It has always been a claim, that the high school experience is the most memorable in a student’s life. Although I experienced the unconventional, the unexpected, and the unbelievable during my college days, I still do agree with some bits and pieces of this claim. My high school voyage wouldn’t be a first class if it hadn’t been with my Eugene kapamilya. Originally, this was the Augustine family. But when we went on to our senior year, our section changed, it became St. Eugene; thus the name. There were few who left the cruise and went to other boats, but basically those who checked-in in the St. Eugene were the same souls. Oh by the way, there were also some who entered in exchanged of those who left. Before we embark into this journey, let me give you an overview of who are on board. St. Eugene is divided (not really a division of class or ideology but just a division of sexual preferences) into three categories: it’s either you’re on the e-boys or e-girls; but if your sexuality doesn’t fit any of the first two mentioned, you can join the third one—Tiffany-Eugene. That’s how very accepting and very appreciative the Eugene family is to each member of the class. As you notice, we do not have the usual classifications: the jocks, the bitches, the weirdoes. the brainiacs, and the commoners.

“Take us to the sea, Mr. Murdoch! “

Now that we are sailing on our own, it really is hard for anyone (even the person who will swim an extra lap) to catch everyone in one big net. There will always be some people missing in a gathering. As much as we would like to be in one place at the same time, geographical boundaries and schedule differences make it difficult for us. We get the chance to see some members of the Eugene family every time a kapamilya throws a birthday party. But it is really impossible to see the 45 faces again in one gathering…maybe in the future…but that event will require someone to face a tsunami in order for him/her to collect every one again.

One of our kapamilya—Denver—gave us another chance to meet again. During these times that I am so fed up with my thesis, I really needed a breather. And I grabbed this opportunity (what else should I do?). If my memory is still working right at this point in time, here are the people who were at the party:

E-girls:          Amethys, Emett, Johann, and Ana Krista

E-boys:         Akel, the ever-elusive Bonn, Wilson, Gary, Rey, Louise Raye, Ames, Paeng, Denver (of course!)

Tiff-E:           Aaliyah, Barbie, Tanya, Jewel, Daisy, and Xandy

Adapted kids: Leona (Ames’), Hezil (Akel’s), Tijou and Nico (Tiffs)

As usual, the bonding session was at its peak. We may not be doing the classic-retreat-feature, which is the Circle of Love, but we were there having fun and partying all throughout the night. While a group was intimately chatting at the swing, the others were having a drinking-till-we-drop session, and still another group was playing the Pinoy Henyo style—of course, this was my flagship project.

Aside from the chance to see these people again, another major reason why I accepted the invitation was the fact that Denver (the party host) is set to embark in a journey of his own—a journey that will surely make a big difference in his life; a journey that is for sure will be another factor why we will never be in one place at the same time again. He is set to leave the country for a job in an international shipping company. The reality that the time is unstoppable; that we are starting to really map out and discover each part of our destiny; made this party a worthy to be attended to. Now, I wonder…when will I get to see these people’s faces again?

Amidst the laughter and the excitement brought by that party, there was this unexplainable feeling I had after the event. As much as I would like to stop the time and to collect these people under one roof, I can’t do it. I just want to look at them more closely. I just want to tell them what happened to my life ever since we stepped out of the NDGM’s gymnasium the night we received our diplomas. And I want them to do the same. 

Indeed, no one and nothing—not even the waves of the open water—can really stop our sailboats as we proceed to our destinies. Others may start sailing late. Others may sail far away. Others may sail too fast. Others may just stay along the shore. But I’m sure, whatever will happen to us in the vast ocean of opportunities, wherever the tide will bring us, and whoever we will become after our journey, there will always be these invisible lines that connect us. These lines will be our guides to bring us back to that one big ship, which have cradled us when we were starting to learn how to sail…St. Eugene at Notre Dame…