I met Sandy during my freshman year in college. She graduated on top of her class at the city highschool near our house and was renowned for her beauty and intelligence by winning numerous titles in beauty contests. Though I haven’t really seen her, I have heard so much about her from Nanay who was then working as a helper at a family friend’s carenderia near the city high school.

The first time I really set my eyes on her was during enrollment. I was with Alex and we were inside the Registrar’s office which was so crowded with students trying to outrun each other in submitting the enrollment documents to the already annoyed registrar. I could not forget what she wore that day… How can I? I was expecting a stunning girl in minis and a body fit dress complete with girly accessories and chic handbag.... Instead, she was wearing a red baggy shirt, blue jeans and slip-ons for footwear. Her hair, which fell way pass her shoulders was carelessly let loose. She was quietly looking over her enrollment papers as if checking if she’d missed out on something. I was surprised really, when Alex told me who she was. Why, she was dressed exactly the way every ordinary MSUan was dressed that day. I instantly like her.

Liking her led to befriending her. We were classmates in most of our subjects (actually, except PE) because we were both taking up the same course and we both belong to the scholars society of the university. Four years in college held such wonderful memories of friendship with her… that include overnights at the beach, sleepovers at each other’s house, lunch with our group at the university cafeteria, exchanging answers during our Business law final exams, coming up with concepts for retailing and marketing 101 classes, OJT at Coke Davao, meeting the guys of our dreams who later on broke our hearts, and a whole lot more… it’s an endless list, really. And all of them brought us closer together.

Graduation Day didn’t end our friendship. Although she had to stay in Manila for awhile for her career and I in Kidapawan, we had always kept in touch. Thanks to modern day chat and email technology. We’ve managed to update each other with the going-ons of our lives, careers, love interests, etc..

And yesterday was her Wedding Day. The day she told me about it five months ago, I was completely taken by surprise. It wasn’t that the idea of her getting married with her long time beau, Elmer, didn’t cross my mind. It was just that I never really thought it was going to be this year. Well, for one, she’s doing well with her chosen career. Also, she’s into so much traveling that I thought she’s not really into tying the knot for now. I thought she was not ready to give up her independence just yet. I was completely wrong.

Well, when she told me about it, though I was surprised, I was really happy and excited about her wedding. In my mind, I was gonna do everything so that her wedding will be perfect. All through out the preparation period, all of us were very excited. We couldn’t wait for her W-day. But three days before the main event, the realization finally dawned on me. I was gonna lose her. Not really all of her… but some… I wonder if she also felt this way about my own wedding day 17 months ago… Did she feel sad about my tying the knot with Boboy? Did she ever feel a great sense of loss and a deep feeling of loneliness with the realization that soon, I will be completely engross with my husband…my children… just like what I felt and is feeling even now. I have been so used to having her around. Free to meet me anytime for coffee, window shopping, etc. Did she feel a bit indifferent towards Boboy? For he has somehow, taken me away from her… Or is it just I who feels this way because personality-wise, I am the jealous and possessive type between the two of us?


I sound so selfish. After all, it was I who first chose to tie-myself with the bond of marriage. The first between us to let go of my precious independence all in the name of love. So why even think about being sad about my bestfriend’s pursuit of her own happiness?

The wedding day is now over. I’ve witnessed her said her vows of lasting love to the man she had chosen to spend the rest of her life with. Despite the ache in my heart, I am happy for her. Finally, she will experience the joys of married life--- which to me are incomparable and fulfilling. She is now a wife. A role which may sound so simple, but in truth so profound.

I will surely miss our late night talks. Our coffee-dates… Our window-shopping… shoe-fitting… It’s not that we will no longer do them together at all.. but those times will be reduced to rare occasions, particularly since sooner or later, she will be moving to Singapore where she and Elmer had decided to start their life together as husband and wife. What a sad thought. However, I have chosen to just focus on the brighter side of this situation….. and one of that is: There’s one very good reason for me to visit Singapore in the future!

CIAO, Tats! I’ll be truly missing you.