Holding on to His Promises

Chapter 8: Find a Way

My highschool life was fun and memorable. I've had good friends, funny and good looking classmates, hard working class president and kind teachers. I would never forget about them. Therefore, when we had a recollection before the graduation day, we really cried and hugged each other. I might no longer see some of them anymore, and that felt so sad. Maybe, we could see each other again on the day of our reunion someday.

When the graduation day came, I felt so proud when I saw Storm Dylan walked on the stage and was announced as our valedictorian. He speeched there. I wasn't surprised anymore. A genius like him deserved it. Then, our salutatorian was Kyline Salvador. She also deserved it because she was a very hard working student. I never heard that she had an absent.

"Is that a relationship goal? Both together on the stage with high honors?" Kumi said. She was sitting next to me.

"Relationship ka diyan! Hindi pa naman sila 'no!" ani Elaica nang may pagmamaldita. She was really into Dylan, kaya hindi niya tanggap na gusto ni Dylan si Kyline.

"Sabagay."

Nang matapos ang program ng graduation namin, hindi ko maiwasang mapanguso kapag nagagawi ang tingin ko kay Storm dahil ang dami niyang medalya, samantalang ako, isa lang, which is the "most behave award." Pero napalitan din ng ngiti iyon nang makita ko muli sina Mommy at Daddy na papalapit sa akin. They came home for me, dahil graduation ko ngayon.

"Dalagang-dalaga na talaga ang baby ko," ani Daddy sa akin. I just hugged him. I'd missed them so much.

I saw Dylan looking at me from afar and he was with his parents. I just waved at him and mouthed, "See you later." Nagpatianod ako kay Daddy dahil lilisanin na namin ang school dahil may mga naghihintay na bisita sa bahay namin.

"Kakilala mo ba ang anak ng mag-asawang Hunt?" tanong ni Mama sa akin nang makapasok kami sa loob ng kotse ni Daddy. Nasa passenger-seat siya habang ako lang mag-isa sa backseat.

"Opo. Magkaklase po kami at kapit-bahay po natin sila," sagot ko.

"Oo, pero huwag kang makikipagkaibigan do'n, anak."

Hindi ako nakakibo. Tinago ko kasi sa kanila na kaibigan ko si Dylan. Sigurado kasing magagalit sila kaya hindi ko binabanggit sa kanila. I was really thankful because Auntie Rona never told them about my friendship with Dylan.

"Bakit po ayaw niyo sa mga Hunt? You never told me the real story."

Napasulyap naman si Daddy kay Mommy. "My, sabihin mo na. Malaki na rin naman na si Demi, kaya maiintindihan na niya," ani Daddy kay Mommy.

Mommy heaved a sighed. "Ang mga Hunt ang dahilan kung bakit nalugi ang grocery store na pinatayo namin ng Daddy mo noon, because they built a mall near the location of our store. Nang magbukas iyon, wala nang gaanong bumibili sa store at hindi na namin mapasweldo ng maayos ang mga empleyado namin. Nagkanda-malas kami dahil nasunog ang grocery store na matagal naming pinag-ipunan ng Daddy mo. From that day, we hated the Hunt Company. They are killing small businesses . . ." There was anger in Mommy's voice while she was talking about that.

I felt sad when I heard the full story. 'Yun pala ang dahilan kung bakit napilitan sina Mommy at Daddy na magwork abroad dahil naubos ang pera namin nang mawala ang grocery store namin. Doon sila nagtrabaho sa ibang bansa para mag-ipon muli ng pera, hindi lang para makapagsimula sila muli ng business, kundi para na rin sa pag-aaral ko sa kolehiyo.

"But what if they didn't know that they affected us?" sabi ko.

"That is impossible, Demi. They are business men so they already studied about it. Business world is a world of 'I don't care kung may malulugi, ang mahalaga kikita ang business ko.' Remember that."