Gleaming Part

....20

Chapter 20

"Surprise!" Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko habang nakatingin sa mga kaibigan ko na may hawak na banner.

After recovering, I laughed at them and immediately went to them for a hug.

Nagulat sila sa biglaang kong yakap pero natawa sila at niyakap ako pabalik.

"Look, how much you've changed! Wow!" I laughed at Ashley and slightly pulled her hair.

She pouted and pushed kaya ako nayakap ni Grace.

"Ashley 24 ka na, ang dami mo pa ring arte." Saad ni Grace kaya nakatanggap siya ng irap galing kay Ashley.

Natawa na lamang ako at tinignan sila. I missed out a lot. Their college, college graduation, birthdays. I smiled sadly.

Umakbay sa'kin si Cameron kaya napatingin ako sakaniya, "You glowed up." He uttered.

I nodded and smiled, Cameron was the one whom I talked the most throughout. But, we never really talked about things about our friends. That's why I'm missing out a lot. Wala akong masyadong balita sakanila. But they still send me pictures together but, whenever Eugene's with them, they usually don't let me see it.

I looked at Cameron, "How's he?"

He looked back at me and he smiled, "He's okay."

I nodded, napansin ko na nakatingin sa'kin sina Greg kaya ngumiti ako sakanila. They seated in the mini couch here in my new room.

"He pursued his dream job, Cadie. Same with your dream too." I sighed in relief.

"That's good. I bet he is doing very well! Not only in his dream profession but in life too." I commented as I looked down.

I hope he is.

I heard Greg cleared his throat that made me look back at them.

"He is doing very well..." he looked at my friends before turning his gaze back at me.

"With someone else." He almost said it like a whisper but it was clear to me.

I smiled, I knew this was coming. It was highly possible in the first place.

I felt an aching feeling in my chest and thoughts decided to swirl in my head but I just shook my head.

"I-It's alright." I mumbled and I felt Cameron squeezed my shoulder.

I immediately decided to stand straight and wandered my sight through the room.

I smiled on how bright and spacious it is, not suffocating at all.

Has this island vibes too because of the wood, beige, plants themed

I stopped when I saw a wall full of photos, printed polaroid photos. It was our photos together since the beginning of Senior High School. They also have the photos they have when they were in college, and both of their SHS and College graduations. I smiled as I look at the photos one by one.

I stopped at one particular photo.

It was our first photo that Eugene and I had, the picnic in the rooftop.

Our backs were only seen in the photo while we're looking at each other smiling. This is very beautiful.

"I remember how Greg took this one." I whispered and they all chuckled.

My eyes went to another photo, a group photo where I was in the middle with a lot of cake frosting in my face and my friends are all laughing while Eugene was only smirking.

"Pre." Napatingin kami ni Eugene kay Greg at napangiti ako. I waved at him and he nodded at me.

"Let's go? Tapos na ba kayo dito?" He asked Eugene and Eugene answered with a nod.

Niligpit na nila ang mga gamit habang hawak ko naman iyong box ng cake.

While we're walking down, I noticed that they kept on glancing to each other.

Kumunot ang noo ko, "Okay lang ba kayo?"

Sabay pa silang napatingin sa'kin, "Ha?" They both said in unison.

"Mukha kayong natatae." I whispered but I know they heard it.

We were silent the whole time and they are walking too slow, asa main quadrangle na nga, ang tagal pa mag lakad.

I was about to face them when I felt something on my face, and another one, and another one.

Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil nagulat ako nang biglang may naramdaman ako na inilagay sa mukha ko.

Whipped cream? And chocolate frosting?

"Happy Birthday, Cadie!" Tawa nila kaya kumunot ang noo ko.

Eugene shook his head and got his face towel to wipe off some of the things I have in my face.

"Wait lang! Huwag mo muna tanggalin, Eugene! Let's take a picture. Babe!" Tawag ni Grace kay Greg kaya inilabas niya ang polaroid camera niya at nag pasuyo na mag pakuha sa estudyanteng dumadaan.

"Ready?" Umayos na sila at pinalibutan nila ako.

"Okay, 1, 2, 3!" I felt a flash at lahat sila tumawa ulit.

I felt happy seeing them this happy, another feeling of fresh air from everything happening to me right now.

Papa has always been in such a mood, a mood that I wish I can remove. I wish I can escape from.

"Your thoughts are deep." Umangat ang tingin ko kay Eugene at pinunasan niya na ang mukha ko.

"Is it?" I asked that made him snickered.

"If iniisip mo nanaman if iiwanan ka namin. The answer it still no, Cadie. I or we won't leave you. There's no reason to."  He smiled a little and got wipes from my bag before giving it to me.

I washed my face with the wipes as I watch my friends having fun putting frosting on their faces. Nag hahabulan pa nga sa main quadrangle.

This is one of the moments that I live for. The main reason why I am still keep on going. My friends gives me strength, comfort, and love. They understand, even though they don't know the whole reason. They just do understand.

"Count on me, on us, Cadie. We will never break you or your trust." Eugene booped my nose.

Inirapan ko siya at nagpatuloy na lang panoorin ang mga kaibigan namin.

Lumapit sa'kin si Grace at Greg na punong-puno ng Icing ang mukha, they gave me the polaroid picture and the camera para magpatuloy sa pag lalaro. I don't know bakit hindi pa sila sinasaway.

Ang ingay tas ang kulit pa. Senior high school ba sila?

I laughed at my own thought.

"Missing senior high school?" I heard Ashley asked.

Tumango naman ako.

"A lot." Humarap ako sakanila at ngumiti.

"And I missed you." I looked at Ashley and smiled.

Next to Grace, "and you."

Then my vision went to Greg, "and you."

And to Cameron, "and...you."

"But, I know who you're missing the most." I heard Cameron commented, I smiled sadly.

"Siya lang naman ang hindi mo talaga nakausap ng pitong taon, Cadie. Ikaw ang ghoster ng taon." Natawa si Cameron sa sinabi niya pero nakatanggap naman siya ng batok galing kay Ashley.

"Huwag kang maingay! Secret na nga natin na ghoster talaga si Cadie." I rolled my eyes as they laughed at Ashley's remark.

I missed them, a lot.