I had a best friend when I was in high school. We did things together, share stuff together, go places together and break laws together. Stuff that best friends are suppose to do together.
He always blames me for ‘corrupting‘ him. Apparently, I introduced him to porn. Yeah right. You can’t force a horse to drink. During those days, porn is not as easily accessible as today. Internet is virtually unheard of here in Malaysia during the early ‘80. All I did was recommend him to some novels in the school library. Some might say those novels are highly questionable but the teachers and librarians are hardly the bookworm type. They know not what they bought. By the way, in my defense, let me clarify. I introduced those books to him because it is well written. I’m just helping him improve his English. Really.
Anyway, we had great times together. Mum liked him too. He often had lunch at my place after school. Mum always made him feel welcome. However, I hardly ever go to his place. His parents are kinda scary. Even to him. So we usually hang out at my place. Homeworks, tv, meals, games etc.
Despite his time at my place he never knew about my family situation. He never knew about my parents arguing a lot. He doesn’t know the sleepless nights I had thinking about my parents. Aren’t best friends suppose to share everything? Aren’t there suppose to be no secrets? I guess I was too ashamed.
After my parents divorced, he still did not know. All I told him was that my parents are moving back to Ipoh. We were sad. But we kept in touch. Every year, the festive cards never fails to arrive. Letters to each other were frequent. We always update each other about the mischief we got into that month. However, as the years go by, we communicated less and less. The only correspondence were the greeting cards.
8 years later, I came back to the city. We met up and I’m surprised to see that he hasn’t changed one bit. But I’ve changed a lot, according to him, that is. He introduced me to his girlfriend. She’s a bit on the meaty side I might add. Definitely not the dream girl that he was always raving about having one day. Oh well, he has matured.
Even then, as adults, I still find it embarassing to tell him about my family situation. I wanted to tell him but I just couldn’t. Don’t know why. I always make up stories about my parents whenever he asked. I hated his questions although I know I know he meant well.
2 years after I moved back to the city, one morning we were out having breakfast. Just he and I. I blurted it out. I told him what happened to my parents, why I went back to Ipoh and why I didn’t tell him all these. He sat there listening quietly. When I finished. He looked me in the eyes and said he understood what I was going through. He thanked me for telling him and assured me that he will always be there to support me. I’m so grateful for a friend like him
A few months after that, I got a girlfriend. I called him out to have a double date. The first thing he said to my girlfriend after introductions was, “You know, your boyfriend was the one who introduced me to porn…“
What an idiot. Grr…
