Is Ihstan Alone?

XXIX

CHAPTER 29

I think I am confident now to say that I survived my Grade 11 journey with hardships and sacrifices. I took a deep breath and looked at my classmates who were still enjoying because of our adviser good news to us. Due to the fact that, we were all top of the class. All of us were honor students in our section. And I was proud of myself because I am their top 1 and Ritzieh's is on top 3.

On the last day of our school, we did not do anything. We just entered the class for attendance. Teachers and the Student Council were busy decorating the stage for the recognition tomorrow.

"You are running for the Class Valedictorian next academic school year. I am so proud of you." Kaldhi said and gave me a tight hug. "Congrats."

Kaldhi, on the other hand, ranked 13th in their class. Well, STEM was really a challenging academic track. HUMSS also was hard. But STEM was different. Kaldhi's section was home of brilliant minds, amazing and obedient students, but competitive students. They were the top performing section in our batch in this years. Well let's see, there is a tendency that it will change when we graduate Senior High School.

I was wondering too that what if I became a STEM student? Will I become competitive to my classmates? or will I more pressure myself to stand out just to meet my expectations from myself. Imagine I need to beat 10 sections from STEM, 8 sections in HUMSS, 5 sections from General Academic Strand (GAS), and 2 sections in Accountancy and Business Management (ABM). And in my knowledge we were exactly 1,422 in this year' batch and I am just proud again that I am running for the Class Valedictorian next academic school year.

"What did you bring?" Asked Ritzieh to me when she entered the class.

"Homemade carbonara of mom. You?" I asked back.

"Pizzas." She said and sit by my side.

Our class had a simple celebration of our success in this academic school year. We have a mini-programme in our classroom that was planned last week.

I looked at some of my classmates who were still retouching the decoration of the room. We were just waiting our adviser, Mrs. Belo, to came. She was busy helping too for the decoration of our stage.

"How's your baby?" I asked Ritzieh. "Did you already think about the name?"

"I am okay and not thought about the name yet." She answered. "Do you have a suggestion?"

Ritzieh's baby was a girl. We three manifested a boy but God gave a girl. We decided if Ritzieh would be having a boy. We would name it Suwerte. It is a Filipino word which means Lucky. We did not ever expect a girl to came and not thought about its name.

"I think I would say Isem which means Smile or perhaps Sabong which means Flower. They are a dialect in the Philippines called Iloco and they have pretty definitions. What do you think?"

"I love the names, Ihstan. It's beautiful." Until she paused. "Wait. How about Beautiful what is it mean in that dialect?"

I think of it because I forgot and in a couple of seconds l remembered it immediately.

"Pintas. Do you like that?"

"I would love too, Ihstan." Ritzieh rubbed her baby and smiled. "I am super excited to meet you Baby Pintas." She said and giggled.

Ritzieh's pregnancy had yet to register in my mind. But I was excited for them because they would have their own family after Kaldhi reached 18. Their parents were very supportive. But my point was that it is too early in their lives for them to face a situation like this. Can they concentrate next academic school year or in college if they have a baby?

I embraced myself and bombarded the blackness with questions. I was grateful that the dark was always around to comfort me because it has been with me during my darkest periods. With its support, I can think more clearly.

"We made this academic school year a success. Congrats to us."

Kaldhi, Ritzieh, and I smiled at the camera while holding our medals and certificates. I was delighted of our achievement this year. Our friendship achievement.

Our hardships and sacrifices finally paid off. Ritzieh told me that she was not happy in her performance in second semester because she struggled a lot during her pregnancy. I replied her that she has still next year.

"Graduation is coming next academic school year." Said Kaldhi. "Ihstan, ace that Valedictorian spot." He chuckled.

We had also a picture taking with our families and classmates before having a school party. I was just wear a cargo pants that was paired with a white oversized shirt. I had so much fun especially when our school's Band Member of the Year performed.

I had too much alcohol after an hour and I just found myself washing my face in the bathroom. After a second, I noticed Nikto, the one who accidentally hit me a ball back then. A lot of questions were popped-up on my mind when I saw him. Again, what if Nikto did not hit me by a ball? Will Kaldhi and I friendship still the same.

"Nikto." I was aware that my voice is inebriated. "Do you want an experiment?" I told him and laughed.

"You're drunk, Ihstan." He said and got a tissue beside me. "I will call Kaldhi to take you home."

"No. He was with Ritzieh." I said and grabbed his hand. "Please, let me kiss you. I know your straight. It's just an experiment."

He was stunned.

"Is that what you desire as a payment for what I did to you?"

"I was not asking for your payment asshole. I was asking you to kiss. If you don't want my experiment, then I leave."

"Wait, Ihstan." He said, shaking. "I want to try your experiment."

I was stunned for a seconds and giggled. The next thing I knew was that we were already kissing inside the cubicle. When Nikto adjusted he already felt comfortable. I was unbuttoning his clothes until he was already inside me.

I felt so much joy because he had a nice sword but Kaldhi's sword was much bigger compared to him. However, Nikto was showering kisses on my back while I was enjoying every heavenliness on him. I kissed him again until I felt his juice inside me.

"Keep this as a secret, Ihstan." Nikto stated and gave me a sweet kiss before putting his clothes back. "That was a nice experiment, huh. I enjoyed it." He chuckled and left me.

But after having sex with Nikto.

I cried when I remember Kaldhi

And because of that my feelings for him grew stronger and stronger.