Chasing Hope [HIATUS]

CHAPTER 11

"Alam ko, Ate Nads. Pero kasi, nasa Bulacan ako ngayon. Jerome had a family reunion and then he brought me here today,"

"Nathalie, come on. Choose this day for your brother. If you are not really free today, then go," I didn't even think twice about ending our call. It was her decision whether she would go now or stay there for the family reunion. Ang sa 'kin lang naman kasi, it's our brother's day. I want them to be here. I called Kuya Ashton and it was a long time before he answered the call.

"Nads. Why? Sorry, I'm in the shower," Kuya Ashton said.

"Kuya, you free? Mom and Dad are not here and Adrian is moving up now. He looks sad, I want even the three of us to be here for him, Nathalie is also not available so I'm the only one here. Can you do it?"

"Yes, I'll just get dressed and leave. I'll just sit in the back if there's a vacancy but if there isn't, I'll wait for you outside," after talking, pinatay niya na 'yong tawag namin. Limited lang kasi ang p'wedeng makapasok sa pavilion, if you have a ticket, you can enter. But if there isn't, you can still get in when there's still a vacancy. I just took a selfie on my Instagram story and put the location there before I closed my phone because more and more people were coming.

The ceremony started after a few minutes. Marami pang speech 'yung mga nasa stage, ilang minuto rin 'yon. Inaantok na ako pero may mga tumayo na naka-toga, walang cap. I think everyone who goes up to the stage will be sectioned because there are only a few standing people. Nanonood lang ako sa mga umaakyat nang may tumawag sa akin.

"Good morning, Miss Vienaiaz. With honors na po ang sunod after that. Please, follow me," adviser pala ni Adrian. We know each other because we saw each other when I went to Adrian's school. Noong tumayo ako, napatingin ako sa likod. Nandoon lang si Kuya Ashton, watching. Kinawayan ko na lang siya bago sumunod sa teacher. Nakita ko rin si Adrian na nakangiti, nakatayo na rin sila. "Miss Vienaiaz, remind ko lang po na p'wede na kayo umalis pagkatapos umakyat sa stage. Next na po kasi ang mga lower grades,"

Gano'n lang 'yon? I don't know why they are in such a hurry. Tumango na lang ako. I'll ask Adrian na lang if gusto na niyang umalis after. Kakain naman kami ni Adrian with Kuya Ashton. I just watched the people go up with their guardian as I waited for Adrian's name to be called. I just looked in Kuya Ashton's direction, hoping that Nathalie would choose Adrian's day. Kahit ngayon man lang, gusto kong kumpleto kaming apat ngayon.

A smile came to my lips when I heard Adrian's name. "Vienaiaz, Adrian Nicho A., with honors," pinanood kong maglakad si Adrian sa gitna. Nang makarating siya sa 'kin, sabay kaming umakyat sa stage. "Congratulations," binigay sa akin 'yung medal at isinuot ko kay Adrian iyon. I thanked those on stage before Adrian and I got off.

Adrian and I didn't get to talk right away because they had to go back to their seats to prepare for the end of moving up. Time was fast so it ended immediately, when Adrian went to where Kuya Ashton and I were, I immediately greeted him with a big hug. "Congratulations! I'm so proud of you!" I shouted. Bumitaw rin ako kaagad para mayakap ni Kuya Ashton si Adrian. "Let's go?" Inaya ko na silang lumabas hanggat wala pa masyadong lumalabas dahil lahat sila ay nagpi-picture pa.

When we went out, we immediately saw Nathalie outside. She was holding a bouquet and it was blue in color. Sinalubong niya kami para ibigay 'yon kay Adrian. She even apologized to me about earlier and she also explained why she was outside the pavilion and not inside, the guard said she was not allowed to enter. Naglakad na kami papunta sa kotse, we had two cars so we split up because our parking spots were different. Si Adrian ang sumabay sa 'kin at magkasama naman si Kuya Ashton at Nathalie. Pupunta na kami roon sa restaurant na napagdesisyunan naming kumain. Nang makasakay na kami ni Adrian sa kotse, I started the engine. I was about to drive but Mommy called.