To Fly with You (Scarlett University #2)

Chapter 32

Days passed and now it's our graduation. Nalulungkot na naman ako dahil wala ang aking parents para makita ako na umaakyat sa stage.

"Del Nueva, Aivy Camille our Summa Cum Laude!" Tumayo ako para umakyat mag-isa sa stage at tanggapin ang medalya.

"That's my baby!" rinig kong sigaw ni Zach kaya napatawa ako.

Napatingin sa kanya ang mga tao dahil sa sigaw niya. My best supporter!

Gusto ni Tita Sandra na samahan ako pero hindi ako pumayag. I want to show to the people that I can stand alone. Gusto kong harapin ang kinatatakutan ko. Namuo ang luha sa gilid ng aking mata habang papalapit sa microphone.

"G-good day fellow Letticians! This is the day we are waiting for. We are now graduates. I know you all happy and of course me. I'm happy but I'm sad at the same time. A-All of y-you have their parents h-here. While I'm here, went up in this stage alone, without my parents. Kahit naman hindi maganda ang naging experience ko rito, malulungkot pa rin ako kasi maghihiwalay na tayo. I'm a victim of bullying here, but no one knows. I'm h-hurt but I did nothing. W-why? Because I'm immune to the feeling 'h-hurt'. I always f-feel that...." Tumigil ako sa pagsasalita dahil bumuhos na ang luhang pinipigilan ko.

Napatingin ako sa mga graduates na nasa upuan. Some of them ay nakatungo at naiiyak. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago ipinagpatuloy ang pagsasalita.

"Twenty years without my parents is...I don't know the right term. But I'm more than hurt. You should all be grateful for having your parents on your side. I'm a working student, I need to work for my study, my self. To those people who's saying that I am a gold digger, sorry but I'm not because I always rejecting Gomez. Sorry for my speech but I just want to say that you need to be strong to achieve your dreams. I'm not really strong e, pero dahil kay God, my friends at mga kinikilala kong pamilya, nakarating ako rito. To my real family, para sa inyo 'to. Kahit hindi ko alam kung nasaan kayo, but para sa inyo 'to. Itong tagumpay na pinagsumikapan ko. Nakagraduate na ako, tayo. Sa lahat nang nanakit sa akin, thank you sa inyo dahil isa rin kayo sa dahilan kung bakit narito ako. I know that college life is the hardest step but believe me, this step taught us many lesson. This is not yet the last step, this is just our start to the real world. Pagkatapos nito, haharapin na natin ang totoong magpapabago sa buhay natin. To our professors, thank you for teaching us even though we're hard headed students," naiiyak ko saad.

Nararamdaman ko ang kirot sa akin puso habang nagsasalita. Tumayo silang pangalawa naming magulang na nagturo at naghanda sa amin para sa kinabukasan.

"Except on you Aivy, you're one of the good students here in SU," Professor Soberano said while holding the microphone.

Narinig ko muli ang palakpakan kaya napangiti. Kahit isang beses lang, naramdaman kong gusto nila ako. Napatingin ako kina Fathima at James na napalakpak habang naluha.

"T-thank you po, all of us are good students in different aspects. Scarlett University, professors, Letticians, our friends, family and especially to God, thank you very much. Congratulations Letticians!" masaya kong saad at bumaba na sa stage. Sinalubong ako ni James at Fath ng yakap.

Naramdaman kong naiyak sila. Bumitiw ako sa yakap nila at hinarap sila. I made them cry!

"I'm so p-proud of you Ai-ai! I'm always your number one b-bestfriend!" naiyak niyang saad.

I'm so proud of my self too.

"Tahan n-na Fath, u-umiiyak ka pa," garalgal kong sabi. Pinunasan ko ang kaniyang luha.

"Hi sis, I'm so proud of you. Kuya is so proud of you. You did a great speech that's why we end up crying." Niyakap niya muli ako nang mahigpit at napaluha ako.