Against All Odds | ✓

Chapter 34

Chapter 34.
 

"Congratulations, anak," my mama greeted.
 
I kissed her cheeks and hugged her. "Thank you po, mama. I love you so much. I really love your efforts. Kayo ni papa para makapagtapos kami."
 
I feel his hand caressing my hair. "Aww, my sweet baby. Of course, it's our responsibility to give you a good life."
 
I faced her and smiled. "Buti na lang talaga, ma hinanap ko si papa dati," I teased her.
 
"Ikaw na bata ka, maloko ka talaga," natatawa niyang saad. Inayos niya ang dress ko. "Kumusta naman pala kayo ni Jaziel?"
 
"We're good, ma. We got back together, and I already knew his reasons. Valid naman siya, and we're working on it," I told her, and she nodded.
 
"That's good, baby. Basta ang payo ko lang sa 'yo, don't forget to take care of yourself, okay? And alam kong malaki ka na, but always remember na nandito pa rin kami ng papa mo kapag may problema ka. 'Wag ka pa ring mahihiyang lumapit sa amin, okay?"
 
Tumango-tango ako. She's really the sweetest mother. Kahit na minsan na naiisip niyang nagkukulang siya ay nahihigitan niya pa rin ang pagiging ina sa amin ni Zeus.
 
"Thank you so much, ma. Kaya mahal na mahal kita, eh sobra."
 
She smiled sweetly. "Of course, I love you too."
 
Bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto at pumasok si Zeus na may dalang money bouquet. He smiled ear to ear while walking inside my room.
 
"Congratulations, ate..." He kissed my cheeks. Inabot niya sa akin ang bouquet. Puro iyon 100. "Worth of 5k lang 'yan, ate pero kapag yumaman ako, bibigyan kita 100k na."
 
Natawa naman ako bigla. "This is really a huge amount, Zeus. Kumupit ka kay mama, 'no," pang-aasar ko sa kaniya.
 
Tumawa naman siya. "Hindi, ah! 'Wag mo na isipin 'yon."
 
"Sus. Baka naman inuto mo girlfriend mo para pautangin ka."
 
"Ate naman, eh! "Naaasar na niyang sabi.
 
"Joke lang. Ito naman, eh. Thank you, bunso," sabi ko at niyakap siya.
 
Pagkatapos sa taas ay bumaba na rin kami dahil nando'n na si papa. Kagagaling niya lang, kasi sa trabaho niya.
 
"Papa!" pagtawag ko sa kaniya at niyakap siya.
 
"Graduation na ng baby ko," malambing niyang saad. "Congratulations, our first baby girl."
 
"Thank you po, papa. I love you, po."
 
I'm vocal when it comes to them. Naging gano'n kami sa household na ito at simpleng bagay lang ay dapat kaming magpasalamat. Nagso-sorry rin kami sa isa't isa kapag alam naming nagkakasakitan na kami.
 
We're living in a healthy relationship with our family.
 
"I love you more, baby."
 
Dumiretso na rin kami sa may venue. Sa may auditorium iyon sa kabilang City. Hindi kasi malawak ang oval namin, kaya hindi makakapagraos doon ng graduation. I mean, it's oval at sobrang init! Umaga kasi gaganapin.
 
Nakita ko kaagad si Jaziel, nakatalikod na kausap ang mga kaklase niya. Marahan akong lumapit sa kanila at tinakpan ang kaniyang mga mata.
 
He slowly removed my hands and faced me. "Hi, Xachi."
 
"Hello, bae."
 
He wrapped his arms around my waist. "Xachi, my classmates..." Tumingin siya sa mga kaklase niya. "Guys, she's my girlfriend."
 
Nakita ko ang mga nanunukso nilang tingin. "Ikaw pala, 'yong lagi niyang bukambibig simula first year!" sabi ng isa.
 
"Huy totoo. Kapag may lumalapit sa kaniyang babae sasabihin niya. May girlfriend ako tapos wala naman kaming nakikita," dagdag naman ng isa.
 
"Kaya pala lagi kang wala kapag breaktime. Sumusulyap sa CAS!"
 
I smiled, dahil talagang nilalalaglag nila si Jaziel sa akin. I looked at Jaziel, who's blushing, and slightly scratched his nape.
 
"Stop teasing me. Aasarin na naman ako ng baby ko," pananaway sa mga kaklase niya.
 
Bahagya naman akong natawa. He held my hand and went to the side. "Nandiyan na ang parents mo?" I asked. "Hindi ko pa nakikita si tita."
 
