Yi-Kuan Cheng - Quarter 4, Week 16: ¿Dόnde Está the Boys?

 Yi-Kuan Cheng

Benedetti

AP English P5

18 May 2022

Quarter 4, Week 15: ¿Dόnde Está the Boys?

Damn. It’s the final one isn’t it? Blogs have genuinely been a massive saving grace to my life, not only in the sense that it literally saves my grade in APEng, but it also really does give me an outlet to talk about the things I actually care about. For this final post, I will be talking about the three idiots who I care about the most. So let me ask you this: donde esta the boys?

My username for literally anything, whether it be Discord, Instagram, Spotify, etc. all follow the same pattern: either LesliePaldoSheldon or LesliePSheldon. As you may have guessed, this name originates from none other than my boys, my homedawgs, Sean Wang, Kyle Chinn, and Roman Xavier Mangumdong Fanto, otherwise known as OGAVGGNORE (short for Original Ganster Asian Village Good Game No Rematch). Such a massive part of my identity and social life is thanks to them. When I first moved to Thornton Junior High, I knew literally no one. Slowly but surely, I built up my repertoire of acquaintances and friends, but I realized something. On Friday afternoons, on my downtime, I would always go back to these three guys. Before long we realized there was this innate chemistry between us; we all seemed to like the same things, we played off each other’s jokes perfectly, and agreed enough about stuff to be friends but disagreed enough so that we weren’t cheesy and boring. With these guys I have created some of the fondest memories of my life. When we first started taking our first step into the real world and somehow got ourselves girlfriends, we met up one Friday at AHS to not only celebrate but also to swear to each other that no matter what happens, the homies come first. On that day which we endearingly named Frickboi Friday, we swore to each other our dedication to “the homiehood.” I feel that it's memories like these that will stick with me into my adulthood, making me smile no matter how far in the past it may have been. I’ll leave you off with an excerpt of my “I Believe” poem—the verse about my boys.


I believe in the unintelligible yelling and exclamations of video game jargon,

The same five jokes recycled for hours upon hours, yet they fester more snickering with each repetition, 

The security that no matter what I say, however stupid or smart, I will always get a laugh out of my three fellow idiots.

The subjects of our arguments, the punch lines of our banter, the words that are meaningless to others, but to us, are the symbols of our friendship,



Thank you all for listening to my stupid rants this quarter. Have a nice life you all: you’re going places :)


Frickboi Friday Portrait (Image Source: Sean Wang)

Comments

  1. DeetaMay 23, 2022 at 11:52 AM

    Hey Yi-Kuan!
    This blog is so cute. I've seen you guys together around school and it is always so precious to see how close you guys clearly are. I'm lucky to have a similar bond with a few people and I get exactly how much your "three idiots" mean to you. I'm glad you had friends as wonderful as Sean, Kyle (WANGJANGLER), and Roman to have your back when coming into a new school and it is dope that you guys remain just as close as you were then if not closer. Also Frickboi Friday seems so fun and I think Frickboi Friday Portrait (Image Source: Sean Wang) really captures what I thought it would be like; I am absolutely loving the pigtails on you. Thank you for a quarter of wonderful blogs Yi-Kuan:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Faith QiaoMay 23, 2022 at 12:34 PM

    Hi Yi-Kuan!
    This year has been a strange one. Way back in mid-september through mid-october my entire friend group slowly got themselves into relationships—me included. It's the first year I felt truly connected to the people at my school and involved in at least some activities for the sake of my community. Unfortunately, he got a haircut yesterday, and since then I couldn't look at him straight. It's too funny. I feel like I grew up a lot in my nine months of junior year, and I wouldn't trade this suffering for anything else. I am sad to know that the people I saw everyday at high school will become acquaintances that I would barely recognize at a grocery store in a matter of a few years.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sean WangMay 23, 2022 at 6:27 PM

    To the student that reads this,

    He goes by many names: Leslie Pablo/Paldo Sheldon, Yi-Kuan Cheng, 以宽/寬, Yummy Yi-Kuan, Lil' Yeet, He Who Swears She Is More Human Than Goat, Co-Skiddier, The Man In Teal, Mr. NotSoDaily, and so much more.

