After The Sunset

7

Totoo nga pala ang sinasabi nila na kapag masaya ka ay mabilis lang na tatakbo ang oras. Hindi ko namalayan na natapos na namin ni Cede ang kindergarten. Nakausap ni Mama si Teacher Emy at hindi ko na daw kailangan umulit pa ng kinder dahil maganda naman daw ang naging performance ko habang nandoon. Natuwa naman si Mama sa sinabi niyang iyon.

Ngayong araw na ito ang graduation namin sa kindergarten. Katabi ko ng upuan si Cede dahil siya ang Top 1 sa aming lahat. Ako naman ang Top 2 na labis na ikinatuwa ni Mama. Hindi niya rin ito inasahan dahil hindi niya rin naman ako natutulungan kapag may mga assignments ako. Madalas ay si Kuya Jace ang tumutulong sa akin kapag nasa kanila ako. 

"Let us all welcome Jack Evander G. de Silva, the top achiever of the batch for his speech" sabi ni Teacher Emy. Pumalakpak kaming lahat. Tumayo na si Cede at dumiretso sa stage. Kinuha niya ang microphone kay Teacher Emy. 

"To our distinguished guest of honor Dr. Benjamin Cruz, directress Mrs. Gwen Reyes, teachers, parents, co-graduates, guests, ladies and gentlemen a pleasant morning to all" huminto pansamantala si Cede bago nagpatuloy. Nakinig lang ako kay Cede. He was speaking very well. Kung hindi pa ako nakatingin sa kanya ay aakalain kong elementary na ang nagsasalita sa harapan. 

"To our teachers, we thank you for being with us throughout this journey. You have seen how we grow and improved from knowing nothing, to gaining something. Without you, we will not be able to learn new things and discover our talents. To our parents, we thank you for the love, care, support and patience. We dedicate all our milestones to you. Dear co-graduates, I can still remember the first time we met here in our school. We were crying in our parents arms not wanting to be left behind. But, as days passed by we became comfortable to each other. We enjoyed all the activities and lessons they taught us. Thank you for all the memories we shared, the bonding we had and the friendships that grew which will be treasured for a lifetime. We did it! And I am praying that may we continue to strive hard for our dreams" he ended his speech by singing a song dedicated to our parents and teachers. Naluha silang lahat dahil doon. Nang matapos siya ay tumayo ang lahat para palakpakan siya. He was smiling. Naging mabilis nalang ang flow ng program pagkatapos ng speech niya. We were awarded with certificates and medals. After the ceremony, nagkaroon muli ng picture taking kasama ang parents nila Cede. Hindi na kami sumama sa bahay nila dahil nag-celebrate kami na kasama si Tito Mau at Tita Eula. 

The day of our graduation day was the last time I saw Cede. Hindi na kami nagkita pagkatapos noon. Ang huling balita ko ay sa isang malapit na paaralan siya pumasok. Habang ako naman ay sa ibang paaralan. I was left in the care of Lolo and Lola. After my graduation, umuwi sila para permanente ng manirahan dito. Iyon naman ang oras ng pag-alis ni Tito Mau at Tita Eula. Ilang buwan lang pagkatapos ay si Mama naman ang umalis.

It was hard for me to be separated to my parents at a young age. I was only five years old on that time. Hindi rin kami natuloy ni Lolo at Lola sa Hong Kong dahil nagka-problema sa pagkuha nila ng passport ko. It was very sad on my part. I was really excited but then, I cannot always have what I want. 

Lola enrolled me at the school near their house. I moved with them since I don't have any choice. Ang bahay na naiwan namin sa dating tirahan ay pinapalinis na lamang buwan buwan. As much as I want to live there, wala naman akong kasama. It was hard to understand on my part na at a young age I was left in the care of my grandparents. Nakakatampo lang dahil si Mama at Papa dapat ang kasama ko sa aking paglaki. Not that I don't want to be with my grandparents. Ang sa akin lang ay medyo may edad na rin sila at baka mamaya ay hindi ako masubaybayan sa kakulitan ko.

Don't get me wrong. I love my grandparents so much. At a young age, I learned how to do the household chores to help them. Not that they wanted me to learn. I wanted to do it so I can be of great help especially that they are not getting any younger. Days turned into months....and into years. I haven't heard any news about Mama and Papa. Whenever I ask Lolo and Lola about them, palagi nalang nilang sinasabi na busy sila. I tried so hard to understand that. But then at times, I couldn't.