Define 'Friend'

Is a friend a friend if he’s all chummy one month, but suddenly turns into a total stranger the next, acting like his so-called friend’s number suddenly disappear from his phone? Well, how do you define a friend?

In my world, a friend, no matter what gender the ID card states, does not abandon me when his life is all perfect. He does not put his IM status on ‘stepped out’/'away' every time he logs in. Yes, maybe he’s busy with whatever he’s got going on in his life. He might be cramped up with group discussions pertaining to what Acts happen when (law students). Yes, he might be happy spending time with friends and girlfriend, but that does not mean he’s entitled to ditch me when he’s all smiley.

Down the road, when his life is hell, he will suddenly remember having a female friend who’s there for his whininess. He will feel the need to come crawling back to the abandoned friend when he has a rough patch in his romantic relationship, asking, “What do girls want exactly? We’re having a fight. She doesn’t want to tolerate and admit it’s her fault this time, and I’m tired of always having to say sorry.” He will text, “Oh God, my life sucks right now. Too many assignments, too many headaches. Not enough time to handle all this. Help me!”

Can a girl and a boy be friends, good friends? As far as humankind knows it, they can. Just ask the millions of females around the world who has a male for a best friend. Now, I’m not asking for a ‘Bestest Best Friend in the World” badge, but this is just ridiculous. I’ve put up with this for too long. He comes whenever he likes. He leaves whenever he likes. Is that a friend? A friend is supposed to be there with you, no matter what happens. I don’t want to be celebrating events with him, because of the geographical factor (he’s in somewhere south, I’m in you-know-where). I don’t think I can hang out with him at kedai mamak or someplace, given the embarrassing episodes I’ve had before with him in presence. But a text message once in a while would be nice, so that I’d feel appreciated as a somebody to him, a friend who’s been there for a long time. It’s so that I won’t feel that I’m just a pseudo-friend chicka he used to know since we were kiddies.

I wish he'd come to his senses. I'm feeling murderous right now.