When Friends Change

Sometimes friendships are formed and sometimes they end. The manner a friendship ends decides if there will be a bridge for going back or not.

A few years ago, when I got into the university, I met an old friend, Mish whom I knew from secondary school. It was a pleasant meeting because being in a new environment was not easy but having someone to navigate the university stress together was very welcome to me. Especially when the person has been your friend from way back.

Mish and I formed a strong partnership that helped us survive the bustle of university as first year students.

Back then, there were two possible venues where our lectures could go on but the definite one would be announced very close to the lecture time. Mish and I would share ourselves to each hall and secure seats for each other so that whichever venue is chosen, we would already have seats in comfortable positions.

He would write attendance for me while I am submitting his documents at the clearance office or I would draw for him while he would be getting manuals for us.

The relationship was an effective symbiosis that yielded fruit for us especially in the first semester of first year.

Coming to second year, the Mish that resumed was not the Mish who vacated first year with me.
He was now more interested in living "fake life".

According to him, he needed big boys as friends or those who could fake it.
He began to lie about living in an estate. I would always hear him lie to a girl on the phone about it.
When I asked him why, he responded "that is what girls like". He would also claim to be into crypto and Forex then proceed to memorize the terminologies and jargons being used in the field. Because "that is what girls like".

He was still studious but was not as interested in lectures as he used to before. He began to hang around a lot of "big boys" and their lifestyle was not for me.

He was even trying to pressurize me to join their clique. I tried to mingle with them but soon realised that I was forcing myself to do what I could not do. Their lifestyle was not for me.

I decided to keep my distance and end the friendship because we had lost our similarity and couldn't work together again.
Friendships and partnerships work only when the parties involved have similarities or common goals.

He later reduced the pretense after his attitude came to light and most of the girls saw through his pretense. Though he didn't stop entirely.

Of course we didn't become enemies and we still talk from time to time but not as much as before and it's only when it's necessary or we bump into each other.

The friendship did not end on a bad note and as such there is still a bridge that connects us and can be used in future if the need arises.

This is my response to the #februaryinleo prompt day 20. You can join in HERE