Consequences

Chapter 71

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Chapter 71

5 years later...

Kenneth's Point of View:
Maluha-luha kaming magkakaibigan habang pinapakinggan ang speech niya. Ang speech ni Cass.

Oo, nandito kaming lahat sa Canada. Graduation niya. Pero siyempre, wala si James. Hindi parin sila nagkikita.

Masaya ako. Masaya kami. Masaya kami para sa kanya. Kasi nakayanan niya. Kasi nalagpasan niya ang 9 years na wala si James. Nang hindi siya nakikita.

Nakayanan niya. Patunay na hindi hadlang ang matinding heartbreak para magtagumpay.

Nakayanan niyang maging Cum Laude ng batch niya kahit na devastated siya.

"...To my friends, Angelo, Patrice, Ynna, Nico, Nicole, Faith, Ciel, Yuka, Erin, Kylie, Xav, and Reb, thank you. Thank you very much. You have no idea how thankful I am in meeting you guys. Saying thank you is not enough to express my gratitude. Thank you. Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for always cheering me up. Thank you for encouraging me."

Napasimangot nalang ako nang hindi niya mabanggit ang pangalan ko.

Bastos talaga to eh.

"To my bestfriend since birth, Kenneth, thank you, bestfriend. For being a shoulder to cry on. Although you're--I mean, we're childish sometimes. Thank you for buying me ice cream everytime I'm stressed. Thank you for not leaving my side even though you guys are miles away from me. Thank you. Thank you, so so much, Kenny."

Nabaling sa akin ang tingin ng mga tao dahil tinignan niya ako at nginitian. Ngumiti naman ako pabalik at nagthumbs up.

"To my idiotic brothers..." pagkasabi niya nun, nagtawanan ang mga tao sa loob ng auditorium at napasimangot nalang yung tatlong kuya niya.

"Kidding! Hahaha! Kuyas, thank you for always there for me. Thank you for your unending love for me. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your encouraging insults that made me strong. Thank you, I love you." Sabi niya at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao kahit di pa naman tapos ang speech niya.

"To mom and dad, thank you for all the love. Thank you for the support. Thank you for not giving up on me even though you know how devastated I was--I am. Thank you for being patient with me, with us. Thank you for all the hard work. I am blessed to have you as my parents. Thank you for all, mom and dad. I love you so much!" Sabi noya at nagflying kiss pa kina tita.

"Of course, I won't forget our Savior. Thank you Lord for all the blessings. Thank you for keeping us safe. Thank you for all the knowledge." Sabi niya at napangiti. Napangiti rin ang mga tao dito.

"And lastly, to him. To him who has been my inspiration since my college life started. Almost my life, almost my other half, and of course, my heartbreak. Call me a martyr or anything. But that won't change my love for him. James, even though you left me, I still want to thank you. Because without you, I don't know what my life would be. Even though you left me, my love for you didn't change. And it never will. Thank you for making me realize such things. Thank you for slapping reality into my face. Thank you for leaving me..." And with that, her tears stared to fall.

Pati kami at lahat ng mga tao dito, naiiyak na rin. Pati sina tita at tito.

"Your goodbye wasn't expected. I didn't even had the chance to know the exact reason of why you left. But I know you have reasons. Even though you were leaving that day, you still greeted me because it's my birthday. Thank you for making me laugh, love, and live life to the fullest again. I'm sorry that you have to leave early--"

Naputol ang pagsasalita ni Cass nang biglang pabalibag na bumukas ang mga pintuan ng auditorium.

Sa wakas. Gumana ang plano. sa wakas, nakarating siya. Nandito na siya.

✖✖✖
Cassandra's Point of View:

"Your goodbye wasn't expected. I didn't even had the chance to know the exact reason of why you left. But I know you have reasons. Even though you were leaving thay day, you still greeted me because it's my birthday. Thank you for making me laugh, love, and live life to the fullest again. I'm sorry that you have to leave early--"

Nagulantang kami lahat at napahinto ako sa pagsasalita nang biglang pabalibag na bumukas ang pinto ng auditorium.

At feeling ko, huminto ang oras.

Hingal na hingal siyang naglakad papunta dito. Sa harap ng stage. Sa harap ko.

Basang basa rin ng pawis ang mukha niya. Pero ganun parin. Gwapo parin.

Erase, erase. Ngayon pa ba Cass? Ngayon pang nakamove on ka na? Nakamove on ka na sa relationshit niyo?

"Why... why do you have to say sorry? You're... you're not the one who left... I am... and I'm sorry..." sabi niya.

Nakikita kong nagbubulungan ang mga tao dito. All eyes were on us.

Ugh, I just remembered that I hate attention.

"Cassandra, Baobei, I'm really really... really... sorry... I know I'm such a jerk for hurting and leaving you without any reason. You can slap me, you can punch if you want. If that's what's gonna make you happy."

I blinked once... twice... thrice... four times... five times...

Hindi ako namamalik-mata. I'm not dreaming. He's here. He's really here!!

Nabalik ako sa realidad nang mapagtantong nasa podium parin ako. Shet nakakahiya.

"Uhmm... james, I'm in the middle of delivering my speech. Can't you see I'm having my moment here? Can you not?" Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay.

Tumungo naman siya. Tumungo as in yumuko, hindi tumango.

"Ehem... so as I was saying... to all my fellow graduates, always remember to be happy in whatever you do. Always pray so that He will guide you. Never forget to chase your dreams. And I? I will chase mine." Sabi ko at binato ang hat ko at tumakbo pababa ng stage. Nagbatuhan na rin ng hats ang mga co graduates ko.

Tumakbo ako pababa. Pababa. Papunta sa kanya.