Don't Look Back

Chapter 1

"CONGRATS BAXX! Khelvin Arellon, CPA." Masiglang bati sa kanya ni Manuel habang tumatakbo sa kanya at kasunod nito ang sobrang higpit na yakap. Kalalabas lang ng resulta ng Licensure Examinations for CPAs at pare-parehong naroon ang pangalan nilang magkakaibigan.

"Congrats Parengs." Bati naman ni Dominique na nakasunod kay Manuel. Kasalukuyan silang nasa sala ng dormitory nila at halos lahat ng nakatira doon ay tila nabulabog sa ingay ng tatlo.

Khel was still staring at both of his friends and he can't seem to process what was happening. Patuloy sa paglundag-lundag si Manuel sa harap niya na agad naman napatigil nang mapansing tulala ang kaharap niya.

"CPA ka na huy!" Tinawag nito ang atensiyon ni Khel at doon pa lamang niya napagtanto na talaga ngang nakapasa siya sa sinabing exam. Nakaramdam siya ng sobrang tuwa ngunit di niya alam kung paano niya ito mailalabas. Parang sasabog ang puso niya sa sobrang tuwa.

Imbes na ngumiti at batiin pabalik ang dalawa niyang kaibigan, napaupo ito sa sofa at nagsimulang tumulo ang luha.

"Hala ka, pinaiyak mo!" Tila natatarantang sabi ni Dominique saka lumapit sa Khel para himasin ang likod nito. "Parengs, okay ka lang?" Tanong nito. Napatango na lang siya bilang tugon. Si Manuel naman ay lumuhod at niyakap ulit ang kaibigan.

Apat na taon silang magkakasamasa kolehiyo habang nag-aaral ng BS Accountancy, at nasaksihan nito lahat ng pinagdaanan ni Khel bago maabot ang kanyang inaasam na lisensya.

"Iyakin ka talaga as always, Baxx." Pabirong sabi nito sabay kinuha ang panyo niya sa bulsa at ipinahid sa luha ni Khel. "Wag ka ngang umiyak! Para kang bakla eh!"

"Gago ka talaga kahit kailan. Kita mo nang umiiyak, tatawagin mo pang bakla." Komento ni Dominique habang patuloy na hinihimas ang likod ni Khel.

"Biro lang naman. I know he's not gay. Though duda talaga ako kasi hindi pa talaga 'to nagkakajowa. Well, since CPA ka na, you can start dating. Isama kita sa mga gala ko, you want? Plus pogi points kaya titulo mo." Napatawa bahagya si Khel sa narinig kay Manuel.

Khel thought to himself that he finally reached his goal, after everything that he's gone through, and despite of the challenges he faced. Everything was just too much for him to process right now. He was prepared when he took the exams but he never thought about preparing himself for the results.

He thought about the time when he almost didn't make it for the enrollment because he had no money, but Manuel lend him his allowance for the month so that he could pay the fees. He thought about the time he gone through depression because his family abandoned him and left the country. He thought about the time he had to work as a barista at night because he had to earn money for his college expenses. There were many more scenarios but the more Khelvin thinks about them, the happier he gets.

"Okay ka na, Khel?" Doms asked.

"Okay na ako. Sorry guys. Sobrang saya ko lang talaga." Khel said habang pinupunasan ang luha at konteng uhog mula sa ilong niya.

"Ang pangit mo talaga umiyak." Komento ni Manuel.

"Ikaw nga di pa umiiyak pangit na." Khel replied na ikinasimangot ni Manuel. Kahit kakaiyak lang nito ay nakuha pa ring mag-clap back sa pang-iinsulto niya. Giving each other mean comments is almost like their way of showing how they love each other as friends.

"Get up at maligo ka. Lalabas tayo, we're gonna celebrate!" Manuel said as he pulled Khel from the sofa then pushed him towards the bathroom.

Habang nasa shower ay patuloy paring iniisip ni Khel ang mga nangyayari. He just could't believe it. For the first time in five years he felt peaceful. Sa wakas ay napanatag siya dahil alam niyang magbabago na ang buhay niya at mabubuo na niya ang buhay na gusto niya.