Chapter 5: The guest speaker

I was about to reply on Lei's text message when I heard a footstep. Then, I saw him, the fake Nathan. Wala na ang mga ngiti niya. He's now the Nathan I knew. Serious face, no emotions and mystery eyes.

Umusod ako ng kaunti ng maghugas rin siya ng kamay. "Uso mag-excuse." I said in an annoying tone tapos ay kumuha ulit ako ng tissue dahil medyo nabasa ako ng maghugas siya ng kamay niya.

"Uso tumabi."

I rolled my eyes. Okay, the real Nathan really came back. Tapos pag balik naming mamaya dun sa table, magbabait-baitan na naman siya.

"You hate me, right? Bakit ka sumama pa sa min? You should've turned down being Constantino." I crossed my arms, waiting him to answer.

"I was about to but I remember my promise to Nicholai." He answered while his attention is looking at himself in the mirror and fixing his hair. "Kung gusto mo ikaw nalang ang umayaw. I won't mind if any other ladies will take your place." He turned around on me and leaned against the sink. "Iba pala ang mga ganda ng mga taga-probinsya. Pabor sa 'kin kung aayaw ka. May nakita ako kanina sa Hacienda na magandang babae. Natural. Simple. Walang arte –"

I cut him off, "I'm Irene Desylvia and no one ever takes place on what's mine. I was chosen."

"I was chosen too." He said in an innocent tone, "Okay. Let's just accept it. Magdala ka nalang ng alcohol sa Santacruzan. I'll bring one too. Baka maubusan ka pa e." He sarcastically laughed.

My jaw clenched. He's really getting on my nerves.

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad pabalik sa table namin ng bigla niya akong tawagin. "Ah, siya ng pala! Sabay tayo pumunta sa Graduation."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Why should I go with you?"

"Because you're not used to ride a bus?" Then, he smirked on me. I saw in his eyes that he knows something on me. Like my world who turns upside down. Then I remembered something... His message on my facebook.

[How's your Dad work?]

Bumalik ako dun sa table naming when I saw all of them laughing to their hearts out. Lalong-lalo na si Nathan. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Marian at patuloy pa rin sila sa pag-tawa. I have no idea what is it all about but seeing Nathan laugh is really unbelievable.

I was expecting na aalis na kami after nilang magtawanan pero Nathan ordered some desserts na dahilan para mas tumagal pa kami don. I can't relate to what they're talking. Saka, wala ako sa mood para makipagtawanan. Nasa mood ako para tadyakan 'tong katabi kong si Marian dahil kanina pa namumula ang braso ko kakahampas niya. Sobra-sobra kasi siya kung tumawa.

Nathan offered us to take home. Gabi na kasi at bukas na rin daw balak ni Dad balikan yung sasakyan namin dun sa may vulcanizing shop. Unang inihatid si Marian sa bahay nila. She's living simply. Semento at walang pintura yung bahay nila. May mga bata na naglalaro sa labas at madaming kalat. I can say na nakatira siya sa may squatter area. But want thing I know for sure, swerte siya sa mga magulang niya. Nang makababa siya ng sasakyan ni Nathan ay sinalubong siya kaagad ng Mommy at Daddy niya that made me jealous.

My Mom and Dad got divorced when I was 4 years old. I was too young when I saw Mom packed her own bags and left home. After 10 years, I just heard news about Mom getting married to her first love. Then year after, Tita Julia came.

"Maraming salamat hijo." Pagpapasalamat ni Dad kay Nathan. He just smiled as an answer to my Dad. Naunang pumasok sa loob sina Dad.

Papasok na sana ako ng tinawag ako ni Nathan, "Irene!"

I turned my back on him, "What!?"

"You passed."

My eyebrows furrowed to his words but seconds passed and realized what he's talking about, "It's already posted!?"

"Check it with your own eyes, bye!" He started the engine and left.

Nagmadali akong pumasok sa loob ng bahay namin at halos madapa na ako paakyat ng kwarto ko. Binuksan ko ang pocket wifi ko at hindi talaga ako mapakali kakaantay.

I immediately opened the Howard University website and clicked the students who passed the examination 2016. I scrolled it down to letter D. And there I saw it... Nathan was right.

Desylvia, Irene Fuerte

BS Biology

Nagtatakbo ako pababa dala-dala yung laptop ko. "Dad! Dad! I passed! Sa Howard University! BS Bio! I'm soon to be a doctor na!" I even hugged my little brother, Iron, dahil sa saya. "End of May ang enrolment and June ang pasukan. Dad, I'm so excited!"

