CHAPTER 38

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Today's the day. After those sleepless nights because of my readings- those late night hot coffee so that I won't feel sleepy- had ended, and I can say, those sacrifices I did was worth it.

While the make-up artist that my mother hired for me is doing my face, I can't help but to smile as I reminisce the memories that had happened ever since the first day of my years as a law student.

"Ang ganda mo, ma'am! May lahi po ba kayo?" The make-up artist asked me, distracting my thoughts.

I softly chuckled "uh- our blood is related to spaniards, pero sa ninuno lang namin. Siguro, isang drop lang ang nananalaytay saakin." I joked.

Napatawa naman ang make-up artist sa sinabi ko "grabe, ang isang drop na sinasabi mo ma'am nasobrahan naman ang resulta." Sagot nito dahilan para mapatawa ako sa kaniya.

I was about to joke again, when my brother Aries entered the room. "Congrats, attorney."

Tumagilid muna ang make-up artist, dahil sinalubong ko ng yakap si kuya. "Hindi pa nga pumapasa sa board kuya." I laughed and kissed his cheeks.

"Even if you're not a board passer yet, you're already our attorney, babe." Well, he knows how to make me smile. My brother's know how to make me smile, always.

That's always the reason why I don't settle for less, dahil sa mga kapatid ko palang, punong-puno na ako ng pagmamahal.

"I love you, kuya. Mamaya na tayo mag lambingan, let her finish my make-up muna!" I said and pushed him, making him chuckled and went out the room.

"Ang gwapo pala ng kuya mo ma'am!" The make-up artist giggled. That's a usual compliment, simula bata pa kami palagi na akong nakaka-receive ng letters, ginagawa akong messenger ng mga admirers nila.

"Thanks. That's actually a usual compliment, worst pa sa reaction mo ang ginagawa ng mga admirers ng kuya's ko before." Sabi ko.

Tumawa naman ang make-up artist at ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa sa mukha mo.

Pagkatapos akong ma make-upan ay umalis na kami papunta sa venue ng graduation namin. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Ako kasi ang mag s-speech mamaya.

As we entered the place, Kade's family approached us.

"Congratulations, adie." His father said and hugged me, ngumiti naman ako at nagpasalamat.

Sumunod naman ang mommy niya, and handed me a shopping bag from dior.

"Congrats, honey. A gift from your second parents" Namula naman ako sa sinabi nito. At niyakap ang mommy ni Kade.

Sumunod naman si Kade sala ang isang malaking bouquet of tulips flowers- the heck! Tulips are so expensive!

Pinalo ko naman siya the moment he handed me the bouquet. "O-Ouch! What's our problem, woman?" He asked and acted like a hurr kid.

"You know that tulips are expensive right?!! And you brough-" He did not let me finish my sentence, and answered my complaint.

"And what do you think are you? A queen deserves gold, baby." Saad nito at hinalikan ang pisngi ko.

Agad naman akong namula sa ginawa nito, andaming mga tao sa paligid and our families are here! Hindi ba siya nahihiya?!!

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Thaddeus Kade! Okay lang sana kong prosecutor ka na, ang mahal kasi talaga ng tulips eh! May roses naman, orchids, and-" Hindi ulit ako nito pinatapos, at agad na dinugtongan ang sinabi ko.

"And so what if there are roses, orchids, and other flowers? I know tulips are your favorite, love." He answered making my heart soft. He really knows me.

Hindi na ako naka pag-complain ulit dahil magsisimula na ang ceremony.

Sobrang bilis ng oras. Now, the announcer called my name to speak in front of my batch mates.

"A way to achieve your goal is to drive until its finished line- and today we will be able to witness how we all drove our cars until the finish line of our law school years. A pleasant morning to everyone who are gathered today to witnessed the graduation ceremony of batch 2023-2024. What a day to celebrate, huh?! But, before that- I want to thank the people behind our success. The professors and admins of this school, our families who were our number 1 supporters since the day we stepped into this school, and the friends we made during our law school years- all our loved ones, deserve a thank you for everything. Walang sawang pasasalamat po sainyong lahat." I said and inhaled before continuing my speech.

"But of course, let's not forget our Almighty God for his guidance always. And, anyways, speaking of friends, I was someone who hates having friends before, because I think of them as backstabbers, or plastics- that there are no real friends. Na gagamitin ka lang nila for their own good. However, my view of friendship has changed the moment I stepped into this school. I made friends, hindi lang basta kaibigan, kun'di, more than that-" my words were cut when Sol shouted "weh?! Base from experience ba 'yan?" I know what she mean, si Kade of course. Totoo naman, pero hindi lang 'yan kasi.

I smiled and continued- "more than friends because I didn't just made friends- I found family in this school. Our bonds goes beyond friendship, I found siblings. When I thought that friends will just use you, it changed when I found real ones. They did not use me, they have changed my alone and independent self into someone who became dependent towards them. Ang dating nag s-study alone, nag s-study together na kasama sila. You know yourselves right? But, I wanna special mention this to someone who's been there for me when I had almost lost myself, except from my family, and friends, he also did not leave my side- Thaddeus Kade Lopez, my best study buddy, a thank you will never be enough if I will state everything you did for me not just inside the school, and if I will try to express how much I appreciate everything you did for me. Thank you for being my human diary, love- thank you for being my everything." I stated and stared at Kade's eyes who is now crying. Aww... My soft baby.

"Moving on to my family- huwag kayong mag tampo na inuna ko ang friends at si Kade, syempre special mention rin kayo. Y'all know that you are all my strength. To my Mama, Papa, and Kuya's. Thank you very much for guiding, loving, and supporting me since the day God had given me the opportunity to live in this world. Y'all witnessed how much hardwork I have put into my academics just to achieve the validation I always want- kaya sobra ang pasasalamat ko sa lahat ng ginawa niyo para saakin." I wiped my tears and looked at my family who are wiping their tears too.

This time, tumingin naman ako sa batch mates ko. "And to my batch mates, y'all did a very very great job! The four years of being a law student isn't easy. We all know that, kung paano natin ginapang ang subjects natin just to passed and get the grades we aim. It wasn't an easy ride, I know that some of you had an empty gasoline- but y'all managed to get it filled again so that your ride will continue until to its finishing line. And, here we are now! Witnessing how we survived the four years ride of our law school years. I am beyond proud of us for reaching the finish line after the challenges we fought and experienced along the way of our ride. Also, may the years we experienced serves a great lesson that no matter how hard the situation is- we will be able to survive it, because look at us! Wearing our graduation suit, and having our law degree today. We are not attorney's and prosecutor's yet, but we will get there. We didn't start for nothing. Malayo pa tayo, pero malayo na tayo, at aabot pa tayo sa malayo. Let's not just aim today, let's aim beyond. Because whatever challenges crossed our way, there's always a way to survive. With that, I am ending my speech. Congratulations, everyone." I ended my statement and went down the stairs of the stage with the claps on the crowd.

And the moment I finally went down, I reminisce everything from the moment I started dreaming about entering the law school. It wasn't really an easy ride, but I managed to drive until the finishing line- until I have my law degree, and it's today.

Sobrang lapit ko na sa pangarap ko. And that is to have the attorney before my name.

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enjoy reading!:>

A/N: hi sunnies! my apologies for the late update. start na po kasi ng class namin last last week pa, medyo nagiging busy na huhu. thanks for waiting patiently, always. mahal ko kayong lahat.

@dfndrsun

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