Flashed Golden Photographs (Sunset Avenues #1)

Chapter 33

Chapter 33 

Plea

I planned it all in my head. My plan after my graduation was certain. I'll gradually fulfill the dreams I have for my family and their dreams for me. I'll pass the board exam and take the tasks of a licensed educator. If by chance, I'll give my answer to Dandell.

I had no plans of meeting him again after four long years. The sign that was given to me, I put it in the trash.

I thought it is nonsense to give meaning to something that is meaningless at all. With Leah's case, he's irritated and definitely annoyed by him since our highschool days. Walter was his football rival too.

Iyong lumapit kay Dandell ay maaaring hindi siya. Galing lang kami sa iisang escuelahan at popular siya noon kaya malabong hindi siya kilala ni Dandell. Possibility, the guy who approached Dandell was one of my admirers. But the picture frame was questionable. Paanong may picture kami ni Archi na dala ng kung sino man iyon?

And that long distance relationship..Umalis nga na hindi nagbibigay ng dahilan.

I thought I was fine.

Dumating ang college graduation namin. Sabay-sabay kaming tatlo. Halos maluha pa kami dahil sa wakas nakapagtapos na rin. Nagkatinginan at sabay na natawa.

Sinalubong ako nila Papa at Mama.

"Pa! Ma! May pangalawang teacher na kayo!"

Niyakap nila akong dalawa. I nearly cried. Pangarap ko noong huling taon ko noong high school at ngayo'y papunta na roon.

I remembered my seventeen-year old self years ago, watching the young dreamers of our town playing the game he loves. A single scenario that brought me to a dream, to become an educator.

He was part of the future I planned. Ang Barcelona at ang New York. Imposible man iyon sa'kin, hindi naman malabong mangyari sa kan'ya. It's possible because he's already creating a name in the football field. With the talent and humility that he has, he'll make it to Barcelona.

"May dalawang maestra na tayo, Fred," maluha-luha pang sinabi ni Mama.

"Congrats din sa inyo Ma'am Jennie, Sir Leo," bati nila sa dalawa ko pang kasama.

"Thank you po, Mommy, Daddy."

Natawa kaming lahat sa sinabi ni Leah. But somehow, nakaramdam ako ng lungkot para sa kanila ni Jennie. Nakakapanghinayang na walang dumalong magulang kila Jennie at Leah. Masakit iyon kung ilalagay ko ang sarili sa pinagdadaanan nila. Mabuti na lamang at nakadalo pa si Luis para kay Jennie.

"Congrats, Ma'am," sambit ni Dandell at binigay ang bouquet.

Ngumiti ako, well, guess what? He's finally got the courage to confess his feelings for me. Mag-iisang buwan na rin siyang nanliligaw. Sasagutin ko siya pagkatapos ng board exam.

"Thank you," wika ko.

Umismid si Leah. Nagkibit-balikat naman si Jennie at kinausap na lang ang kanyang boyfriend.

"Sama ka mamaya? May handaan sa bahay namin," aya ko.

Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap namin tungkol kay 'ano', nakapagpaalam na rin siya sa'kin na manliligaw daw. I made it clear to Dandell that there was never I and him. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko noong una pero naisip kong wala namang masama. Papayagan lang namang manligaw.

"Sige. Pero hindi ba nakakahiya sa mga magulang mo?"

"Hindi. Ano ka ba? Tsaka ipakikilala kitang manliligaw ko."