When is it that an old-time "not-so-close" friend will call you up all of a sudden? One, you owe him $2 back in school and he wants it back. Two, he has something to sell.

A cordial friend called me up out of the blue earlier today. I have known this friend since secondary school, and we used to play basketball together. We weren't exceptionally close then, so as soon as the basketball gang "dismembered", we were no longer in contact.

So, indeed i was surprised when he called. Truly, one should be very happy when an old friend called you up, it goes to show that you are not forgotten. Then again, how many times does that truly happen? And it didn't take long for me to understand the "real" reason behind the call. He is selling something.

Its not the first time, a few months back, i received the same call, from another friend who is also into this "business. I have no quirms about what they do, in their business, this is one of the ways for those who just started to gain "customers", gain "experiences" and most importantly, to widen their network circle. And it is really important to start with friends.

Usually, when i meet up with them, i never take it as an intent for them to "sell" me something (they probably can't anyway, I'll probably end up as their debtors if i do), instead, i truly take it as a chance to see them again and catch up. Anyway, its good to keep in contact with them, they network with a variety of people from all walks of life, you will never know when you may need their help, and we all know that social networking is about as important as having a job (see, i'm evil too).

I truly wonder, how a "wealthless", "broke" and "almost-cannot-survive-on-his-own" student like me have got any wealth at all for them to even start with. Sorry pals, i appreciate your efforts, but i 心有余，而力不足, all i can offer is a chance for you to catch up with me, and probably a chance for you to practice your eloquency with people.

Must there be a motive behind everything a person do? Hasn't friends who have not met each other for a long long time called up each other for the sole purpose of catching up? I can't complain much, because i for one is such a culprit who does not call up old friends just "to chat". Are we really that busy? Are we really that superficial? Is "chasing the dream" so important? Or is friendship worth so little in the society we live in today?

Enough talks about friends who come to you with a motive, i shouldn't misunderstood their genuine care about people around them and their beliefs in their products to benefit us. I probably just aren't "fortunate" enough to benefit from it yet. I just hope that the next call i receive from a "long-lost friend" is out of the genuine interest in my life.

That said, i must truly end this entry with a tribute to the closest around me! You know who you are (if you regard yourself as close to me, then you're in => ). I'm truly blessed to have you around me!

Thank you for always being there, through the ups and downs, through my never-ending whines about life, thank you for the time spent, the laughter, the sadness, the tears, the late-nights... Thank you all for just listening in and most importantly, for allowing me to enter into your life, just like you how you had entered mine.

I will not forget you. 知心朋友不需要多，有你们几个就够了。 在此献上这首五月天的“垃圾车（朋友版）”，献给所有我知心的朋友.