Chapter 1 : Old Friends Meet

1:45pm. Shit! I gathered the photocopied documents and ran towards my desk to staple the papers. I hastily placed them in individual folders and ran like hell to the board room where the Senior Leadership Group was assembled as well as the members of the stockholders. Lisa, my colleague, snatched the folders and went around the huge table placing the folders on assigned slots.  I went to the coffee station and gave out paper cups of brewed coffee to the attendees. The other junior administrative assistant, Michie,  looked petrified as she stood near the door. She was supposed to take the directors and corporate secretary to their assigned seats but all she could do was gape and looked at me for help. I hurriedly met the attendees at the door and directed them to their seats.  Once everyone had been seated, I nodded at Michie and Lisa and we all stepped out and silently closed the door.  The Board Meeting commenced. I breathed a sigh of relief. “Good job,” I whispered to my two colleagues and we all went back to our respective workstations. 

I was busy finalizing my finance reports when my phone rang.  It was from an unknown number. “Hello?” A female voice answered, “Hi, Nia? This is Izzie.”  Izzie was my high school best friend. I was so surprised at getting her call. “Hey, what’s up?” “Nia, can we meet later at Cafe Medusa in BGC? Around 8:00 pm?” Her voice sounded off. “Sure, I’ll  see you there.” She said goodbye and put down the phone.  I made sure to save her number. I looked at my watch and mentally calculated my next step. If I want to join them, this meant leaving the office at 7:15 pm to be able to get there at 8. It was a Friday so I took note mentally of the usual traffic going from Alabang to BGC via Skyway. Thank God it’s Friday, I thought. I decided to wrap up early. I called up my husband to tell him I need to meet up with my friends. “Sure, Enjoy. I will just leave the office early and go straight home. Maybe I can still catch up with Nico over dinner.” Nico was our only son. I breathed a sigh of relief. I mumbled “Thanks, see you later,” and turned off my phone. I cleared my desk and grabbed my bag. “Good night and Happy Friday!” I waved at Lisa. She waved back and returned to her work. 

Bonifacio Global City (BGC)  Taguig was a busy, cloaked in colorful, dancing lights, lifestyle district. The hustle and bustle of the dynamic business center were full of people trying out the numerous restaurants, bars, and cafes. It was one of the best places in Metro Manila to meet and have fun with friends and family.  I drove around a bit, looking for the best spot to park my car. I took a peek at my reflection, hastily put on some powder and lip gloss, and stepped out of the car.  I was garbed in my usual Friday black ensemble: black polo, pants, and flats. I quickly weaved through the throng and walked towards Cafe Medusa and entered.  I saw Izzie seated in the corner with our other friends: Ayene, Julie, Raoul, and Len.  I said Hi to the group and ordered mango juice. 

“So what’s up?” I munched on a spring roll without waiting for anyone to answer. Izzie was my best friend in high school and the prettiest among us. She won first place in a school pageant, represented us in the inter-school competition, and also won that one. She was the class muse, with the dimpled smile, fair skin, pretty eyes, height I sorely lacked, and fashion sense. Even in her 40’s, she maintained that drop-dead beauty. She pulled me so I can sit beside her. She hugged me and whispered. “I miss you. I thought you would not join again. I was about to unfriend you on F*”, she pouted. “I’m sorry I’ve been busy. Is there something wrong?” I asked. She sighed. Everyone was looking seriously. “Noah is to be taken to custody. His charge was pretty serious.” We were silent. Then Julie sobbed and whimpered,” Why Noah? He’s not supposed to end up like this.” Noah was one of our high school friends, and the gayest ever. He would always be with the girls and be the life of the party along with his best bud Romi. I knew about what happened, as Noah told me weeks ago during our last meet-up. He was falsely accused of company funds' embezzlement and e****a by his superior. He wanted to go to their HR to file a complaint against that boss of the same, but the latter beat him to it. Initially, he wanted to run away but we told him to stay and fight the process. However, the boss made sure he will be imprisoned to bury his misdeeds and set up the would-be whistleblower. It was the same story of how a corporate honcho will work to cover up his wrongdoings. I thought it only happened in the tv dramas we watch. It was even uglier, messier in real life.

We all mulled over this devastating news, chatted on how we can all help, and ended the night getting slightly drunk. We all went to get coffee to sober up before going home.  Izzie came to see me off and we made a date to visit Noah the next week in jail. Izzie walked with me to the parking lot and we hugged. She made me promise to call her.  She then walked towards the entrance of the restaurant to wait for her driver. 

As I was driving home,  I passed by Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue and saw our old high school. They have not changed the name: Juan Antonio Santos High School. It still was the same old, tall building lending lights to passers-by and commuters getting off the light rail transit station. I parked across the building and just stared at it and hummed.

A wave of emotions swept over me. I felt more alive as I recollect on the past. Meanwhile, a familiar song was playing on my radio. I hummed softly "Always something there to remind me..." I tapped my feet and closed my eyes.

The memories of my 3-year stay in that building came flowing back  ...