Sinister Family

When I was in fourth year high school, my barkada called ourselves the Sinister family. We were also known as the Tabing Ilog barkada for reasons we don't know - our class just dubbed us that. In fourth year, each of the class barkadas had their own places in the classroom - ours was the entire back. Every year, I (and/or Trish) contact everyone for an annual reunion but it's next to impossible to get all 13 of us to one gimmik. It's already good when around 5 show up. Last night was a good reunion; Roman, Tonggie, Ken, and Mark showed up. When we were all studying, we usually had our reunions in the summer, usually an EK gimmik. As years went and there were those who graduated and were doing their thesis, etc, and summer was the dry season for cash so it became a lunch/dinner gimmik thing, also during the summer since I was still studying and since I was planning the entire thing I figure, I should pick a date where I'm free, right?

Anyway, Trish was supposed to come tomorrow too but couldn't make it because she suffered from insomnia the night before. We were supposed to meet at 730-8 in Starbucks. In true Sinister tradition, I arrived at 745, Roman arrived at 8, Tonggie arrived at 9 and Ken arrived at 10. Tonggie was really going to be late because he gets off work at 730 and I s'pose Ken's forgiven since he came all the way from Laguna. While it was still Roman and I hanging out, Roman said that he saw Mark that day and got his number so I called Mark and asked if he could drop by on our reunion dinner. After a while, we decided to meet him in Starbucks BF at 945 (he said the time). We told him that we were just waiting for Ken and then we'll head there. Ken, as mentioned, arrived at 10 (although at 9, he said "malapit na siya") then we all headed off to BF. I dropped off the car at my house first because I didn't want to bring a car and drive it late at night, alone. So I hitched a ride with Roman to Starbucks and we ate at Pancake, which was located next door, at 11. Mark arrived at 12. Actually, to be precise, he arrived a little after 12.

Regardless of the lateness of the hour and that we basically spent half the "reunion" waiting for another, I had a blast. And it was sooo good to see Mark after so long. See, Mark has always been the person who was hardest to contact because every time I call him, both his cell phone and landline aren't working. He now admits that he lost his cell phone 3 times (and I have all copies of all 3 numbers) and their house landline has been changed. And now I have all his recent contact numbers. There was a funny moment when he was saying that it has been ages since he last saw us and he was like, "We should make this an annual thing" and I'm all, "It is!" which just cracked us up. Ken, Tongs, and Roman all knew it was an annual thing (although Roman also rarely went during the first few years after high school graduation). And I hope the tradition will continue until forever.

I loved reminiscing, of hearing how my friends were doing and what had happened to them after our graduation in 2000. And I was one of the boys! Again! Yay! I've missed that. I've been one of the boys when I was in high school (since our barkada had more guys than girls and sometimes, during break, I'd hang out with the guys) but ever since college, my barkadas have been girls.

We talked about the things we remember in high school and it was nice to be reminded of some things that I've forgotten. Roman was bragging about how united (and kalog) our batch was. He told us of the time when we had a play and we were in the auditorium and Ms. Boyles (our principal back then) was mad and saying stuff like, "it is not characteristic of a Christian" blah-blah and someone in our batch started going, "tsk, tsk, tsk" and in a few seconds, the entire batch was doing it. We also reminisced about our cheering champion days, how nobody had beaten our record. Roman's younger brother was still in La Salle and he was saying about how our batch were still the idols. Iba daw tingin sa amin, kami pa rin daw yung sinasamba. All of us where, like, 'why?' but Roman said he wasn't sure why but that we were. Kami daw yung batch kung saan nandun ang pinaka-sikat. Based on popularity while we were in school (King's group, Kulafu [as they called themselves], and all the other sikat boys) and even after - what with Monty in Mayonaise and Patty and Bianca in channel 23. Other batches had one or two or maybe even 5 people who were known in the entire school. Our batch? Lots and lots.

We also caught up on what has happened and what is happening to our other batchmates - first to get married, first to have a baby, first to have a scandal (and y'all know who I'm talking about, eh? ;p), and even first to die (that was news to me). We recapped who had gotten married, who's pregnant, who has kids, and who's living the crazy life. We dispersed at around 2 and I arrived at home at 3, care of Ken who dropped of Tonggie before dropping me off.

We missed singing our Alma Matter song (well, they did; goodness knows I still have a chance to sing it :p). Mark dared us if we still remembered our graduation song and only Mark and I did. And I'd like to end it with that (words and music by Pabsi):

We were strangers, together but still alone, living for the present, future still unknown. I know your name but nothing else, you were just another face. Now who would've thought we'd come so far, I was able to call you my friend? So I'll face the sun, head up high, with memories in my heart. As I try to seize another day, I know you are by my side. And it's so amazing and fascinating that this friendship of ours... is made to last forever.