From the way you would hold me
To the sweet things you told me
I just can't find a way
To let go of you
--Officially Missing You by Tamia

--

This is just a thank you chapter. Kasi ang bilis maka-1M ng TA. Tapos ang taas ng votes. Di ko alam kung saan kayo nanggaling. Haha. Kasi TC is not getting the same response. But I guess that just goes to show that you love Lena more (poor Lacey). Anyway, I'm not going to force you to read TC. Maybe someday, if you're ready. For now, here are Lena and Cyrus again.

I'm not promising that there will be more of these SCs, but you never know.

Anyway, thank you.

P.S. I get you. Lena's an easy read. She's also easier to write.

P.P.S. Naaawa tuloy ako kay Lacey. Hahaha.

--

"What do you mean you can't come home?" simangot na tanong ni Lena kay Cyrus.

It's only a week before her graduation. She was expecting that he will come home to see her march. But he can't. Again. It's her birthday all over again. Nangako ito sa kanya noon na uuwi ito pero biglang bawi nang malapit na. Nagpadala na lamang ito ng regalo.

She didn't speak for him for a week. She thought that would teach him to keep his promise. Apparently, she was wrong. He's doing it again, backing out on their plans.

"After your graduation lang ako pwedeng umuwi," he replied. "I'm sorry, Lena. I tried-"

"But not hard enough."

"Look, babawi ako pag-uwi ko. Pangako."

"Huwag ka na lang tumuloy kung pagkatapos na rin naman ng graduation ka uuwi."

"Lena naman..."

"And if you're still set on marrying me, then you better schedule the wedding. Baka hindi ka rin makauwi sa kasal natin."

Cyrus sighed exasperatedly. "Lena, please don't be difficult."

"Fine. Then don't make promises you can't keep."

"Lena..."

She ended the video call before she could burst out crying. Nawalan tuloy siya ng ganang mag-martsa. She's been looking forward to her graduation since the date was announced; it's also when Cyrus told her that he will come home. Now, fast forward to a week before the said event, bigla-bigla itong uurong.

Isa na lang talaga at bibingo na ito sa kanya.

Dahil sa nangyari ay hindi na niya sinagot ang mga kasunod na tawag nito. But he was persistent. Lahat ng tao sa paligid niya ay kinukulit nito, even her dad.

But she was indignant. Kahit anong pakiusap ng mga ito sa kanya ay hindi niya kinakausap si Cyrus. Kakausapin lang niya itong muli kapag umuwi ito o nawala ang galit niya rito, whichever comes first.

When the day of her graduation came, she almost did not attend. Pinagalitan lamang siya kaya napilitan siyang pumunta. Her dad was adamant about her marching.

"You should wear a dress, Ate," Lacey told her. Itinaas nito ang dalawang naka-hanger na dress, pinapipili siya.

"I'll just wear my jeans."

All black. From her long-sleeved blouse to her pair of high-cut chucks. Wala rin siyang planong mag-ayos. Inis na inis pa rin siya. At dahil sa katigasan ng ulo niya ay tinutopak na rin ang mga tao sa paligid niya.

"Pabayaan mo na nga kung ayaw," sabi ng daddy niya. "Hayaan mo syang magmukhang kaawa-awa."

She crossed her arms against her chest as response. She felt a little tinge of guilt when her dad walked out of the room.

"Then at least let me put some makeup on you," mamimilit ni Lacey.

"Ayoko."

"Ate, trust me, baka magsisi ka kapag dumating na 'yong pictures mo."

"Then I won't have them take my picture."

Lacey grunted. Itinapon nito ang mga damit sa kama. "Bahala ka na nga!" inis nitong sabi.

Nang lumabas ito ng kwarto ay bigla siyang naiyak. Naiinis din siya sa sarili. Pero mas naiinis siya kay Cyrus. If there's one thing that she hates, it's people giving her false hope.

Inayos niya ang sarili at saka itinabi ang mga damit na hindi niya isusuot. She put on a little makeup, which she knew Lacey would scoff at. Nakakaawa siyang tingnan sa salamin, depressed na depressed.

During the march, she couldn't help but still hope to see Cyrus. Palinga-linga siya sa paligid.

"Lena, stop fidgeting," saway ng mommy niya.

She tried to stand still, but she couldn't. Mabuti na lamang at nagsimula na ang martsa.

Dahil nasa bandang unahan siya ay madali siyang natapos. She dragged herself to where her family was and resigned to her seat.

She had to endure the whole program after that. Mabuti na lamang at nandoon si Nikola. His innocent questions entertain her.

