Everyone has to grow up, there's no denying it. However, what's painful and difficult, is not the added responsibilities, not the burden or stress society might bear on you, not the constant need to battle the prices of the economy and not the 'tied down' feeling associated with adulthood. The melancholy and pain of growing up comes from moving on.
You won't have all the time in the world to spend with each other, without caring for anything. Spending everyday together - in class, and after school, even during weekends and holidays - will slowly but surely, dwindle. Spending occasional time together on weekends, sometimes smiling at each other in school, with infrequent catch-ups and texts would soon cease to be. We would all grow up, maybe find new friends, maybe commit into relationships. That 'magic' that once brought us together would fade. In due time, say after National Service, we would probably forget about each other because of negligence, awkwardness or due to lack of effort to meet up.
What would be left behind would be bittersweet memories, and a myriad of 'what if's. Memories of your happiest times together, memories of joint endeavors, memories of squabbles, tantrums and fights, memories of fighting together, memories of being there for each other because damn it, best friends take on the world together. And then, what if. What if we just held on slightly more tightly, pushed on slightly harder, tried just a little more. What if we just opened up, what if I never left, what if we pushed through?
Because friends never forget, and memories never fade. If you cherished me as much as I did you, please stay for a little while more, maybe forever. To the 13 friends I love the most. ^^
