The first friend I ever lost

During my primary school days, I became close friends with a bunch of twins. One of the twins, whom I shall call W, ended up in the same secondary school.

We became close friends. Both of us have never been very popular in Sec 1 and 2, maybe that was why we gel. Like kids, we will play childish planks to one another. I went to W's house a few times, and got to know his mum well. We were like, destined to be close friends forever.

Our school has this particular loophole which some students abuse. The same history teacher taught several classes for the same level. As such, one class can have the test on Monday, and another class can have the same test paper on Tuesday. As you could have guessed, "accurate tips" start going around. And it could be done similarly with other subjects.

I was a boy of principles then, and was proud to say I never resort to cheating (not sure about Joe though, cos never knew him then), never mind that alot of my schoolmates did.

I discovered later that W was one of the guys who got tips too. So I confronted W and told him it was not right to get tips. He knew it was wrong, but everyone else is doing it, so why not ride along instead of being disadvantaged?

Maybe I was being childish, but in a fit of anger, I told him that I will tell on him if he continues to do that. He remained defiant, knowing that I won't do that.

We walked to outside the teacher's room and I gave him one last chance. he reiterated his position and I went in.

A few days later, W and a few others were singled out for cheating. W was pissed. His mum called to ask me to "be careful when I walk the streets". I knew W's family had links with gangsters, and I was scared s***less. My mum had to call W's mother to tell her that I never did it. W's mother simmered down, but not W nor his twin brother.

W became the first friend I lost. He declined talking to me despite my explanation that I never did it.

What REALLY happened that day after walking into the teacher's room was that I asked the teacher some study-related questions. I needed to make my act more convincing.

And it backfired on me.

I will never betray W though i never condone what he does.

I was later told that the person who told on him was his class monitress (whom I thought was quite chio), in an attempt to hide the fact that she was also one of those who took tips. Bitch.

Many years later, one of my friend who got to know him in NS told me that W baadmouthed me after knowing that we were in the same JC class.

It is one of my biggest regret in life.

To him, I am the guy who betray friends.