Talk about growing up.

Resting on a Sunday afternoon (I just woke up actually) before starting another busy week the next day, I couldn't help but think of my simple life when I was younger.

When I was high school in my province, life was just home, school, friends, and the rural setting. I took my meals at home, except for some dinners at my friend's house. Most of my friends were from my small private high school, we were only 35 in a class. We were all rowdy, and behaviors depended on which class and teacher we were in: Filipino was vacant time, T.H.E. was do-whatever-you-want period, Health was rated R, English was the most quiet (no one dared to speak, haha), Math was when everyone got a headache, and Physics was my high-time. We prayed before and after every class, and during flag ceremony in the morning. And we cheat (just a little bit) during quizzes.

After our classes, we used to hanged out outside our school. A soccer game was our favorite afternoon thing. And the girls sat by the field to watch us. At 5pm when the church bells rang, I always hid because my mom from her office often passed by the soccer grounds to look for me and tell me to go home and study. But I always managed to go home late.

There is no Ayala, SM, or even Rob in my old town. So on weekends, my friends and I hit the beaches, the rivers, my town's famous sea wall (hahaha), or just hanged out in one of our houses to spend the rest of the day watching our favorite movies and animated series. Oh how I miss the worry-free life. We also did soccer trainings on early Saturdays, and on basketball matches I always held the bet money as I didn't play. I missed riding my Honda bike to school and around town, and the rough dirt bike ride going to my family's farm.

Life was simple. Now it is different, so different that when I go home all seems a distant past. In fact, I found staying home for three days boring. But I always miss home, the peace of mind it gives is priceless.

When I was younger, I couldn't wait to grow up. Now that I'm a yuppie in my very early 20's, I couldn't help but stop and think of how simple life was when I was younger. Now is a different game, and I am enjoying it even more.