p Ke s e

Let’s face it, meeting a friend for the first time can be an exciting and a nerve-wracking experience. Especially for me when I started my journey in senior high school, I was nervous as some of my high school friends weren't on the same strand as me. However, never did I expect I would meet the people that will have a special place in my heart forever.

Out of excitement, I scrolled through the class list to see if I knew someone, but to no luck, I was met with otherwise. When classes started, everyone immediately formed their groups and made acquaintances, I was anxious as I didn't know anyone. But that feeling faded away when I approached Pearl, as she was one of the first people I got along with in our class. I was happy that I got to make friends and even happier when she added me to a group chat full of wonderful people that later on became my best friends.

Frankly at first, it felt awkward. However, that sense of uneasiness slipped when we got to show our crazy sides. We talked about different things like how our activities went, who we liked, how we disliked the subject, and such. Little did I realize we were already forming a bond, a bond for keeps. Thankfully, we got along really well despite the diversity of our personalities.

Months passed and we finally decided to meet up. The anticipation of finally meeting someone you have been talking to online or over the phone can create a range of emotions. I was ecstatic to know that my friends are visiting the city so we can spend the day and have fun. Some of them lived far off from the city so it was decided approaches, feelings of excitement and nervousness start to build up. Different emotions got unto me as I felt anxious about how I look, felt curious about how they really look, excited as we will finally meet, and conscious of how they'll perceive me as.

Finally, the day arrived and it was time to meet them personally for the first time. All the feelings that built up washed away when the first thing I did when I met them was to embrace them. The feeling was filled with warmth and happiness and it felt like we knew each other our whole lives when in fact it was the first time we met personally. We did different activities throughout the day like having lunch together, going around the mall, and the best part was exchanging gifts. We were unprepared but we figured that we would pick a name from the folded papers with our names on it and buy a gift for that person only within thirty minutes.

That moment was really unforgettable and it still makes me smile up to this date. As we spent time together, it became clear that our bond and connection were strong. And when it was time to give the gift as part of our Secret Santa game, I gave a friend a box of chocolate and a coffee cup and I got earrings I'd been eyeing from Therese. As the sun went down, the fruitful day ended with smiles and goodbyes. It was one of the