30 Days To Paradise // COMPLETED

Day 01

Have I told you that I'm graduating today? As valedictorian? Well I haven't, I'm telling you now. I am indeed graduating as valedictorian. And right now, I am standing behind the podium with the mic in my shaking hand about to deliver the speech I've just wrote moments ago, eyes locked with Josh and the rest of the crowd, but mainly Josh.

"It's a wonderful day isn't it? It's always a wonderful day every day, always better than yesterday. You must have heard graduation speeches for the past years or must have delivered one yourself. And a normal speech won't be, I guess normal without a quote. But I won't give you one since I've long figured out that being normal is boring. Instead I'm going to give you an assignment you won't grunt about. I want you all to listen to five seconds of summer's long way home. It's been a very challenging year for me, actually a very challenging life. I know everyone's been aware of the happenings from my household for the past few days and I am telling you this. High school is never just a stage, or a curriculum, never just a phase for the time being. High school has been my home, despite the brawling assignments and exams. Why? Because personally, I have a house but never a home. And it is at high school that I found friends, love, family and events that forever changed me. It all felt like home. So despite the ruble that I have suffered, I can say is that I'm finally home. To you, my batch mates, I urge you to fly and find your own homes. It may be a career, a lover, a friend or your family. Fly like a free butterfly, fly to your own paradise and experience things you've never tried before, love harder, dream bigger. We may go on separate paths and someday all of you will forget Frankie Monte, but please don't forget this one thing, you have the right to cut off the bad and be free in this life. After all, we only have one right? Don't wait for another day to start living, grab today and do it. Thank you everyone, for taking me in to your lives and sharing things with me. For us, Marlow High graduates, congratulations as were are one step forward to our own paradise. I hope to see you all there!"

With trembling hands, I went down the podium and before I knew it, the whole population erupted in applause.

Amy was the first one to found me. "You better stay for pictures!" And I smiled at her. Then Josh with the rest of the boys came. I was suddenly engulfed in a hug.

"I'm so proud of you Frankie! Really really proud." He was smiling so hard it was so contagious. Amy's grandparents were there and we all gathered to take pictures. When it was time for Josh's parents to take their pictures with us, Amy took the camera and was snapping randomly like she's capturing the moment. Moments after the hustle and bustle, it's time to spill the beans.

I lead Josh to the abandoned locker and looked around reminding myself of the things that had happened here.

"Josh. I want to tell you something. Just please let me finish." He nodded and I continued.

"At the start of senior year, I decided to runaway. It's my only answer to this suffocation I was in. I have decided to apply to a different school, living a new life. It was because of my parent's oppression that I was so adamant of moving away, as far as possible. I never wanted to be a doctor, I wanted to be a musician and I'm going to Barmont. It was my countdown to paradise, and this is my last day."

Silence enveloped the both of us.

"You're leaving me?" his voice sounded so broken that I want to stab myself for doing this to him.

"I was thinking of long distance sort of thing, but if you're not up for that, I'll be totally okay."

Then he replied the last thing I want to hear. "I love you Frankie."

"I love you too Josh, body and soul. And I will be asking you one more thing." He nodded again.

"Will you runaway with me?"