When I Grow Up, I Wanna Be Mrs. San Gabriel

Chapters 7

“Is something bothering you? You’ve been so quiet since we got home.” Janus asked his brother. They were already eating dinner and Miguel was so quiet.

“Nothing, Kuya. It’s just that, I bumped into someone familiar, I don’t know if I met him before or not. Or maybe I’m just overreacting.” Miguel explained.

“Maybe you’re just overreacting. Don’t bother yourself thinking about that.” Janus explained. Miguel smiled as a response. He thought that the things were all a coincidence.

“Michael told me by the way, you got injured in yesterday’s game? What happened?” Janus told him.

“No need to worry. It’s just a sprain.” Miguel replied. “Tomorrow will be Game 2 of the finals, if we win tomorrow, we will be the champions already.” Miguel’s mood suddenly changed. His quietness was changed to being worried and nervous.

“I will be there, of course I will watch my baby bro!” Janus happily said.

“I hope Coach Justine will allow me to play. I think he wouldn’t risk letting me play thinking that I am not fully recovered.” Miguel added.

“Playing or not, I’ll be there supporting you.” Janus told his brother. He messed up Miguel’s hair and smiled.

“Thank you, Kuya.” Miguel replied. He checked his phone. There wasn’t a single message or call from Michael since the afternoon. He wondered why. He sent him a message asking him how he is.

It’s already past 9 pm and there’s no reply from Michael nor call. Miguel thought that maybe Michael was just busy with his family since his Mom already arrived from her vacation. He’s been overthinking things a lot, especially the game tomorrow. He closed his eyes and thought of the possible things that might happen tomorrow.

Tired from everything that happened the whole day, he fell asleep. He had a dream of something.

Two kids are playing in a garden. They are playing like they were inseparable. They consider themselves as brothers, or even more. But their young minds didn’t think of it as something else.

Then one day, the parents of one of the kids came. They told him that they need to go back to the city already, for they are staying in the grandparents house in the province for a visit. They have to be back urgently because the ticket they bought last time will be in a few hours today, so they have to go already.

“Wait! I have to tell it to JJ!” the kid said. But the mom told him that they need to leave already. The boy cried, for he wouldn’t have a chance to bid goodbye to his friend. He pleaded to his mom but they really have to go.

The boy was already inside the car, crying, when he heard someone yell. There he saw his friend running towards them, chasing their car.

"Miggy!", the young kid yelled. "Wait! Stop!"

The boy cried and tried to convince his parents to stop the car even for a short time to say goodbye to his friend, but his parents insisted not to because they will be late for their trip.

"JJ!", the boy yelled. He cannot do anything. He then remembered the paper they wrote on and looked for his bag. He knew that they would not be seeing each other for a very long time, nearly never. He rolled the window down and got the paper from his backpack. There he threw the letter that they've both written.

The boy picked it up and looked at it. He then remembered the moment they both wrote their promises to each other.

I, Miggy, 6 years old, son of Mari and Felix Veneracion, hereby sign and promise that I will marry you when I reach the age of 21. If not, I will not marry someone else. I want to be your Mrs. San Gabriel.

Signed: Miggy

I, JJ , 6 years old, promised to marry Miggy, and live happily ever after. If not Miggy, I will not marry anyone.

Signed: JJ

“Miggy!” The boy yelled. The boy in the car also called for his name, as the guy vanished from his eyesight.

*ring!*

Miguel was awakened by his alarm. It’s 5:30 in the morning. He was puzzled by that dream. A dream that he had forgotten for years.

“What a dream.” He said to himself and got off the bed. He checked his phone, and there’s still no message nor call from Michael. He wonders if everything is okay.

“I’m gonna ask him later.” He told himself. Today is game 2 of the finals. He should be at school before 8 am, and the awarding will start at 9 am.

His brother drove him to school, Janus will also watch the game. It’s already past 8 am when they got to school. Miguel went to the volleyball team’s locker room to look for Michael but he’s not there.

“Have you seen Michael?” Miguel asked Allen. They’re already changing clothes for the awarding. They’re wearing their warmers for the awarding.

“He’s not here. Actually, he’s not answering our calls. We’re about to call you actually to ask where he is.” Allen answered him.

“I hope he’s just late, we need him for the game. I hope he’s okay.” Aaron said. Miguel became more worried about what really happened to Michael.

The players, coaches, supporters for each team, and the students already went to the gymnasium for the awarding. And Michael is not yet at school, which made his teammates worried, especially Miguel.

The people to give the award have been introduced and the awarding will begin. The whole gymnasium is filled with screams and shouts from the supporters of each player.

“A pleasant day to everyone! We will begin the awarding of the Best Players of the Spikers League 2025!” The announcer said. The whole gym was shaken with screams and cheers.

“We will begin with the awarding of 1st Best Outside Spiker of the Spikers League 2025…!”

Miguel checks his phone to check if there’s a message or call from Michael, but there’s none. He’s calling his number but it was unattended.

“The 1st Best Outside Spiker is… from the University of Etheria, Jean Christian Evangelista!”

“The 2nd Best Outside Spiker of the Spikers League 2025 is… from the Lireo de Ville University, Allen de Juaiting!” The whole gymnasium of LDVU was filled with screams of Allen’s name, he being the captain of LDVU’s volleyball team; and it’s happening in their school.

“For the Best Opposite Spiker of the Spikers League 2025, from the De La Sapiro University, Janel Sison”

“and for the 1st Best Middle Blocker of the Spikers League 2025, from the Lireo de Ville University, Michael Angelo Rey!”

The whole crowd screamed as Michael’s name was called. And there he is. Miguel instantly froze, when he saw Michael standing in front of the crowd…

and he’s with the guy Miguel accidentally met at the mall.