UNFINISHED BEGINNINGS

1 | ground zero

"Pa, pumasa ako!" I excitedly said while clenching the phone with my right hand. 

He did not respond to what I said.  "Pumasa si Ge! Mama, pumasa ang bunso natin!" he instead announced to Mama and whoever they were with.  I could hear Mama shouting and people talking at the same time but I could barely make out the words. 

"Sabi ko na sa 'yo," it was my brother who spoke at the other end of the line.  "Congratualtions, Sis.  Eto uli si Papa."

"I'm proud of you, anak," Papa's voice cracked.

My tears started to pour again upon hearing his words.  I was such a baby.  Four years of Law school... six months of review classes... five months of waiting... and it was finally over.  I made it! My senses were overwhelmed with the emotional and physical fatigue.  Probably it had worn me down as well.

"Thank you, Pa," was all that I could utter.  Jo held my arms and allowed me to lean on her.  I felt as if I was going to drop any time. 

"Kasama mo ba si Loren?" he asked but didn't wait for my reply.  "Nandito kami sa may Vikings sa MOA.  Sumunod na kayo dito.  Mamaya ka na lang daw kakausapin ng Mama mo at medyo naghehysteria pa."

I chuckled as I imagined Mama in her hysteric state.  Siguradong maglalambing nanaman 'yan kay Jo pagtumaas ang BP niya.  "Punta kami diyan in just a while.  I love you, Pa," I said before ending the call.  

 "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Thirdy was jumping up and down like a little boy who won a bet as he ran towards us.

Laya was right behind him.  She calmly walked without the usual serious and stern expression but had a wide grin on her face instead. 

"Congrats, Thirdy!" Jo exclaimed upon seeing Thirdy.

Shucks! Oo nga pala.  I was too anxious to hear Thirdy's name being called among the top ten.  Now, I was seeing his name right at number 3 at the wide screen. 

"Congrats sa inyong tatlo! Kulang yata kayo.  Nasaan na 'yung isang miyembro nyo?" Loren was referring to Jay of course.  

"Nandoon," she pointed to the other side.  "Gusto pa yatang magprotesta at magparecompute ng grades niya.  Bakit daw kasi si Thirdy number 3 at siya hindi nakapasok sa top 10.  Kung hindi naman sa tulong ni Thirdy, malamang hindi siya makaka graduate." 

"Congrats, Bok!" I playfully patted Thirdy on the head.

Thirdy stretched his arms as wide as he could.  Sensya na bro, hanggang diyan lang talaga aabot 'yan.  He pushed all of us in a hug while he was still jumping like a little jelly bean.  Sige na nga, sweet naman 'to kahit paano.

Someone pulled me out of our little huddle. 

"Ms. Araneta, congratulations.  Can we ask you a few questions?" a lady reporter asked with her camera man standing behind her.

Her face looked awfully familiar. 

"Gabby?" Of course it was her.  She used to be our courtside reporter the last season I played with UP. 

"Buti naman kilala mo pa pala ako," she smiled. 

"Oo naman.  Parang deja vu lang," I told her.  "I remembered you interviewed me on my last UAAP game."

"That was heartbreaking game.  You would have been POG," she revealed.  "But what do you know, I will be interviewing Attorney Angeli Araneta.  So how does it feel to hurdle the Bar Exams?" She jumped into the interview right away.