Remember those highschool crushes? Yung tipong mapapatingin ka sa crush mo tapos biglang titigil mundo mo? Then, boom! Nag-slow motion lahat while your eyes meet… for a glorious five seconds.
Those were the days, right?
But have you ever wondered what happened to them after the yearbook was signed and graduation caps went flying?
Ako kasi, I recently found myself scrolling through my Facebook feed (don’t judge, we all do it!), and I stumbled upon the profile of my own high school crush. You know, the one who had that perfect hair, that disarming smile… Ugh, the memories!
So, what’s the latest on my former object of affection? Well, to be honest, his life took a bit of a… turn.
Let’s just say, seeing his profile made me reflect on how life can be a real rollercoaster ride, especially in the love department. Kasi naman, friend ko na siya sa Facebook ngayon. And, based on his posts, mukhang okay naman siya sa jowa niya. Which is great!
But getting there… well, it wasn’t a walk in the park.
See, after high school, our paths went in different directions (as they often do). I went to a university in Manila, he stayed in our province.
Typical post-graduation life, diba? We were all trying to figure things out.
Fast forward a few years, and I learned from our common friends (Facebook stalking, anyone?) that my former crush wasn’t able to pass the board exam. It happens to the best of us, right?
He kept trying, though. I could only imagine the pressure he was under. Those exams are no joke! I heard stories about how he practically lived and breathed his review materials, sacrificing sleep, social life, and maybe even a few decent meals.
But despite his best efforts, he just couldn’t seem to catch a break.
Then, something unexpected happened. He started dating a batchmate of ours. Now, this batchmate, let’s call him Mark, was also my former colleague. He landed a good job as an architect right after graduation – a real success story!
Everyone was happy for them at first. They looked good together, and Mark seemed to adore my former crush. But as time went on, things took a turn for the worse.
Word on the street (or should I say, newsfeed?) was that my former crush had become increasingly insecure and, frankly, a bit controlling towards Mark.
It all stemmed from his frustrations with the board exam. He projected his insecurities onto Mark, who seemed to be breezing through life with a thriving career and unwavering confidence.
I heard stories about how my former crush would get angry at Mark over the smallest things – a late text reply, a forgotten errand, even the way Mark talked to other people. It was heartbreaking to hear, especially knowing what a kind and gentle person Mark was.
He didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. No one does.
Thankfully, they eventually broke up. It was a messy and painful separation (aren’t they all?), but it was for the best.
Looking back, it’s easy to judge my former crush for his actions. But honestly, I can only imagine the immense pressure and insecurity he must have felt at that time. Failing the board exam multiple times can really take a toll on a person’s self-esteem, and it’s unfortunate that he channeled those negative emotions in a hurtful way.
This whole experience made me realize that life after high school can be incredibly unpredictable. We all have our own paths to forge, and sometimes those paths are paved with unexpected detours and roadblocks.
My former crush’s story is just one of many. As I scrolled through my Facebook feed, I saw snippets of other high school classmates’ lives – some thriving, some struggling, some embracing unexpected turns.
And you know what? It’s okay. Life isn’t always going to be sunshine and rainbows. We’re all just figuring things out as we go, navigating the ups and downs with the best of our abilities.
So, to all my fellow “survivors” of those awkward high school years, let’s raise a glass (or maybe just a cup of instant coffee) to the unpredictable journeys that lie ahead. Who knows what stories we’ll have to tell when we bump into each other again, decades from now, through a random Facebook notification?
Maybe by then, we’ll be sharing tales of successful careers, happy families, and the wisdom that comes with embracing life’s twists and turns. Or maybe, just maybe, we’ll still be figuring things out – and that’s perfectly alright too.