It Was Never A Competition (Altarieno Series#1)

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

In the span of three months, ang daming naganap. Tinapos namin ang group research, inasikaso ang mga projects, performance tasks, at nag-exam for the rest of our subjects.

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit parang ang bilis lumipas ng oras. Siguro dahil... pabor naman sa akin ang mga nangyayari?

Sabi kasi nila, hindi mo mamamalayan ang oras kapag nag-e-enjoy ka. Na kahit ilang araw pa iyan, linggo, o taon... it doesn't matter. As long as you're happy with your current life status, time will act as if it didn't exist at all.

Well, I guess... I just proved it right?

"Wala ka bang kino-consider na ibang schools?"

Umiling ako sa tanong na iyon ni Renzo. Kanina pa kami naglalakad pababa papunta sa auditorium. Doon kasi magaganap ang deliberation of honors and graduating students ng aming batch.

Ang bilis, 'no? Hindi nga rin ako makapaniwala, eh.

"Sa Shamxia rin kasi nag-aaral ang mga pinsan ko. So, I have to..." Ngumiti ako. "Ikaw? Dito ka lang din?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "I'm not sure, pero... dito talaga ang initial plan ko. Kapag hindi ako nakakuha ng ibang scholarship sa labas ng university, I might study in the public university nearby."

Napatango-tango ako. Deep inside ay nasasaktan ako para sa kaniya at... nagagalit sa sarili ko.

I'm so selfish. Now, his plans were wrecked because of me.

Wow... that thought was pretty depressing. Parang ayoko na 'yong isipin kahit kailan.

"Oo nga pala, titingin na ako ng admission requirements doon bukas." Aniya, napakamot pa ng ulo. "Tapos aasikasuhin ko na rin ang scholarships na pinag-apply-an ko. Baka hindi pa ako makakuha, sayang naman."

"Bukas?" Napaisip ako. "Wala naman akong lakad. Sasamahan na kita..."

He chuckled. "Pres, ako ang nanliligaw dito, hindi ba? You don't have to do that."

"Hindi nga, gusto ko lang..."

Siyempre, I don't want to just... stand here. Sa ganoong bagay ko na lang siya matutulungan, hindi pwedeng wala akong gawin.

"Okay, then." 

Ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas ay nakarating na kami sa mismong auditorium. Mukhang tapos na ang deliberation kaya't nakapasok na kami-- although naghiwalay kami ng landas since both of our parents are in the opposite direction.

"Mommy!" Sabi ko nang masulyapan si Mommy na nakaupo sa unahan.

"Leigh?" Lumingon siya sa akin at tumayo. Nakangiti niya akong sinalubong ng yakap. "Congratulations, anak!"

I hugged her back tightly. "Thank you so much!"

During the whole semester, napakaraming nangyari. So many things had happened that I am still overwhelmed right now.

I was very uncertain and anxious about everything. The pressure... the competition, all of that made the last year of my high school life a rollercoaster ride.

Well, regardless of those, I succeeded in being the top one. I surpassed all things that I am worried about.

I am so proud of myself!

"Kanina pa po ba tapos ang event?"

She nodded. "Bakit ang tagal mo? Sayang, sana umabot ka noong tinawag ang pangalan mo. That was your proudest moment in your life!"

I laughed. "Mommy... hindi pa naman graduation."

"Right, may graduation pa nga pala." Walang mapaglagyan ang ngiti ni Mommy since earlier. She's so happy that I was able to fulfill both of our dreams. "Anyway... let's go home? I want to throw a party to celebrate this achievement of yours!"