This past week, I’ve been talking to and about my friends from childhood (who remain my closest friends until now). It shocks a lot of people that we are all still one barkada and that we still meet up and talk to each other.

Honestly, I’d ascribed the last 10 or so years to shared history, experiences, and values – but if that was the case, more people would still be friends with the same 10 people all their life.

Maybe it’s chemistry. Because on the outside, there are actually quite a number of people who we share stories, values, and ambitions with. Even if we’re all nerds who made nerd-friends in college, it’s still not the same. How can they even begin to compete with a decade’s worth of parties, summer outings, retreats, field-trips, and simple day-to-day living together?

We’re also pretty lucky to have remained drama-free. Not that we never had problems exactly, but more of, it never escalates or happens among ourselves. We’ve also let go of a lot of people we used to be close to. Though I admit, I miss some of these people a bit, sometimes it feels like a gulf stands between us and we can no longer reconnect.

After all these years, we know each other pretty well. Habits, quirks, attitudes, opinions… of course, some still manage to shock and to surprise.

Truly, it’s still a question of how we managed to remain friends for so long, when at one point in time, we have all competed with each other. Sometimes, I try to figure it out too.

Nevertheless, I’m grateful for the friends I have and the friends I’ve lost. I think we were all meant to meet for a reason. I hope we keep meeting for a long time.