. We’ve seen one another eat, sleep, brush teeth, stumble, get broke, cry, disappoint, fail, get humiliated, fall in love, fall out of love, fall in love again, laugh, fight  back, succeed. Name it. Once I thought that we were the dream team. We accomplished things because we know our strengths and weaknesses. I can’t claim that we were the best but I know we were strong. Yet, just like in any aspect of life, change is inevitable.

We still kept in touch after graduation. We hanged out for several occasions, updated one another of our job applications, shared news about our alma matter and stuff like that. I tried to arrange a get-together during our anniversary but everybody started to get busy. Very busy. At some point we lost communications. I reached out, reminded them how much I miss them and tried to set a reunion once in a while. I’d say I tried my best but I grew tired. And to see some of them go out and enjoy their time together without inviting the rest was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Somehow I felt it was just me who wanted to keep the group together.

MiDAS was my refuge. It was like a new found family. I know I could count on them for whatever. I did what I could to keep it alive and bonded but some things are out of my control. No matter how hard I try to reach out to them, if they are not willing to exert effort, it’s just useless. Oh, yes! For the past years since graduation there is one day in a year where MiDAS would be complete – post Christmas celebration. For me, it has just become obligatory rather than a whole-hearted gathering. Why only once a year?

But despite a depressing reality, life goes on. I can no longer live in something that doesn’t exist anymore. I have to blame myself though for being sentimental. But I have learned to know where to stand in somebody’s life. MiDAS was a college group. And college ended three years ago.

Less than ten FB contacts aren’t bad after all. No, it’s not bad at all. As long as I know my friendship is being valued, as long as I know I can count on that person, as long as they are true, I couldn’t be more thankful. 

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