    I am eternally grateful to be on the good side of this Leslie, lest my Paldo be Sheldoned in the dead of night. You definitely wouldn't want this gigachad of a character to be your foe in the mid lane, in game and in real life. I swear on the vows of homiehood that my left nut be at the mercy of the heavens should I ever let any one of the homies fall with my knowledge.

    I hereby admit to touching feet with the aforementioned homie, as well as having slept with him on numerous occasions. As the guide to his beginnings at Thornton, I take pride in having shown him the way and being the first acquaintance made at the accursed establishment.

    May the dogs bless him with everlasting grace, opportunity, and fortune. May his LP gains be +30/-5, should he ever indulge in the bittersweet experience that is ranked solo queue.

    SEN TenZ says hello. I pulled a little favour, called in a couple of friends from high places. Reply with anything you have to say to TenZ (he will see it for sure).

    Let us keep in touch until our 69th birthdays, where we will party and indulge in substance abuse with beibs in the trap. So long, comrade. See you tomorrow.

    Sincerely,

    Sean Wang

    ReplyDelete
  4. Krish ParikhMay 24, 2022 at 2:39 PM

    Hi Yi-Kuan,

    Your blog post was very touching. It got me to think about my own close friends: Chakshan and Adrish. I've been with them for close to a decade now, and there's nothing I would trade for my friendship with them. Like you, I hope I can stick with my buddies well past our high school graduation.

    Sincerely,
    Krish

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anwika PalleMay 24, 2022 at 3:04 PM

    Hi Yi-Kuan,
    Your blog post was very entertaining and I greatly enjoyed it! Your friendship with your three friends seems very wholesome, and I find "frickboi friday" really interesting. I admire the friendship you guys have, and I'm sure you guys will hold this bond for a very long time. It was nice to be in your blog cohort.

    ReplyDelete
  6. VivanMay 25, 2022 at 7:13 PM

    Hi Yi-Kuan,

    I guess we both have one thing in common: showing up to a new school knowing absolutely nobody (technically my old friend was here when I got here, but I didn't know he was here). I always see the four of you together for the most part, and having such friends is so useful later on in life. Like you are telling all of us, you are going places :​)

    Sincerely,
    Vivan Waghela

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sierra DellenbaughMay 25, 2022 at 8:03 PM

    Hey Yi-Kuan, to be honest, unlike most people in this cohort, I haven't really seen all four of you together a whole lot. The day I realized you were all very close was the day of the AP Physics exam (I think) and you were all sitting in Roman's front yard watching everyone swarm the parking lot as school got out. I'll probably never forget that. I too am very close with my best friends, and although we have been tragically separated as one of us had moved away at the end of 6th grade, 90% of the time you'll find me next to the one who managed to stay. It was a pleasure having you in my cohort for the entirety of this year, and if I don't see you next year, you too are going places.
    Best,
    Sierra

    ReplyDelete
  8. RaymondMay 25, 2022 at 8:59 PM

    Hi Yi-Kuan,
    It sounds like you have a great friend group! I admire your great relationship and the comradery that you show. You have clearly had a lot of great experiences with your friends and had formed bonds that will last. You will go far in life with a great support group, and best of all, you will have a wonderful time while doing so. To future successes!
    Sincerely,
    Raymond Yu

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sophie Minh Thy C NguyenMay 25, 2022 at 9:41 PM

    Hi Yi-Kuan,
    Roman talks about you guys all the time and I can really see how close you guys are. Even before I met you, I had a very strong image of you in my mind because Roman can talk a lot about all of you. Seeing the way you guys interact with each other leaves me helplessly confused an amazed. It has been pretty funny hearing the same stories in different perspectives. And thank you for interesting blogs this semester. I know I'm going to see you next year because we literally have to work together but have a good life.

    ReplyDelete

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