Summer to Forget ✔️

16

"A family member po?" I asked, curious.

"Well, ask him yourself," she answered as she elegantly feeds herself.

It's our graduation day today and most of my classmates are crying while the program isn't starting yet. Ma-mi-miss daw nila ang isa't isa pero halata namang pagkalipas ng isang taon dito hindi na ito magpapansinan. Pusta ko pa ngipin nila. I did that on my elementary best friend who happened to be a stranger now. Nagka-jowa lang ay hindi na namansin pa sa akin. Sinayang ko pa luha ko noon, pinagtawanan pa naman ako ng mga kapatid ko.

Our graduation day happens to be Czesar's birthday too. I greeted him when I woke up but I haven't seen him in person yet. I guess they still have their classes. Mauuna pa namang matapos itong ceremony namin bago ang last class niya for today.

Dad's with me today who's wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and his usual Palm Beach because he sponsored the graduation and of course, Tita Viana who looks so elegant with her white off-shoulders satin dress and her vintage Chanel bag and D'Orsay pump. Looking so pretty with her simple makeup.

I suppose to be with my camera today but dad glared at me when he saw me talking to it while we're still in the car. Saying,

"Stop doing that Tamila, we hired someone to take us pictures."

I didn't bother to talk back. But I still have my camera with me, in case I'll be needing it today. And my Instax, I want a polaroid photo to place on a frame with those dried flowers that Czesar gave me.

"Tam, heard that your boyfriend's band will be singing? Is that true?" I heard Trishia, my old classmate, asked.

She's my friend because we belong into the same circle of friends when we were in Grade 10. She's not studying here pero nagka-ayaan silang pumunta dito kasi tapos na iyong sa kanila kahapon na pinuntahan rin ng ibang kaibigan namin, we only stopped unto a coffee shop in the city and took some photos.

"I still don't know yet, Trish. We didn't talk about it and I guess he still has his classes." sagot ko nalang kasi hindi ko rin naman talaga kasi alam. She nodded at me and decided to take a photo on my Instax and also took a photo on hers.

Siguro ilalagay rin iyon bilang dekorasyon sa kuwarto niya kasi noong unang nag-sleep over kami sa kanila noon ay halos puno ng mga instax photos iyong kuwarto niya. She designed it very well. Papasa rin siya bilang isang interior designer, pusta ko pa Palm Beach ng Tatay ko.

Kahit noon pa man ay humanga na ako sa galing niyang magdesinyo ng mga artworks.

"Tam! Pwede pa picture?" I heard someone say.

"Oh okay. Where's your phone?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Camera mo nalang gamitin natin para mas maganda quality katulad mo." aniya.

"Buang ka talagang abo ka!" sabi ko sa kaniya sabay kurot sa tagiliran niya.

Ashwin looked dashing on his white polo. His hair was wax and noticed that he is no longer wearing his braces.

"Aray naman po! Mas masakit pa ito sa pamba-basted mo sa akin last year." biro pa nito kaya pinaliliksikan ko ito nga mata.

Bigla ko na lang nakita si Czesar na sumulpot sa likod niya na may dala-dalang gitara. Nakasuot rin ito ng puti na polo pero umaagaw ng pansin ang suot nito na mahabang kwentas.

If I was not mistaken, that was my gift for him, last year on his birthday.

"Ash!" isang salita pa lang niya ay nakita ko na kung paano namutla ang mukha ni Ashwin.

Habang nakatitig sa kaniya si Czesar ay pabiro kong kinuletat-an ang Abo. I laughed at Ashwin who's probably nervous that Czesar heard him playingg with me. This is the only time that Czesar heard what Ashwin usually say when he interacts with me. Puro biro.