Nang matapos ang program ay gusto na niya kaagad na umuwi. But since her celebrity sister is there, hindi maiwasang magkaroon ng komusyon.

Some of her classmates also asked her for some pictures, to which she politely declined. Gusto na niyang umuwi at magmukmok.

"I'll go ahead, Mom," sabi niya sa ina.

"Magpa-picture muna tayo, Anak!"

"Okay."

Pilit siyang ngumiti sa camera nang kuhanan sila ng litrato. After two takes, she insisted that she wanted to go home. So pumayag na rin ang parents niya. Lacey and Martin were left behind kasi pinagkakaguluhan pa rin ang kapatid niya.

While she was walking towards the exit, she saw someone familiar. It made her freeze.

"Ate, what's wrong?" Nikola asked.

She didn't answer him. She just found herself walking briskly forward. Nawala agad ang inis niya kay Cyrus nang makita niya itong nakatayo roon. He's holding a bouquet of her favorite flowers, looking so handsome in his long-sleeved formal shirt and jeans.

Ngumiti ito nang makalapit siya.

"You said you can't come!"

"I lied."

He crossed the distance between them and pulled her for a hug. The contact made her teary-eyed. When he loosened his embrace, she quickly wrapped her arms around him, not wanting to let go just yet.

"I was angry at you!" she told him. "Sana sinabi mong darating ka!"

"Well, someone's not answering her phone, so..."

"Sorry."

He kissed her temple. "I'm sorry, too. Last minute na kasi akong pinayagan. Good thing I got here in time."

Tiningala niya ito at tinanong, "Kadarating mo lang?"

"Yep. Wala pa akong tulog."

Mukhang inaantok nga ito. She felt guilty for being angry. All this time pala, humahanap pa rin ito ng paraan para makauwi. At nakauwi nga ito.

"Kung alam ko lang na darating ka, sana nag-dress ako."

Lacey was right. Pagsisisihan niya ang hindi pag-aayos. But it wasn't for the reason her sister implied. Mukha tuloy siyang bagong gising na naisipan lang at the last minute na pumunta sa graduation niya. Ni hindi na nga halata na naka-makeup siya.

"Ayos lang. Maganda ka pa rin," nakangiti nitong sabi.

It was easy to get lost inside their bubble. Kung hindi pa titikhim nang malakas ang daddy niya ay hindi niya mapapansing pinagtitinginan na sila ng mga tao. Inalis niya ang mga braso sa pagkakayakap kay Cyrus at saka ikinapit ang mga iyon sa braso nito. Then they exited the auditorium, followed by her family.

They'll be having a celebratory dinner right after graduation. Hinintay muna nila sina Lacey na makalabas tapos ay sa kotse ni Martin sila sumakay.

"Hanggang kailan ka nga pala, Cy?" tanong ni Martin.

Cyrus looked at her first, and then answered, "A week."

Sumipol si Martin. "Mabuti pinayagan ka."

"I pleaded," Cyrus replied, not taking his eyes off of her. He leaned in and whispered, "Let's go to our house after dinner?"

"B-Bakit? Ano'ng gagawin natin do'n?"

Bahagya itong natawa sa tanong niya. "Bakit? Ano na namang iniisip mo?"

She blushed at the question. "N-Nothing in particular. Just... wondering."

Inakbayan siya nito. "Wala talaga?"

Agad siyang umiling, shaking that thought away, in the process. "Bakit nga?"

"Nothing," he said with a shrug. "Gusto ko lang na may kayakap pagtulog. Kapag sa 'min kasi, siguradong sa kwarto ni Cade ka nila patutulugin. Kapag sa inyo naman, your dad will probably be at your bedroom door to make sure that I won't sneak in. Kaya sa bahay na lang natin, so we could be alone."

"Tapos mag-i-sleep over kami ni Ram," singit ni Lacey.

Cyrus scowled at her sister, which made Lacey laugh.

"Let them be. They're already getting married anyway," sabi naman ni Martin.

"If dad finds out-"

"Then don't tell him," she interjected. "And I won't tell on you and Martin."

"Kailan ka pa natutong mang-blackmail, Ate?" naiiling na tanong ni Lacey. "Fine. Matatanda na naman tayong pare-pareho, Martin being the oldest-"

"Hey!"

Tumawa si Lacey, saka nagpatuloy. "Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"I'll be your maid-of-honor."

She smiled. "Of course, you are. And I'll be your matron-of-honor."

"Settle down, ladies. It's too early to make wedding plans."

"Don't listen to him," bulong ni Cyrus sa kanya. "Let's begin making plans tonight, starting with our honeymoon."