Bit of Sweet on Alcohol ✔️

Chapter 26

Cj's

"Magna cum laude.." Those were the the most satisfying words to hear. All of the sacrifices and the hardships were all worth it. But I know that this isn't the end of our journey. Excited but also afraid of what might happen, or what are the challenges we're about to face. But I have my one hundred percent trust on my self that I can surpass those.

My Mom is the one who's with me as I went up to stage. At first, I was smiling as big as I can probably because of the joy I felt and the round of applause given by everyone as to congratulate me. But not until Mama commanded, "do'n ka tumingin," she pointed at someone holding a camera, and after taking the shot, I saw her whole face. "Angel..?" Habang bumababa ako ng stage ay nakatingin ako sa kan'ya na para bang s'ya nalang 'yung kaisa isang tao na natitirang nando'n sa baba.

Agad akong bumalik sa kinauupuan ko, "ssst! Pre!" Pagtawag sa'kin ni Aj habang nasa may likod s'ya. "Ba't?" Humarap ako sa kan'ya kaagad. "Nakita mo na?" Tanong n'ya sa'kin. Medyo hindi ko s'ya marinig at bumabase lang ako sa buka ng bibig n'ya.

"Sino?" Saad ko. Medyo nagtitinginan na sa'min 'yung ibang tao, dahil parang kami lang 'yung gumagawa nung gano'n. "Si mahal." Ngumiti pa s'ya. tangina.

Binigyan ko lang s'ya ng mabilis na iling at pagkatapos no'n ay humarap na kagad ako para na rin alamin kung ano na 'yung nangyayari sa harapan. Pero saktong sakto naman na nakita ko si Mama, and yeah. She's with Angel. She's waving at me, and pointing at Angel who's holding a camera. "Smile.." Sambit n'ya.

I awkwardly smiled, and looked in the camera. "Nice.." Nakita kong sinabi n'ya 'yon nang ilayo na n'ya 'yung camera sa mukha n'ya para tingnan 'yung picture. Then, she looked at me, smiled and wave her hand. Like what she used to do before when we're still together, bago s'ya umuwi at kapag nakita na n'ya 'ko pagkapasok namin t'wing umaga.

Hindi ako natutuwa, but I can't deny the fact that she's beautiful, still. Gano'n pa'rin 'yung mukha n'ya, kagaya nung dati. But a bit matured version. I steal a glance, and looked away. "Tsk." Bulong ko. "Bakit ngayon pa..?"

As we threw our mortarboards, all of us yelled and clapped for ourselves. But I stopped my self as I saw her again clicking the camera, and smiling at me. Ano ba kasing ginagawa n'ya dito? Bakit pa s'ya nagpakita ulit? Mas gugustuhin ko pa kung si Eury nalang 'yung nagpakita eh. Hindi s'ya.

Nang matapos na 'yung program ay agad na lumapit sa'kin si Aj. "Ganda pre, tangina." Pag-akbay n'ya sa'kin. "Oo nga eh. Sa'yo nalang." Naiinis kong saad. "Chill ka lang. Mukhang hindi naman magiging hadlang 'yung tao sa relasyon n'yo ni Abby eh." Pagbibiro n'ya.

"Ngiti palang n'ya alam ko na eh..." Sagot ko naman sa kan'ya. "Kala n'ya siguro gano'n lang kadali 'yung lahat ng 'yon hahahahaha." I said while fixing my watch. She's still taking some pictures nang tingnan ko s'ya, pero hindi ko naman pinagtatagal 'yon dahil sobrang awkward talaga.

"Then take it easy... 'Wag mo munang pag-initan, baka mamaya may purpose 'yung pagpunta n'ya na 'yan, at importante 'yon. Diba? Mahal?" I jokingly punch his stomach. "Ligawan mo kaya? Para tigilan na 'ko."

"Kow. gago hindi gano'n 'yon!"

"Hindi gano'n 'yon!" I mocked him. "May asawa na kase 'ko, baka magselos! Hahahaha." Pagbibiro ko. Pero totoo naman kasi.

"Ayan na! goodluck! HAHAHAHA!" Napatigil ako sa gusto kong sabihin nang bigla n'ya sabihin 'yung mga katagang 'yon nang pasigaw, na sinabayan n'ya ng takbo. And as I looked at my back, I saw Angel walking towards me. "Hi." Bungad n'ya sa'kin.

"Hi." Hindi ko s'ya tinitingnan.

"I know you're going to ask me why I'm here after what I did so I'm--..."