Senior High School

Sa pag-aaral lang ako susugal, kahit na maubos, basta't magtagumpay at makatapos.

After passing the Scholastic Examination, I pledged to attain With Highest Honors, pull off the two-year journey as a HUMSS student, and I will achieve that scholarship abroad.

My studies were funded by the government, so I must aim for the best. Dahil na rin sa kahirapan, masalimuot ang takbo ng aking buhay. Kapag pagod, maaring huminto pero hindi pwedeng sumuko, at tuwing dumadaplis sa pinakamasakit na paraan itong estado ng aking buhay, sa pangarap na lang talaga ako tumatahan.

And then there's Augustus Alejo Almendarez, the one who ghosted me. Wala na sa plano ko ang pansinin siya ulit pero muli siyang bumalik. I already promised to never involve myself again with him. But our young hearts will unexpectedly reunite again, and that was the most regretful thing that I've ever done.

"It scares me sometimes when I see myself reflected in you - drowning and paddling just to survive the sea of disappointments. But it hurts even more to see you getting poisoned by the dreams you once had, the ones you thought would save you. And I'm sorry if I crossed over the line by asking for your hand to lift me up, Yellow," he said.

Slowly, I nodded, processing the heaviness of this situation, "Sana kinalimutan mo na lang ako, Agosto."

"Maniwala ka sa akin, ginagawa ko na." Despite the pain in his eyes, he still managed to look at me.

There are only two years to make this Senior High School meaningful... Two years to sort-out my goals. Oo, dalawang taon lang upang madurog muli sa parehong dahilan. Dalawang taon lang upang panatilihin ang sariling umuusad... at nagmamahal.