Kabanata 18

Graduation Day

"Are you ready?" asked my cousin as usual siya na naman ang mag aayos para sa graduation ko, mom will be here any minute ang sabi ay magsuot daw kami ng Gala uniform but since I don't really follow the rules I wore A beige dress and a jacket to cover up napagusapan na namin ni Erin na mag dress at rubber shoes lang kami sa Graduation.

"Talaga bang hindi ka mag uuniform baka pagalitan ka doon Elle" umiling lang ako kay mama once naman na nandoon na ako wala ng magagawa yung school habang nag ayos kachat ko lang sila Erin sa Group chat namin everyone was busy kaya hindi kami makapag usap ng maayos kaya chinat ko nalang si Riley. Lalaki naman to at hindi din ito mag aayos masyado.

"Still doing my make up" I told him pangiti ngiti pa ako habang ka chat ito buti nalang at busy ang pinsan ko sa boyfriend niya habang inaayusan ako, my make up looks better ngayong graduation kesa nung prom light lang kasi at day look ang kapal ng make up ko noon at naka contacts pa ako. "Hindi naman ako mag aayos eh inaaya na ako pumunta nila Mommy pero di ako pumayag ang aga pa kasi" buti naman at may respeto na siya kahit papaano sa mommy niya.

"Pupunta ba parents mo?" I asked him kasi baka andun din Daddy niya "Oo kasama si Dad pati ate ko sasama" tunog palang ng boses niya nagrereklamo na siya, natatawa nalang ako.

"My Dad will attend for me" I told him, by Dad I mean my biological father yung kasama ni Mama sa US and Daddy namin ni Ivar, "So I will meet him?" Riley asked I didn't really thought about that, siguro ipapakilala ko lang siya kay Papa bilang manliligaw sakin naisip ko din ang gulo gulo ng relationship namin ni Riley alam ng iba kami na, sa parents namin nagliligawan palang kami but within us, it's just a confession walang malinaw na usapan.

Medyo nainis tuloy ako bahala na kakausapin ko nalang si Riley tungkol dito bukas, "I'm almost done papunta ka na ba?" I asked him tutal tapos naman na ako, papunta nadin sila Erin ako nalang ata at si Riley ang wala eh malapit lang naman bahay nila sa school kaya inaya ko na si Papa para pumunta pagdating ko dun eh nakapila na sila.

Nagmamadali tuloy ako pumila sa likod ni Erin akala ko start na pinaupo muna kami sa harap saka nagstart yung program tawang tawa ako kasi kami lang ni Erin yung hindi naka uniform. I sent Riley a picture, "Do I look pretty?" I bet he's smiling right now he replied "Yes, so pretty" napangiti nalang ako.

I was checking how Papa is at the back the program is on going kaya nginitian nalang ako ni Papa. It was awarding at tinawag ang grupo namin for 5th place in best thesis presenters, I hope Mom is proud of me. Nang papilahin na kami ay nasa harap ko si Riley mas mataas kasi ang rank nito sakin sa honors his mom smiled at me nginitian ko din ito paglingon ni Riley ay tumango naman si Papa sakanya.

After the awards our Friend will be given time for their speeches, I can't help but wonder sa speech ni Jane hindi ko alam kung pinapatamaan niya ba ako but her speech sounds like I ruined our friendship, I thought we were still in good tersm nagtinginan tuloy sila Gale sakin, when it was Miggy's turn everyone we laughed at his speech he acknowledged all of us and he made it so funny, after those nagkantahan lang kami. Some were crying but I didn't I know naman na magkikita at magkikita padin kami ibang school na ngalang.

The program ended with us taking turns in picture taking, lumapit sakin si Riley kasama ang Mommy niya "Can I take a picture of you both?" tumabi naman sakin si Riley I smiled while clinging my arms to his, His mom is showing me the pictures "Look, my son only smiles when he's with you" she admiringly looked at me I smiled back at her nilapitan ako ni Riley "Hey here's your Gift" Inabot niya sakin yung mga keychain na binili niya this is the little version of Ollie.

"Thank and here is yours" abot ko naman ng stuff toy sakanya "Wala pang name yan ikaw na bahala" he smiled nagaabutn nadin ng letters yung iba kaya I nudged him "Asan ang letter ko?" napakamot ito ng ulo mukhang wala pa ata ahh. "I'll give it to you bukas tutal may swimming tayo" tumango nalang ako "Promise me that" he nodded he looked at his mom mukhang aalis na ata sila "I'll go first Baby, just chat me later okay. See you tomorrow congrats ulit" he kissed my forehead saka kumaway sa mga kaibigan namin.

"Uwi nadin ako Elle" bumeso sakin si Erin saka nauna na. Kami nalang nila Gale at Matthew ang nandito "Nauna na si Riley? paano ka?" I looked at my dad waiting for me "Mauuna nadin kami, bye guys see you nalang bukas" lumapit ako kay Papa saka kami pumunta ng mall. While having lunch same resto lang pala ang kakainan nila Matthew nag bless ako sa parents niya kilala naman nila ako. "So it's Riley?" Papa asked alam ko namang ayaw niya pa na may nanliligaw sakin, he's even bugging me to enter the church and be a nun instead.

"Yes pa, I know na ayaw mo pero I won't just say yes to him hanggat hindi pa ako legal" he smiled and nodded "Does your mom know?" I nodded too, mom knows about Riey she talked to him already I think. "Okay I won't stop this just be careful sweetie, your my princess baka masaktan ka lang your still yung" umiling ako. "He won't hurt me Pa, I know Riley".

I was chatting Riley, he's been reporting what he was eating, alam niya kasing ayokong mahina siya kumain natatawa nalang ako, when we all got home I think it's time to ask him what are we really. "Riley, I'll just be blunt about it" he asked "What is it baby?" I replied "Ano ba talaga tayo?" he was silent for a good minute before replying to me kinakabahan tuloy ako "You choose, it's your decision, Whatever you want" it sounded good but uncertain in my ears hindi lang dapat ako ang mag dedecide about this. "I'm fine with what we have right now Elle" that made me stop asking, I'm happy with what we have right now siguro we just have to take it slow. " I thought tayo na" he replied "I told you , you decide" I didn't answer him and chose another topic to talk about.