DISTANCED

Chapter 1 - Good Old Days

"Oh, Rachel! Good to see you. How's it going? I heard you got another project right now." It was from Malie, my friend. She owns a law firm in Manila, well, technically her husband does.

"Nah, it's not that big. How's your firm? You got it big!" I answered.

"Not so. My husband does all the work. I'm just giving him support." Then she laughed. "Wait, I remembered, I saw Lyndon the other day. You two were dating, right?" And how did she know that? Yes, we did date but it was a secret!

"It was all in the past Mal. Being single is the new trend. And you know I love trends, remember?" Lyndon and I dated, yes, but it was only a month. I can't consider him as someone I really like.

"Yeah, I remembered! Hahaha. Oh right, I think I have to go Rachel. I almost forgot. My son wanted me to buy something for him. See you soon!" She said that as she waved goodbye.

I also waved back at her. It's been years since I last saw her. I think her son's already four. Time's steading so fast. Well, I just got home from Singapore so it was nice meeting her.

Malie, she's the reason I got to meet him. Him. It's been years, but it feels like it happened not just so long ago.

**

"Rachel, meet Eric. Eric, meet Rachel." I looked at Malie, wondering again about who's this guy. I know Mal has a lot of boyfriends, but I don't think that this guy's her type.

"Hey, Rachel! Shake his hands." Mal hurried me up and got my hands to shake his.

"Uh, Mal? Is he your new...?" then she cut me off.

"No Rachel! Uh, this is Eric. He'll be part of our group. You know, we lacked one member and he's alone, so I got him. It's because he's new to our school, he doesn't have friends. Remember, the transfer student?" I don't know, but I guess I was not paying attention when our teacher introduced him to our class.

"Ah, yeah. I remembered! Eric, right? Nice to meet you, Eric." I lied that I remembered him, but I guess it doesn't matter right?

**

Eric, Mal, and I, we get along well. At first, Eric doesn't really talk, but right now, he's more like a host in a talk show. He's got a lot of stories to tell, and it was fine with us. Every weekend we get together. Like, we'll go to the movies or just had fun talks. We became more like a squad. Me, Mal and Eric.

"Hey, Eric! What are you gonna take up? We'll be getting our exams next week. You know, for our future?" I asked him one time when we're done rehearsing for our presentation.

"Hm, I haven't really thought about it. How about you Rachel?" He asked while looking at me.

"Well, maybe, I'll be taking up Architecture. You know, I love art. Hmm, how about you Mal? I heard your mom wants you to take after her?"

"Nah, I don't want to. I've always wanted to be an actress, remember? I guess I'll be taking some auditions next summer." She said while curling her hair up. I guess, she'll do a great job for that.

"It was nice to hear my friends having dreams. I never really thought about it. You know, my dad, he always has the decisions. I just get along with it." Eric suddenly said. Doesn't it feel so sad? Not to do something you love, because your father makes all the decisions?

"Don't you feel a little sad? Knowing you can't do what you really love?" Mal asked bluntly.

"Uh, no. All of his decisions made me what I am today. So, I think it's fine. I'm living a life without worries." It was a first. I've never heard someone my age to say something like that. Most of us would say that "do what you want, do what you're passionate about". But this guy, he's different. I don't know why, but I fell for him after that.

***

End of the semester, I heardMal and her family we'll be on a trip abroad, Eric we'll be staying at hisgrandma's in their province, and I'll be left here so we planned to dosomething before we part our ways. We went to a karaoke and had movies atEric's. We stayed up until midnight, then after that, we went back to our homes.We lived in the same village so it's fine for our parents. It was a great day.And I think that would be the last.