Bottoms Up, Forget Tonight (Revelry Series #2)

Hakbang 26

"Congratulations, hija! I'm so proud of you," mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi ni Mama.

Ngumiti ako at niyakap siya. Parang ngayon pa lang nagsisink-in sakaniya na gagraduate na nga ako, kung kailan nandito na kami sa mismong venue. Kanina kasi natataranta lang siya. Ngayon, emosyonal na.

I am also overwhelmed with the feeling that I'll graduate, after seventeen years of studying hard. Finally, after all the hardship, I'm out of school youth!

Yes, graduation na namin ngayon!

"Thank you, Mama. This is for you and Papa..." marahan kong sabi sakaniya.

Despite the fact that we're not a complete family, they both didn't fail to be good parents to me. They've provided me everything I need. Maayos naman ang tungo sa isa't isa nila Mama at Papa. They didn't hold their past against each other.

One time I asked them that if they can change the past, would they still choose to have me, given the fact that they didn't work out?

Pareho sila ng sagot. Oo. They will still have me.

I realized then that maybe, not all love were destined to work out and last. May mga pag-ibig talaga sigurong magmamarka sa 'yo habang buhay, pero hanggang doon lang. At hindi mo pagsisisihan na naramdaman mo 'yon, sadyang hindi lang kayo hanggang dulo.

"Thank you, anak..." ngiti ni Mama at pinunasan ang luha. "Anyway, where's your father? Papunta na ba?" aniya.

Tinignan ko ang phone at ang huling text ni Papa ay nasa byahe na raw siya. I scanned the whole place and sighed.

"Sa loob na lang po natin siya hintayin. I wanna greet my friends," I said.

Tumango si Mama kaya naglakad na kami papasok. Binati ko ang mga kakilalang nakakasalubong at minsan, nagpi-picture pa kami. Mama's smiling the whole time while watching me get along with some of my friends.

"Congrats pala, Hira! Cum Laude! Ang galing!" ani Reign sa akin.

Ngumuso ako. "Thanks! Congrats sa atin," balik ko at ngumiti.

We took some more pictures together. Natapos lang noong natanaw ko na si Kiara at Ivor na palapit na rin sa akin. They're with their parents. Close na talaga ang pamilya nila. Ani nga ni Kiara, kasal na lang ang kulang.

Nagyakap agad kami nang makalapit. Binati ko ang parents nila at ganoon din naman sila kay Mama. In fact, she's already talking with Ivor and Kiara's moms. Si Mama kasi kahit saan mo ilagay, kaya niyang makisama. She's very friendly and approachable.

"Congrats sa atin! Finally, tapos na rin!" excited na sabi ni Kiara.

"Libre, Hira. Cum Laude, eh! Master!" si Ivor na nang-aasar.

Tumango ako. "Alis tayo next week. Libre ko,"

"Kaya bi-n-estfriend kita, eh!" si Kiara.

"Mukhang libre!" tawa ko at pabirong kinurot ang tagiliran niya.

She flinched so I tried to pinch her again. Nakisali na rin si Ivor na nilalapit sa akin si Kiara. Isa 'to sa mga ma-mi-miss ko, 'yong harutan kasi pagkatapos nito, mas magseseryoso na kami sa buhay.

We were busy laughing when I heard a shrieked. Napansin ko rin na nakatingin sa banda namin ang ibang estudyante kaya natigil ako. My forehead creased. Anong mayroon?

"Napakagwapo ng boyfriend mo," sinagot ni Kiara ang tanong sa isip ko.

"Hey! I heard that, babe!" Ivor protested.

I turned around and there, I found my handsome boyfriend, holding a bouquet of flowers. His eyes were fixated to me, like I'm the only one he's seeing. My heart started beating faster than usual. It has always been like that whenever he's around.