The Way I Hate You

Chapter 22

There's this one moment in our life when we wish that time would slow down, or even freeze. We wish that this certain moment will stay because you know exactly how this moment feels. Like you're in a whole new dimension where there's only you, and that person. The moment where your heart feels the fullest happiness the world could ever give.

That certain moment happened to me that night. When Mavy and I had our first kiss. It felt like millions of fireworks exploding inside me. It was perfect. It was beautiful. It was breathtaking. And that moment keeps on replaying again and again in my head. Like a broken stereo. But I don't wish for it to stop though. Because I knew at that moment that the guy I am with is the guy I want to share the rest of my life with.

Nothing happened next after that moment. It was only a long, sweet kiss that Mavy and I shared. We both know our limits and we're not yet ready to take a step forward in our relationship. Besides, we still have a long way to go, and we still need to know each other better than how we know each other now.

I sleep in Mavy's bed and he sleeps down in the mattress. Nung sumunod na araw, hindi ako nakatanggap ng kahit na anong sermon mula sa mga magulang ko pagdating ko ng bahay. They just ignored me when I arrived, which I prefer more because I don't want them to ask me any questions.

Sa sumunod na mga araw ay naging abala na kami sa paghahanda para sa final exams namin. 'Yun na lang ang kailangan naming asikasuhin, pati ang pagkumpleto sa requirements ng bawat subject namin at pagkatapos no'n ay recognition at bakasyon na namin.

Mavy and I spent hours studying in the library a few days before the exam. Pareho kaming abala ngunit gumagawa pa rin kami ng paraan para makapagkita at makapag-usap. Minsan pa nga ay napupunta sa pagre-review ang oras ng pagtawag namin sa isa't isa. We stayed together- through sleepless nights, burnouts, and breakdowns. Pero sa kabila no'n si Mavy ang mas matibay sa'ming dalawa, siya ang naging sandalan ko. He kept on telling me that I can do it, and kept on reminding me to rest every now and then. Kung wala siguro siya ay baka nauna na kaagad akong sumuko.

After our finals, our efforts paid off when both of us passed our exams.
I was even lucky to be part of the top 5 students in our class. Natanggap din 'yung application ko para sa award sa isang subject.

"Nadia Giselle Raymundo, with high honors, and student with outstanding performance in Science."

"Woooh! Congrats, lodicakes!" rinig kong cheer sa'kin ni Lori na siyang ikinatawa ko.

Abot tainga ang ngiti sa labi ko habang umaakyat ng hagdan patungong entablado habang nakasunod ang mga magulang ko. Isa-isa kong kinamayan ang mga guro at pumwesto sa gitna para masabitan ako ng medalya.

Habang nasa gitna ay nag-tama ang mga mata namin ni Mavy. I saw the glimpse of happiness in his eyes. He's clapping proudly, with big smile on his lips. Nangingibabaw ang pagpalakpak ni Mavy kaya mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko.

"Girlfriend ko 'yan!" he mouthed proudly.

Mahina akong natawa sa ginawa niya habang pababa na ako ng hagdan.

Gusto sana namin mag-celebrate ni Mavy nang magkasama pagkatapos ng recognition kaya lang ay pareho kaming hinihintay ng mga magulang namin. His dad even went back from Cebu para maka-attend ng recognition kaya naman sobrang tuwa ko nung malaman ang balitang 'yon mula kay Mavy.

I'm glad that his relationship with his father is getting better now. I just hope that his dad realizes soon how much Mavy is passionate with music. Kung sana'y buksan lamang nito ang isip at bigyan ng pagkakataon ang anak ay makikita niya ang ibig kong sabihin.

Nung magbakasyon na ay naging madalang ang pagkikita namin ni Mavy. Nagsimula na rin kasing maging abala ang Cryptic Blue sa pag-eensayo lalo pa at dumami na rin ang gig nila ngayong nagbakasyon na. Mas mahaba na ang oras na pwede nilang malaan sa pagtugtog.