Everything About You

Chapter 43

The day after the most painful day of my life, I fly to Italy alone.

Lumipad ako papuntang Italia dahil sa kagustuhang makalayo at hindi na makagulo pa sa kanya, sa kanila.

I lived with my grandparents here in Italy for 2 years now.

2 taon na rin akong hindi umuuwi ng Pilipinas. At sa dalawang taon nayon marami akong na-realize sa buhay...

I realized that the ten months of being with Zky is the happiest ten months of my life.

Sampung buwan nya akong pinasaya. Sampung buwan nyang ipinaramdam sakin na mahalaga ako. Sampung buwan nyang ipinaalam sakin kung paano ba ako dapat alagaan. Sampung buwan, buong sophomore year ko syang nakasama.

I don't know why I realized too that I don't know much about him. Ang tanging alam ko lang ay may ate sya, ang mga magulang nya'y may business sa France kung saan sya lumaki. Matalino sya at magaling mag gitara at kumanta. Mahilig syang maglaro ng basketball that's why he's also a MVP. Bukod doon, wala na.

I don't know much about his personal life...his childhood, his ex girlfriends, his crush, his goals and dreams and even his favorites too.

Pero kahit ganoon, hulog na hulog parin ang loob ko sakanya. Kahit ganoon, nakuha nya parin ng buo ang puso ko. Kahit na ganoon, naging kumportable parin ako sa kanya.

He was my first. My first holding hands, first hug, first kiss and first love. He's never that easy to forget.

For two years I tried so hard to get him out of my system and move on. Na sa tingin ko'y pinagtagumpayan ko naman.

Nakaya ko nang mabuhay ng wala sya though I sometimes think of him pero hindi na katulad noong una na kapag naiisip ko ay nasasaktan ako at umiiyak.

Siguro nga'y matibay na ang puso ko ngayon. Because in the 2 years that I've been alone... I build a very high and tight wall in my heart. Wala akong gustong papasukin dahil natatakot na akong masaktan ulit. I locked my heart to free myself from hurting kaya alam ko na hindi na ito kasing hina ng dati.

"Dela Vega Serafina Faith C. Valedictorian." The emcee called out my name for my closing speech.

Yes, today is my graduation day. Natapos ko na ang high school and I survive being away from my parents too. Dito sa isang prestigious school sa Italy ako magtatapos and I am happy to finally see my parents watching me as I went up to the stage.

"To our honorable guest speaker, our chief executive mentor, our school President, members of the management, distinguished guests, faculty and staff, our dear parents, fellow  graduates, friends, ladies  and gentlemen good afternoon." I greeted them and look up to smile before continuing.

"Today, I have mixed feelings of delight and sorrow. Delighted because I can see how happy my fellow graduates are. After the seemingly endless homework, quizzes, long tests and stress, we managed to survive without any casualties. Seeing each of my batch mates’ faces somehow gives me a little flashback of the many different memories with every one of you. I know we have all shared amazing memories with each other, cried on each other’s shoulders or handkerchiefs, laughed till that Pepsi spilled through our noses, and even argued like crazy but still, I see that the bonds between us will never break and that this will be something we will always have. I also see eyes slowly tearing up, which makes me feel sad because we must say our temporary goodbyes. We have grown up together and have come to know each other as siblings. But just like in most families, one way or another, siblings must say their goodbye eventually."

I look up to my classmates and to my fellow graduates and they seem so attentive to listen to me so I continue.

"Being able to talk to all of you and share my thoughts is really a great privilege. I worked hard and probably a bit harder than some of you for many reasons. One of these is because I want to show the school that allowing me to study here as a scholar was not a waste. I wanted them to know that I can be a model student and one does not have to have so much money to be able to achieve success."