Timelapse of Catastrophe (Solis Occasum Series 1)

Kabanata 65

Kabanata 65

Wiped

"Congratulations, Mr. Alta Vier!"

Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko ang lumakad patungo sa gilid ng entablado upang magbigay ng talumpati. Ang entabladong kinasanayan ko ay hindi hamak na naiiba kaysa rito.

I smiled at the dean when he offered his hand to me.

My head automatically turned to the audience and other students. Nagsimulang bumilis lalo ang pagtibok ng puso ko sa sunod-sunod na sigawan nila.

"Ang galing!"

"Ang pogi naman ni Direk!"

"Go, baby!"

My brows furrowed. Who the fvck is that?

Napatingin ako kay Sho sa baba ng entablado na agad nilingon sa likod—nagbabaka-sakali na mahanap niya ang kung sinumang sumigaw. He pouted when he failed.

I didn't prepare a speech. I kept on telling myself that I'd speak in front of them right away. But I didn't know that this would make me feel uneasy.

Bumungtong-hininga ako bago tuluyang tumuloy sa harap ng mikropono.

"Uh..." I slightly coughed to clear my voice. "Good morning to all of you, especially to Mr. Principal, Mr. Dean, and Mr. President." I turned my head at them before smiling. "To the faculty, the management, teaching, and non-teaching personnel, good morning. To the parents of this batch and, of course, students, magandang araw po sa ating lahat. I would also like to congratulate you on your graduation."

"I hope that this state university helped you a lot, building both yourself and the people around you. Remember that you'll be the one who'll build your future. And I hope that, one day, you'll also realize that this was indeed a great journey." I then breathed lightly.

Gago. Hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin. Anong gagawin ko?

"First of all, I would like to thank the state university for this." I smiled genuinely as I looked at the audience clapping. "Believe me when I told you, guys, that I wasn't really expecting this. Especially when they contacted me personally, as you know that I'm a very private person that came from a well-known family. I felt guilty when I once turned the line off before actually replying to them."

"Honorary Doctorate Degree in Theater and Performance Arts? Was it possible?" I asked myself. "I was also the first one to receive this kind of recognition, if I'm not mistaken. Doctor of Theater and Performance Arts Degree Honoris Causa for a director like me? It was just like a dream. I don't really show myself in public. So this day is very unusual to me, but in a good way. Since the last time I made a public speech was the time when I stood here as Magna Cum Laude."

"Nagsimula ako na mag-enroll dito, buntis pa iyong misis ko sa panganay namin..." Sabay tingin kay Sho na nakatulala sa gilid. "Sa La Consolacion siya nag-transfer noong 3rd year, habang ako ay dito. Medyo malayo sa bahay namin, pero kahit ganoon ay sinikap ko na makapasok habang siya ay sa bahay lang muna. Pakauwi ay tsaka ko aalagaan. Pero hindi dahil may pera ako at may pera rin siya ay hindi na kami magsisikap sa buhay. Ang pera, nauubos. Pero ang pangarap ay hindi."

"Theater arts was not my first choice. I'm into social studies or political science—obvious naman sa mga gawa ko. But I guess, nagbabago talaga ang pangarap. That's what I imagine myself to be. A theater actor, huh? Kakanta sa stage?" I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm a dance trope member, so why would I sing on stage? When I told my Diko Meil about that, he was like, I don't know that you're interested in performance studies, eh?" I even laughed hysterically. "He was as shocked as me. I don't know, but maybe the musical play that we once watched for our school project was the one who made me choose that course. It was great, and I will never forget that."