Unforgotten [Baguio Series #5]

23

23:

Tyrone's graduation day came so I excused myself from my friends and went to his graduation. That day, magba-bar sana kaming magkakaibigan pero sabi ko, hindi na lang ako sasama dahil may kailangan akong puntahan.

Minsan lang naman ga-graduate si Tyrone sa college. Might as well be there for him.

I was waiting outside with other people, holding a bouquet of flowers. I don't know what to get someone who graduated—I've never went to anyone's graduation as a support—ngayon lang. P'wede na kaya ito?

After few hours of waiting, the students inside the auditorium went out along with their guardians of parents. They all look rich and wearing fancy clothes—sabagay—private school ito at mayayaman ang mga nag-aaral dito.

Hindi naman sa mukha akong basahan dahil lang hindi ako kasing-yaman nila. You'll just see that they looked really fancy. Okay naman ako. Hindi lang ako gano'n kayaman pero kaya ko namang mabuhay nang kumportable dahil lahat naman sa amin, nagta-trabaho. Ako na lang ang estudyante sa amin.

"Katrina?"

Napalingon ako sa tumawag sa akin at nakita ko si Tyrone na naka-purple long sleeve. Malawak ang ngiti niyang lumapit sa akin, iniwan ang mama niya.

"Hi," I smiled at him. "Congrats." I gave him the bouquet of flowers as I scratched my nape. "I-I don't know what to get you," I said awkwardly.

"Wow. Thank you." Tumawa siya bago kinuha 'yon sa akin. "This is enough," he laughed. "Damn, I didn't know that receiving a bouquet of flowers will make me this happy."

I smiled at him and then I saw his mom come forward. "Hello."

Ngumiti ako sa kan'ya. "H-Hello po."

"Ma," Tyrone said. "This is Katrina. The woman I'm telling you for years."

Napakunot ako ng noo nang dahil sa sinabi ni Tyrone na 'yon. Ang chismoso ng dating, ha! Anong pinagku-kwentuhan nila tungkol sa akin?!

"Hi, hija! Nice to finally meet you!" nakipag-beso siya sa akin bago ngumiti. "I am Carla. Tyrone's mom. I'm so happy to finally meet you."

I smiled at her. "Thank you po. Nice to meet you too."

"Let's grab a dinner?"

Tumango ako habang si Tyrone naman ay inaya na ako papunta sa parking lot. Their car is parked there and as soon as the man standing there saw us, he immediately left his place and enter the car.

Pinauna akong sumakay ni Tyrone sa backseat habang ang mom niya ay nakasakay sa shotgun seat. Tyrone sat beside me. Kabang-kaba ako sa loob ng sasakyan. Nakabukas naman ang aircon pero parang . . . parang ang init, shet!

"Hindi mo sinabing pupunta ka. Buti, nakita kita," Tyrone said when the car started driving.

I shrugged. "I just think I need to." I smiled at him.

He chuckled. "Ahh, you don't need to. Pupuntahan naman kita mamaya."

"Ayaw mo ba?" I chuckled.

He laughed. "Uh, no. I like it. Thank you."

We decided to be silent until we arrived at the restaurant. Maraming kumakain doon—mukhang galing din sa graduation dahil sa mga suot nila. Nang makaupo kaming tatlo sa bakanteng table, binigyan kami ng menu ng waiter.

I opened it and my eyes immediately went wide when I saw the prices! Ang mamahal naman nito, may ginto ba ang mga karne rito!?

"KC and I will order steak, Ma."