THE SECLUDED TRAILS OF DECEIT '. ruler of fate series l first book

KABANATA 22

The Secluded Trails of Deceit
written by : riyanisity

"Dear La Salle, members of the faculty, members of the graduating class of this institution, parents, children, ladies, and gentlemen." He roved his eyes around before they landed on me once again. "To you as well, Miss."

I bit my lip and rolled my eyes playfully, which made him smile even more widely.

"I need not pause to say how delighted I am to be here this afternoon, especially since this will be our last page." He shook his head and held on to the sides of the podium with his spread arms. "However, it is not the end; it's just the beginning. The beginning of our new book and its chapters."

Almost everyone nodded, including myself, even though it wasn't really for me.

"I know that it's not been easy throughout the years. We experience battles along the way, problems across our paths, and hardships we hide from some." A sigh came out from his mouth before his head tilted, "Yet, we made it, and we will make it again." sigurado na dagdag niya.

I gulped and looked up for a single second before I looked back at him again. Nawala ang kaunting panlalabong naramdaman ko kanina, pero hindi pa rin sapat 'yon, dahil ramdam ko pa rin ang pag-init ng bawat sulok ng mga mata ko at ang aking nagbabadyang luha.

"That's what we seldom hear during a graduation speech, right..? And today, you're forced to listen. So, I will not continue this any longer." He gulped and licked his lips. "I just want to say that... It will be different for all of us. Some have privileges, and others don't. Some have already had their life as they wanted, while others still don't. Some don't really need to thrive, and most people have no choice but to give their all out."

My lips parted because of his wise words. There was sincerity and empathy in the way he spoke just now, which made most of the students gasp and even shed tears.

"That's the reality of this life, but remember... You don't have to run the race like others did. Just as others don't have to run yours." He breathed a huge breath and raised his chin up, trying to see everyone with his eyes. "We don't need to compete to finish above one another. Moreover, we don't have to denigrate people because we possess something they lack." A smile once again formed on his lips before he continued, amidst the crying noises he heard all around us. "Instead, we should run the race to ensure we all finish. Because the more of us who finish, the more we can pave the way for others to run and finish their race also."

I clasped my hands and nodded my head when his eyes met mine, assuring and calming him about what he was saying and feeling right now.

"I know that some of us, including myself, will continue our education in law school. Most students here will probably enter the industry they want, while some will probably take another path connected or not to what we manage to survive." His lips pursed, "But remember what we oath to ourselves — to our Alma Mater." dagdag na sabi niya.

My head tilted after I wiped a single tear from the corner of my right eye.

His jaw clenched as he looked seriously at his batchmates, "Never let your morals and principles be stained by money and power." banta at maotoridad na paalala niya sa lahat.

I nodded my head and clapped my hands silently, which made him smile cheerfully after noticing it.

He did a salute to all of us, "Thank you, kitakits nalang mga pare chong dude!" nakangising sabi niya.

With that, everyone stood up and clapped for him too. Hindi kagaya kanina, na walang maririnig mula sa palakpak ko para hindi makaagaw ng pansin, ngayon ay halos wala akong marinig kundi 'yon. They were clapping hard and so fast for him.