Dear Marj,
I went home tired from work last night and you have no idea how your messages brought me hearty laughs and tummy aches and I can’t help but remember how our crazy friendship started…
It was June 25, 2005 when you stepped on my feet on our way to our first class in college. We were running late so we needed to run as fast as we can to catch the last ride before 7AM. It’s funny why instead of getting mad, we smiled at each other and like love at first sight, I felt a strange feeling that you’ll be my friend for no apparent reason. Since that moment, we always stick together like we were childhood friends. A lot of our classmates would even wonder if we’re from the same high school and they’ll be amaze of how close we are knowing that we only met on that one sunny morning.
Before there was social media, I remember how we would fondly write letters to each other during sem breaks. How we both loved MYMP songs and we can listen to them all day in between classes and even during vacations. And do you still remember how we love to eat foot long sandwich during recess? Not to mention how you’ll patiently wait for me during enrollment so we’ll still be classmates for next semester. Marj, it wasn’t an easy college life (you know what I mean) but you help me get through.
One of my favorite memories with you is when we go early to school and drop by to church to say our prayers. I don’t know what you’re praying for at that time but each time I look at you, I am sure that it isn’t only for you but for your family whom I love and has become my extended family, too. I can still remember how Tita Malou would cook sinigang for me, how Tito Nelson would drive us home, how ate Ynel would buy us our favorite chips or anything we’d request her, how Mariel would peek into your room to listen to our stories, and how Marvin would crack jokes because sometimes we get too serious during dinner or breakfast. Your family has embraced me like an adopted daughter and I couldn’t be more grateful.
I can tell a lot of stories about how we find happiness in the simplest of things. I can go through a lot of memories and never get tired of telling them because I can perfectly recall how simple yet meaningful those moments were. And for more than 14 years, we’ve always been each other’s human diary—the very first person to know each other’s crush and we always agree that you could be annoy with someone without them even tying.
Fast forward to that day when you left for Singapore to venture into a new journey. I must admit that it was a very sad day knowing that I can’t just easily walk into your room to tell you how upset I am with my new office mate or to be the first person to see pictures of my fan girl moments with one of our favorite actresses, Toni G.
Likewise, there are days when I also wish I was there to cheer you up when you had a bad day at work or you’re not feeling well because it is the time of the month. There were a lot of moments when I just want to sit right next to you, play our favorite songs and tell the same old stories you’ve heard of me telling for the hundredth time but you just can’t complain. There were a lot of times when I wish we never have to grow up and be responsible adults so we can spend more time together and enjoy our nonsense blabbers. But we can’t; because we love our family more than ourselves.
We witnessed how amazing God is in our lives. We experienced how He always make sure that despite the distance, petty fights, and misunderstandings, we always go back to those little and simple moments that remind us how far we’ve been through which makes our friendship even more stronger.
That day was a leap of faith for you but definitely a proud moment for me because finally, other people will see and experience your beautiful heart. They’ll witness what a joy it is to have you around. Over the years, I’ve seen you grow to an even more beautiful person who continues to shine for the glory of Jesus. And I can’t wait until the next moment when we can share another amazing stories of God’s grace and faithfulness in our lives—where we can hold hands together and simply pray for each other.
My dear Marj, I was reminded last night how blessed I am for the kind of friendship that we have. I am grateful for that one ordinary-running-late-for-class-moment opened lots of doors as well as happy and sad moments for us. Time has revealed that we may have grown separately but never strangely.
In the next few months, a new chapter of our lives will unfold. I know we will be busy with our new responsibilities. But as we become wives, I hope we always remember the old days. Know that you can always count on me whether it is a good or bad day.
I am very happy that you’ll end up with the man you love and loves you even more. I may become busy with married life too, but know that you always have a best friend and a sister in me. After all the heartaches, I am still amazed of how God has been good in our lives for giving us our deepest desires. Hence, I couldn’t be more happier to see you at your happiest.
I can’t wait for the day when we can celebrate our birthdays together with our future husbands, to share new flavors of milk teas, or to simply have that nonsense conversations until wee hours of the day as we laugh our hearts out like we always do.
Marj, always know that your happiness is my happiness and that I love how we can simply tell each other whatever we want without any judgement because despite us knowing each other’s strength and weaknesses, we never use it against each other—we just love each other genuinely with enough room for mistakes and random silence. And that we always hold on to each other knowing that it is not in the number of friends you have but the quality of friendship you share with them.
As I end this letter, let me thank you for always giving me the kind of assurance and comfort through your kind words and warm gestures. Thank you that you are always calm when I’m in chaos. Thank you, that next to my future husband, you’re the person who can make my tummy aches with your funny jokes and sarcasm. Thank you that though we are separated by distance, we were never distant to each other. Thank you that you know how to reach out and that you never forget about me. Thank you that we understand each other without even saying a word. Most of all, thank you for always making me laugh all the way from the other side of the world. I love you and I’ll see you on our big day.
Dhang's Diaries 