Change of Engagement

by MrsPartyGirl

I was just thinking about a subject that has come up over and over whenever we (us, classmates) get together. Half-seriously (or half-jokingly, as it were), Mr. Magna cum Laude (MMCL) often laments that the only time he can really be himself is with us. Although his remark may oftentimes sound "korni/bola" to us lesser mortals, i dare say he actually has a point.

On any given gathering, we almost always talk about mundane things like showbiz, MMCL's fashion sense, over-mushy love stuff, failed relationships, or the memories we forever reminisce about our student life, yet we don't think of ourselves as oldies on the path of regression. We just like talking about that stuff.

Somehow, when the topics veer into the complicated arena of politics or current events, existential discourses about our personal legends, or philosophical musings about life in general, we don't perceive ourselves as snotty overhead commentarists. Can we help it if we're actually intelligent enough to actually understand that kind of stuff?

And when we do talk about our high-profile jobs or the lack of it, various international scholarship opportunities or the lack of it, our entrepreneurial flair or lack of it, or how far we have come from merely standing in the shadow of the Oblation (or how near to it, i suppose), there is no fear of judgement, hardly any pun. We are friends and we talk about our lives. Yet we have somehow matured enough to come past petty envies and the usual standard crab mentality.

I have been fortunate enough in my lifetime to have amassed a good number of friends. And yet, when the coffee is out and the yosis are burning, I catch myself longing for the intelligent conversations, smart retorts, logical ideas, brave silly antics, MMCL's voice singing distant karaoke crooning odes to himself, and that part where I can just think aloud about any possible thought and know that I am being heard.

I miss you guys. :)