A Treasured Reunion

Yesterday, a reunion with high school friends happened after five years which was the longest we hadn’t met.

I rarely could belong in a group. I am more into solo and the maximum member of group I could survive is three to five. But, it’s a different case for this one.

We met at the last year of senior high school by being on the same science class. High school was quite confusing place for me. I couldn’t fully safe being there until I met this people on the last year.

For the first time, it felt so safe.

What does it mean to be safe?

Safe just to be who I am.

This class is full of, borrowing the word from one of my friends there, socially misfits people. I prefer socially awkward actually. When I looked back, that class indeed was full of neurodivergent people. But, instead of chaos, it was beautifully blended.

For the first time during my school years, I chose to be in charge. I became the initiator of all meetings that happened for the last 20 years. I voluntarily organized those meetings.

When it comes to these people, this lazy me suddenly get my full energy to take care things to the smallest detail.

Just like when I take care Langit.

A kind of energy that only exist because you love something.

I could transform to be extremely extroverted when I am with them. Being loud and talk quite a lot and no pretense. They bring out the other side of me that is rarely appear in the surface.

A kind of personality that blooms when you grow in right soil.

We met often during the four years of college. From a simple eating out, ifthar together, a trip to Kota Tua, visiting a sick friend, attending the weddings and many more. Those were one of the best times of my 20s I spent with others.

But, life happened after that. The meeting slowly changed from regularly to occasionally to rarely then never. There were period where no matter how much I put my energy, it didn’t happen until I certain point I became reluctant.

There were periods where that whatsapp group was in a complete silence for a long time and I didn’t even have the willing to fuel it up.

Early this year, slowly but sure, the flame started burning again. After observing for some time, I dared my self to initiate the gathering once again. Thankfully, this time, the crowd answered better.

Long story short, we had that loud, full of laughter and talks in a restaurant which became our regular meeting point for a long time.

What makes this reunion worth my time and energy is because these people haven’t changed at all. We are the same old high school kids with 20 years older age.

You won’t find anyone flexing and bluffing about how materially successful one is, no uncomfortable degrading question asked. If everyone ask how are you it is literally means how are you.

I once wrote about them in the past after a meeting and yesterday’s meeting energy gave me the exact same feeling.

Joy and love. The one who made you smile and felt warm at heart after meeting them.

I hope everyone is stay healthy so we could have many more meetings in the future.

In one of my favorite books, it said good social relationship is the number one predictor for those who want to be aging well and happily.

This kind of social group is indeed one for me.