All Is Not Lost

Chapter 16

Graduation

"I'll pick you up at 9 PM? Sounds okay?"

Nag-aalinlangan akong tumango kay Eliah at lumabas na ng sasakyan niya. We're still pretending to be in a relationship. Graduation ngayon ni Santi at gusto ko sanang i-extend ang oras ng itatagal ko kasama siya pero alam ko rin namang hindi maaari.

It's the usual routine. Susunduin ako ni Eliah sa bahay, ihahatid sa school o 'di kaya ay sa kung saan ko tatagpuin si Santi. Then, Santi will drop me home when Daddy's not around or he'll drop me at a coffee shop near my home where Eliah is already waiting. Saka ako ihahatid pauwi ni Eliah.

Sometimes, I wonder when will be time that my father will accept Santi. The time when I no longer need to pretend that I'm with someone else and not him. The time when I no longer need to lie.

Pumasok ako sa loob ng university namin nang dala-dala ang bulaklak na ginawa ko para kay Santi. It's a paper bouquet. Some of the folded leaves has a hidden message inside. Madali lang naman ang pattern ng dahon kaya maitutupi rin pabalik pagkatapos basahin ang mensahe.

Bukod sa ayaw kong abalahin pa si Eliah na idaan ako sa flower shop, gusto ko lang din pag-effort-an si Santi. I'm... not as expressive as him with my feelings, so I try to show it through other ways.

I went to the hall where the graduation will be held. I looked at the ticket that Santi gave me and searched for their seats.

Nang makalapit ako ay lumingon silang lahat sa akin. Santi's whole face lit up with joy and amusement as he stagger towards me.

"Congrats!" I greeted him and offered the flowers I made.

Ramdam ko ang titig sa amin hindi lang ng pamilya niya kundi pati ng mga tao sa hall na iyon. My heart was pounding out of nervousness.

"Is this for me?" Hangang-hanga si Santi sa bulaklak na ibinigay ko sa kaniya. It suddenly appeared as a cheap and simple gift for me kaya nahiya na ako.

"Y-Yeah... if you'll accept it."

"These are the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen," he said most earnestly. Nag-angat siya nang tingin sa akin at hinigit ako nang marahan papalapit sa kaniya para mayakap.

"Did you like it?" I asked again between our hugs.

"I love it. Thank you, my love."

Pinaupo na sina Santi roon sa seating arrangement ng graduates. Niyakap ako ni Ate Cris at Tita Mylene at naupo sa tabi nila. Kuya Raki and Kuya Sylnia greeted me and settled with their seats as well.

Si Tita Mylene ang sasama kay Santi sa stage. Ate Cris accidentally told me that she and Tita invited Tito out of respect, but her brothers, including Santi, still resents him. Kaya si Tito na lamang din ang tumanggi. Perhaps also because of what happened when Daddy barged in their residence. Iyong galit nina Kuya Sylnia, siguro ay may iba pang pinanggagalingan.

I sighed and clapped when Santi's name was called. Santi received lots of awards and he's also one of the Magna Cum Laudes.

Noong nasa isang restaurant na kami para mag-dinner ay hindi siya matigil sa pagtitig sa ginawa kong bulaklak. He even took a photo of it. One hundred lang ata ang pictures sa gallery niya at karamihan pa roon ay picture namin o 'di kaya ay ako ang kumuha gamit ang cellphone niya.

"There are letters hidden in some of the leaves," I told him in a low voice.

Napalingon siya sa akin nang nanlalaki ang mga mata at tiningnan ang isang dahon para makumpirma iyon.