Kita ko sa mata ni Dad ang pagka-proud sa akin. He even hugged me, "As expected, my baby passed." He chuckled and I laughed.

Humiwalay ako ng kaunti dito, "Kaya ba natin, Dad?" I said in a sad tone. "I mean, wala na tayong pera. Kaya ba? You know, I can work here! Para lang makatulong sa pag-aaral ko. Wala naman sa aking nakakakilala dito kaya ayos lang sa akin magtrabaho. But please Dad, promise me, sa Howard University ako papasok ha?"

Dad just tapped my head, "Kakayod ako para sa pag-aaral mo."

"Bukas na bukas palang ay magdodoble trabaho na ko." Napalingon kami parehas ni Dad kay Tita Julia. She's actually nice. I just hate the fact na may kahati na ako sa oras ni Dad. Noong umeksena kasi siya sa buhay namin that time, I want my Mom and Dad to get back together but then she came. "Hihingi na rin ako ng tulong sa Lola mo kung may alam pa sila na pwedeng pagkakitaan ng pera. Basta anak, gagalingan mo ah."

And for the first time, lumambot ang puso ko kay Tita Julia. I never expected her to help me with my studies. But here she is, planning what she can do to earn more money.

"T-Thank you po..." I almost whispered.

She smiled, hugged me and Dad, "That's what family do." Tapos naman  ay nakiyakap rin sa amin si Iron.

**

I woke up early. Magbabagong-buhay na ako. I was born with silver spoon in my mouth. Pero, tama nga sila at nagbabago ang ikot ng mundo. Now, I need to help to earn money. Hindi pwedeng hindi ako papasok sa Howard University. It's my dream school. I need to finished there and be successful doctor.

This day, I even helped Tita Julia to sell some veggies. Kahit ako nagtataka sa sarili ko. This is not me. Lahat ng bagay ko nakukuha noon. Ngayon, kailangan ko ng paghirapan. Maybe, I badly want to study in Howard University.

Days passed and our Graduation came. Dad supposed to take me to Manila pero may delivery ng gatas sa kabilang bayan. No choice talaga ako na makisabay kay Nathan. I chatted him on facebook at ilang Segundo palang ang nakakalipas ay nag-reply na siya kaagad saying that he'll arrive in 15 minutes.

This is the first time that Dad won't come in my Graduation. Dati rati'y kahit anong event sa school ay napunta siya. But right now, our situation sucks. Ni-hindi ko nga masabi sa mga kaibigan ko ang kalagayan namin ngayon.

"You said you'll arrive in 15 minutes! It's been 45 minutes! Malalate tayo!" I shouted at Nathan when his car arrived in our yard.

He waves at me and give me a smile, "Good morning to you too!"

Galit kung sinara yung pintuan ng sasakyan niya. "Nice legs huh." Biglaan kung hinigit pababa yung dress ko para matakpan ng kaunti yung legs ko.

"Ugly pervert!"

He just grinned at me tapos may inaabot siya na kung ano sa may backseat. Nagulat ako ng may iabot siya sa 'kin na scarf. I made a silent laughed because it's pink. "Are you gay?"

"Kay Mom 'yan."

"Anong gagawin ko dito?" Mataray kong tanong sa kanya.

"Your legs are distracting me." And that made me stunned. "If you don't want us to get in an accident you better cover it now." And he smirked at me!

Well, that's expected. I'm Irene Desylvia.

"You still don't like me?" I teased him, even tickled him.

"I just hate your attitude back then." Simpleng sagot niya.

"How about it now? Mabait na ba ako?"

He shook his head, "No. Pero nabawasan na ang pagiging prangka mo." He joked, "Nagiisip ka na ng sasabihin mo hindi tulad dati na kung ano ang unang pumasok sa isipan mo, yun ang sasabihin mo without even thinking how everyone felt in your words."

I just nodded on him, "I guess I change." I looked at the window... Thinking what happened to the old me.

"Ah!" Napalingon ako kay Nathan ng bigla siyang magsalita, "How's your Dad work in Manila?"

His words that made me feel something. I know that he know something.

"How about it?" Me, trying to calm myself and observing him.

"I heard from Dad. That your Dad – Nevermind."

I took a deep breath. His Dad is Patrick Calvix Aranillo. One of the business partners of Mr. Sagisaka. Sa pagkakaalam ko, hindi sila close mag-ama because of his Dad's work. Pero bakit nabanggit nito ang tungkol sa Dad ko?

--

"Friend!"

