The whisper of my mother repeated in my mind, and it feels like my face are marked with Happiness all over my face that I can't remove it while I give my speech.
I successfully delivered my speech, and I have never felt happier in my entire life. It seems as though the wishes that were stuck in my head had just escaped and had the freedom to make it all come true.
Valedictorian: Axcielle Maximelle S. Valencia (With highest honor 99.98 average)
Salutatorian: Azkiro Seanlei K. Alvarez (With highest honor 99.97 average)
Nagkandarapa ako nang takbo para kausapin si Mrs. Reia dahil siya naman ang may alam sa katanungan ko at ayaw ko naman mabaliwala lang ang mga katanungan na nakatatak sa aking isipan.
"Mrs. Reia!" Bulyaw ko nang makita ko ito.
Nakuha nito ang atensyon ko kaya ito'y lumapit papalapit sa akin.
"Congratulations on being our valedictorian, Miss Valencia," she said, "and thank you for serving as the interim and final head of school."
I bowed to thank her.
"Thank you for that, but I have a question and I really need a straight answer for that."
"Sure what is it?"
"About the change of grades. Hindi ba't nagkaroon kami ni Azkiro ng pantay na average, pero bakit ganoon ang kinalabasan?"
Napangiti siya at ang kaniyang kamay ay lumapat sa aking balikat.
"You should be asking him. Again, congratulations!" Sabi lamang niya at 'saka ako iwan, naiwang blangko at hindi nasagot ang aking mga katanungan.
Why him..?
Kanina pa ako nakatingin kay Azkiro at para na ako ngayong stalker na hindi mapakali sa kung ano ang gagawin.
Nasa bench siya na parang may kausap sa cellphone at mukha pa siyang seryoso na kapani-panibago. I remember that day we used to ignore each other after that breakup.
Sa paglapit ko ay nahagip ko ang kaniyang atensyon.
Binaba niya ang cellphone niya at 'saka tumayo para salubungin ako. He waved and smiled at me as if nothing had happened. It's as if he went from serious to happy.
"Congratulations Miss President!" Bati niya, ngumiti lamang ako ng sandali.
"Congrats din, but I didn't come here to congratulate you," I remarked coldly and solemnly.
I typically speak in this manner, and if my tone offends someone, I won't even voice my displeasure.
He appeared to be deeply offended—or perhaps just perplexed, and I can tell it with his expression while he scratch his nape. I'm terrible at interpreting people.
"Pinuntahan ko si Mrs. Reia about sa confusing changes sa average natin parehas, ang kaso ay sabi niya na ikaw ang kausapin ko." Bumaywang ako.
"Mind answering my question?"
Ngumisi siya at nilapit ang mukha niya sa akin dahilan para mapangiwi ako.
"No."
He lost his smile and adopted an expressionless stance.
"Maliban na lang kung aaminin mo sa harap ko ngayon na mahal mo parin ako." My jaw dropped as he formed a smirked expression on his face.
"Baliw ka ba? Hindi ba't sinabi ko na sa'yo na ginamit lang kita!" Bulyaw ko naman.
"I can't hear lies from you," he politely replied.
Napapikit ako sa muntikang pagkawala ng aking pasensya sa harap ng lalaking ito. Ang desperado niya! He can't even accept the fact that I just used him.
... ehh-ahh-iiiehh
Nakangiti parin siya sa akin ngayon na para bang nang-aasar talaga.
"Edi 'wag mo sabihin! Malalaman ko rin naman," mataray kong sinabi.
Tatalikod na sana ako nang biglaan niya akong yakapin mula sa likod ko dahilan para mapapigil hininga ako.
"Just be honest, please..." nanghihina nitong bulong.
Bakit ba parang sigurado siya na alam na alam niyang mahal ko siya.
I paused before answering. "I'm being honest," tanging na sagot ko.
Humarap ako sa kaniya at 'saka humalukipkip nang nakatingin sa buong pagkatao niya.
"Sorbetes! Sorbetes kayo diyan para sa masaganang katapusan ng tig-init!" Sabay kaming napalingon ni Azkiro dito.
Nakaupo kami ngayon sa bench habang nakain ng Ice cream na nilibre niya sa'kin, at medyo umayos naman ang araw ko at nalamigan din ang aking pasensya lalo na sa lalaking 'to.
Finally the summer is leaving.
May alitan kami ng tig-init kaya ayaw na ayaw kong pahabain pa'yan eh.
"Do you like it?" Tanong niya.
Tumango na lamang ako at hindi na kumibo pa.
Wala pang ilang sandali ay napatingin ako sa kaniya at ngayo'y siya'y nakatingin sa kalangitan na para bang may malalim na iniisip.
It's like everytime time I look at him, it's like he pulls me in, giving me the impression that I'm trapped in an odd daydream with him... Or maybe this is what people mean by love.
"Kiro..." tawag ko sa kaniya.
Hindi siya tumingin sa akin at parang may pumulupot sa aking dibdib. I hate it when he don't pay attention to me.
"I love you," I whispered.
Bigla kong nakuha ang atensyon niya.
"Thank you," he replied, making my face expression drop.
Is he being sarcastic? Serious?
"Kiro, I love you!" Inis na pag-ulit ko.
Mas nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin dahilan para mamula ako.
"I said, thank you," he again replied while smiling.
Ngumuso ako at inalisan siya ng tingin. Humalukipkip ako at hindi siya pinansin.
Hindi ko alam kung gumaganti ba siya sa akin o nagpapakipot lang siya, o kaya naman ayaw niya lang sabihin ang totoo kaya nagbibingi-bingihan siya.
"Pinakiusapan ko si Ma'am Reia na ikaw na lang ang gawing valedictorian," he muttered taking all my attention.
...
""My grades were actually 99.8 like yours, but my father asked the teacher to give me a special task, which was to take another exam." My mouth parted with shock.
"I consented, but instead of taking the one point that would have improved my scores, I told them to just give it to you since you deserve it more than I do."
Hindi ko alam ang magiging reaksyon ko pero naramdaman ko na lang ang luhang tumulo sa mga mata ko. He immediately hugged me and I felt his comfort that I wouldn't want to let go.
"Bakit mo 'yon ginawa..?" Nanghihina kong bulong.
"Just like I said, you deserve it po," malambing na sagot niya.
Bigla akong nanghina at halos malaglag ako sa kinatatayuan ko pero kaagad akong yinakap ni Azkiro. My entire field of view was blurry, all I could see was a watery outline.
"I'm so sorry for being so harsh to you..."
"Shhh... don't be sorry," he replied softly..
BINABASA MO ANG
Escaped the Summer (M)
RomanceHi-School Love Series 1# She's the type of girl who is afraid of making a mistake... not just in life, but also in her grades, scores, and anything else related to school. People may describe her as perfect, but she clearly isn't. Her father is one...
