Chapter 3

Charl's Pov

Graduation day.

Sobrang excited ako today. And happy. Finally! I'll be in the middle school in the next school year. But before that, one of my best friends is the Valedictorian. Tenenenen. Erica Red Valdez. I'm so proud of her.

The ceremony has started.

By the way, first honorable mentions pala kaming tatlo nina, Chris, Jeane, and me.

Unang umakyat ay ako.

"Charlotte Monica Casteel, first honorable mention." Tawag sa akin ng emcee. Umakyat na ako sa stage. she even called my parents. I was givin' an award like, best in English. And a medal for being first honorable.

"I'm so proud of you, anak." Papa mouthed. Mama hug me tight.

Next was, Chris Patrick de Guzman, first honorable mention. He was givin' a recognition for being "Dancer of the Year", and "Good Influencer of the Year." Good boy talaga kasi itong si Chris.

Last, but not the least, Jeane Althea Laurente. First honorable mention.

She was also givin' a medal. And an award, Best in Mathematics. Pinaakyat din ang parents nya.

Si Erica naman, well, she has the Valedictorian medal. And award, Best in Science, and Good Influencer of the Year too kahit minsan palaaway haha. Best in Sports too kasi varsity sya ng badminton. She loves that sports.

After magbigay ng Valedictorian speech si Erica. Tinapon na namin ang aming graduation cap. "Happy Graduation!"

Sa field kanya-kanya kami ng kuhaan ng litrato. Una solo picture ko, showing off my medal and award. Next was a selfie with my parents. May tinawag kaming lalake at nagpakuha kami ng litrato with my family.

"Thank you." He just smiled at umalis. Weird. "Ma, Pa, hanapin ko lang sila. We need a picture together."

"Of course, anak. Hintayin ka na lang namin sa car. Okay." Tugon ng Mama ko.

"Thank you. Sige po." I kissed both of them. "I love you, Ma, Pa."

"We love you too, anak." Magkasabay pa nilang salita'ng dalawa. Natawa na lang ako. Hindi na pumunta si Lolo dito sa graduation ceremony ko kasi busy sya sa paghahanda ng graduation party ko sa hacienda. Sigurado akong engrande na naman ang handaan.

Una kong nakita si Jeane. "Jeane!" Lumingon naman sya sa tawag ko. "Congrats!" Hinalikan ko sya sa pisngi at niyakap ng mahigpit.

"Congrats, too, Charl. Congrats to us!" Tugon naman nya. I just giggled. "Mom, can you take a photo of us?!"  Tanong nya sa Mom nya.

"Hi po Tita Dane." Pagbati ko sa Mom ni Jeane.

"Oh my, Charlotte, you've grown up so much. Congrats. Happy Graduation." Ako naman ang  binati nya.

"Thank you po, Tita Dane." Ilang beses na din bumisita si Tita Dane at Tito James sa bahay. Sa Hacienda Casteel. She's so pretty. Magkamukha sila ni Jeane.

"Where's Dad, Mom?" Tanong nya sa Mom nya.

"May kausap lang yun sa phone. He'll come around." Panigurado ng Mom nya.

"Okay Mom. So can you take a photo of us now, please?"

"Sure, anak." So she took photos of us. And then nag-selfie kaming dalawa ni Jeane.

"Great! Thanks Mom." Pasalamat ni Jeane sa Mom nya.

"Shall we look for Erica now?" Tanong ko kay Jeane.

"Definitely, Charl." Hinarap naman nya Mom nya. "Mom, we'll just look for Erica and Chris." Paalam nya sa Mom nya.

"Of course. I'll look for your Dad." Umalis na kami. Jeane just kiss her mom's cheek and I hug her.

Palingon-lingon pa kami, "Jeane, there's Erica." Turo ko sa kinaroroonan ni Erica. "Let's go." Sabi ko. Hinila ko na sya.

"Erica!" Tawag ni Jeane sa kanya. "Congrats sa aming Valedictorian! I'm so proud of you." Niyakap nya si Erica.

"Thank you, Jeane." Sagot na lang ni Erica. "Congrats din sayo."

"Baka mag-iyakan pa kayong dalawa dyan ha?!" Ako naman ang lumapit, I hug Erica tight. "Congrats to our dear Valedictorian! I'm so proud and happy for you, well deserved."

"Thank you, Charl, congrats din." She hugged me back. "We deserved these awards, we worked hard for this."

"Of course!" Tugon ko. "Can we take photos now?" I asked.

"Hi, girls. Ako na kukuha ng litrato nyo." Kapatid ni Erica.

"Thanks, kuya." Erica.

Una ng photo, kaming tatlo, panglawa kaming dalawa ni Erica, pangatlo, silang dalawa naman ni Jeane.

"We should look for Chris." Erica suggested. "Salamat Kuya."

Umalis na kami at hinanap si Chris.

"I have something to say." Panimula ni Jeane. Huminto kami sa paglalakad. "Magbabakasyon ako sa Spain." Malungkot nyang sabi.

"O bakit ka malungkot?" Tanong ni Erica

"Oh yeah, why?" I second demotion.

"Well, kasi, hindi ko kayo makakasama. I'll miss the two of you. I just need to go to Spain para naman daw maka-bonding ko mga pinsan ko doon pati mga lolo at lola ko."

"Jeane, that's a great time to know them. Don't worry about us. Magkita-kita na lang ulit tayo sa pasukan or pwede naman tayo mag messenger ah, di ba, Erica?" Nilingon ko naman si Erica. She knows exactly what I meant. We're encouraging Jeane to go to Spain.

