Sacred Hearts

Corazones 50

Hearts 50: Expertise

Minerva Giselle’s

It’s good to see that after the hardships, the pain, and the tears, we receive success. This is my success, for now. Dancel Jacob with me, and now… that I’m graduating.

It’s the familiar feeling back in grade six, the valedictorian feeling. The fulfillment. That my hard work has paid off. Another stepping stone. Another hard task that is done.

“Delos Carlos, Minerva; Summa Cum Laude,” tawag ng emcee sa akin.

Nagpalakpakan sila. I smiled and walked up the stage. My tears formed, uncontrollably. Itinawa ko na lang iyon para mawala.

The platform faced me after I received my awards. With teary eyes, I smiled at the people before I started speaking.

“First of all, thank you for sharing my joy now, as you support me in this journey…” I said as courtesy to everyone. My family, my friends, my fans, and my Dancel Jacob.

I saw Dancel Jacob in the far front, smiling at me from ear to ear, makes him look like he’s asleep.

“I love you, Minerva!” biglang sigaw ni Dancel Jacob kahit napapalibutan kami ng media.

Naghiyawan sila. Natawa ako sa kantyaw ng mga kaklase ko at ng mga dumalo.

“I love you too…” reply ko kaya mas nagkagulo ang audience.

Natawa ako ng marahan bago nagsimula ulit, “I didn’t see this coming. Kahit anong paghihirap ko… I doubt my self everytime because I know that I can have a downfall anytime,” marahan kong sabi, nagpapatuloy sa sinimulan. Natawa ulit ako sa microphone.

“Iyong alam mong kahit anong paghihirap mo… hinding-hindi mo maaabot. Kasi malayo. Kasi mahirap. But it’s just us, making excuses because we’re afraid and wounded, and we don’t want to make mistakes…” I trailed off, remembering everytime I think ill of myself.

“I want to tell you to trust the journey. Trust yourself. If you cannot trust yourself, do something to be able to. This is how I survived. I did not trust my self so I studied, again, and again, and again to gain my self trust and I did. This is another step to my goals…” marahan kong dugtong, nangingiti kahit naluluha na.

“Four years ago, my goal is to graduate. Now, I graduated, with a bonus of latin honors,” natatawa kong saad saka inangat ang diploma ko ng pansenyas sa audience.

“Now, my new goal is to help my family, the Stelivias, with the corporation. And to help the Delos Carloses, to conquer their fears as they grow…” I continued whilst watching Mom, Dad, Kuya Zescche, Zach, Papa, Aleszvia, Carla, and Eli.

“I want to be a good asset to our companies. Which is also why I studied so hard so I can be deserving of the title. Along with Kuya Zescche, of course,” natawa ako ng marahan, looking at Kuya Zescche who is now smiling widely at me.

Tahimik ang media. All I can see from them is the flashing lights from the cameras.

“While I’m still standing here in front of you all, I want to say thank you, once again to my parents; Mom, Papa, and Dad. You have raised me well. Thank you. Along with Kuya Zescche and Zach, you have been the best brothers ever since I got you, thank you so much. My friends, my cousins, those who believed in me, thank you, too, so much, for bearing with me in my hard and dark times. And last… Thank you to my Dancel Jacob Laroza,” I said, laughing a bit that made the medias budge because they need content.

“Even my modeling career escalated, eventhough I was slow with it because I needed to concentrate and focus with my studies. Now that I am done studying, I will now focus with the corporation…” I trailed off, smiling, suspensing others mischievously.

I heard others groan and say ‘aww’ in distress. I laughed at their thoughts and remembered good fans who have been waiting for me ever since I started my modeling career.

“…and my modeling career,” I continued, making the medias jump a bit and my fans here jump in happiness.

“To those who supported me even when I was slow, to my fans, thank you so much for supporting me all the way. I hope that you’ll continue to support me as I climb my way to be a good model and CEO of our companies. Thank you,” I sincerely said to warm my fans’ heart. I know that they will be happy with my revelation and decision.

