I looked at my phone in my hand, still processing the conversation I had with Alexander even if it was just brief. Tinanong niya na lang kung nasaan ako at kung sino ang kasama ko. Pagkatapos ko siyang sagutin ay kaagad siyang nagpaalam. For some, it may be a nonsense conversation but for me, it’s a lot. It means a lot to me. Because of that call, I can say that he still cares for me. And just like that, my worries for him that he might have forgotten about me vanished in thin air. Sa simpleng tawag niya ay naging panatag ang aking kalooban.Bumalik ako sa aming mesa na may kakaibang sigla. Trixie looked at me weirdly. I only smiled at her and put brocolli on her mouth.“Hey!” angal niya. I laughed at her. Napilitan siyang kainin ang gulay na nilagay ko sa kanyang bibig. Rico and Dmitri laughed at her reaction. She doesn’t like vegetables in general.Kinagabihan ay nagpasya kaming sumali sa mga nagka-campfire sa dalampasigan. Halos mga ka-edad lang din naman ang kadalasan sa mga ito.
“Helena Kiera Sue Montes, Cum laude!”Nagsigawan at nagpalakpakan ang aking mga ka-departamento ng tinawag na ako upang umakyat sa stage at tanggapin ang medal at diploma. This is it!Nagkataon na sabay ang graduation naming tatlo nina Meg at Elle. Tita and Tito attended them together with Sofia who wanted to stay with me to join me in the graduation ceremony. Na-appreciate ko ang gusto niyang mangyari pero sinabihan ko siyang dumalo sa graduation ng kanyang mga kapatid dahil hindi man sabihin ng dalawa ay alam kong gusto nilang kompleto silang pamilya. They were going to celebrate at their mansion in Metro Manila because most of their relatives and friends lived there. Tita told me that we are going to celebrate it with the mansion too when they went home, together with all the ranch workers.“Congratulations!”The deans in different departments congratulated and shook hands with me and also the university president. They were all on stage, lined up to congratulate the graduates.“Th
I slowly turned around my heart pounding like crazy with anticipation. This can’t be him, right? He’s in Canada! Hindi ako makapaniwala na tumitig sa mukha ni Alexander na nasa harapan ko na ngayon. He’s holding a huge bouquet. I pinched my arm and I could feel the sharp pain. He’s real! Without thinking more, I went to him and hugged him as tight as I could. I missed him so much! No words could explain how I am feeling right now. “Congratulations, baby,” he whispered and hugged me using his left hand. His other hand is holding the bouquet.Tumingala ako sa kanya. He cleaned his stubbles and he looked so handsome with his new haircut. I noticed how his broad shoulders have become more defined now. He is wearing a white dress shirt and black pants. He looked amazing. Para siyang bituin na nagniningning sa mata ko ngayon. I may be exaggerating things but this is how I feel right at this moment. He looked at me and smiled. I can’t believe how I miss his gorgeous smile too. Ngumiti ako
Pagkatapos ng dinner namin ay dumiretso kami sa mall. I took off my graduation gown and slid it on the backseat of his car together with the graduation cap. I am wearing a white short dress underneath it. Pumasok kami sa mall habang naka-angkla ako sa kanyang braso. Marami akong nakitang naka-graduation gown pa na gumagala kasama ang kanilang pamilya at mga kaibigan. Napangiti ako. If my parents are still here, I am sure that we will be having an intimate dinner in a fancy restaurant or we will be having it at home. “Hi Helena!” bati sa akin ng mga magkakaibigan. I am not familiar with them but they were wearing a graduation gown.“Hello sa inyo.” ganti kong bati. Huminto kami saglit ni Alexander. Alexander glanced at them in a blank expression. Ang snobbish naman ng kasama ko. I bit my lip to suppress my laugh. “Congratulations sayo.” sabi nila.“Congrats din sa inyong lahat.”Ngumiti sila at sumulyap sa aking katabi. Kumaway na ako sa kanila bilang pamamalam upang ituloy ang pagla
