Long-Distance Friendship, Low-Maintenance Love: Surabaya Crew, Bali Life, and Koko’s Eternal 17th

1:00 AM

If I’m not wrong, January was the last time I went to Surabaya.

Time:

sprinting. I miss my friends like a habit I can’t quit.

We’re not super close in the daily-call, share-each-meal way. We grew up into different paths, different circles, different everything.

And still, this is my favorite part:

we support each other’s lives without forcing closeness. We don’t have to be in each other’s pockets to be real.

Friendship does not have to be constant to be true.

*Spoiler:

there were too many photos.

You’re welcome.

How We Became Us

We got close four years ago, right when I moved to Bali.

Classic timing:

meet people you finally click with, then get pulled apart by life.

I’m not exactly a natural at making friends.

I was a shy coward-loner combo with strong

“I’ll just sit here” energy.

I do have friends, but my brain has a hobby called abandonment fanfiction. Bullying from childhood through now trained me to expect exits. New city, new culture, new rules.

My anxiety brought luggage.

But when I’m with them, I laugh.

Then later, I cry quietly, because I miss them already.

Photodump With Commentary (a saga)

Accidentally baseball jersey twins.

Fashion? Destiny? Laundry?

Insidious fever era.

We were unwell but camera-ready.

Evidence of them having fun without me (rude)

so: photobomb revenge.

BTS:

behind the scene chaos,

shopaholic confessions,

Star Wars quotes out of order.

“Who needs boys?” we said, then immediately remembered we’re forever alone girl gang.

Love that for us.

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Off-camera we’re goblins.

One person always insists we act normal again, like a functional cat herder.

Another human angel just takes the photos. Efficiency.

Enter: the king of forever alone.

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and his name is

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KOKO :"D

Birthday Intermission

I wrote this because it’s Koko’s birthday, and I can’t believe we’re still in touch—through cities, storms, and our collective inability to plan a group chat.

HAPPY FOREVER 17 KOKO!

May your jokes age like fine memes and your camera never run out of storage.

What This Taught Me (reluctantly wholesome)

Low-maintenance doesn’t mean low-love.
You can be different and still belong.
Laughter is a bridge, photos are receipts.
If you can’t talk every day, show up when it counts.

Miss you guys. Always.

ikkel

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