Glimpses of Yesterday (Isla Contejo #2)

Chapter 15

NAPATILI ako at natalon ng yakap si Arsen nang makita ko ang pangalan niya sa ibaba ng "Magna Cum Laude" nang tingnan namin ang listahan ng mga graduating students. He was able to catch me to keep our balance. I was smiling from ear to ear when I faced him again.

Malaki rin ang ngiti sa mukha niya at parang hindi rin makapaniwala na nakikita niya ang name niya as Magna Cum Laude of our batch. I kissed his cheeks and hugged him again. I just felt so happy and proud of him! I couldn't contain it!

"I'm so proud of you!" sabi ko pa bago muling bumitiw sa yakap. "You deserve it!"

Napabuga siya ng hininga at hindi pa rin mawala ang ngiti sa mukha. "Thank you... I... I didn't expect this."

"Congrats, p're! Painom ka naman!" Enrico jokingly said.

A few days before our much awaited graduation, my parents called me to congratulate me. It was sad that they wouldn't be able to attend, but I understand it. I knew how happy they were for me and never did they miss a time supporting me on my studies. Palaging sapat ang perang ipinapadala nila sa akin dito, minsan nga ay sobra pa. That was more than enough for me.

"We are so proud of you, hija! At natutuwa kami na talagang napabuti ang lagay mo r'yan," si Mommy sa Skype.

I smiled. "I'm not pasaway anymore, Mommy. And I have good friends here."

"As you should," si Daddy naman ngayon sabay baling ng tingin kay Mommy. "You really did a great decision to send our daughter to the Philippines, Elyra. Nagseryoso na siya sa pag-aaral, nakakilala pa siya ng matitinong kaibigan."

Mom and Dad met my friends and Arsen through Skype last year, but they still didn't know that Arsen's my boyfriend. I still didn't have the guts to tell them that I already have a boyfriend. Baka kapag nalaman nila, they would suddenly send me back to the U.S. Minsan kasi, they think that I shouldn't have a boyfriend yet dahil makakasama iyon sa akin.

'Tsaka ko na lang sasabihin pagkatapos ng graduation or kapag nagwo-work na ako.

"Well, I'm glad that you convince her more, Calixto. Mabuti't hindi ka nadala sa pagpapa-awa noon," sagot ni Mommy kay Dad.

I chuckled and just shook my head. Kung ako ang tatanungin, it was really a good thing that I studied college here in the Philippines. If not because of Mommy's idea, I wouldn't meet my lovely friends and of course, my dear Langga. It was a blessing in disguise and I would forever be grateful for that.

"Finally, graduate na! Whoo!" sigaw ni Iñigo sabay bato sa ere ng academic cap niya.

Napabato rin tuloy kami ng mga cap namin sa ere. Arsen locked me in his arms and kissed me longer on the cheek. I chuckled and hugged him tighter.

"Congrats to us, Ga!" I greeted happily.

"I love you!" That was what he answered.

Ilang sandali ay nagkuhaan na kami ng pictures. Ciello asked Arsen and I to pose, so she could take a lot of pictures of the both us. We did a lot kaya nakailang click siya sa kaniyang DSLR.

We finally graduated and I felt like everything that happened in college passed by so quickly. Time flew so fast. Parang kapahon lang, nag-e-enroll pa lang kami ni Arsen for freshman year, but now, look at us! School was really over I almost couldn't believe it.

The next thing I knew, Arsen and I were already looking for a condo unit for the both of us. We've planned this a long time ago. Na kapag naka-graduate na kami, magli-live in na kami. It was a risk for some or it may not be a good idea for other people, but... I guessed that's just how sure we were for each other.