"She's excited to meet you," he said, roaming his eyes. "Nandiyan na rin iyon."
 
Mabilis na nagsimula ang ceremony, kaya pumila na rin kami kaagad sa bawat colleges na kinabibilangan namin para magmartsa. Pero ako ay dumiretso sa may stage, katabi si Jaziel dahil parehas kaming top students. Lima kaming nakaupo kasama ang Director at mga Deans.
 
"To give her valedictorian speech, may I call Ms. Xanaya Chime G. Alonzo to end this rites with a motivational words?" sabi ni Direc after niyang magbigay ng speech sa amin.
 
Tumayo ako at lumapit doon sa podium. I smiled at him and bowed a bit. "Thank you, po."
 
I faced the front and breathed. Pinagmamasdan ko ang bawat isang estyudante na nasa harapan ko ngayon. Thousands of students are here, watching, listening to our speech, and waiting to throw the cap after 4 years.
 
"A pleasure morning to each and everyone. I'm Xanaya Chime G. Alonzo. From Bachelor of Science in Psychology," I looked at my paper. I took a deep breath. "Wow, look at yourselves and say, We finally made it! Today's the day we've been waiting for—these graduation rites! I hope each of you picked up something valuable during our time in college.
 
Our journey here was quite a ride, right? We faced challenges, celebrated victories, and made some awesome friends. But beyond textbooks and classes, we learned some important stuff, like never giving up, working together, and staying strong when things got tough.
 
Now, as we step into the world outside these college, let's remember what we've learned. Let's be brave, chase our dreams, and use all the things we've learned to make our way in the world.
 
Congrats, everyone! Our future is wide open, and I know each one of us will do amazing things. Thank you so much." I smiled. "Before I end my speech, I want to thank our guests here. Thank you for witnessing our achievements in this lifetime. Special thanks to my boyfriend." Lumingon ako at nginitian si Jaziel.
 
Narinig ko naman ang mga palakpakan at hiyawan ng ilan. "Wayne Jaziel F. Junquero, thank you so much for your silent support. More years to come, love."
 
Lumakas ang hiyawan ng mga nanonood sa amin at nagpalakpakan sila. I bowed a little bit.
 
Bumalik ako sa kinauupuan ko at hinawakan kaagad ni Jaziel ang kamay ko. "I love you so much," he whispered.
 
"I love you."
 
After the rites, we took pictures together on the stage. Bumaba na rin kami nang ayain na kami ng mga magulang namin.
 
"Hi po, tita," bati ko kay tita Maya. I hugged her. She's blooming. Lumabas lalo ang ganda niya.
 
"Hello, anak. Pasensya ka na sa mga nangyari noon, ha? Pero tanggap kita para sa anak ko," bulong niya.
 
"Thank you po."
 
Hinarap ko sila at niyakap ko rin si tito pogi. "Naku, Chim sa anak ko na lang ikaw magpaalaga saka bayad na ako sa pamasko, ha? Anak ko na ang regalo sa 'yo!"
 
"Ang kuripot mo talaga," pang-aasar ko sa kaniya.
 
He laughed at me. Tumingin siya kay papa. "Hindi ko aakalain na magiging parte ka ng pamilya ko, Ryker," sabi ni papa.
 
"Close to my heart, baka ikaw talaga forever ko," natatawang saad ni tito pogi.
 
Napailing na lang ako sa pinagsasabi nilang dalawa. Pagtalikod ko ay bahagya akong napaatras nang makita ko si Jaziel na bahagyang nakaluhod sa harapan ko habang may singsing na hawak.
 
I feel my eyes blurry because of some tears forming in my eyes.
 
"I love you so much, Xachi. Walang araw na hindi ko iniisip na kasama kita sa future. Ever since I met you, I've been dreaming of being with you every day. And I've been in point na gusto ko ako 'yong una mong makikita paggising mo. I want to be with you in one household," he cried. "I want to be with you until we get older."
 
He wiped his tears. Naririnig ko ang mga hiyawan sa gilid namin, pero wala akong naging pakialam dahil nakatingin lang ako kay Jaziel at umiiyak na rin.
 
"Xachi, do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?" he asked softly.
 
Marahan akong tumango. "Oo naman. Bakit hindi?"
 
He stood up and slid the ring onto my finger. "I love you so much," he whispered and kissed me. "I love you, my enemy in life... Soon to be my wife."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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