A Journey To Love (COMPLETED)

EPILOGUE

Michaella Francisco

Today is the most awaited day, the Graduation Day Ceremony. I am currently inside my room with my mom, pinapabihis ako sa aking uniform. The ceremony will start at 9AM in the morning and it's actually 7AM. Mom was too early and excited.

When they arrived yesterday, napaka-iyakin talaga nila. Saying na I really am too old and they were proud of me. Of course umiyak din ako but I realized na I wouldn't be like this if I continued to walk in the path that I created long ago. Good thing, I met someone like Felix, who introduced me to fun things and learned how to open my heart to others.

"Ate, there's someone outside." Mom said when she opened the door in my room. She was smiling at me like she's acting like a teenager. Even Dad was smiling at me as if something was happening. "Anong kinangignitian niyo diyan?" I asked them curious.

"Oh nothing, just you know. Hihi." Mom said habang humagikgik. Para talaga siyang teenager kung umasta. Pagkatapos kong maisuot ang aking school shoes ay agad akong lumabas dahil sa hagikgik ni Mama. Para talagang kinikilig.

I opened my door, went outside and was surprised to see Felix, nakahawak nang nagkukumpulang Sunflowers. He was smiling brightly at me, in full uniform clothing. "Sunflowers to my beautiful butterfly who always flutter my heart nonstop." He said at binigay sa akin ang sunflowers.

I stood tall, frozen in my place as I reached out for the sunflowers. Felix was smiling at me brightly as ever, eyes that disappeared when he smiled. He looks so handsome in his uniform, like a sun shining brighter. "Thank you." I whispered.

Tumili ng napakalas si Mama kaya napatingin ako sa kanya na namumula. "Mom!" I called out for him habang pinipigilan ang kilig na namumuo sa aking puso. Masyadong matukso si Mama, habang si Papa naman ay ngumingiti lang sa gilid, low-key tinutukso kami.

"Stop it. Nako, Hijo sabay ka na sa amin kumain. Kumain ka na ba?" Tanong ni Papa. Siya kase nagluluto ngayon since nandito siya. He takes the lead.

"Hindi na po Tito, nagpaalam lang din nga ako kay Mama na pupunta ako dito. Binigay ko lang po itong sunflower sa kanya." Sabi ni Felix habang nahihiya kay papa. It's the first time na nakita ko siyang nahihiya. Nakikita naman niya si Papa kapag tumatawag ako tuwing bumibisita siya dito sa apartment ko. Maybe because it's the first time they met? May cases naman na ganun diba?

"Aysos, nahihiya pa ang lalake. Wait bago ka umalis, pwesto muna kayong dalawa diyan at picturan ko kayo." Sabi ni Mama at pinagpwesto kami. Hawak-hawak ang bulaklak ay ngumiti ako habang si Felix naman ay hinawakan ang aking bewang sabay ngiti din sa camera.

Mom acted thrilled at the moment. "1! 2! 3! Smile!" Sabi ni Mama na ikinangiti naming dalawa ni Felix. "Again! Galaw-galaw din Michaella. Dapat sweet! Ano ba!" Mom complains.

I thought that kissing Felix in the cheeks might fill his satisfaction so I looked at him, and instead our lips meet. Unexpectedly.

Tumili si Mama nang napaka-lakas at nagclick ng nagclick sa kanyang cellphone. It took me some moment to recover and by that time, I push Felix and embarrassingly glared at Mom who's currently laughing at our situation.

"Nako, nahihiya pa kayo." Sabi niya. I look at Felix and he was embarrassed too, he thought of kissing me in the cheeks too, and I thought so kaya instead sa cheeks, sa labi kami nagkahalikan. Iba talaga kapag si Mama.

"Sweetheart, tama na ang pangtutukso sa kanila. Malelate na tayo." Mabuti na lang at pinigilan na ni Papa si Mama kung hindi talagang malelate na kami. Felix look at me at niyakap niya ako, it was tight, making my heart burn warm.

"I'll see you at the ceremony, butterfly." He said and kissed my forehead and then left me. I couldn't even utter a goodbye dahil kay mama na hanggang sa pag-alis ni Felix ay pinipicturan niya pa rin kami. I sighed hopelessly at pumanhik na sa hapag kainan. I need to eat dahil talagang malelate Kami if gagalaw pa ako na parang uod dahil sa bagal.