June 25, 2031
Ateneo de Manila University High School Gymnasium
Graduation Rites

PJ's palms were sweating as the ceremony was going on. It was only 16 years ago when he was in the shoes of the graduating class. For him, it took a miracle for him to even march, let alone, stay an Atenean in that fateful senior year. 

Commencement Host: Let us all welcome our Guest Speaker, an Atenean Alumnus and a recently elected Mayor of the City of Manila. Graduated Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science in the year 2016 and finished his Juris Doctor Degree in the year 2020 at San Beda University College of Law. Our Speaker, Mayor-elect of Manila, Atty. PJ Ng, J.D.!

PJ then rose up from his monobloc chair as he began to walk to the podium to the rounds of applause from those in attendance. PJ then shook the hands of the Deans of 2 of the 4 Schools comprising the Ateneo de Manila University, the head of the Registrar of the School and the Father President. 

PJ stood on the platform but this time, it felt different. This was not like his recitations from law school nor his campaign rallies. This was way different not to rally to his cause but to rally a new breed of Ateneans who will be going down the Hill into the real world.

PJ: Father President, Deans of the Schools of Science and Engineering and Social Sciences, Head of the Registrar, Faculty, Students and their families. Isang magandang hapon po sa inyo (A good afternoon to you all). Today is a celebration of not just four or more years of joys and tears through these halls or keeping true to the Atenean spirit, up on the Hill. But let's look back collectively, you became the Ateneo as the Ateneo has ingrained itself in you in one way or another. As soon as you were enrolled here after passing the first hurdle known as the Ateneo College Entrance Test. Then came the Orientation Seminar, or the OrSem, where you all got to know one another from within your course, where you grew your circle of friends outside those whom you've known before entering the campus. As you grew, so did your worldview, your interests, your way of thinking, your causes, your reasons and most importantly you, yourself from the person who entered and went up the Hill. 

PJ breathed as he said a mouthful but went on with his speech

PJ: Apart from growth, you must thank not only yourself but everyone who has become part of your growth, from your professors, your lecturers, your friends, your coursemates, your family, let's not keep it there. You also owe it to the staff who ensure the environment is conducive to learning by maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of the rooms you use. You owe it as well to the good Lord, or whoever is the equivalent for those of different religions present. For me and it may apply to you, everyone had a role from the people I've just mentioned for you to be in those monobloc chairs, waiting for your turn to march up here and into the unknown that is the future after Atenean life. So let this day be a day of culmination, celebration and gratitude not just for yourselves making it this far, but for those who helped in their own way to ensure you're here. 

PJ sighs then regains himself as memories start to flow in for this next part of the speech.

PJ: Personally, this takes me back to when I was seated there, may I know where the Political Science undergraduates are seated?

The Political Science undergrads raised their hands as PJ chuckled.

PJ: Hey guys. So back to what I was saying. I was seated exactly where the Political Science Undergrads are seated. Let me honestly admit to you all here, I was nearly close not to marching. Heck, I was close to getting dishonorably dismissed from this school. A senior year that one would even not wish upon their worst foes. It all began when.....

Flashback to June 2015
June 02, 2015
Ng Residence
PJ was already in his Senior Year. Due to the calendar shift from a June-March Academic Calendar to an August-May Academic Calendar, the seniors at the time had a prolonged summer semester, or now known as Intersession. He was able to start on his Required Summer Internship as part of his Course Requirement after a stint as a Legislative Intern Staff at the House of Representatives. Finishing the required hours by the month of June, he still had to enroll to report to campus when needed and report to the Internship adviser his learnings and experiences as part of the Internship course. 

Online Enlistment Day
PJ was online as he was chatting with his friends Ced and Gerard over on Messenger.

PJ: Guys, are you all paying on campus? Dad won't be able to pay online and has me having to go there to pay at the cashier like some peon.

Ced: Bro, I'm still on internship but I don't have to enlist this semester. I'm on internship but this is for me to land a job at Toyota in the Marketing and Research Division.

PJ: Ah yes, you and cars my man. *to Gerard* How about you?

Gerard: Bro, I'm helping out with the family business. And besides, can't I have a summer semester without having to enlist or enroll and attenc class for once?

PJ: Lucky management majors. 

Gerard: Management Economic major man...

PJ: Same banana! Geez. You guys have all the luck

Ced: Hey, nothing says luck about you having to intern at the House of Representatives. Even in the middle of a heavy session of hearings and Congressmen grandstanding, I would just ragequit and leave but you got the patience and interest to keep yourself afloat!

PJ: It's the life I chose

Gerard: Pretty crazy to be honest. You're the lone Political Science Major from our high school. 

PJ: Again, I chose this path so I'd hopefully get into Law School.

Ced: Ah yes, still up for that?

PJ: Look I don't know. The road to June 2016 is still far but we shall see.....

Ced: Still thinking about her huh?

PJ: Yeah, I finished my internship, Mom was still able to see my Congressman-Principal give me my Certificate of Completion but days after....

Gerard: Hey man, we're here for you. 

From afar, PJ heard his father's voice.

Ricardo: Anak, baba ka na! (Son, go down!) 

PJ: Ugh... *to Ced and Gerard* gotta go guys.

PJ closed the Messenger as he went down to see his father at the dining room.

