A Break Apart

CHAPTER 49. Celebration

I stood on stage, in my maroon convocation attire, facing the cheering audience with a proud smile on my face. I had graduated with a first class BSc degree in sociology, and everyone of the people I held dearly in my heart were present in the crowd. Well, except one person, and that was Dad. Although I wished his work didn't interfer with my special day, my smile wasn't deterred, because his absence was proof of his sacrifices that had gotten me to this very moment, same sacrifices that had been holding our family up. So I was rather grateful to have a father like him.

×××××

I woke up to a loud, unpleasant sound, with glitter all over my body, and on my bed.

"Happy graduation, baby!" Mum squealed in excitement, holding a needle in one hand, and a bursted balloon in her other hand. The fact that I had only found the sound annoying and not traumatising, counted for something.

I laughed tiredly, at her excitement, and the party hat that looked funny on her head, but in a cute way. As if disrupting my sleep wasn't enough, she took out a party horn from her pyjama pocket and started blowing it nonstop.

"Mummy, it's too early for this." I laughed, palming my ears. She then sat next to me and slung an arm around my neck.

"Happy graduation, honey." She kissed my temple.

I giggled. "Thanks. You're acting like a party clown by the way."

"That's not a bad compliment." She dropped all the items in her hands on my bed, removed the party hat from her head and placed it on mine.

"There's no way I'm wearing that!" I wrestled with her to get it off.

"Yes you are! And all your guests as well. It's going to be the gate ticket," she said as we kept on struggling.

"Stop." I couldn't control my laughter, which gave her all the control that made her have her way in the end.

"See!? It looks good on you." She shook my head with her fingers that held my chin, and I returned a cute smile. "Now hurry up and get ready. We don't want to be late for Mass." She tapped my shoulder and stood up, leaving my room.

"Who's going to clean up this mess you made!?" I yelled after her.

"Do it for Mummy, baby!"

I shook my head as I laughed to myself, already feeling exhausted over the thought of her crazy party idea.

Our side yard looked great, with the arranged tables and chairs, the colourful balloons, and the bright banner that read, Happy graduation, Nadine, dancing in the wind. Mum's idea of fun wasn't bad after all, and like the Mother Teresa that she was, who didn't only think of herself, she had people set up a tambourine and a swing, a little father away from the main event area, for Natasha's siblings. But for once, she had given herself a break by outsourcing the food with a catering service.

It was late in the afternoon already, and I was helping the event planer place flowers on the center of the wooden tables when Mum walked up to me.

"You've done enough, dear, go and get ready, your guests will be here any moment from now."

"Okay, now I'm nervous," I said as I made to leave.

"You'll be fine," Mum said, chuckling.

I came out of the bathroom in my towel after showering. I then picked up my phone from my bedside table, sat on my bed, and dialed William's number. The robot disappointed me again with the information of his unreachable line, for the hundredth time. I dropped the phone back with a frustrated sigh, and then slowly, I released another breath, letting out every negative thought, trying to stay calm and patiently wait for his call instead.