I

remember one of my buddies seldom used common words to say 'I love you' to women who had captivated him. He preferred 'Would you like to be my friend?'

As far as I know most of the women accepted it. During the second year of that method, the word 'friend' was rejected by a woman who knew that he had 'friends'.

I saw him visit more than three friends every weekend. I lost contact with him and had no information about him after three years knowing him.

Something I read online reminded me of my buddy; the news about the beef scandal. I read the term 'friend'
being used to explain the relationship between the suspect and various women. When the suspect was cornered in a hotel room, he and his companion said they were just new 'friends' having dinner.

The latest development; a popular actress and an adult model told investigators that their relationship with the suspect again a matter of 'friendship'.

Perhaps I should define that a 'good friend' is someone that gives you Rp 20 million (US$2,061) for a two hour dinner, Rp 37 million to sing for an hour and a cool sports car for another reason.

How do you define what friendship really is? Is it measured by prosperity?

Maybe, if someday I meet my old buddy again, I would suggest to him to choose another word besides 'friend'.

As Rhoma 'the king of dangdut' Irama puts it, finding a friend at a party is easier than finding a friend in a bar.

Ferril Irham Muzaki
Malang, East Java