Chasing my Happiness

Chapter 25

Until i found you — Stephen Sanchez

**

It's not easy by all means. After they graduate, they reviewed, they toke exams and now finally! Their results are out. We waited for days, weeks and months without assurance, dahil hindi lang ang Kuya ko ang nag take ng exam. Kasama na ro'n sila West, Zaiam, Warex, well including Sera. At siyempre ang boyfriend ko, si Ramirez.

Here we are now, unexpected. Nasa sofa kaming lahat, kompleto kaming pamilya at nanonood lamang kami ng Netflix nang ibalita na lumabas na ang resulta. Aligaga si Kuya Desmond nang buksan nito ang laptop na binili at pati kami'y kinabahan.

Kuya Declan and Kuya Dawson was beside him, si Papa na naka hawak sa balakang na nakatingin sa laptop at kami naman ni Mama na magkahawak ang kamay na naka-upo.

"Fuck fuck, ito na!" Sigaw pa ni Kuya Dawson.

"Valenzuela, Valentino, Vallejos, Vandez, V—" pagbabasa ni Kuya Desmond.

"Bilisan mo ang pag scro—"

"V-vendejas.. p-pasado ako.. Pasado ako!" Tila tumigil ang oras dahil lahat kami natigilan sa isinigaw ni Kuya. Hindi pa nag tagal tumakbo ito kay Papa at yumakap at pareho silang nag sisisigaw.

"Patingin!" Lumapit si Kuya Dawson at inulit ulit.

"Vendejas, Desmond Sathiel Ferrer... Pasado si Kuya!"

"Engineer na ako!" Sigaw ni Kuya. Tumakbo naman si Mama papalapit at yumakap.

My tears drop. Tuloy-tuloy at hindi ko na makita ang paligid dahil blury na ang vision ko.

"Ah, may Engineer na kami!" Papa cried and cried. Kuya Desmond kneel and cried. Lahat kami umiyak.

One down. May Engineer na kami.

I watch them in a blurry vision, i wish i could still see this view, could watch this scene when it's finally my turn. I want all of them to watch how our Family will make it 'till last.

I cried with them, hindi 'yon natapos agad.

I called him, i saw the result and he's on top. I can't celebrate it with him but i am so proud of my man.

"Love..." His broke voice echoed. My tears suddenly polled again.

Nakakaproud silang lahat.

"I-i'm so proud of you, My Engineer." That's all i could whispered. I heard his sobbed, cries and shouts. All this time finally, he can face his parents with his own sacrifices.

Despite of all sacrifices they had, all of it. I cried, missing him. I cannot see him often but, he manage his time well. He assured me everytime i get jealous. He never forgets what we should celebrate. He never reason out his busyness if he couldn't make a call and text.

I don't need it, really. All i want him to do is to behave, achieve his dreams for himself. I don't want to be burden to someone, even for him.

Nangungulila ako sa kaniya. Parang mali na sinanay ko ang sarili ko sa kaniya. Sa tuwing may problema ako hindi ko na magawang masabi sa kaniya dahil ayaw ko na isipin pa niya 'yon. Mga maliliit na bagay na hindi ko na masabi dahil wala na itong oras.

"Ayos na ba ang lahat?" Naalimpungatan ako sa boses ni Mama na nagmamadali.

Oh! Bibisita nga pala kami ng sementeryo. November 1 na nga pala agad. Too fast!

"Ma!"

"Nauna ako, Kuya."

Hindi na ako nagreact sa narinig. Here we go again.