"Yes, of course. Ano ka ba? Nandito lang naman kami ni Charl, we're not going anywhere. Just enjoy yourself there. I'm sure, makakasundo mo sila." Pangungumbinsi ni Erica kay Jeane.

"Okay, I'll go. Basta time to time we should do video chat, okay?" Si Jeane.

"We will." We chorused.

"Did I just missed something again?" Biglang dumating si Chris.

"Chris Patrick de Guzman." Tawag ko sa buong pangalan nya.

"Yes, Miss Charlotte Monica Casteel?" Haha

"Congrats on your graduation. I'm so proud of you, best friend." He smile.

"Congratulations too. I'm so proud of you, too." Greeted me back. I kiss his cheek and hug him. He hugged me back. And then bumitaw na ako.

Ganun din si Erica and Jeane. We congratulates each other and hug each other again. Erica took photos of me and Chris. Next the four us in selfie mode. Finally, next school year we're in high school na.

"Siguro maghiwa-hiwalay muna tayo ngayon para ma-miss naman natin isa't isa." Sabi ko with a wide smile.

"I am not going anywhere, Charl." Kumpirma ni Chris.

"Well me, you knew, I'll go to Spain." Si Jeane. Nasa boses nya, na malungkot sya. Masyado atang dependent si Jeane sa amin. Tama lang mag-bakasyon sya.

"Well, ako, I'll be having my vacation sa Manila, si Daddy kasi gusto nya magbakasyon sa Manila. So, sama kaming lahat."

"That's great. Have fun sa vacation nyo, Erica and Jeane. You know me, I'd rather stay sa hacienda, so I'm not going anywhere too."

Nauna nang nagpaalam si Jeane, the day after tomorrow na din kasi ang flight nila. Hindi pa daw sya tapos mag-empake.

Ang sumunod naman nagpaalam si Erica.

Huli si Chris. "So you're not going anywhere, really? Wala bang plano magbakasyon kayo ng parents mo?" Tanong ko kay Chris. Naglalakad kami papuntang parking lot. Si Mama at Papa hinihintay na ako. Nagugutom na daw sila.

"No, I am not. We're not."

"Oh, that's new." Tuwing bakasyon kasi lagi silang wala.

"Sa bahay, we're having a celebration. Kung makakadaan ka, syempre, after ng celebration nyo?"

"I will, but I will not promise." I cut him off.

"Syempre, ok lang kung hindi. I'll understand if your parents wants to cherish the moment of their son who just graduated." Nakarating na kami sa parking lot. Natatanaw ko na si Mama at Papa, at kasama nila ang parents ni Chris. Hindi na natuloy ang sasabihin ni chris.

"Tita Mary, Tito Luis, hello po." Sabi ko.

"Oh my, Charlotte parang ang tagal ko nang hindi ka nakikita. You become more prettier." Komento ni Tita Mary.

"Thanks po."

"Shall we go?" Tanong ni Papa.

"Chris, mauna na kami." Paalam ko sa kanya. I hug him again. "Tita, Tito bye po."

"Itong dalawang ito parang hindi magkikita ng matagal, eh magkapitbahay lang naman tayo." Natatawang sabi ni Papa.

Sumakay na ako sa car. Narinig ko nagpaalam na din sina Mama at Papa sa parents ni Chris. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. He waved goodbye with a smile. So I did too. Sumakay na din sya sa kotse nila.

I open my Facebook account and posted all of our photos together,  ginawan ko ng album, titled Graduation Day.

Pauwi palang kami ng Hacienda Casteel. Pero sunod-sunod ang tunog ng notifications sa fb, then I checked it.

Notifications                                                     🔍

New

🔘 Erica Red Valdez reacted on your photo...

🔘 Jeane Althea Laurente reacted on your photo...

🔘 Chris Patrick de Guzman reacted on your photo...

🔘 Savannah Jade Tuazon likes your album..

🔘 Angelique Brianna Love Alforque likes your album...

🔘 Brian Li likes your album...

🔘 Enrique Bronx Alba reacted on your album...

Nagulat ako sa sunod-sunod na mga notifications. Sila lang pala panay likes sa photos at album ko ng Graduation day.

Savannah Jade Tuazon, Angelique Brianna Love Alforque, Brian Li at Enrique Bronx Alba ay mga kinakapatid ko. Mga parents nila ay mga barkada nina Papa at Mama sa college.  Friends ko din sila hindi nga lang kami madalas kung magkita but we were good friends, minsan may get together ang parents namin, that's when we see each other again, the four of them are studying in Manila. Silang apat ang magkakasama sa isang school. I've known them since noong nagcelebrate ako ng seventh birthday ko.

Notifications                                                   🔍

New

🔘 Brian Li, Angelique Brianna Love Alforque commented on your album...

Una kong chineck ang comments ni Brian at Angelique. "Congrats baby." Baby ang tawag sa akin ng apat kong kinakapatid. Ako kasi ang pinakabunso.

Nireplyan ko ng, "Thanks. Punta kayo sa hacienda, naghanda ng marami si Lolo Faust." Lolo Faust din ang tawag nila kay Lolo.

Tapos tumunog ulit ang notifications ko.

Notifications                                                  🔍

New

🔘 Thirdly Montecillo commented on your photo...

🔘 Thirdy Montecillo likes your photo...

Thirdy Montecillo? Si Thirdy? I was shocked. Huli ko syang naisip ay yung sa ika-pito kong kaarawan. How did he know my fb account? He's not even in my friend's list. He just congratulates me on my graduation. So I just replied, "Thank you." We're not really that close, wala naman sya sa Pinas nakatira eh.

To be continued..

📝 Jannmr