A Friend That I Will Remember

         One day here in Aklan, I went to my friend, who is full of self-confidence and a natural fighter because he fights off problems, and have a conversation. We have a lot of good times with each other since we were High School. His name is Anthony. As I went to his house, we have a little snack and talk some personal things. As we finish devouring our snack, Anthony looked in my face and asked, “Alrom is there a problem?”

         “Yeah, you see that I am in college now and I am having trouble in a major subject.” I said to him sadly.

         “What subject is it?”

         “The subject is Chemistry.”

         “Oh. Is it hard?” Anthony was concerned.

         “It is not the problem if it is hard or not, but I couldn’t understand the lecture of my teacher and I am in a failing grade.”

         “Do your parents know about this?”

         “Yes”

         Anthony felt the same thing as he looked at me because he was once failed in High School. He understands me a lot like he was me.

         “Don’t worry,” said Anthony, “I’ll pray that you pass this subject and let God do the rest. Always think that as long as we have our friendship, nothing can prevail over us.”

         I trust this guy. He does a lot of good things to me and boosting my confidence.

         As the grade for College Final s came, I passed all the subjects except for one, which is Chemistry. I was sad to know that I failed to this subject. My Chemistry teacher called me to her office and said, “Why do you have a grade like that?”

         I remained silent.

         She continued saying as she grew her voice up like she is scolding me. “It seems like you don’t care for parents’ money! I want to say this a long time ago. You are dumb! Now, get out of my office!”

         As I left the office, the words my teacher said hurts me a lot and I almost cried. As my parents heard the news about I failed Chemistry, they scolded me too. As I left my house, I saw Anthony coming towards me. He said, “What happened?”

         “I was scolded by my teacher in school just this morning and was scolded again by my parents for failing Chemistry.” I said that as tears flow down in my face.

         He pities me for what happened to me. As I looked on his face, he knew what I felt about what happened.

         “That is okay,” said Anthony, “Time will pass and you will be passed that subject in the Special Class. I always believe in you. They just don’t see the real you. You still have me.”

         That is why I believe in Anthony because he seems very strong. It seems like he can pass through all obstacles of life as long we have our friendship.

         One day, Anthony called me by phone in my house and he was crying. It is my first time to know that he cried because I knew him as a tough guy. I sadly asked him, “What’s wrong?”

         Anthony continued crying. “My girlfriend left me just this afternoon. I can’t stand the pain I am feeling right now.”

         I was so sad to know the news but I am trying to boost his confidence by saying this to him. “Come on. She is not the only girl in the world.”

         “You don’t get it. We have been together for five years and breaking up broke my heart.”

         “She is only a…”

         Anthony hooked up the phone. Two years had passed and I haven’t heard any news of Anthony. Until the day that one of his friend told me this news about him. I was shocked and I can’t believe what he said. He said that Anthony committed suicide because of his break-up with his girlfriend. I humbly asked him if when did he died and he said about two years ago. He takes me to the place where he was buried to prove he is not lying. As we went there, I read the tombstone and said:



                                       “Anthony Manriquez”

                                       1988-2007



         When it was evening and I was at home, I went to the terrace and looked at the dark Grey sky and said, “Hey Anthony, it seems like you forgot all the things you have said when you are still alive.”