The Things Is: He's Mine

HM - 15

"Lee, are you ready?"bulong sa akin ni Luke, ng dumating na kami sa gate ng University. Tinitigan ko lang siya at ngitian ng maikli. I am nervous. I know, marami na ang nangyari sa amin ni Luke at kahit anong gawin ko, people will always have a say to our relationship. But this is the day that we both waited. One of the most important day for the both of us.

Sila parin?

Diba iniwan niya si Luke para sa Singapore?

Di talaga sila bagay!

That nerd!

After ng OJT ko sa Singapore at pagbabati namin ni Luke, hetong mga haters namin ang naging constant reminder ko na hindi kami pareho ng status quo na ginagalawan. I will be the forever ordinary nerd in this place, but Luke never gives up because he loves this nerd in the person of myself.

Now, papasok na kami sa University para makuha namin ang aming diploma. Di ko alam if fortunate ba na ako ang magbibigay ng speech for being rank 1 as Cum Laude.

"Lee, please dont let them ruin this day. Its our graduation, Babe. Don't worry okay. I'm here." bulong nito at feeling proud boyfriend na nakaakbay sa akin.

"Its okay Luke. I'm fine. Promise."sinabi ko na lang dito kahit alam kong kinakabahan talaga ako but not because of other people.

At bumaba na kami sa kotse niya and unexpected, many people are staring at us with smiles. Siguro, dahil graduation na kaya di narin nila minind kami.

Ilang sandali pa ay, pumuwesto na ako sa harap, habang si Luke ay nasa likod ko banda. Ng tumugtog na ang marching band, nagsimula na rin kaming naglakad papasok ng hall.

Ng makapasok na lahat ng students sa loob ng hall, nag-start narin ang graduation rites. Nagbigay ng speeches ang President at Dean ng iba't ibang colleges. Hanggang sa dumating na ang time ko, para ibigay ang Graduation Speech ko as representative of the Students. Dahan dahan na akong umakyat at maraming murmuring na maririnig sa hall, pero di ko yun pinansin. Ilang segundo pa ay nakaakyat na ako sa stage ng hall at nagsimula ng basahin ang speech ko.

"To the President of the University, Vice President, Dean and members of the faculty of the different colleges, proud parents, and most of all, to us graduates. Congratulations.

Life is always has its ways to remind us that it will never be easy. It will always be like a winding long hard road to us. Being one of the students who suffer hardship and trials in this institution for four years, It always made me remember that life is what it is about.

To all the professors, who gave us the knowledge, thank you very much. I owe you a lot and I know, students in this institution, have the same notion. To those who never given their best to teach us, maybe on the next generation perhaps."

Bigla akong tumigil at tinitigan ko ang mga kapwa ko estudyante ko. Lalo na yung mga estudyanteng nagjudge sa akin,

"To all my colleagues, thank you for reminding me that student life is not beautiful without you people. You always give me inspiration not to give up. All the hateful stares, the hateful words, thank you, I grow tough. To all the skeptical attitudes you've shown me, thank you. I manage to smile and be proud of myself."

Napansin ko, nagsiyukuan ang iba. Yung iba, nag-iiyakan na. And Luke is smiling.

"To my inspiration, God, thank you. Bless us all here. And to my parents, I love you." at bigla akong naiyak.

"Lastly, to my boyfriend, Luke, thank you for loving me and accepting me as your girlfriend. Thank you for being a loving person and being my hero. Thank you for making a dream into reality.

To everyone here, congratulations again! Happy graduates!"

At bumaba na ako ng stage. Nakita kong tumayo lahat ng mga estudyante at niyakap ang kanilang mga magulang. Patakbo naman akong sinalubong ni Mama. "I'm so proud of you anak. And your Dad."
Napaiyak naman ako at niyakap si Mama. "Thanks Ma. This is for you."

Ilang sandali pa ay nakita ko na si Luke na kausap din ang parents nya. Nginitian ko siya at ilang sandali pa ay sinalubong ko si Luke at niyakap ng mahigpit.

"You're so good, Babe. Thank you. Thank you for being my sweet girlfriend."

Ten years later...

"Babe, nasaan ka na? Hinahanap ka na ni Nicole."

Naririnig kong sigaw ni Luke. Ngumiti lang ako at bumaba na mula sa attic ng bahay namin. Today, is our fourth anniversary bilang mag-asawa and we plan to celebrate it in Tagaytay with our three-year old son Nicole Shin.

Nang makababa na ako at tinitigan ko ang gwapo kong asawa, its been ten years mula ng makilala ko siya, pero until now, di parin ako makapaniwala, na minsan sa buhay ko, pinangarap ko lang ang mahalin ng gaya ni Luke.

Sa loob ng sampung taon ay hindi nawala ang tampuhan, suyuan at mg problema na akala namin ni Luke ay di na namin kakayanin.

Sa unang limang taon namin bilang magkasintahan ay muntik na akong sumuko dahil nagtrabaho si Luke sa US sa business firm nila doon. Hanggang sa binigla nya ako ng isang wedding ring sa ikalimang anniversarry namin.

"Why me, Luke? After all these years?" umiiyak kong tanong dito dahil nakaluhod ito sa harap ko at may hawak na gold ring sa loob ng box.

"Because its you who will complete me  Lee. Always you. Now answer me at nakakahiya na ang lumuhod sa harap ng mga pari at parents mo, Babe." wika nito na nagpatawa sa akin. Sabay tawa nila father at ng mga magulang namin that time.

Lucas Gabriel.

The brightest star I have seen in my whole life. Still not an actor, but will always lights my life.

Di lang ako ang napapasaya niya. Kasi, kahit ako, pinapasaya na rin siya. :)

"Babe, I love you so much."bulong ko sa kanya habang yakap ko siya.

"Ang sweet talaga ng asawa ko. God, i love you most. Let's go." at binuhat niya ako palabas ng aming bahay.

The End.