CHAPTER 19
1813 Words
Chapter 19
"OMG! This is it, pancit!" Like me, Rowela and I were ecstatic, finally, this is the graduation we've been waiting for.
I'm truly grateful to God and my parents for their unwavering support in my studies for everything I've achieved today. And my next step now is to improve my work so I can give my parents a good life.
They are the reason why I strive in my studies, even though I didn't receive any awards in school, the fact that I received my diploma wholeheartedly is a huge achievement for me.
"Even if we're far away, we should still text each other, okay?" Jenisa said.
"Of course we should still keep in touch, even if fate takes us to different worlds." I chimed in.
I noticed my mom waving, so I excused myself from my classmates to go to her and dad who were sitting on chairs. The ceremony was held in our school auditorium.
I looked around to find someone I've been looking for since earlier. I texted him, and still no reply, I ran out of load so I couldn't call him.
"Where could he be? Is he still asleep?" I talked to myself.
"Excuse me, I'm just going to pass through!" I excused myself to the people sitting near the edge before I could get to my mom. "Thank you!" I smiled at my classmates' parents.
"Ma, Pa… are you calling me?" I asked them. Lately, I've noticed that the two of them haven't been acting right. When I get home, I always find them arguing, and the last thing I heard was that Dad had another woman.
I just hope it's not true because I wouldn't accept it if either of them had another family. Even if I'm their only child, I wouldn't accept having a sibling from another father or mother.
They're sweet when I'm in front of them, but they really can't hide the fact that I know they're arguing.
"What? Maybe you need to pee, go to the bathroom first, what if they call your name and you can't get to the stage right away." I was happy with what Mom said.
"I just went to the bathroom, Mom, and I think I've released all the liquid in my body because of your constant reminders, I keep peeing even though there's nothing left." We couldn't help but laugh, especially Dad, and Mom was frowning because she knew she was the reason why I always go to the bathroom.
"You know your mom, anak, she's probably the one who's nervous about going up on stage, so instead of wanting to pee, she doesn't want to go out. She's excited to put a medal on you." Dad said, so Mom immediately slapped Dad on his leg.
"You too, you're so annoying. You kept asking me if I was still handsome! Am I still handsome, maybe I'm ugly in the picture of our child, you're kidding me, right?" Mom said softly, so even the people next to us who heard our conversation laughed.
"Thank you for your sacrifice and love for me, Mom, Dad. I'm always grateful to you both. Don't worry, I'll always keep my promise to you that I will give you a good life. Just a little more patience." I said, looking back and forth between them.
We've been crying at home since we've been talking about this, and even here at school, we couldn't help but say what we wanted to say to each other.
It's not proud to be poor, but I'm proud to say I'm proud of our simple life. And my number one treasure is my parents. They are my real family.
"Since you're done with school, you can now have a boyfriend, your mom and I will allow it. But introduce him to us first, so I can check him out, anak." I suddenly started sweating because of what Dad said.
This is what they told me, that I shouldn't be in a relationship until I graduate college. But how do I tell them that someone likes me, and it's none other than the son of the boss where they work? Will they agree? Will Dad like him? Especially now that I've also thought about accepting him after our ceremony.
Mom and Dad probably won't be mad, right? Because I'm done with school, and besides, Ryker is a good guy. We have plans for each other.
I thought I loved Sebastian, but I don't, maybe it was just puppy love I felt for him, because I know who's on my mind and in my heart. I know he's the only one who makes me happy, and I look for him more than anyone else. It's really him, so I know that when I tell him how I really feel, he'll be happy. He'll be happy because that guy succeeded in making me fall for him.
I just don't know where he is now. I haven't seen him in the auditorium yet. In a few minutes, the graduation ceremony will start. I called him now, but his phone just rang. I also texted him, and I'm excited for his reaction later when I accept him.
To Ryker the playboy
You don't want to answer? And you don't want to reply to me? Okay, I have something important to tell you. For sure you'll be happy, even your eggs, about what I'm going to say.
Laughing emoji then sent.
