🎶 Take a minute girl, come sit down And tell us what's been happening 🎶

Everyone knows that friends come and go, but for the longest time, I believed I would be the exception. From a young age, I craved acceptance. I wanted to belong, to be seen, to have that special connection with people who understood me. When I started at a new school in sixth grade, I hoped to find those friends. I had classmates I hung out with, but as the "new girl," I always felt a little on the outside.

Then, one day, I noticed two girls, Marjorie and Krishcia. They were always together, and whenever I saw them, they’d smile at me. Something about their energy made me want to be friends with them. And just like that, we clicked. By high school, we were inseparable. They became my day one friends—the ones you share everything with. We experienced so many "firsts" together: our first sleepovers, our first night out with permission from my mom, our first taste of alcohol, our first cigarette, and even our first little heartbreaks—those first puppy loves that didn’t feel like much at the time, but looking back, they taught us more than we realized. We shared our home problems, wore the same shoes, jackets, and even had matching hairstyles. We were practically sisters.

Marjorie was the "prim and proper" one of the group. She always had her life together—or at least that’s how it seemed to us. Her room was the neatest, filled with the coolest stuff. She was well-off, smart, and always composed, with that signature eye-roll that said more than words ever could. She was strong, the kind of girl who didn’t need to say much to command respect.

Krishcia, on the other hand, was the funny one, full of life and energy. She had this infectious laugh that could turn any moment into something to smile about, even if the situation didn’t warrant it. She was always on the go but had to be home by 5—strict rules. She could make friends with anyone, but at the end of the day, she always came back to Marj and me. We were her core, her people. I assume haha. 

As time went on, life began to change. I found myself caught up with a new group of friends, drifting away from Marj and Krishcia when I transferred schools. Our bond remained, but we weren’t as close as before. We saw each other less, and the closeness we once had started to feel distant. Life was pulling us in different directions, but even then, I held onto the memories, onto that special connection we shared.

Marjorie and Krishcia both became mothers while I was still figuring out my own path, lost in the haze of drinking and partying, just trying to enjoy life. Adulthood hit them first, but I wasn’t ready for that yet. I moved to Manila for work, and every time I’d visit my hometown, I’d make sure to catch up with them. Coffee dates, a few drinks—it became our routine for years. We didn’t text or call much, but whenever I went home, it was like nothing had changed.

Then the pandemic happened, and everything shifted. Marjorie and I crossed paths during some of the darkest moments in both our lives. We were each dealing with our own struggles—hers with her family and mine with the chaos of life. That’s when we made a decision that changed everything: we started working together as virtual assistants.

At first, it was incredibly hard. We were two girls who had shared nights out and sleepovers, suddenly thrust into a professional world with real clients and real responsibilities. Neither of us had much experience, and I had to take on the role of training Marjorie. It was tough—giving feedback, being critical, all while balancing our personal relationship. It’s not easy to tell a friend they need to be stronger, more detail-oriented, or resourceful, especially when you’ve only ever seen each other as equals, as friends. But we got through it. We learned to navigate the complexities of working together, leaning on each other, growing together.

Now, Marjorie is in the position to train Krishcia, who has also joined us. We’ve come full circle, supporting each other as we always have but in a new chapter of our lives. We still make time for bonding, though it’s not like it used to be. Our gatherings are filled with more wisdom, more advice, and a deeper understanding of each other’s lives.

Here’s to my day one friends sisters I must say—Marjorie and Krishcia. We’ve seen every version of each other: the student, the young girl, the lady navigating her first crush, the woman finding her footing, the career woman facing the world, the mother, the daughter, the sister, the partner, the friend. We’ve been enemies at times, too, but at the heart of it all, we’ve always been friends—friends for keeps.

The journey hasn’t been easy. There have been times of distance, of silence, of misunderstanding. But through it all, we’ve held onto the thread that connected us, even when it felt thin. We’ve grown together, from innocent kids sharing secrets to women dealing with real pain, real heartbreak, and real life.

Looking back, I see the lessons in all of it. Life is unpredictable. Friends will come and go, and people will grow and change. But if you’re lucky enough, there are a few friends who will stand the test of time. The ones who see you at your worst and still love you. The ones who help you grow, who challenge you, who hold you accountable even when it’s hard.

Our friendship is a testament to growth, to sacrifice, and to the understanding that we’re all flawed, but those flaws don’t define us—they shape us. They make us stronger, and they bring us closer together. I’ve learned that life isn’t about holding onto every person who enters it, but about treasuring the ones who stay, who fight for the relationship just as much as you do.

Here’s to Marjorie and Krishcia, my forever friends, my sisters in everything but blood. We’ve weathered the storms of life together, and I know we’ll continue to do so. Through every version of ourselves, we’ll always be there for each other, reminding ourselves of the bond that started so many years ago and continues to hold us together.