Falling Irrevocably

15th

15th

"Congrats to us bitches!" I said in a high pitch the moment I walked towards Ria.

Buong Graduation ceremony ay magkalayo kami kaya hindi ako mapakali sa kinauupuan ko. Kanina pa rin ako nahihilo kahit may aircon naman sa buong auditorium.

Bahagya muling umikot ang paningin ko kaya napapikit ako. Mabilis lang iyon kaya hindi napansin ni Ria. Kumapit na lamang ako sa braso niya at sabay kaming naglakad.

"You wouldn't even graduate if you're not a Lexington because of your bad record." She harshly remarked.

"Coming from you, a Stafford." I retorted that made us both laugh.

Natanaw agad namin na magkasama ang pamilya ko at ang mga Stafford, na wala naman ang mga magulang ni Ria.

She was congratulated by her cousins while I awkwardly stayed beside my mother. Si Dad naman ay may kausap sa phone.

"Congrats, lil sis," Sabi ni Kuya Isaac at binigyan ako ng isang bouquet ng flowers.

Lumapit din si Kuya Psalm at hinalikan ako sa noo.

"Congrats, Den," Bati nito at napangiti ako.

See? I really love my brothers.

"So what are your plans now, Ria? Den is gonna take up Engineering."My Mom blurted out to Ria.

Yes, I'm going to take Engineering in a university located in Europe. Everything I need is now settled. Aalis na lamang ako dahil nakahanda na ang lahat. Pumayag na lang ako at hindi na umangal pa.

Even if I want to take up a degree related to painting and arts, I'm not brave enough to say it to my parents. Alam ko naman na ang sagot nila. I don't want to hear rejection coming from them so I just kept my mouth shut.

Plus, this is my plan too. This is the escape and the moving on thing with Chanler. And speaking of him, halos mabuwal ako sa kinatatayuan ko nung makita ko ito na naglalakad palapit sa direksyon namin, kasama ang kapatid niyang si Ephraim.

His younger brother walked past to us, may kinausap ito sa likod namin. Then our eyes met. Umiwas agad ako tapos saktong tumingin sa akin si Kuya Isaac. He gave me a meaningful look and he looked really amused. Pasimple ko siyang inirapan.

"I have to go back to the firm,"

Napuno ng dismaya ang puso ko sa sinabi ni Dad. Katatapos lang niya makipag usap sa telepono tapos ito ibubungad pagbalik. Great!

"I'm coming with you," Sabi ni Mama at binigyan ako ng isang sulyap.

"Congratulations, Den," Hilaw niyang sabi. Tumango na lamang ako at hinayaan na silang umalis. Medyo napatalon ako nung inakbayan ako ni Kuya Isaac.

"Crush mo nakatingin sa'yo," Bulong pa nito na nahuli ni Kuya Psalm.

Crush, huh?! Fuckbuddy kamo, I mean, ex fuckbuddy.

"Sinong crush?"

"Wala!" Agad na sigaw ko na nakakuha ng atensyon nilang lahat. Napalunok naman ako nung magtama muli ang tingin namin ni Chanler.

Tanga na kung tanga, but I somehow miss him. His chinky eyes and white skin, his toned body and his delicious lips. And, bumaba ang tingin ko duon at napalunok ako, his maleness.

Oh, akala ko ba move on na?

I sighed inwardly. I shook my head.

His presence is nothing. I chanted in my mind.