Friendships

I recently attended a friend’s wedding where I recognized someone I went to secondary school with. I’d always thought this person was so pretty, her golden hair and large hazel eyes were something that was uncommon in a school full of dark, raven hair. We were in the same classes and had sat near (or next to?) each other for Chinese lessons and she was always kind and friendly.

So whereas ordinarily I wouldn’t approach and say hi to people I knew from way back when, I thought I’d say hi on this particular occasion. I was caught off guard when her response was polite and cool, when after a minute of saying hi and asking about her, she asked, “You’re.. Vera right?”.

Maybe I caught her off guard? This felt a little alienating. Perhaps my memories of childhood friendships are dimmed as I’m older now, as was hers.

Another friendship I remember in Primary school was one with the very first girl my parents identified as my “Forever Friend”.

We were close because of proximity – her house was close to where my parents’ business was. And for the first two or three years in CHIJ we hung out at her house after school, bought candies and played.

In Primary 3 or 4 she approached me in class and told me she wasn’t going to be my best friend anymore. I took the news coolly, because I really didn’t know what to expect or what a difference that makes.

Although as I sat back down in my seat and saw her walk back to her new cooler clique of girl friends, I guess I might have been a little hurt when I realized she didn’t think I was cool enough.

There were many more best friends to be had after that though, and although only one of them has stuck around long enough to be a “Forever Friend”, they have all contributed to fond memories from each chapter of my life and I hope I was a good friend.