Flashed Golden Photographs (Sunset Avenues #1)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Meteor

Ang daan na walang palamuti, tanging ang streetlights lang at ang ilaw na nagmumula sa kabahayan. Paglipas ng buwan ay nabagayan ng mga naglalakihang kumikinang na nakikita lamang sa kalangitan.

Ang ugong ng mga sasakyang dumaraan, nahaluan ng mga kanta sa saliw ng iba't-ibang musical instruments.

Innocent faces filled the streets. What they have in mind is the essence of holiday, gifts, lights and love.

I remembered our class caroling for our Christmas party. Their happy faces and silly jokes while we were singing to our heart's content. We were happy. Five peso coins, ten peso coins, paper bills are nothing compared to the people whom we laughed, smiled and exchanged greetings with.

A genuine celebration of Christmas, a group of teenagers laughing and goofing around. Archi led the small band we formed. He serenaded homes, young and old ages, complete and incomplete families.

We were all mesmerized as if for them, it was the first time to hear his singing voice. We enveloped the streets with warmth. Giving the month of December a different kind of solace.

Doon ko napagtanto na..this would be our last celebration of Christmas party, as a class. And that very moment, every smile, every story must be treasured.

To practice gratitude, to give them hugs, to forgive and to let go of grudges. Because no one can really tell if we'd stay the same, if we'd remain as precious high school friends after years.

No one can tell if the thing we have in our hands would remain intact and cannot be changed by time.

Mabilis lang ang natitira pang mga buwan bago namin kailangang magpaalam. Lilipas ang bagong taon, ang huling seniors' ball, finals at ang pinakahihintay na graduation.

We have to part ways. To create uncertain paths we want for ourselves.

"Pumili na kayo ng partner niyo dahil ang susunod nating laro ay newspaper dance."

Nagkatinginan kaming lahat. Akmang mag-aaya si Luis pero mabilis na hinarang siya ni Archi.

"Partner tayo."

Ngumiti ako at tumango. Sino pa ba kung hindi siya?

Tama ako ng hula nang nakangisi na sa'min sila Kylie. Magkapartner kasi si Kendall at Gigi pero hindi sumali si Kylie. Nagkibit ako ng balikat.

"Makabingwit nga ng gwapong football player."

Pinaningkitan ko sila ng mata.

"Archi, ang sagwa."

Natatawang saway ko sa kanya nang mag-play ang music. Required na sumayaw, eh.

Iba naman ang ginawa ni Archi, para siyang nakikipag-kompetensya kay Luis sa pag-twerk at paggiling. Hindi na tuloy kami makapag-focus dahil nauuwi na lang ang lahat sa tawanan. Ang adviser namin ay napapasapo na lang sa noo.

Eto naman kasing lalakeng ito, lahat na lang ata ng laro, papatulan. If he's after the prize na isang supot ng kendi ay hindi ko na alam. Everyone's doing it for fun and entertainment.

"Buhatin na kita ha?"

Hindi pa man ako nakaka-oo, pumasaere na ako. Pakitid nang pakitid ang sukat ng newspaper.

First year in junior high school gives us funny vibes, pictures we regret taking but kept in our pockets. Transitions we made from being a pupil to a student. It gave us a lot of funny stories. I remembered them all while watching my classmates exchanging gifts.