Ricardo: Anak (Son), it's dinner time. Let's eat together now.

PJ: What's the point? Ngayon ka lang magsasabi ng ganyan (You only say that now) but before we never ate together. Last we ate was when mom was still alive.

Ricardo: And after she passed on, tayo na lang lagi magkasama (We're the only ones left together). You know...

PJ: Oo, sina Ate Kimberly at Kuya Enrico ay laging wala dahil sa trabaho (Yes, Sister Kimberly and Brother Enrico are always absent due to work)

Ricardo: Ayaw mo ba na magbonding tayo? (Don't you want us to bond?)

PJ: Bond? Kalokohan (Ridiculous). You're just gonna parade and make me reconsider my course and have me shift out.

Ricardo: Because Political Science has no profitable outcome unless you go to law. But this change in you... I'm doubting..

PJ: Doubting that I'd make it? So when mom died, so did your trust and belief in me?

Ricardo: It's not that...

PJ: Look, I'm headed out. Go have dinner without me. 

Ricardo: *Furious* PJ! Stay here and have dinner. Please...

PJ sighed and sat down as the father and his youngest son ate dinner but with a defeaning silence. After they ate, Ricardo talked to PJ.

Ricardo: Anak *hands PJ the tuition fee in cash* here is the money for your tuition fee

PJ: *shocked* Dad, can't we pay online? Bakit mo ako papipilahin? (Why will you make me line up?)

Ricardo: I won't be able to pay, plus it will be faster since there is no need to wait for payment to post since you will be enrolled and registered on the same day. 

PJ: So I will be wasting gas?

Ricardo: Be lucky you have a car. I had to struggle to get a ca...

PJ: Oo na! (I get it!) This is just bothersome...

PJ went back to his room to wash up, secure the money in his bag then sleep.

June 03, 2015
Cashier
Xavier Hall
Ateneo de Manila University
PJ arrived in the late morning as he had printed his Assessment form, which was needed before proceeding with payment. The line went long as some parents and students opted to pay on site rather than the off site options. 

As PJ grew closer, he saw a Student volunteer from the Registration Committee or RegCom. 

She was cheerier than ever despite some hassled parents and impatient students badgering on the volunteers on how long until they can have their turn at the cashier to pay. PJ was the next on cue as one of the cashiers had to temporarily close their window due to having to change their cash to get smaller bills and a system error with the computer. PJ was not having it as he began to get agitated.

PJ: Come on, this is just ridiculous. Pambihira! (Ridiculous)

???: Please calm down. Nagkasystem error lang yung computer (The computer had a system error)

PJ: Wala akong pake! Antagal na namin sa pila tapos ganyan lang? Anong klaseng mga volunteer kayo! (I don't care! We waited so long then this happens? What kind of volunteers are you?)

The volunteer was keeping her composure, but before PJ lashed out, his friend and fellow Political Science undergrad, Joy approached them.

Joy: PJ, kalma ka lang. (PJ, relax). Sophie here has been doing her best to at least inform you what happened. Pasalamat ka at least alam mo kesa maghintay ka nang walang dahilan. (Be grateful you at least know rather than wait without any reason)

PJ calmed down as Joy was his friend. Sophie then saw the window open again and led PJ to the window to pay for his tuition in cash. PJ did not say a word after as she greeted him with a smile after he had finally paid. He however ignored her smiling face and left. 

With Sophie and Joy
Lunch Break
Near Xavier Hall
Sophie and Joy had their lunch as Sophie was still a bit shook after the furious lashing from PJ.

Sophie: Joy, you know him? The guy who was lashing out at me?

Joy: Oo, ka-course ko siya. Siya si PJ Ng, anak ni Ricardo Ng. Hindi siya kadalasan ganitong may poot at galit sa mundo, pero dahil namatayan siya ng ina ilang araw matapos ang kanyang internship. (Yes we are in the same course. He is PJ Ng, son of Ricardo Ng. He isn't normally like this with bitterness and anger at the world, but because he lost his mom days after his internship ended)

Sophie: Oh no...

Joy: *sighs* Add to that, binasted pa siya ng isa pa naming ka-course mga ilang araw makalipas ilibing ang ina niya. (He as rejected by one of our coursemates days after his mom was laid to rest.)

Sophie: Sakit naman nun (That hurts)

Joy: Teka, Sophie... interesado ka ba kay PJ? *giggles* (Wait, Sophie... are you interested in PJ?)

Sophie: Uy grabe ka naman! Di porke nagkausap kami at nginitian ko siya, may gusto ako. Alam mo naman what happened with me and Gabby as well as Harry. (Hey, that's going a bit far! It's not because we talked and I smiled at him, I like him. You know what happened with me and Gabby as well as Harry)

Joy: Oh yeah, but you never know? *smiles*

Sophie playfully slapped Joy's arm as both of them finished their lunch as they needed to go back to tend to those who will pay at the Cashier after lunch.

With PJ
His mind still feels stinging after all the misfortune that had happened. Mother passing away, rejected by someone he almost called a close friend, he felt like the world was slowly turning darker and cruel. He was able to get home but stormed into his room, not caring to inform his father that he had already paid his tuition and immediately went to sleep. 

To PJ, uncertainty, doubt and dread now cloud and flow in his inner being as he began to care less for everything around him.