“Everyone of you have helped me hand in hand even when I was just starting. I’m so glad and relieved that I have trusted people like you all,” I confessed.

“And to my co-graduates, this is just another stepping stone. Another start to our lifetime goals. With or without honors, you deserve to be congratulated. You have worked hard. We all did. And now that we are present here, as graduates, our hard work have paid off. Let’s contune to work hard for the betterment of our futures. Let us not forget the memories, the harships, and joy that we encountered during these years. Let us make it our courage to stand up tall, brave, and courageous. And let us not forget the memories that made us who we are today. Lastly, I thank the Lord Jesus to where I am today. Thank you, everyone! Have the moment of your lives and be proud of what you have become, after all these years. Carpe diem. Sease the day, and enjoy the moment. Congratulations!” I said as a final wave to everyone who is listening to me. I smiled after I finished the last word.

After the realization that my past amnesia gave me, I realized that in any way, we are bound to part ways. That we needed to grow apart. It’s not always healthy to be together. There will be a turning point in our lives that one has to leave, and one has to be left. Even with parting ways and leaving, before those, we had the time of our lives. We had the best times that nothing else can lamangan. Even if it was hard, it will still be the best, among the lessons, because one… had to leave, and one… had to be left.

And leaving and being left are okay… I always believed that no matter how far someone go after leaving, if we were to be, we will always gravitate towards each other once again.

“Bye! Thank you for coming!” pag-farewell ko sa mga nagpaalam na sa aking aalis na.

The party got us good. Dahil busy ako sa finals, si Kuya Zescche ang nag-arrange ng graduation party ko. I remember arranging Kuya Zescche’s graduation party back then. I smiled at myself sleepily whilst remembering.

Iginiya ako ni Dancel Jacob sa kwarto ko. He held my waist gently but firmly to prevent me from wobbling.

“Kaunting lagok lang iyon! I’m not drunk,” natatawa kong sabi kay Dancel Jacob na nakangiti sa akin.

“You don’t do that,” natatawang balik niya, tinutukoy ang kaunting pag-inom ko.

Ipinaupo niya ako sa edge ng kama ko. Umupo rin siya doon pero tumayo ako kaya nakatingala na siya sa akin ngayon.

Napangiti ako sa itsura niyang nakatingala sa akin, parang sinasamba ako. My gaze went down to his white long sleeves button down shirt that’s hugging his body. Hindi na payat si Dancel. He wore this kind of top back in our acquaintance party when I was grade seven but he didn’t look this sexy before. Si Jacob hindi naman din ganito ang katawan noon. He’s more muscular now after four years. Lalo pa’t paaraw siya nang paaraw, ang dark na ng features niya kahit ang soft ng singkit na mata niya.

“Come here,” mababa at seryoso niyang sabi at hinila ang kamay ko paupo sa hita niya.

Patagilid akong umupo roon. Ibinaon niya ang ulo niya sa leeg ko kaya hinaplos ko ng marahan ang malago niyang buhok.

“We didn’t break up before the accident. That makes us who many years together now?” kuryoso kong tanong dahil biglang dumaan sa isip ko

“Six years…” bulong niya sa tainga ko na medyo ikinabalikwas ko kasi nakiliti ako. Nakangiti akong tumango sa sinabi niya.

“Kapag daw seven years na, malabo na raw maghiwalay,” nangingiti kong sabi sa kaniya.

“Kahit noong first year pa lang natin, hindi naman talaga kita papayagang makipaghiwalay,” marahan niyang balik na ikinatawa ko.

I remember wanting to break up with him amidst my amnesia days. He didn’t really accept my decision. I don’t think he ever will, judging from his actions. Napatawa ako ng marahan sa sarili ko.

Ipinasada ko ang daliri ko sa anit niya. Napangiti ako nang makita ko sa braso ko ang bracelet na ginawa niya noong highschool pa lang kami.