Can You Hear Me?

Chapter Fourteen

Maeve

          "I love you..."

          AAGGGHHHH!!!! Hindi na ako makapagconcentrate sa finalization ng thesis ko. Eto na lang kasi ipapasa ko para sa huling batch ng requirements eh. Gagraduate na kasi kami. Nakapagentrance exam na rin ako at may papasukan nang university sa America. I'd be migrating there too, mag-isa nga lang. Nakakuha na kasi ako ng scholarship eh.

          All I did was study. All I did was to only live. Kung di dahil kay Reid, I would have already lived a life. Pero parang nawalan na ng saysay yung buhay ko dahil sa lahat nang nangyari. I did everything to look for what I have lost, but I was never able to find it. I am now living just because I'm alive. That's all it is.

ᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜ♥ᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜ

          Graduation day. Gagraduate ako as valedictorian. I was tasked to give out a speech. And hanggang ngayong graduation na ay wala pa rin akong  nagawang speech. Maybe I'll just do an impromptu speech. Ayun na! Tinawag na ako.

          "Good day to everyone. I wasn't able to prepare a concrete speech for today. Its just that, there were so many, yet so little to say. But here goes: Each student big or small, rich and poor, boy or girl, we go through so many things in our lives even at this early stage. Its not the end I assure you that. Living is possible as long as you are alive, but living a life is impossible without loving anyone and everyone around you. You will carry this with you everyday, every moment of your life. Cherish it, care for it, be proud to have it. A family, friends, a special someone, doesn't matter. As long as you love. Dear student of Denver Academy, flourish love as you become what you strive to be, be courageous. What you have now might not be there forever. Remember, Live not because you're alive, live because you have a life. Good day and kudos to all the graduates." Nagstanding ocation naman silang lahat na pinangunahan ng mga kaibigan ko at ni Patrick. I have no one to cheer me on today but my friends.

          Nagstart na sa ang pagmarcha ng graduate. Nung matawag na ako, alam kong adviser ko ang magsasabit ng mga medalya ko dahil sa wala naman na akong kamag-anak na pupunta. Pero laking gulat ko nung nakita ko si Reid ang pumunta. I just stared at his face as he put my medals on me. I never thought I would cry on my graduation day, but he made me cry. I have never felt so alone in my life, until now. I just realized how lonely I was without him. He became my life when my parents died. He became family when everyone turned their backs on me. He was still someone I had a big connection to kahit kami na ni Patrick.

ᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜ♥ᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜ

          "Congratulations to our graduates!" Hudyat nang pagtatapos ng graduation namin. We are now high school graduates. We are ready to start the next phase of our lives, college. After ng graduation, everyone met with their parents. I guess I'm going home and call it a day.

          "Saan ka pupunta miss?" Sabi ni Patrick sabay hawi sa kamay ko at sinabayan ako sa paglakad.

          "Uuwi na. Wala naman na akong kasamang magdinner, ayoko rin namang gumastos kasi sayang." I honestly told him. Nag-isip siya muna at tumigil sa paglalakad. Tumigil din ako kasi hawak nga niya yung kamay ko.

          "Why don't you celebrate with your best friend?" Sabi niya na parang nagdadalawang-isip pa siya. Best friend? Sino?

          "Come on. Don't tell me di mo best friend si Reid? Eh sa ginawa niya kanina, daig pa niya ako eh. Actually I'm a bit jealous.." Pacute niyang sinabi. Napangiti naman ako sa pagkakasabi niyang yun.