Class Reunion: Section Rose

Chapter 3: Class Picture

Claire's POV

Biglang nagkaroon ng tension ang buong room. Nawala na yung masayang vibe.

But it's true though. Miski ako, walang alaala nung 4th year kami.

"Guys, cheer up! Ano ba!" Tumatawang sabi ni Kervince. "Haha, oo nga! Siguro naging busy lang talaga tayo after graduation kaya ganto. Hirap kaya ng college!" Pagtawa ni Thomas. "Yea, they're right." Nakisali narin si Michiko. Soon, everybody was laughing. The tension was eased.

Biglang napatingin ako sa teacher's table ng room namin. I remember seeing a box on one of the drawers nung nagayos kami dito kanina. Maybe it contains something from 7 years ago? I don't know. Something na makakatrigger ng happy memories?

I stood up at pumunta doon. I took the box out and opened it. Napangiti ako ng makahanap ako ng dalawang litrato at isang itim na notebook. Yung class list at Dalawang class picture! Isang pormal, at isang wacky shot. Agad kong dinala ito sa gitna nung circle namin.

"Guys, I found our class picture!" Saad ko. "Talaga? Patingin!"
"Ano ba! Kalma nga, wag nyo pagagawan!" Tumatawang sabi ni Michiko dahil nagaagawan na yung mga lalaki. Hays, hanggang ngayon, childish paren ni Kervince. Kaya mas pinili ko si Kyle 7 years ago eh. Mas disente si Kyle. Hahah joke. Kervince is funny and fascinating in his own ways. Ganun din si Kyle. Pero si Kyle talaga nakakuha ng puso ko noon.

"Hahahahaha kyut natin mahal oh?" Nakangiting sambit ni Hide at tumuro sa picture kung saan naka wacky shot kaming lahat. "HAHAHAHHA TANGINA KERVINCE PANGET MO!" Halakhak ni Thomas. "Ulol, ikaw nga nalutang na damit eh. Buti hindi dark yung background. If so, Hindi ka na makikita pre!" Asar pabalik ni Kervince. Tinignan ko yung litrato ko. Nakayakap pa ako kay Rachel. Ang babata pa namin! Ngayon, halos hindi and makilala mga mokong na to. We've grown so much and it's kind of weird but overwhelming to see each other again after 7 years.

"Shit, Lens! Walang kupas ah?" Sabi ni Rachel at tumuro kay Lena na naka peace sign. Tinignan ko yung litrato ni Lena. Then her. She looks the same. As if hindi sya tumanda. Hanggang ngayon, baby faced paren sya.

"Hahaha ganon ba?" Pag tawa nya. "Oo nga! Parehong pareho ang mukha mo Lena!" Saad ni Xian na ang lapit lapit pa kay Lena. She blushed and backed away. Yea, I remember that. Mahiyain at mahinhin talaga si Lena haha.

We were all laughing and pointing at each other.

"19 tayo dito oh. But when we graduated, 18 lang tayo." Malungkot na sabi ni Lena. Napahinto ako. "Huh? Anong ib—" biglang napahinto si Kervince. Tumahimik nanaman ang lahat.

"Yea.." Malungkot na sambit ni Christine. Tinignan ko yung picture at binilang kami. 19 students. I still remember na namatayan kami one time ng isang classmate. Wait, sino nga ba yung nawala saamin? I can't seem to remember. Not even the name or the cause of death. But I clearly remember na 18 lang kaming grumaduate that time.

I looked at the picture again.

Back row was the boys.

Si Xian, Thomas, Kervince, Hide, Edmar, Kenneth, Kyle, Enzo at Miguel. Next was us, the girls, in the front row.

Si Angelica, Christine, Rachel, Kate, Lena, Michi, Jane, ako, Kim, at Nicole. Napangiti ako ng mapakla. So hindi pala talaga kami kum—

Biglang nanlamig ang pakiramdam ko at nanigas ako.

Teka... Parang... Parang lahat sila nakilala ko kanina ah?

Lumingon akong bigla sa paligid ko.

"Ilan tayo?" Medyo nanginginig yung boses ko. "Huh?" Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Hide. "18, of course! Ilan ba tayo? 20?" Sarkastikong sabi ng baliw na si Kervince but I wasn't in the mood to joke around.