Stuck Forever With You

Simula

Simula

"Lynnea Marie Dela Cuesta"

Beads of sweats started to form on my forehead when our principal called my name.

It's my turn.

Inayos ko ang tindig ko at nagpunas muna ng pawis na namuo dahil sa kainitan bago umakyat ng stage. Sinalubong ako ng malamyos na ngiti ni Ma'am Ruiz.

One of the best teachers I've ever had.

"Congratulations Lyrae," aniya bago ko tanggapin ang diploma na tanda ng pagtatapos ko ng highschool.

I smiled at her in return and mouthed thank you bago ako humarap sa audience at inilibot ang mata sa kabuuan ng covered court.

Dito idinaos ang graduation day namin pati ang gaganaping graduation ball mamaya. It's big enough to accommodate hundreds of students and their parents but our school lacks fans, nataong tanghaling tapat pa kaya kita ko sa mukha ng mga kapwa ko estudyante ang kainipan at ang inis dahil sa tumatagaktak na pawis.

Memories started to flash but I immediately shrugged it off.

I don't have time to reminisce my bitter sweet memories.

If I were to leave this place, all I want to remember is how I got through the obstacles I faced. I want to remember memories worth remembering.

Hindi ba 'yon naman talaga ang madalas nating hilingin?

But then our past will always come right behind us. Be it our favorite or our worse memories. The one we've always wanted to forget but we couldn't.

I squinted my eyes and saw our seniors last year at the back. Mangilan-ngilan sakanila ang pamilyar sakin marahil nakasalubong ko na noon.

Ngumisi ako ng hilaw nang makita ang mga kaibigan ko at si mama na nakangiti habang vinivideohan ako. I proudly waved my certificate at them.

My friends laughed. "Yabang! Makakatanggap din kami ng ganyan!" sigaw ni Cj kaya natawa na rin ako at ang iba pang nakarinig sa kanya.

Nakarinig ako ng tikhim mula sa likuran ko, that's when I faced my father with a medal on his hands. His wearing a white polo shirt two first buttons were left unbuttoned and a tattered jeans. Hair was well cutted and his prominent jaw is screaming, he's one of the guys everyone is dying to have way back his days. I looked up to him and saw him smiling at me.

"I'm proud of you princess," siya at hinalikan ang noo ko.

I looked up to stop my tears from falling but I failed. He wiped it out himself and hugged me as I laughed at my sudden drama.

Ngayon pa talagang graduation Lyrae? But then it sinked in to me why.

I was never a Daddy's girl because I didn't grew up with him but thinking that I made him proud made my heart glistened in happiness.

I've always yearned for a father's love. The care and attention that he failed to give because he was never there beside us.

Something dawned inside of me that any recognition is well appreciated even it is said in their own simplest words be it two? Three words? Even a simple smile, hug and comfort. As long as it came from those people who matters in our life the most.

It didn't take a matter of time when we realized we're already creating a scene in the stage that's when we decided to go down.

"I messed your polo up," sabi ko ng nakabusangot habang pababa kami ng stage. Pagak na tumawa si papa bago ipinatong ang kamay niya sa taas ng grad cap ko at ginulo ang pagkakaayos nito. Naiba tuloy ang ayos ng hairpins na nakasuksok sa buhok ko para hindi matanggal ang cap.