At What Price (Completed)

EPILOGUE

#AtWhatPriceEPILOGUE

•••

Epilogue

How much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve what you yearn the most?

Nothing goes easy in life.

I have never been a fan of suffering. Either way, it was what I experienced. I ended up not having time for my family, my friends, and myself.

"I know both of you might top on the boards, pero sana ma-include ako kahit Top 20 lang." Nailea grabbed her things and she put them inside her Chanel bag.

I can't believe this girl. Mas mataas pa nga lagi scores nya sakin sa undergrad. She still somehow thinks she's inferior dahil sa study habits niya. She might be easily distracted and prefers to hangout with her boyfie of the month but she's very brilliant and hardworking.

"Shut up Nailea. You're fucking smart, stop the pity party. And when are you gonna break up with your boyfriend? Baka naman umabot pa 'yan sa CPALE, maki-celebrate pa sa'tin," mataray na sabi ni Margot. She's on her corporate look and she's a real looker. Fashionista na CEO si madam niyo. She's actually gonna suppose to takeover the company but she wants to prioritize her review so it was postponed. 

The session for our review class just ended today. Binuksan ko iyong mini-ref at kumuha ng chocolates. I need sugar because the lump of information we tackled today really gave me headache.

Minsan akala ko okay na self-review ko pero may nababanggit sa review class na hindi ko pa pala nako-cover. And it was a few years ago so how would I know that?! But I need to do well. Ang mahal kaya ng bayad dito. Pero malaki ang reward if you miraculously got included in the highest rankings in CPALE.

Gosh, I can't wait to have those three letters after my name!

---

"Damn, it feels weird." Margot said as we took a step inside the campus.

I agree. It felt like going back to the past.

Nailea inhaled the air as more wind blew, making our hair fly. "Waah! So nostalgic."

After ng review class, dumiretso kami sa aming alma mater.

After kumuha ng transcript of grades pagkatapos ng graduation, ngayon lang yata kami uli nakatapak dito. Kung kadalasan ay imbitado si Margot at Nailea sa brand deals, ako naman ay sa coaching talks.

I was invited to speak in an event here today for the accounting students. To pay it forward, I agreed. Kahit walang bayad.

The junior coaching I participated back in my sophomore years opened up many opportunities for me. I spoke for a lot of finance-related events and spearheaded my team's events, which helps me earn on the side. Marami pa kaming plano ngunit pokus ko muna ngayon ay nasa pagrereview.

Margot and Nailea's social media presence got even bigger over the years. I guess, mine as well pero more on the professional side. Also, I am proud of them because they use their platform for their advocacies. Bihira na yun ngayon.

"Omygosh, remember nung natalisod ka dyan tapos sobrang maputik dahil sa ulan?" inasar niya si Margot.

Margot gave an evil smile. "Remember nung umiyak ka doon dahil sa ex mo?"

Nailea frowned. "Foul."

"Mga siraulo, male-late na tayo."

We made our way to our old building. Looking at the classrooms made me so nostalgic. Noon, wala akong pake dahil ang nasa isip ko lang ay mag-aral at pumasa. Nakaka-miss din pala.

Nailea was catching her breath. "Oo nga pala. Nakakahingal yung hagdan dito."

Ako rin ay dumantay at huminga saglit. Tapos ay umakyat ulit ng ilang hakbang.

Imbis na mainis, napangiti ako. Every freaking day was a climb. Even the stairs of the campus hinders us, telling us that it's a difficult way up, and the winner is the one who doesn't give up.

Margot cursed. "Pag yumaman pa 'ko, magdodonate na 'ko ng elevator dito."

Ilang minuto pa ay nakarating na kami sa malaking lecture hall. 

I stared at one of the seats. Umupo ako doon noong freshman ako, para sa orientation. Parang kailan lang.

Now I'm the one on the stage.

"Please welcome, one of our notable alumni, proud graduate of BS Accountancy, and prominent advocate of financial literacy in the Philippines... Ms. Claudia Helene L. Fajardo!"

I turned to my friends. They were clapping and very proud, urging me to go.

I took a deep breath and went to the center.

"As finance and accounting enthusiast, you deal and try to understand the underlying concepts of money. That said, we'll talk monetary terms to achieve success. Lemme ask you, at what price are you willing to pay?" I started the talk.

•••

"Mindblown na naman sila. I don't know how you make your talks so engaging and very different. Pati ako napapaisip." Nailea chuckled as we're walking on the hallway.

I shrugged. "I like what I'm doing. This is my work and my purpose, so I do my best."

Tapos na yung event at naglalakad na kami palabas ng campus.

"It's nice. Luma na kasi yung mga parang prof lang na nagbabasa. Tama naman na dapat may audience engagement."

"If my advocacy is financial literacy, kailangan tumatak talaga sa kanila. Either way, I'll just spout nonsense there without actually helping them. Asking them directly, no matter how silly, will help me realize how to treat the situation."

"Ah. Yung diagnosis keme na natutunan mo kay Hadwin."

I nodded. 

"Sige na, uuwi na 'ko!" Paalam ko sa kanila. I smiled as I saw the train approaching. May car si Margot, at mukhang magko-commute si Nailea. It's like college years all over again.

And today the train stops.

But my life is just starting for the ride.

The train usually brings me at two destinations for five years.

But this time, I can never go back.

And from here on, I am off to somewhere even farther. Who knows where I can go to?

As long as it's synonymous to me being happy, I'm in.

---x---

To all the aspiring accountants, doctors, and nurses out there: you will graduate and get that license 😜 Rooting for you! 🍀