Chase Series #1: Chasing Dreams

Chapter 08

Cerebration

We were so ecstatic that I passed the board exam, but Ma's reaction is the worse. Akala ko simpleng selebrasyon lang ang gagawin namin sa susunod na araw pero laking gulat ko nang sabihin niyang may pa catering service pa. Catering!

"Ma, ang mahal nun! Kahit mag-pansit lang tayo, okay na ako." Turan ko.

"Aba'y hindi. Saka nabayaran ko na. Wag ka ng mag-alala."

"Eh paano akong di mag-aalala? Ang mahal kaya ng catering!" Sagot ko. Ang alam ko'y nasa three thousand pesos hanggang 10 thousand ang bayad pag nag-avail ng catering service eh.

"Huwag mo ng isipin iyon. Saka pinag-iponan ko 'yon at nag-ambag pa si Papa mo." Proud niyang tugon.

"Pa?!" Baling ko sa ama na nanonood lang sa telebisyon.

Saglit itong lumingon sa gawi namin at ngumiti. "Deserve mo naman, anak. Sige na, imbitahan mo na mga kaibigan mo para bukas."

Hinilot ko ang aking sintido saka napabuntong-hininga. "Sige po, maraming salamat." I said giving up. Not that I am not grateful....becoz I really am. Ayaw ko lang na gumastos pa ang mga magulang kung pwede namang makatipid.

Nang mag-hapon ay tinulungan ko si Mama sa paghahanda. Nanghiram pa ito ng mga tela sa kapit-bahay namin para pagandahin ang bahay. Para atang debut celebration ko ito?!

Matapos ang paghahanda ay nag-log in ako sa Facebook para magpalit ng profile picture. I picked my graduation picture na naka-toga.

I typed in my caption.

It has been more than four years since I started dreaming of becoming a medical technologist. At first, it was a far-fetched dream but God had provided me so much that from the impossible, it could turn into reality. I sacrificed a lot for this... but guess it was worth it. Just how I thought it would be.

To Mama Allen and Papa Moe, maraming salamat sa suporta at pagbibigay lakas ng loob sa akin. Kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ako nangarap! I love you two. Pati na rin ikaw, Kiko!

To my college friends, RMT na tayo! Masaya ako para sa ating lahat.

To my friends, relatives and acquiantances, maraming salamat sa moral support. Pwede niyo na akong ayain sa mga lakad habang di pa nagtatrabaho. :)

Higit kanino man, sa ating Panginoon, maraming salamat Po! Iba ka po talaga. Daig Niyo palagi ang plano ko kaya mas lalo akong sumasaya. Thank You for the faithfulness.

To God be all the Glory!

Asha Miami Capillanes Vicente, RMT
Cum Laude
Batch 2018

Nang masigurong okay na ay pinost ko na ito. Ilang minuto lang ay sunud-sunod na ang reactions and comments. Wala naman ng gagawin kaya inisa-isa kong replyan ang mga bumati.

I smiled as I read the first commenter.

CS Bautista
Congratulations, best friend! Proud ako sayo! 🤍🙌 Paano ba iyan? Ililibre na ba kita?

I typed in my reply....
Asha Miami Vicente
@CS Bautista Yes please! Haha Maraming salamat. I love you, bff!

Kita ko naman ang panibagong komento ng ibang kaibigan.

Austin Monte de Ramos
Congratulations, Ash! ♥️

Rita Suarez
Ganda mo po! Congratulations, Asha ko! I love you! 😚🤍

Leila Chiong
Ashaaaaa!! I'm so proud of you. Huhuhu Congrats. Ebarg ka talaga. 💪♥️💅

My heart is so full upon reading my close friends' comments. Isa-isa ko silang nireplyan pati na ang mga kaklase noon sa high school at college. May iilan ding mga guro ang bumati sa akin.

Nang masiguro na nareplyan ko ang lahat ng bumati ay pumunta na ako sa messenger. Isa-isa kong sinendan ng imbitasyon ang mga kaibigan at ilang kakilala sa bayan.

Then, I decided to open our gc, where Josh is also included. I smiled bitterly as I remember this is the first time I have opened the group chat since I started college. Wow... It's been four years.

I typed in my message...kahit pa inisa-isa ko naman silang inimbitahan. Well, except Josh. I don't know if he'll come, but I hope so. Because before he became my boyfriend, he was my friend. I would like to have him as a friend again. Kahit may iba na, tatanggapin ko. That is, if he'd allow me to become friends with him again.

'Hello. May pa-celebration sila Mama at Papa bukas. Sana makadalo kayong lahat. :)'

Unang nag-seen si Leila at nag-react. Hanggang sa silang lahat na ang nag-seen.

Inantay ko muna ang kanilang mga sagot bago mag-log out.

'Okay. See you, Ash!' - Si Rita.

'Omg. Congrats ulit, Ashaaaa!' - Leila

'Sure. Thanks sa invite, Ash.' - From Austin

'Gege lods. See you.' - Claude

Isa nalang ang inaantay kong reply. Naka-seen na naman ito.

I bit my fingernails as I waited... But boy, my heart started beating faster when I saw he's typing.

'Okay. Congrats, Ash.' He replied. I almost felt like crying as I read his 'congrats, Ash.' Umiling ako sa naiisip then I just liked all of their replies.

I said my thanks before logging out and mentally reminded myself where I stand. I am going to be his friend again. I will try. So, I can move on... because being friends with him is a reminder that he's got another girl and I should stick to the boundary... And that, I should not cross the line. Never again.