Secret Secret (Dès Vu Series #1)

Chapter 17

"Gargalicano, Rafaela Maxinne V., valedictorian!"

As I stepped onto the stage, everyone applauded. The dean and the guest speaker both shook my hand. They smiled at me, so I smiled back. "Thank you," Mom said as she accepted the medal.

I was still smiling when she handed me the medal. Before going down the stage, we took a few pictures. Mom didn't even look at me as she walked back to her seat. As I returned to my seat, I still tried to smile at my classmates who were congratulating me.

I was called to the stage several times because I had received a couple of special awards. Mom smiled at everyone except me. I was just looking at her when I went up on stage for my valedictory speech.

I sighed. "To our guest speaker, Mrs. Valencia Limsiaco. To our dean, Mr. John Gonzaga. To all the teachers, faculty members, students, parents, and friends... A pleasant morning to all of you," I began.

"They said high school is where the real journey begins, where you start learning more about what's really going on around you, where you grow and become a better version of yourself every year, and where you meet people who will help you achieve more for yourself," I spoke.

"During the four years of being an high school student, I've watched my classmates talking during recess or vacant time. I witnessed them studying with their friends. I saw them going out together and eating streetfoods after class. They all had fun even during those times that they almost failed a class, they got low scores on their quizzes, they got scolded by the teachers, and every unfortunate events that happened in their lives. Nonetheless, they were still smiling and laughing the end of the day," I said.

"But then there's me..." I smiled bitterly. "There's a Rafaela Gargalicano who was always walking alone in the hallways, eating alone during recess and lunch, studying alone at the library, and was basically alone every minute of the day at school!" I tried to laugh to relieve the pain in my heart.

"I thought I'd finish four years by myself, but spoiler alert, I met people from whom I ran away a couple of times, but I just found myself enjoying their company," my gaze wandered for those two people. I caught Marga smiling at me as tears welled up in her eyes. My gaze moved around the room again until it came to Tope, who was sitting in the back, but I still found him.

"This speech isn't about how I was once a loner but then found friends—NO! I just want to tell all of you that someone could be the light when you're in the dark, the fire when you're feeling cold, the water when you're parched, and the person who will help you get out of your comfort zone, and you just don't notice it," I smiled again.

"When I found the real and right people, I realized that I really needed the company of others, and here I am, standing in front of all of you, giving my speech; I made it on this platform because I know someone believed and believes in me."

"Like me, I know there were people who believed in you guys, too, and the message I want to share in this speech is that you can't always be alone; God will still send people into your life who will help you become someone even better than your plan."

"High school was difficult, right? But look at yourselves... You just got here! You got here with your friends... Friends who became your anchor as you sailed the raging waves, and they have been with you every step of the way."

My eyes welled up as I reminisced all of the times I spent with Tope and Marga during my last year of junior high school in my mind.

"Let us all thank everyone who has helped us get to this point, whether it's our mother, father, sister, brother, teachers, friends, or even pets!"

I sighed and looked around the crowd. "We still don't know where life will take us, but we'll continue to steer the behind the wheel, just as Caesar Sullivan University has become our home," I explained.