I just smiled at what I put in the message before sending it to him.
We were called to take our seats. I took one last look at the entrance where the students were coming in, though I was slightly upset because I wanted to give him a hint before I went up on stage, but he wasn't there.
"Hey! Are you okay?" Rowela asked me, so I turned my attention back to her.
"Yeah, I'm fine!"
"Are you sure? You look like you need to pee again!" I rolled my eyes at what this witch said, so she laughed. "Maybe he's still getting handsome, so just chill. Maybe he prepared a long carpet for him to walk on for his success in graduating, a famous playboy from this school." She added, so I frowned at her even more, and she just held back her laughter. She's so crazy.
One last look at the entrance, but no Ryker came in, I was about to look back at the front of the stage when my knees suddenly went weak because of the handsome guy who just walked into the auditorium, shems… my world suddenly stopped because the one I've been waiting for is finally here.
I felt that I wasn't the only one looking at him, I cleared my throat and didn't take my eyes off him, wearing slack pants, a white polo with a toga, and most importantly, his hair was neatly styled, which used to be like it was hit by a storm because it was frizzy, but it looked good on him. Neat and clean cut.
Now? Is his style different, or am I really, really in love with a Sullivaño?
"Hey! Calm down your cabbage, your cheeks are red like tomatoes." Rowela scolded me. Damn, maybe my saliva is dripping, please don't, it's embarrassing.
The speaker started talking to welcome the graduating students, but my brain was excited about what I was going to say to Ryker.
I can do this, it's me! Will he cry? Will he be thrilled when I say I love you, I love you, saranghaeyo, or whatever language it is.
One last look at him, sitting on the other side, the guy is serious, oh, sitting and not even looking my way. Tsk.
Are his parents here? Maybe when I tell him how I really feel about him, he'll fulfill his promise to marry me first before going to Manila?
"Aubree Lynn Corpez." I was surprised because they called my name. I was so spaced out that I didn't understand anything the speaker was saying. If Rowela hadn't tapped me, I would have been laughed at.
I smiled, and while I was with my parents, I was ecstatic, finally. This is it, my school days are over. A different life or world awaits me.
When I went up on stage and received my diploma, I took pictures first. Luckily, Rowela's sister had a camera, so I have memories to be proud of. I caught Ryker's eye, but my smile suddenly melted.
He wasn't looking at me, but he was talking to our classmate. Of course, maybe he's been looking at me while we were going up on stage, and it was just a coincidence that someone talked to him.
Get ready later, I'm going to pinch you because you weren't focused on me, you man.
Still, I was smiling until the picture taking with my parents was over.
After that, we went down the stage, Mom and Dad went back to their seats, and I went back to where the students were. Before I got there, I looked back at Ryker, who now had a sticky gaze at me, staring not just at my face but at my whole body. My mind thinks differently when he looks at me like that.
So I immediately bowed my head so my face wouldn't look like a tomato because of him, and I immediately went back to my seat as if nothing happened.
"Yahoo! Happy graduation day!" We all shouted, throwing our caps in the air.
Mom and Dad went home after the closing ceremony because they knew this was the last time we would all be together as classmates. Sad to say, I didn't see Sebastian go up, why? Did he fail his thesis or what? But he said during our last conversation that we would take pictures together and he had something important to tell me.
I should ask Ryker, but the other one is not here in the auditorium either.
Someone told me he went out, so I immediately went out of the auditorium because I had something to tell him.
Someone said they saw him going to the parking lot, so I immediately went there because he might be going home without even saying goodbye to me, and he might have forgotten his promise to talk to me after graduation.
I was about to turn the corner of the hallway to the parking area when I heard someone talking near the edge of the auditorium. Near the big acacia tree.
"What's going to happen, we lost the bet, bro, Ryker won Aubree Lynn, because of the medicine you gave her in Cebu, you succeeded in getting her," one of our classmates, a friend of Ryker's, laughed.
I covered my mouth with both my hands because I couldn't believe what I heard.
- Writer
