With Love, Samuel (COMPLETED)

Chapter 29

"Grade 12 na tayo!" Masayang wika ni Manolo sabay akbay sa aming dalawa ni Yttrep. Masaya naming iwinagayway ang mga certificates naming tatlo. 

"Ang angas! Halos hakutin mo na lahat ng award ah," tawa ni Manolo sabay turo sa mga medals na suot ko. Hindi naman siya gano'n ka rami para sa'kin compared no'ng grade, anim lang 'yong suot ko ngayon. 

"Tapos with highest honor pa 'yan ah," singit naman ni Yttrep. 

"Wow, nahiya naman ako sa with high honor mo, Yttrep," wika ni Manolo dahilan upang mapatawa si Yttrep. This was a successful year for the three of us. Manolo got into an entertainment company and he will be debuting next year tapos with honor pa siya. Yttrep got a lot of medals from her journalism and her participation at the Palarong Pamabansa. While I got my medals and certificates from my choir, leadership conventions, and extra-curricular works. 

I know that, marami ring awards sina Belle, lalo na si Genevieve, she literally ended her junior high bagging the most awards in her school. "Picture kayong tatlo," utos ni Mama at tabi niya naman ay si Papa na na nunuod lang sa amin. 

It's been so long since they parted ways as couples and I'm really glad na bati na sila at kaya nilang harapin ang isa't isa ng walang kahit anong inis sa mga puso nila. Afterall, they already have their own families, what's left with the two of them is just me. 

"Ganda talaga ng anak ko, alam na alam ko talaga kung saan nag-mana," wika ni Mama dahilan upang mapatawa na lamang ako. I wasn't the spitting image of either of them, instead, I was the mixture of the both of them. 

"Kung makasalita ka naman parang ikaw lang magulang ni Leah," singit naman ni Papa dahilan upang mas lalo akong mapatawa. Pabirong umirap si Mama sabay tawa. I'm so glad to see them like this, even if their not together anymore I'm glad that their finally ok with each other. 

"Hon, dala ko na 'yong regalo na'tin for Leah," excited na wika ni Tita Annie, bagong asawa ni Papa. 

Nag beso silang dalawa ni Mama tsaka lumapit sa'kin. Sumunod naman ang mga kapatid ko sa likod niya para mag-mano kay Mama tsaka sila lumapit sa'kin para yakapin ako ng mahigpit. 

"Wow! Ang laki na talaga ni Farah, parang kailan lang binubuhat pa na'tin siya no'n," wika ni Manolo tsaka lumuhod para makipag high-five sa mga kapatid ko sa dad side, sina Farah at Gideon. 

"Congratulations, Leah, you did really great! I'm so proud of you," wika ni Tita Annie sa akin tsaka ako niyakap ng mahigpit. I'm so glad that she's really nice to me. Hindi siya 'yong typical step mother na makikita mo sa mga telenovelas. She's sweet, kind, and caring.  

Inabot niya sa'kin ang isang gift box agad naman akong nag thank you sa kanya. "Congratulations, Leah," bati naman ni Tito, asawa ni mama, sa'kin sabay abot naman ng gift. Karga-karga niya kapatid ko na si Leo na nahihiya pang lumapit sa'kin, he's only two years old and we rarely see each other. Nagkikita lang kami kapag pumupunta ako sa bahay nila tuwing bakasyon, same goes with my siblings sa father side. 

I'm close with my grandparents from both sides than my actual parents but I still love them regardless. Masyado rin kasi silang maraming ginagawa and they all have respective families na rin kaya naiintindihan ko din naman sila. At least we still have communication and they never failed to support me despite their clashing schedules. 

"Reunion talaga ng pamilya mo 'yong recognition mo ano," wika ni Yttrep habang nakatingin sa pamilya ko. I stared at her for a while. I really do hope na maging maayos na rin ang parents niya. Parehos kami na may separated parents but I'm fortunate enough not to encounter the same adversity that she have.