Gabi na ng makauwi kami ni Alexander sa mansion dahil tumambay pa kami sa bookstore ng ilang oras. He paid for all the books I chose. Wala rin naman akong dalang pera at siya ang nagyaya kaya siya ang nagbayad. Talaga ba, Hera? Ginusto mo naman di ba?Nagulat ang nagbukas ng pintuan ng makitang kasama kong umuwi si Alexander sa mansion. Ako nga rin po ay nagulat din ng makita ko siya kanina.“Magandang gabi po, Sir.” bati nito bago umalis at sinarado ang malaking pintuan ng mansion. Hinatid ako ni Alexander sa aking kwarto. I didn’t invite him in para makapagpahinga na rin siya sa kanyang kwarto pero pumasok pa rin siya. He sat comfortably on my bed while I got my satin pajamas to go to my bathroom. He looked around in my room and stopped to the photo frame. Sinabihan ko siyang maghintay dahil saglit lang naman ko. I took a quick shower dahil feel ko ang dungis dungis ko na. Mula pa kaninang umaga hanggang sa gumabi na lang. Sa loob na rin ako nagbihis.Paglabas ko ay hawak-hawak na
I felt sore all over my body. And I can feel the warm arms encircling my small waist. I opened my eyes only to see Alexander's captivating eyes. “Good morning, baby.” Matamis niyang bati. He pecked a kiss on my lips and fixed the strands of my loose hair and put it behind my ear. “Good morning.” bati ko pabalik. “I am still sleepy..” sabi ko sabay pikit ulit ng aking mga mata. Narinig ko ang kanyang bahagyang pagtawa. “Alright, love. Sleep more.” malambing niyang sabi sa boses na para akong hinehele. Hinigpitan Niya ang kanyang pagkakayakap sa akin at hinalikan ang aking leeg. Then, I heard him hum a song until I fell asleep again. Nagising akong nag-iisa na lang sa aking kama. Then, there’s a note on my bedside table saying, “Good morning again, sleepy head, I head out first.” Napapiksi ako ng maramdamang medyo masakit ang buo kong katawan ng gumalaw ako. Tinatamad mang bumangon ay pinilit ko ang aking sarili na pumunta sa bathroom upang maglinis ng katawan. A cold shower is
Mahigpit na niyakap ako ni Meg pagkatapos naman ay si Elle. Kakarating lang nila mula sa Manila ngayong umaga gamit ang kanilang private helicopter. Kahapon pa abala ang lahat ng tao sa mansion dahil sa paghahanda para sa gagawing celebration mamayang gabi. It's Alexander's homecoming and the graduation celebration all in one. “I have missed you, Helena!” sabi ni Elle.“Na-miss ko rin kayong dalawa.” nakangiti kong sabi.“You look so gorgeous even more!” namamanghang sabi ni Meg. I smiled shyly dahil parang ganun pa rin naman ang hitsura ko.“Siguro naman nagka-boyfriend ka sa college!” Excited na sabi ni Meg. We were now heading inside the mansion. Alexander is walking behind us along with their parents.“Right! I saw your pictures in social media, you've been so close with Dmitri. Wow! He's hot! And in fairness, you looked good together!” sabi ni Elle. Tumango naman si Meg bilang pagsang-ayon.Alexander faked a cough kaya sabay kaming napalingon sa kanya. He's staring darkly at Ell
Hinampas ko sa braso si Alexander. Umungol siya na wari ay nasaktan. Aba’t ang OA naman ng isang to. Napakahina nga lang ng hampas ko. Tiningnan ko siya ng masama pero ngumiti lang siya. Ayan na naman ang nakakatunaw niyang ngiti. Minsan na nga lang ngumingiti, nakakatunaw pa. “Bakit mo sinabi sa kanila na girlfriend muna ako?” Mahina kong tanong sa kanya. He stopped and faced me. Kaya napahinto rin tuloy ako. Then, he wore a serious face. “I didn't know we should make it a secret this whole time, Hera. We've been in a relationship for five years, and I didn't say anything about us. Bago ako umalis ay girlfriend na kita. Did you forget about it?” Nakataas kilay niyang tanong. I pouted and shook my head. “Paano kung malaman ng parents mo?” Tanong ko. This time, his eyebrows furrowed. Na para bang nagtataka siya kung bakit ko tinanong yun. “Takot kang malaman nila?” Tanong niya. Tumango ako. Takot din ako para sa aking sarili, Alexander. Hindi ko pa rin maisip na ako ang narara