The Next Stage (COMPLETED)

Epilouge

Julia

"Good morning, Hawaii." I said while looking at the view.

Yes, this is the day. It's my friends' wedding. And I'm currently here at the hotel kung saan din nag-stay yung mga guests.

Tumayo ako. I moved the curtain so that I can fully see the view.

Oh, God. Indeed that His creations are so wonderful. And this is one of those.

I felt a tear escaping my eyes. Bigla akong tumawa. Why am I so emotional? Feeling ko tuloy, ako yung ikakasal mamaya.

It's 7 o'clock in the morning, I had to wake up this early dahil kapag hindi ko nagawa, baka ma-late ako ng gising.

I scanned my eyes throughout the whole place. Sobrang laki nitong room for me. Tapos ako lang yung nag o-occupy.

Sabagay, sanay naman na ako mag-isa. Sinanay ko na yung sarili ko mag-isa.

It's been a year, since we broke up. I realized, grabe yung emotions na binuhos ko doon sa nangyari.

It was a heavy break-up, sobra. Pero at some point, hindi ko pinagsisihan na nangyari 'yun.

Because of that, sobrang daming magandang nangyari hindi lang sa sarili ko kung hindi sa mga tao sa paligid ko.

My friendship with Caitlyn and Hana got stronger. Despite of our busy schedules, dahil graduating na kami ni Caitlyn, we still managed to be intact to each other and in fact, mas naging mature yung friendship.

Caitlyn and CJ are still together. In all fairness, sobrang saya nila sa relationship nila. Although lowkey lang kasi parehas graduating students, ang lakas parin ng kapit nila sa isa't isa. I'm glad that they ended up together.

Si Trixcia, balita ko, nag-aaral siya ng Medicine, gusto niya kasi talagang maging isang doktor—neurosurgeon to be specific. We still text each other sometimes, kahit wala na sila ni CJ.

And of course, my family. Mama got promoted sa job niya, dahil doon, mas naging stable kami financially. We even travelled together last month sa Sagada at sa Batanes. And I swear, that was the best travel ever. Lalong naging better because I'm with my family.

Ako? Paano ko ba i d-describe sarili ko.

Tingin ko, I'm satisfied with what I am doing right now. Thankfully, scholar parin ako ng Harding University. And I became the president of the student council kaya mas lalong dumami yung mga nakakakilala sa'kin.

Pero kahit ganoon, I still didn't like being the center of everyone's attention. President na ako sa lagay na 'to. Hindi naman na ako introvert, pero ayaw ko parin ng attention talaga.

Now, puro aral lang ako. Mas lalo akong ginanahan mag-aral because my past grades were good and hopefully, maging cum laude ako. I'd be the happiest kapag nangyari 'yun.

Napansin ko yung lei na nakalagay sa side table ng bed. The flowers are still fresh. Inexpect ko naman na na makakatanggap ako ng ganito because I'm in Hawaii.

Dreams do really come true. This is the second time na nag travel ako overseas.

The last time was in...Hongkong–which brought too much painful and happy memories.

I looked at my phone nung narinig ko yung vibration. I checked it immediately, mamaya importante pala.

It was a text from an unknown person.

'Hi. Can we talk?'

Funny. Hindi man lang nagpakilala. Baka mamaya, scam na pala 'to.

"Hala!" I exclaimed nung makita ko na tumatawag na siya. Ngayon nalang ulit ako kinabahan ng ganito.