Yumakap sa 'kin sina Joanna nang makadating ako. Hiwalay kaming bumaba ni Nathan. Kumbaga, sa parking lot ako bumaba tapos siya naman ay nagtagal pa ng ilang minuto sa loob ng sasakyan bago sumunod dito sa hall kung saan gaganapin ang graduation.

"Anyare sa'yo, friend?! Bakit tinitigyawat ka yata?!" Napahawak ako sa may noo ko.

"A-Ah eh kasi nasa probinsya kami ngayon. You know vacation." Sabi ko nalang. Gusto ko sabihin sa kanila ang sitwasyon ng pamilya namin. But, I have this feeling na para bang bababa na ang tingin nila sa 'kin. They're my friends... but I know if they're real one.

Umupo kami sa assigned seats dahil may pangngalan 'yon. And guess what, I have an award. Nasa pangalawa kasi kaming linya kung saan andito ang may honors. Halos tuwang-tuwa kaming apat dahil kami lang Section B ang nasa linya ng Section A. Sa unang linya ng upuan, andun si Nathan. Nagtama ang mata namin pero inirapan ko lang siya.

Just like the other events, may nag-perform muna ng ganyan ganito. Tapos may nag-speech. Sa dami ng nagsalita sa may stage, tanging isang tao lang ang pumukaw ng atensyon ko. Matangkad, gwapo at mukhang nasa edad pero shit – He's still damn hot!

"Hi Graduates! I'm Patrick Calvix Aranillo and I'm not actually an alumni here." Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Nathan. So, that's his Dad?! Oh god! "I graduated in University of California, Los Angeles. I studied here but finished my studies in California because of my eye surgery in New York. Our University President, Mr. Capchengco, my Ninong, requested me to have speech on this day to inspire all of you."

"Siya pala yung Calvix!" Kilig na kilig na sabi ni Denise. "Nakikita ko siya sa internet!"

Muling binalik ko ang atensyon sa lalaking nagsasalita sa unahan. "Believe it or not. Pasaway ako nung college days ko." Then everyone laughed, even his son, Nathan. "I'm a troublemaker, but I have good grades." 

Lahat ng sinasabi niya ay talagang dinadama ko. He's telling his own stories that everyone is really interested about him. He even mentioned his first love and great love. 

"So, may minahal pa siyang ibang babae bukod sa Mommy ni Nathan?" Mahina naming tanong magkakaibigan sa bawat isa. Pinipilit naming hinaan pa ang boses naming dahil nasa may unahan lang namin si Nathan at baka

"Yeah. I heard it right. First love, great love, and true love. Yun yung sinabi niya di ba? Meron pala talagang ganon!"

"And my wife is my true love. Right, babe?" Tapos ay nagpalakpakan ang lahat ng may tumayong isang matangkad na babae kung saan nakaupo ito sa VIP seats. Isa siguro siya sa board member ng school.

"So, sino yung first love at yung great love niya? Damn! I want to hear more!" Pagrereklamo ni Lei sa tabi ko, "Tingin mo sabihin niya? Nacucurious ako!" Me too. I want to hear everything. His story is worth listening for.

"I'm saying that... people leave. Hindi porke't may nawalang isang mahalagang tao, you'll give up. Losing them inspired me to work hard. I hope you too."

Muli na namang nagpalakpakan ang mga tao. May nagsisigawan pa sa likod. Natapos ang speech ni Mr. Aranillo ng lahat ay humahanga sa kanya dahil sa lahat ng na-achieve niya sa buhay. Ang hidni ko makakalimutan ay yung nabanggit niya na at the age of 27, he's already a billionaire. He also congratulated those who passed the entrance exam in Howard U.

Nagsimula ng magtawag ng names yung Principal. We're the last one to call dahil honors kami kaya nauunang mabigyan ng diploma yung mga nasa likod namin.

I'm looking for that guy, Janus when my name was called already.

"Irene Desylvia. Top 9 with the GWA of 1.54."  

I stood up and give everyone a smiled. As expected, lahat na naman sila ay tinitingala ako. Umakyat ako sa stage na taas noo. Mas masaya siguro kung kasama ko si Dad ngayon sa stage. Well, I'm not the only one naman na walang magulang dito kaya ayos lang.

"Thank you po." Nagbigay galang ako dun sa Dad ni Nathan na siyang tagabigay ng diploma sa lahat ng graduates.

Nagulat naman ako ng hawakan nito ang balikat ko. Lumapit ito ng kaunti sa 'kin at bumulong, "If you want everything to go back to where it was, will you play a game with me?"

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