He Broke Me First

Chapter 22

R-18

Sabi nila, masarap daw makuha ang isang bagay lalo na kapag pinaghirapan mo. Back then, I was always wondering if all the memories of your efforts and hard works would play in your mind just for a minute or maybe for seconds the moment you achieved the thing that you wanted to have for a very long time.

Pero ngayon, alam ko na ang sagot. Parang bumalik lahat ang mga pinagdaanan ko bago ko marating 'to.

'Yong mga gabing wala akong tulog dahil sa dami ng gawain.

'Yong mga gabing tahimik lang akong naiiyak kapag hindi ko na kaya at naiisip na sumuko na lang.

At 'yong mga gabing nawawalan na ako ng tiwala sa sarili ko.

All of them suddenly played in my mind after hearing my name. I was trembling as I wiped the tears coming down from my cheeks while making my way towards the stage.

"Dela Vega, Kiela Syrbia, Cum Laude."

I shake hands with our dean. "Congratulations," he said.

Ngumiti ako at nagpasalamat pagkakuha ng diploma ko. I bowed a little when I faced the crowd. Napailing ako pagkakita kay Joaquin na nakaupo katabi ang mga magulang niya. Nauna na ang class nilang tawagin kanina.

Binasa ko ang pagbuka ng labi niya. "I'm proud of you." That was what he was trying to say while raising his right hand. Nasa gilid pa ng bibig ang isang kamay.

I smiled at him and looked at my family. They were smiling at me. Buhat ni Papa si Coleen habang si Mama ay nakatakip sa bibig niya, umiiyak.

"We're so proud, anak," ani Papa nang lumabas ako dahil tapos na ang seremonya.

Niyakap ko siya bago binalingan si Mama na hanggang ngayon ay umiiyak. I chuckled and hugged her, too. Hindi ko makausap si Joaquin dahil malayo sila sa amin at nasa kabilang side ng hall.

"KIELA!"

I turned around to see my friends. Agad silang lumapit sa amin, suot din ang mga toga nila. I laughed and pulled their hairs. I quickly hugged Yzza when my gaze turned to her. She was holding four bouquet of flowers. She was wearing a suit. Business woman na talaga ang datingan.

"Congrats sa atin!" tuwang-tuwang sabi ni Jhannus. Tumawa kami pare-pareho at nag-group hug. Marami pa kaming pangarap na tutuparin.

Binigay ni Yzza ang mga bulaklak sa amin bago nagpunas ng luha. "I'm so happy," she told us.

I softly laughed and gave her a hug again. We're friends without insecurities and love each other like real sisters, not just only as best friends.

"BS Management Accounting, we love you, goodbye!" sabay-sabay naming sigaw at nagtawanan.

"Picture tayo!" Zea said while holding her instax. We wore our togas before taking pictures together.

"One more!" Si Yzza.

Hinagis namin ang mga toga bago narinig ang pag tunog ng camera. Nagpaalam na rin kami sa isa't-isa pagkatapos dahil sa kanya-kanyang lakad kasama ang mga pamilya namin. Nag-set din naman sila ng inuman bukas.

"Congrats, love." Joaquin hugged me from the back.

Humarap ako sa kanya. "Congratulations to us."

He changed his grip on me and reached for my hand. "We still have so much dreams to achieve." He stared at my eyes.

I gently nodded and slightly pushed back his hair. "Let's achieve them together, then." I gave him a light kiss.

Magkahawak kamay kaming bumalik kung saan nakatayo ang mga pamilya namin. We decided to eat dinner in a five star hotel together with our families.