Dawn of the Lion

章 12

"Are you nervous?"

I asked him while I was tying his necktie, I was looking away because I can't resist his face. He looked really handsome, lalo na ngayon nakaayos siya. I mean, lagi naman siyang maayos pag nakikita ko, pero ngayon, It's different since It's his Graduation.

"No." He answered in monotone.

"Wow, confident." I glanced at him while chuckling.

"Look at this." He handed me his graduation invitation after I tie his necktie. "May nakakakaba ba diyan?" He asked while fixing his hair in front of the mirror.

I opened the invitation and find his name on the list, hindi ko na binuklat 'yong ibang pages. Maybe for him, to graduate is okay na. But he's not that kind of person, I know that he will receive lots of awards later. I know, he wants to be the best of the best. He doesn't want to be better, he wants to be the best. Despite his experiences and struggles before, alam kong deserve niya ang makukuha niya mamaya.

"Keep it." I handed him the invitation.

"Why?" He asked while getting it off my hands.

"I know that you did your best in whole 4 years!" I cupped his face. "I'm proud of you." I whispered.

"Thank you. Sarap naman sa ears!" He chuckled while putting my hair on the back of my ears. "Thank you, baobao. Wala akong narinig na 'I'm proud of you' from my parents sa luob ng 4 years." He smiled a bit.

"Really?" I asked.

"Uhm." He nodded. "Why? Isn't normal?" He chuckled while wrapping his arms on my waist.

"It's unusual for me." I told him. "Maybe because I'm an only child kaya lagi nila akong sinasabihan non? Pero hindi e, anak ka nila, they should be proud of you." I added.

"Oh, for me, it's usual. It's normal. Nasanay na lang din siguro ako, I was struggling with my studies before, I badly want to here that 'I'm proud of you' from my parents that's why I strived really hard pero ewan. Bahala na, basta sinabihan mo 'ko, okay na 'ko." He gave me a smile.

"Are you sure? I'm proud of you!" I told him. 

"Yeah, I'm sure. From this day onwards, I don't care about anyone but you." He caressed my right cheek. "Also pala, I'm rebelling since 4th year high school, kaya hindi siguro talaga sila proud sa akin." He chuckled.

"Babe, I'm proud of you always, okay?" I looked into his eyes. "I'm proud of you!" Inulit ulit ko 'to sa kaniya nang ilang beses.

"Oo na, oo na. Thanks, love." He chuckled. "Alam mo ba umabot na 'ko sa point non na hindi ko pinapakita grades ko sa kanila kasi for me, wala lang 'yon for them. Kaya naalala mo 'yong first kita natin? Parang wala silang tiwala sa akin diba? Nasanay na lang din ako na isarili ko kung ano mang nakakamit ko. Nasanay na 'kong mag-isa. I didn't feel their love and support." He sarcastically laughed.