Embracing The Rain (Rain Series #2)

Chapter 50

Chapter 50

After four years...

"Altarieno, Victoria Yllena, D."

I smiled at the crowd as I heard my name on stage. Buong galak akong umakyat doon kasama ang Daddy ko.

Kinamayan ko isa-isa ang mga guests na nakatayo sa stage. Hanggang sa matanggap ko na ang diploma ko ay nakangiti pa rin ako.

"Thank you..." I sweetly said to them.

This day has finally arrived. After all my hard work, effort, and the challenges I had faced, I'm finally a college graduate na!

Parang kailan lang ay kaka-graduate ko lang ng senior high school, tapos ngayon... ugh! So damn fast!

I can't wait to have my own project. I can't wait to become a licensed civil engineer. I can't wait for that moment!

"I'm so proud of you, Victoria..." Daddy kissed my cheeks pagkababa namin ng stage.

I may not be able to graduate with flying colors, but... ramdam na ramdam ko talaga na proud ang buong Altarieno sa'kin. The way they smiled at me, the way they clapped their hands for me, the way they stand and look at me. Grabe...

"Me too, Daddy. I'm so proud of myself."

Taas-noo akong bumalik sa kinauupuan namin kanina. Daddy is still beside me, though.

My heart is full of happiness until now. I want to show the world what I had achieved. Gusto kong ipakita sa lahat ng nanlait at humusga sa akin noon na... kahit ganoon ang tingin nila sa akin, nakapagtapos pa rin ako ng pag-aaral. Na hindi porke't hindi maganda ang naging simula ng buhay ko, magtatapos na rin iyon sa ganoong paraan.

And among all the people who surround me, may isa pang tao ang alam kong... sobrang proud na proud sa'kin ngayon.

My mother.

Who else would it be?

She may nag at me often-but I know... she's looking forward to seeing me in this position. I dedicate my success on studies to her. Lahat ng mga sakripisyong ginawa ko sa buhay ko ay inaalay ko para sa kaniya because... that's the least I could do.

I wish she's here with me, too.

I smiled bitterly.

I remembered how people used to ask me what is that one thing I would wish for when I already got everything.

Of course, it is her.

Her presence.

That's the first thing I would wish in my entire life. Although... alam ko namang malabong mangyari iyon. We can't bring back the life of a dead person. Masakit man pero... iyon ang totoo.

So... kung may hihilingin man ako ngayon giving the impossibility of Mommy's come back, siguro iyon ay...

Sana pumunta pa rin siya.

Nagbuntonghininga ako. "Tingin mo, Dad... will he come?"

Nagkibit-balikat lang ang ama ko.

"Who knows? It's still his decision..."

Gusto kong magalit. Gusto kong mainis. Gusto kong magsalita nang masakit. Pero hindi pwede. Ako ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng ito. Walang dapat sisihin kung hindi ang sarili ko.

Humantong kami sa ganito dahil sa'kin.

All just... because of me.

"Come on! Huwag ka ngang KJ!" Bugnot na sigaw sa'kin ni Tricia.