while i was still in college, a friend (let us call her rhodamae to protect her identity) and i were two single, crazy women seeking wisdom in song lyrics, books, romantic comedies and ally mcbeal.

we're still pretty much the same now.

we believed in the magic of romance, of going to great lengths to be with the twisted objects of our affection (for humor's sake, let's call them v and l, mine and hers respectively).

yesterday, on the commute home, the memory of one of us stealing a drinking straw popped into my head, making it hard for me to keep from smiling. it was either v's or l's straw that rhodamae or i had stolen as a favor for the other. a few years later, i'm sitting in the bus giggling at that memory.

when i got home, i immediately started an sms conversation with rhodamae:

me: random memory: we once stole a straw. whose was it? i forgot.

rhodamae: l's, i think. i'm not sure though. but i remember that you did it.

me: i completely forgot. popped into my head on the commute home. must get my hands on that blue notebook. :p

*note: rhodamae and i used to pass notes in our economics class. it came to a point that post-its weren't enough, so we moved on to a quiz booklet. we filled that one up in 2 or 3 classes, so we got ourselves a blue corona notebook for it.... and it's still with her.

rhodamae: it wasn't there. wasn't it a black straw? like the one in trevi's? can't remember na!

*note: trevi's was a wonderful little place in u.m. that served great food for just the right price and servings. it was one of our favorite bonding places when we just got our allowances. it's not there anymore.

me: oh no! that will keep me awake

rhodamae: the best i can recall is that it was l's and that you swiped it for me. but don't listen to me, i have a failing memory. i can't forget things i shouldn't remember.

so i stole the straw, a disgusting little memento of a late lunch with her then beloved. eeew. i actually did that.

and yes, we'd sacrifice the things that would matter most to us at that time. case in point: being an irregular student in a business course gave me the near-impossible load of 4 term papers and an advertising concept due all on the same day. on the said day, i've only started with 1. enter text message from friend c:

c: v's here with us in rack's in rp.

rhodamae was in my house that time, as we made it a mini-ritual to watch axn anime in my house before lunch. she started saving my work on renzo (my beloved laptop) and shutting him down. i gave her an incredulous look before the following semi-conversation took place:

me: what are you doing? i have papers due today!

rhodamae: (fixing my notes and books together) we're going to rp.

me: no, we're not! i have a concept to do pa!

rhodamae: (giving me a look that only we can understand) we're not?

* insert dramatic pause here*

me: (turning around and running to my room) wait!!! call for a cab! i'll just look for my white blouse!!!

rhodamae: that's my girl!

by the time i emerged from my room, renzo was safely packed in his case, my school things in my tote, and i was in my white blouse (don't all girls have a white miracle blouse in one point in time or another?). cab arrived, c and i were exchanging text messages like mad, and we got to racks 5 minutes before v had to run (literally) to his next class.

after mooching off leftover chicken strips and onion rings, rhodamae and i went off to school with c.

whatever happened to us? v and i never got together. neither did rhodamae and l. rhodamae works for an ad agency and occassionally has lunch with v, who works in makati as well. l, i don't hear from much anymore, but last i heard, he has a girlfriend. and c? we see each other often but never enough of each other.

and my deadlines? well, i graduated, right?

i miss those times. i miss rhodamae. i actually miss having a mad crush on v.

things were much simpler then.



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