Paper Hearts on Paper Planes

Chapter 24

Chris's POV

The graduation ceremony was finally over. After kong magpapicture sa mga kablocks ko ay agad kong linapitan sina Mama.

"Congrats anak." bati nina Mama at Papa.

"Congrats Kuya."

"Salamat Ma, Pa at tsaka bunso."

"Congrats bro." sabay pat ni Jerrick sa balikat ko.

"Sana all graduate na." Gab said.

"Ganyan mo ba talaga ako babatiin?"

"Marami ng nagcocongrats sa'yo kaya valid na yun. Plus ayaw kong mapagod ka sa kakasagot ng salamat, thank you, thanks, kamsahamnida, arigato..."

"Okay-okay, you can stop now Gab. By the way si Sharon?"

"Aahh... pumunta sa kabilang gymnasium, sa graduation ni Claire. Pero sabi niya babalik daw siya."

"Aahh.. ganun ba."

"By the way son, let's go have lunch together, sama na kayo Jerrick, Gab."

"Sige po Tito."

***

"So saan mo balak magtrabaho anak? How about yung offer sa company, where you experience your internship."

"I accepted the offer na po Dad, and maybe by next month I can start working."

"Next month?"

"Aahh.. yes Dad, kasi they told me to start working anytime. Kaya I sent them an email na I'll start working next month. Pumayag naman sila."

"Aahh.. ganun ba? So anong plano, why next month pa?"

"Plano ko muna mag-enjoy muna mag-unwind, you know before jumping to a new beginning."

"If that's the case, mag-enjoy muna kayo sa Batangas. I'll call your Lolo about it, you can stay there for a while if gusto mo munang mag-unwind. You can bring your barkada if you want."

"Talaga Dad?! Thank you, your the best talaga. So guys, are you in?"

"I'm in." Gab said.

"Sorry, I can't. May summer class pa ako next week."

"Then, kahit 2 days lang tayo dun, okay na yun. I can unwind for the rest of my break sa bahay naman. Come on Rick, once in a lifetime mag-offer si Dad ng ganito."

"That's true Jerrick." Dad seconded.

"Fine, I'll go, pero 2 days lang ha. May enrollment pa ako."

"Okay, final na yan ha."

"I don't have much of a choice, mapilit ka ehh.."

"By the way I texted Jay, papunta na daw sila dito." Mom said.

"Is it true na nandito na sa Pinas si Sharon?" Dad asked out in a blue.

"Yes Dad, she's back."

"Speaking of, andiyan na pala sila."

"Tita, Tito." at nagmanu na si Jay kina Mama at Papa, sumunod rin na nagmanu si Gab at Sharon.

"Congrats Claire." sabay na bati nina Mama at Papa.

"Thanks po Tita, Tito."

"And good, that you're back Sharon. How was States?" Mom asked.

"Come on honey, paupuin mo naman sila. Have a seat muna."

After umupo nila Sharon ay nagkwento na si Sharon about sa States panay sagot naman siya mga tanong ni Mama.

"So Claire, I've heard from your parents na you'll take over the school soon."

"Naku Tita, matagal pa pong mangyari yan. But I'll start working there po muna, pang-experience po to learn how to manage a large institution."

"That's great, naku Jay you should work harder. You don't want Claire ang magbuhay sa inyo kapag kasal na kayo."

"Of course naman Tito, I'll work hard for our future. Pero gragraduate po muna ako."

"Yan ay kung gragraduate ka."

"Panira talaga tung si Gab minsan."

"Stop it you two, dito pa talaga kayo magbabangayan sa harap nina Tito. Have some decency."

As usual si Jerrick lang talaga nagpapahinto ng gulo sa barkada.

"By the way Sharon, since you're back. I'm assuming kayo na ulit ni Chris?"

"P-po? Aahh.. hindi po, we're just friends po Tita."

"Naku, pinatagal niyo pa, balikan rin naman ang punta niyo."

"Actually po, okay na po kami as friends. We both agreed on that na po."

That was before, pero Sha these past few days I kept on thinking na I won't settle on us being just friends. I want you, I want us back.

"Speaking of balikan po, it's a shocker po to know na Jerrick and Gab are in a relationship." pagdidivert niya ng topic.

"Really?! Kayo ha, it's a good thing na nagcecelebrate tayo ngayon."

***

After naming kumain ay namasyal muna kami around the mall. Busy si Mama sa pakikipagkwentuhan kay Sharon kaya hindi ako makasingit to talk to Sharon about something that is bugging these past few days. After naming mamasyal, it's quarter to 6 na kaya dumerecho na kami ng bahay. After kaming ihatid nina Mama at Papa ay umuwi na sila, nakatulog na kasi ang bunso.

Papasok na sana kami sa bahay nang biglang familiar na lalaki na dumating, it's that guy, Kier John, John Kier? I don't know basta yung kaibigan ni Sha na nakilala ko the other day.

"There you are Sha."

"Ohh.. Kier, why are you here?"

"Looking for you."

"Aahh.. by the way Kier, my friends, you've met Chris, right? So this is Claire, cousin ko, si Gab, Jerrick at Jay."

"Nice to meet you all. I'm Kier John, Sharon's friend from States."

"Hi, nice to meet you Kier John." they all greeted.

"Want to join us? Magcecelebrate kami, Chris and Claire just graduated kasi. Don't worry it'll be just us, a small get together lang."

"Are you all cool with that? Maybe you don't want an outsider like myself in your get together."

"Any friends of Sha is a friend of ours, so join us. The more the merrier." Jerrick said.

I don't know but still I dont like this guy, there's something about him that bothers me. And there it hit me when he looks at Sharon. I don't like how he looks at Sharon. Oo na, I'll admit it nagseselos ako. Masyado siyang close kay Sharon and I can really sense that he likes her.

***

Nagpapahangin ako sa may veranda with an empty canned beer in my hand when suddenly may lumapit sa'kin.

"There you are, the guy I'm looking for." what does he want? "Here, have some more beer. We're celebrating di ba? Kaya inom ka pa."

"No thanks, I don't want to get that drunk, ihahatid ko pa si Sharon pauwi."

"No need for that. I'm here, I can take her home, we live in the same house rin naman." okay, he's getting in my nerves. If I could just hit this guy.

"Nope, I'll still take her home."

"From what I've heard you're her ex right?"

"Why are you bringing that up?"

"Cause, I like her. I like Sharon, a lot."

§§§

Another update bukas 😁.