"Mommy, bakit naman napa-aga punta ko ng US? You promised me I can still attend my graduation."
I was upset as hell after the call. My parents want me to fly out three days from now. Ibig sabihin, I can't even attend my own college graduation. I was already prepared because it would be the last time, I'll see my best friends, and especially the guy I hold dear in my heart.
Hindi man lang maibigay ni destiny ang araw na iyon sa akin?
I looked over my toga, graduation cap, and the white dress I was going to wear underneath. I looked over at the Chanel heels I also bought for the occasion. I cried as I looked at them and cried more when I began packing my stuff.
I ended up with puffy eyes before sleeping but I finished putting away all my stuff.
It was five days before graduation and 2 days before my flight. Hindi pa ako nakapagpaalam kila Joni at Trish na hindi na ako makaka-attend ng ceremony. It was making me sad by thinking about it. I wanted to spend the last 2 days with them. But Joni was probably busy with the graduation program and Trish went back to her hometown.
I decided to call one of my sorority sisters.
"Jen, labas tayo tonight." Aya ko to my batchmate.
"Graduation despedida na ba 'to? Game ako." Jen giggled.
"Sort of. Gusto ko pumarty before graduation and before umalis." I told her.
"Timing. May secret graduation party ang fraternity nila Joni mamayang gabe." She squealed.
Natigilan ako. Joni was a member of a university wide known fraternity. They're notorious for throwing different college parties. Nandoon kaya siya mamaya? Hindi doesn't usually go kasi ayaw ni Trish. Alam kaya ni Trish na may frat party mamaya? I bet she doesn't kasi allergic siya sa mga fraternities and sororities. She just tolerates it kasi pareho kaming member ng mga kinaayawan niyang grupo sa school. Also, Jen said it's a secret graduation party so konti lang nakakaalam.
"Is it ok if we crashed in the party?" I asked my batchmate.
"Of course, Benjie even invited me and ask some sororities sisses to go too."
Benjie was her boyfriend na graduating kasama ko. Jen is a batch younger than ours pero sorority batchmates kami.
"Weren't you going to invite me if I didn't ask first?"
"I didn't know If you wanted to party. We, your sorority sisters, knows that you rather hang out with your goodie two shoes model student best friend."
She was talking about Trish. It was an open secret to every sorority that they hated Trish after she all turned their invites down.
"Well, count me in tonight. Wala si Trish." I smiled.
"It's about time you know." She laughed.
--
The party was held in a clubhouse in an exclusive village. When I got there, the party was already in motion.
"Lourie!" Jen squealed when she saw me.
Dali-dali siyang pumunta sa akin. She literally jumped and hang on me. I gave her a beso as we made our sorority handshake.
"Haven't seen you around, Lourie! Welcome!" Inabutan ako ni Benjie ng beer.
"Benjie-bear! Grabe. I haven't seen you in a while." I made beso to Benjie and drank the beer he gave me.
"We were all busy with our thesis naman. Hey. I saw Joni somewhere here earlier."
"Yah batch. I saw your best friend kanina. Mabuti di niyo kasama ang isa." She made a face at me.
"No need to be mean of someone who is not here, Jen." I giggled as I drank more beer.
"Tara na! Hanapin na natin si Mr. Summa Cum Laude." Hinatak na ako ni Jen sa mas maraming tao.
I had to beso, handshake, and hug a lot of people in the party. It was like my ultimate despedida party, but no one knew I got 2 days left.
I was on my second beer when I finally saw Joni hanging out with his other fraternity brothers in a more secluded place.
"Guess who's here?" Jen pulled me beside her as she went near the boys.
"Hey Lourie! What are you doing here?" Vega, one of the fratmen, stood up and made beso which I returned.
I waved to everybody else. Napatayo naman si Joni.
"Hoy! Bakit ka andito?" Joni was surprised and stood next to me.
"Ikaw rin. Bakit ka andito?" I questioned back which was stupid.
Syempre kasi party iyon ng fraternity nila kaya mas may reason pumunta ni Joni.
"Alam ba ni Trish about this party?" he whispered to me.
"I don't think so. Kanina ko lang rin nalaman from Jen." I whispered back. "Chill ka lang. Party niyo 'to."
"Kulang ata kayo ah." Komento ni Vega and everyone laughed.
"Wala si Miss Magna Cum Laude kaya andito itong dalawa." Tawa ni Jen.
"You know what that means." Vega moved his eyebrows in a very suggestive way, and everyone laughed.
"Ulol niyo, gago." Sabi ko sa kanila. Umiling na lang si Joni.
"Hindi talaga bagay sayo magmura, Lourie. Mukha ka pa namang anghel." Vega teased me more.
"Hoy Vega! Tama na yang pangbobola kay Lourie." Jen laughed.
"Tara! Doon tayo." Biglang hatak ni Joni sa akin.
Everyone howled after us. I looked back at Jen and she just raised her beer to me.
"Enjoy." She mouthed.
