Dreams Within Us

Chapter 1

Everyone's cheering and laughing inside this big auditorium. Lahat may iba't-ibang ganap some are taking pictures with their parents or friends, others choose to stay on their respective seats and wait for the program to start. Pero kitang-kita mo sa lahat 'yung saya sa mga mukha nila wearing their togas. As for me, I' m currently roaming around and waiting for someone.

"Uy, saan ka na? The program is about to start." I kept on pestering him the same message at ilan beses na rin ako ni-replyan ng malapit na. Medyo na-traffic lang.

He should be early lalo na part siya ng Latin honors. I'm trying my best not to get pissed, graduation namin ito so hindi dapat ako ma-stress. But thank goodness after several hours of waiting, I finally saw this dashing man running while waving his hands at me.

"So bakit ngayon ka lang? Alam mo ba kung anong oras na?"
'Yan agad ang bungad ko pagdating n'ya. As much as I try to be more patient hindi ko talaga kaya. Umaandar pa rin 'yung pagiging mataray ko.
He just hugged me and said sorry.

"Sorry na. Sobrang traffic lang talaga." At talagang pa-cute pa siya while saying his alibi.
"Naku, Sam. Patawarin mo na' yan kung hindi hanggang mamaya 'yan nakayakap sayo."
Tinanggal ko naman yung pagkakayakap sakin ng lalaking ito at lumapit sa nag-salita and I hugged her so tight.
"I miss you, tita."
Btw, that' s his mom, Tita Carol.
"I miss you too, lovely lady. Congratulations on your graduation. Nasaan na pala parents mo?"
"Nasa loob na po tita. We better get hurry po malapit na po mag-start 'yung program."
Napilitan na kaming magmadali kasi sinita na rin kami ng organizer.

Pagkaupo ko sa pwesto ko, mix emotions' yung nararamdanam ko. Excited yet nervous. I feel so numb hindi ko alam kung dahil sa lamig or dahil kinakabahan lang talaga ako. Ang weird lang kasi I'll just accept my diploma tapos yun na yun so bakit ako kinakabahan?
When it's time for our department, unang tinawag ang recipients of latin honor. And one of them is my boyfriend
"Alyjano Shan Lopez, Magna Cum Laude."
The moment na tinawag yung pangalan n'ya. Napatayo agad ako and I really shouted "Go love, I love you!" Nakakahiya but I don't give a damn. I feel so proud na parang feeling ko ako ang nanay n'ya, naiiyak ako sa sobrang saya. He really worked hard for this. It was his ultimate dream ang makasama sa honors and make his mom proud. And he did! I couldn't be more proud of him! After awarding all the recipients next ng tinawag 'yung block namin.

When it's my turn to accept my diploma, wala nothing special. Siguro medyo masaya kasi finally after 4 years of hardwork and pagsu-sunog ng kilay natapos na rin. But of course there's the worry and fear about the future, so after this what's next? Ano ng naghi-hintay para sakin? How am I going to face the real world? I need to be strong and positive. Ang daming questions ang nasa utak ko ngayon pero isa lang ang sure ako I'll be okay as long as nandyan si Aly sa tabi ko. He's my confidant and my constant strength.

Btw, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Sammy Abigail Lim. Now an AB Communication Arts graduate!

Regarding Aly, he's my boyfriend of 5 years. Ever since highschool, friends na kami. He was also the one who encouraged me to took up Communication Arts. Kahit nung highschool pa kami he's really into writing and prods. As for me, hindi ko rin alam. Until now I don't really know kung saan ba talaga ako magaling. I'm trying to enhance my skills in writing. Pero hindi ko pa rin maconsider 'yung sarili ko na magaling. But don't get me wrong, during the entire 4 years na-enjoy ko rin naman 'yung course na kinuha ko. I discovered a lot of new things about myself.' Yung parang dati may mga bagay na akala ko hindi ko kaya and it turns out kaya ko naman palang gawin.

But going back, natapos na rin ang commencement rites sa wakas! Sabay na kaming nag-celebrate ni Aly with our parents. Nag-dinner lang kami sa isang well-known buffet restaurant. We decided to celebrate it together since inseparable 'yung mother ko and si Tita Carol. Well, if you're wondering kung nasaan 'yung father ni Aly. Even him, hindi n'ya rin alam. Mag-isa lang si Tita Carol na bumuhay and nagpalaki sa kanya so he really make sure na pagbu-butihin n'ya and magiging successful siya for his mother. And to be honest, I really want to commend Tita for raising a good and wise young man. Sobrang goal oriented and competitive ni Aly and you can't blame him. Basta ang number one priority n'ya is his mom's happiness. And I'm okay with it.

Sa 5 years namin, we share a lot of dreams together. Ang dami rin n'yang pina-plano para sa kanila ng mom n'ya and also para saming dalawa. Nakakatuwa na he's a dreamer and at the same time realistic. Hindi lang puro pangarap, dapat may gawa. And yes, that's my boyfriend.

Minsan nga napapa-isip ako na he's too good for me. Well, okay naman ako as a student and as a partner. Hindi naman ako buma-bagsak and medyo masipag naman mag-aral but sometimes I tend to get out of track, nawawala ako sa focus. And hindi rin ako ganun ka goal oriented. Sometimes Aly would ask me about my dreams or plans years from now and actually hindi ko rin alam. See, until now I'm still contemplating kung ano talagang gusto ko para sa sarili ko.

Days passed by and sobrang busy kami sa job hunting.

"Sam, what if I pursue a job in Singapore?"

I was quite surprised when I heard that. Hindi ako agad nakasagot at ang tanging nasabi ko lang ay
"Ha?" with a confused look on my face.

"Remember when I told you na may ino-offer sakin 'yung tita ko na trabaho sa Singapore. Advertising firm. Pinag-isipan ko rin siya and I think better opportunity kaysa dito. What do you think?"

I don't known on how will I going to answer that question. Ano nga ba sa tingin ko? Should I say yes, accept it since better opportunity? Or should I say, try mo muna mag-hanap dito I'm sure some well-known companies kukuhanin ka kasi magaling ka?

Bakit nga ba ako nahihirapan sagutin? Maybe because it's too sudden or baka nata-takot lang ako na mapahiwalay sa kanya?