Starless Sky (Constellation Series #1)

Chapter 28

Trigger Warning! This chapter contains; mentions of rape, sexual assault, and violence. If you have had a traumatic experience,  please DO NOT READ; feel free to skip this part.

Chapter 28

Dirty

"Congratulations!" Dike kissed my cheeks and handed me a bouquet of tulips. I smiled and thanked her.

Athena gave the flowers she was holding to Ly, who was currently wiping her cheeks. She cried while delivering her inspiring speech.

"Congrats, girls."

I was smiling, but hurting.

I am still waiting for nothing.

"Smile, babies!" I snapped back into reality when a sound from Dike's camera clicked.

"Don't let him ruin your day, Celeste" Ly whispered. Tag-isa kami ng hawak na bulaklak habang nakatingin sa camera sa unahan.

With that, I roamed my eyes around the busy area of the amphitheater. Everyone is excited, everyone is smiling, and everyone is celebrating their success. There's no reason for me to feel heavy. This is my success—my achievement—and I should never let someone ruin this special occasion of my journey.

A new achievement is unlocked.

My eyes met my mother's. She was smiling widely, as if she had won the lottery.

Her expression screams how proud she is.

That's the main reason for me to celebrate. Her happiness is mine. I'm happy when she's happy. That's all I need.

"Dike?" Agaw ko sa atensyon niya. Tumingin siya sa akin at agad akong niyakap.

"I'm so proud! You're still my sister-in-law!" She whispered.

"Ahm, nasaan kaya sya?" Hindi ko napigilang magtanong. Gusto ko lang malaman kung anong pinagkakaabalahan niya at hindi man lang niya gumawang sumilip.

"I was looking for him too, my brother is so in love with you. I know that he will come, but I couldn't find him." Bakas din sa boses niya ang pagka dismaya.

"B-baka may emergency" pinaniwala ko na lang ang sarili at iwinaksi sa utak ko. Hindi na dapat ako maapektuhan dahil unang una ay wala naman akong karapatan na.

Kating-kati akong magtanong pa kaya kinalabit ko si Athena.

"Ahm, hindi ba tumulong sa pag organized si S-sky? Vice president siya." Hindi ko rin talaga siya napansin kahit ang ibang officers ay sobrang busy dahil sa main event na ito.

Athena sighed and then reached for my hand. "I don't know if it's right to say this; I've been holding this for two months now. I don't want to say this because I'm respecting your personal space," she said while caressing my hands.

"Two months ago, Sky stepped down as a vice president."

Hindi ko alam kung anong magiging reaksyon ko. Why did he do that? Two months ago, we broke up. Does that mean, our break-up affected his academic? Hindi pwede!

"And after that he just disappeared. Hindi ko alam kung hindi ko lang siya nakikita sa department namin or talagang sobrang busy ko lang." She added.

Lalo akong kinabahan. Kahit kasi si Dike ay parang walang alam sa nangyayari sa kapatid niya.

Nang makalabas kami sa amphitheater ay sinalubong kami nina Leah at Michelle. Bahagya pa akong nagulat dahil nandito sila. Hindi kasi sila nakasali sa gumraduate dahil hindi nila naayos ang thesis nila.