Five years ago, current juniors Serene Kalugdan and Deling Chen stumbled upon each other for the first time. Little did they know, this fateful encounter led them into one of the closest friendships either had experienced. Connected by multiple facets of their lives, the two have since become inseparable.

At the time, the two were in the sixth grade. Deling had come to SPA to shadow Serene. One would think that they hit off their friendship right then and there, but during that day, Serene left Deling alone, in the scary maze that is a new school. Maybe they became friends the next year, when Deling transferred to SPA? No, they didn’t, they barely even saw eachother in the seventh grade. What about the next year? Again, no, COVID hit.

“Friendship doesn’t come in an instance, just like how Rome wasn’t built in a day. As long as there are two right people, it can happen any time, anywhere,” Deling said.

After years of isolation, the duo finally reconnected in their freshman year. On a chilly October day, Serene asked Deling to eat lunch with her. That day, the two learned a lot about each other and realized how much they have in common. “I reached out because SPA culture is very cliquey. If you want to make friends you have to actively seek people out. You never know if someone could become your best friend,” Serene said.

That year, the duo shared a study hall. This was where their bond really started to grow. They would talk everywhere about everything. Most of the time, it was just playful banter and gossip, but they also discussed deeper and personal matters. One thing they quickly discovered about each other was their similar cultures and values. Chen is Chinese and Kalugdan is Hmong.

“Both of us really value family, and like to talk about the similarities and differences in our cultures… I just feel understood when I’m around her,” Chen said.

Other than family, their Asian heritage has connected them in many more facets. Both enjoy sharing and making foods together, especially spicy foods. They also have interest in K-pop, K-R&B, and various Asian tv shows.

The more time they spent together, the more they realized how close they were becoming. Though they had many similar interests, the biggest factor in their relationship was talking about their secrets and private matters. “It allows us to be more personal and vulnerable with each other and it really strengthens our trust and bond. We just feel as if we know each other like family, ” Kalugdan said. For them, just talking about these issues make them feel better, knowing that they are not alone no matter what happens to them. Whether it was about boys, school, or personal feelings, these conversations let the pair feel connected on a deeper level, not just by outward characteristics and interests.

Chen and Kalugdan’s connection has changed their daily lives. Whether it is culture, K-pop, or tv shows, the two find ways to converse everyday. “Everything becomes more meaningful when you do things with other people that you care about,” Chen said. Their friendship is hard for them to define but in the end, they both know that life is better with each other.