For a science high school where one has to have something between his/her ears to get in, you don't have to be a hot cheerleader or a chiseled jock for you to be popular. You just need a lot of brains and and get every extra-curricular activities that you could crunch into your loaded schedule. I happened to be a part of the cream section since I first stepped in to high school and I became friends with the popular group. Eventually, I became one of them, climbing and stepping on others to be on top.
Once, there were four mean girls in our school. They were the only popular ones. They have been friends since primary school. I was not a part of their group because I came from another school, but I know one of them since childhood. She was Kristine. We were neighbors, playmates and childhood sweethearts back then. In the early parts of high school, we would just say hi to each other but we didn't hang out or eat lunch together. I had my own group of friends.
Then, there came a time when Kristine had a major fight with the mean girls. Finding herself alone, she turned to me for solace and eventually, we became best of friends. She also became part of my group. A year later, there was another major fight within the mean girls' circle and eventually, Paula broke away. She then turned to Kristine for comfort and eventually, became friends with our group. Now, the mean girls found another recruit, which now makes them 3 witches. Eventually, the parting of these girls developed into a rivalry between our circles which went beyond the emotional drama of the four. The fight transformed into an academic competition, with each of our circles trying to outdo the other in academic ranking. We monopolized the organizations and schemed to hold leadership in different clubs. We outnumbered the three, but they didn't just give up. They have their own tricks to kick us out of our posts, which sometimes reach to school-wide signature campaigns.
The peak of the rivalry was the student council elections. We held the leading, unbeaten party. It was so powerful that for some years, no other party dared to run for office. However, we know the capabilities of the three; so, we changed our stance and turned to diplomacy. We offered them positions in order to prevent establishment of a rival party. They accepted the proposition.
We were already convinced that we would take over the council unmatched until the day before the deadline of submission of certificates of candidacy. We realized that were not alone in the fight because they made their own party behind our backs. And so, the fight went on with the campaign period. At the end of the tally, we still emerged as the leading party, but lost one position. Anne, one of the three witches kicked out Kristine for vice presidency.
After four years of war, we finally reached the culmination of high school...graduation. We landed in several places in the ranking, with one of us grabbing the salutatory place. However, Anne emerged as the class valedictorian; hence, she had the opportunity to bitch slap us in her valedictory address. And so, we were indirectly labeled as the "detractors" who made her stronger. Pak pak pak pak.
After graduation, we went to different universities. Most of us in the group went to UP while the rest went to UE. Anne went to Ateneo while her 2 other minions also went to UP. As years passed by, the rivalry slowly faded away. We attended home-coming parties organized by the other group, and vice versa. We give each other a hug when we see each other around the campus. When Facebook, came out, we added each other as friends and became updated with each others' lives.
This day is exactly 9 years after our high school graduation. The three witches are now married and have children. Anne now has 2. Meanwhile, most of us in our group, if not all, are single. Most of us are concentrated in our chosen career. We hold licenses and double titles in business, health and engineering. Some of my friends are beginning to build their dream houses while others (like me) are in post-graduate school.
Who succeeded? Career-wise, there's no doubt that we have left behind the three witches, but when it comes to happiness, I think the three got it. Here we are, pushing ourselves to the limit, and toiling day and night; while the the three play with their kids and sleep beside their husbands at night satisfied. So, we have our money and titles, but the three have their security.
So in the end, who won? Well, I really can't tell. But perhaps, in the future, my friends and I will find love to add flavor in our filthy rich lifestyle (well, hopefully, this would come true as well). But as of this moment, the three witches still have the final laugh.Hihihihihi
photo from here
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