A Perfect Friendship

According to an online dictionary, a "friend" is a person you know well and regard with affection and trust. Varied literary writers or poets formulated their respective write ups regarding friendship and one of them whom I like most is Collin McCarty. According to him, "A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. A friend is a living treasure, and if you have one, you have one of the most valuable gifts in life. A friend is the one who will always be beside you, through all the laughter and through each and every tear. A friend is the one thing you can always rely on; the someone you can always open up to; the one wonderful person who always believes in you in a way that no one else seems to. A friend is a sanctuary. A friend is a smile. A friend is a hand that is always holding yours, no matter where you are, no matter how close or far apart you may be. A friend is someone who is always there and will always - always - care. A friend is a feeling of forever in the heart. A friend is the one door that is always open. A friend is the one to whom you can give your key.

It is very true indeed and I can vouch for it! Yes, I did agree with all the ideas presented by this poet. Let me relate to you my story of "A Perfect Friendship". Would you agree that there's really such a perfect friendship? Well, it's all up to you whether you believe it or not. Anyway, we do have our own perceptions and views on a certain thing or issue on earth.

It was mid November 2002 when I started my internship at Bugo NHS, Cagayan de Oro City. It was a feeling of mixed emotions; excitement and at the same time worries in complying all the requirements, and performing duties excellently as I was vying for Most Outstanding Intern of the Year to be awarded during our graduation. Based on my personal assessment, I really did a good job. I reported to duties on time, submitted lesson plans on time and I also got along well with the BNHS faculty & staff except with a certain lady teacher who acted as the head of ROTC office. Being an intern, I never thought of engaging or creating any trouble in school and heaven knew that I really did nothing wrong at all. But everything turned opposite as what was expected.

One morning, if I'm not mistaken it was break time when I saw a student on duty at the gate wearing his complete ROTC uniform. Honestly, I was attracted to him or perhaps it was a feeling of mere admiration or infatuation whatever it may be. Anyway, it's never a crime to be attracted with someone else regardless of his/her identity, isn't it? I was very aware of the fact that there's no such thing as teacher-student relationship or any form of intimacy. I knew it's against the Teachers' Code of Ethics and Conducts. However, I do believe that friendship has no limitations and doesn't set any standard and that everyone could freely have it.

To make the story short, I was deeply fascinated with that certain student and to my surprise he was under my English class. Oh my gosh! I started to panic and was very worried how to get rid of him. Well, instead of getting rid of him unintentionally I happened to befriend him. I invited him for some snacks and there was also an event that I invited him for dinner and movie at the city though we were in a group that time. Consequently, rumors started spreading in and outside the school campus and it even reached to his parents. We were both under interrogations if that's the appropriate word to use. What can we do? Apparently, we have nothing to deny because we never did anything wrong which might be against morality although some people branded it into something immoral. To calm down the gossips spreading around about us, we agreed to minimize our meetings but honestly we never stopped seeing each other and his family knew it because I still visited him at their home. (hummm, ang hirap talaga ng buhay celebrities...left & right ang mga intriga!...Pano kc campus crush pah ang napili kong maging "bestfriend" daw...lol)

Days rolled into weeks, months, and for almost 6 years now we remained friends. We shared all the laughters and tears that friends usually do, hanging outs, parties, travels, etc. We were through ups and downs within our friendship but still we were able to nourish it and glad to find each other being the best of friends. He's one of the most valued persons in my life. He's one of the living treasures I have. He's more precious than gold...

Best friend JB, a trillion words of thanks isn't even enough to thank you for the perfect friendship you have shared with me. We've been tested by time and distance, so rest assured that whatever happens you'll always be my best friend or perhaps ONE of my best friends as you say.

Please don't ever fade even if flowers do, and even if rivers do run dry.

You're always remembered bro!

God loves the trier!