How to Save a Life | Part I

Patrick and I were best friends back in high school. I can still remember how his simple act of lending me a ruler, when we were in second year, started our friendship. He was also like me in many ways. He was simple. He didn’t mind what other people would think about him. He also had some sense of irony and humor, usually taking on things with sarcasm. Nevertheless, he was a good guy, very low-profile despite the fact that he came from a modest family.

I was lucky enough to be chosen by him as a friend. We helped each other always. He had some difficulty in English; I sucked at Mathematics. We filled in for the lack of each other. I may be smarter than Patrick but I learned so many things from him like Starbucks Coffee, why there were kiss marks, the importance of self-confidence, and not being intimidated by rich people just because I came from the lower level of society.

And while I was in the process of writing this, I also realized how interesting it was that we didn’t talk much about sex or girls. I asked him once, though, if he was also masturbating at times, but he said no. I didn’t believe him.

We stuck with each other like a couple. We didn’t share the same section for the next two years of our stay in high school but we always made it a point to meet up after class, sometimes to talk, or for me to help him tweak his Friendster account profile.

It’s just sad that we didn’t see each other on Graduation Night. One of the most important events of his life. But not for me. I failed my Trigonometry class and I was not able to be part of the Graduation ceremony. It was the first saddest night of my life.

to be continued…