Ninette is one of my numerous girlfriends in this life.
Our friendship started with a trip to Boracay in 2006 with other good friends. It was a trip with a couple of “firsts” for me, first trip to Bora, first trip with Ninette. We didn’t really know each other and the only common friend we have were none other than the Sexy Nomad herself. If I remember it correctly, Ninette and I have had no previous gimmicks prior to that Bora trip.
Needless to say, it was during that trip that I got to know Ninette. Contrary to her tisay-thus-sosyal image, Ninette is very down to earth and so easy to get along with, considering that she comes from a well to do and very artistically-gifted clan. Ninette on her own is a very talented person. Those few days I had with her in Boracay told me that she’s someone who can be trusted. Sa totoo lang? Mas mapili ako sa taong ka-kaibiganin than Ninette. Ninette is more pala-kaibigan, approachable and warm; more mapag-tiis, ma-pang-unawa and definitely way more forgiving than I am. But I guess one of the things we have in common is that we are both keepers when it comes to friendships and relationships.
Ours is a friendship that blossomed from the seas of Boracay to the pollution of the Metro. And since our Bora trip, we have gone on local trips, and most of the time, it was just the two of us. These trips have bonded us more as friends. Our journey as friends has also brought us through the joys of a budding relationship; the happiness of being engaged; the funny pa-cute stage of having a crush; the pain of a broken friendship with other people; the stresses of our respective workloads and office-mates; the fears of being sick; the triumph of overcoming the Big C; the gigil of man-problems and a whole lot more! We have gone through a lot indeed.
But our friendship is not all beds of roses. Like the rest, we’ve had our share of misunderstandings and “not talking to each other” moment, mostly, these moments happen because of me (oo, ako din ang ma-topak between the two of us). But as true friendships go, these moments would just pass quietly and one day, we’d just find ourselves back in each other’s arms. J We seldom discuss “what happened, what went wrong”, but there will be moments when it would be mentioned like “you know mare, there’s a point na di mo ako kinakausap, di ko alam bakit…” Moments like these are acknowledged and respected, but we never dissect it to the tiniest detail. Then we move on.
What is that one thing that has been constant between me and Net? Respect. We know when to butt out of each other’s business. We know when we need to speak and keep our damn opinions to ourselves. And we never, ever tell other people bad things about each other.
From 2006 until now, Ninette has been someone who keeps me grounded in terms of my emotions. In moments when my emotions tend to get the best of me, it will be Ninette who reminds me to take a step back and breathe before doing anything hasty. Ninette is also that person who reminds me that my real home is with God. Her faith would put mine to shame. In situations when I would find myself asking God “Why?”, Ninette would just go on and humbly serve the Lord and take it as it is, with an unwavering faith that all shall come to pass and answers will be given.
She’s also responsible in helping me find my own fashion style and helped me adapt that “yeah! I’m-gonna-wear-that-girly-dress-even-if-I’m-just-going-to-the-mall-and-I-don’t-care-if-people-thinks-it’s-too-much” attitude; that it doesn’t matter if I’m wearing a dress that was bought cheaply, what matters is that it suits me and I can do justice in wearing it.
And what have I taught Ninette so far? Ang maging maldita at huwag magpapa-api. Ahahahhaha! I’d like to think that my outspokenness has rubbed on to Net even for just a tiny bit and that it can help her deal with evil people around. You see, Ninette is a strong person, but she’s not a fighter in a way that I am. She has this tendency to let people take advantage of her and her kindness; whereas I am the kind who’d say “teka, sandali... sumo-sobra ka na”. Yes, between the two of us, I am the one who would remind her of “Hoy, Net, ayan ka na naman, sumo-sobra na yan sa iyo.” Maybe because by nature, Ninette would rather look at the good side of everyone, ever-willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, whereas I am the jaded one, always on guard.
A lot of people especially at the office, know that we are good friends; we even go to the same waxing salon and are being attended to by the same wax therapist. And one time, our wax therapist told me that there was someone from our office who visited their salon. Our therapist mentioned that Ninette and I are her clients, the officemate apparently has this to say about me and Net: “Oo, kilala ko sila. Mag-kaibigan nga yung dalawa na yun. Mababait yun, wag mo lang talagang makalaban”. I laugh when I first heard this. But it got me thinking na ganuon pala kame tingnan ng mga tao. Oh well, at least they know not to mess with us then. Ahahahah!
Some other girlfriends of mine have noticed that my bond with Ninette is different from what I have with them. Let me tell you a story: In 2008, Ninette was diagnosed with the Big C on her right kidney. She has since then bravely fought it and thank God for His generosity, Ninette has been continuously healing. I guess this is the reason why I am extra protective of her like an elder sister. And that as much as I can, I would shield her from harm and stress. And that of all my girlfriends, when it is Ninette who’s hurting, I feel her pain as well, I get bothered too and would willingly fight for her, like how I am to my own family.
Based on her FB posts and the comments that it usually gets, one can see that Ninette has several sets of friends and that because she is what she is as a friend, she begets love and loyalty from these people. In short, subukan nyong awayin si Ninette, you’ll get me and a host of her other friends as enemies in return. Hah!
I love all my girlfriends as equally as I can. I try to share myself with each and every one of them in the best way I possibly know how to. But there’s no denying the fact that there are people who come into your life with whom you form a tighter bond than the rest. I guess I have that with Ninette. My darkest secrets are known to her. With Ninette, all I had to do was look at her and she’d know what’s going on in my mind; all I had to do was to be silent for a few days and she’d know that there’s something bothering me. All I had to do is read her FB posts and I’d know that something is off.
If there’s one thing that I constantly pray for is that God would give me and Ninette more years of friendship. I really wanna see the two of us in our 50s or 60s, with our grandkids. So far, this prayer is being answered, and I thank the Lord for this.
So to those people who’s caused Ninette pain and hurt, and you damn well know who you are, I only had this to say: Tigilan nyo na pagka-katol ng di kayo nakaka-perwisyo sa ibang tao!
To Ninette, a dearest girlfriend of mine, Cheers!
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