One of my classmates posted something on Facebook about our upcoming reunion, and before I knew it, she had invited me to meet up with my college barkada. At first, I wasn’t sure about it, but for some reason, I said yes. I still can’t figure out what exactly convinced me to go. Maybe it was the weight of everything I had been going through over the past month—honestly, I was feeling like I was on the verge of losing my mind. I knew I needed a change of environment, something to break the monotony, and most importantly, I needed to be around people who were fun to be with, people who brought positive energy and had less drama. I just wanted to forget everything, even if it was only for a short while. I wanted to feel free, to be away from my sadness, even if only for an evening.
The meet-up was supposed to be on Tuesday, but since it was already past midnight, it technically turned into yesterday. I left my place at 5:30 pm to meet one of the girls, Angie, who was going to accompany me to the venue. The gathering was held at Zandra’s house in Valenzuela. Since I had forgotten the way, I decided to call Angie and ask her to wait for me, which made me feel a bit more comfortable. I was a little hesitant at first. It had been so long since I last saw any of them, and I wasn’t sure how the dynamics would be. But as soon as we started talking, all those awkward feelings disappeared. I was surprised by how natural and warm our conversation felt. It was like no time had passed at all. I really missed it. It felt like the kind of conversation I had been craving, one that was carefree, light, and yet surprisingly mature. There was no pretense, no heavy drama. It was just real, easy-going talk, and I felt like I was rediscovering a part of myself that I had forgotten.
The conversations we had that night exceeded all my expectations. To be honest, I initially went there just to pass the time, to get a distraction from everything that had been weighing on me. But, as it often happens, something unexpected happened—I actually started to enjoy myself. We had a lot of laughs, shared old stories, and it felt like we picked up right where we left off. And yes, after a very, very long time, I decided to have a drink. I won’t lie; I wasn’t proud of it, but at the same time, I didn’t feel ashamed either. Sometimes, you just need a little something to help loosen up, to take the edge off. The alcohol helped me relax and forget about my worries for a while. It made me feel better, and in that moment, that was enough. I wasn’t looking to get drunk or numb anything; I just wanted to feel like I could enjoy the present moment and have fun again.
As the night went on, I realized how much I needed this. The laughter, the familiar faces, the easy-going vibe—it was exactly what I had been missing. I left the gathering feeling lighter, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It was strange, but in that short period of time, I managed to let go of so much, even if only temporarily. There’s something healing about spending time with people who genuinely care for you, who make you feel like you can be yourself without judgment.
I have so many thoughts that I could add to this post, but as usual, I’m too lazy to type them all out. Plus, I think this is enough for now. It’s just a reminder of another unforgettable memory, one that I know I’ll look back on and smile about. Maybe I’ll write more about it later, or maybe it will just stay in my journal. Either way, I’ll never forget how much that night helped me, and how it reminded me that sometimes, it’s the simplest things—like reconnecting with old friends—that can bring the most peace.
