Running After The Dusk

42

Halt

"Wait tita, last na po!"

All of us let out a silent groan when Stefanie interrupted the picture taking. Itinaas niya angg kamay niya at gumawa ng peace sign bago ayusin muli ang buhok niya. It's our 4th attempt and yet we can't still take a good picture. Ali stomped her feet, halatang naiinis na.

"Bilis naman!" Miguel exclaimed from the back.

"Teka lang naman po ano? Atat lang?" Ipinagpatuloy niya ang pag ayos ng buhok habang nakatingin kamming lahat sakanya. Akma pa siyang tutulakin ni Miggy pero nakaiwas naman agad si Stef bigla. She clapped her hands in front as soon as she finished.

Bumalik kaming lahat sa pwesto namin at pumosisyon sa harap ng camera. Andrei fixed my toga kaya naman napatingin ako sakanya. Umiling lamang siya at ipinagpatuloy ang pag ayos nito sa likod kaya hinayaan ko nalang siya bago lumapit sa tabi ni Cyrus.

"Okay, 1...2...3... Cheese!"

Maraming nangyari sa mga nagdaan na buwan. Everything went back to normal, unti unti na ding bumabalik yung buhay na nakasanayan ko. Auntie is now handling our business together with the help of Vin's family. It's surprising that they didn't break the deal even if the issue almost put the name of our companies in line. Dahil rin sakanila, umakyat ang sales ng products naming up to 90%.

Auntie gained trauma after what happened that day. Wala akong sinisi nung mga oras na yon kundi ang sarili ko. It has been a long battle for me owing to the fact that I'm in the verge of living and dying. I wanted to escape the pain so bad but as time goes by, I realized that everything is a process. Thankfully, after all the hardships, I survived it all.

Tumingin ako sa paligid matapos naming magpicturan. The ceremony isn't starting yet pero ramdam na ang lungkot ng bawat estudyante dito sa venue namin. Some students are already crying even if we haven't bid our goodbyes yet. Natawa ako dahil ni minsan hindi ko naisip na dadating din yung araw na magkakahiwalay kaming lahat.

"Uy magsisimula na raw. "

Sumulyap ako kay Ali na kinalbit ako mula sa likuran. I gave her a nod before gesturing her to go first. Napatingin ako kay auntie nang ilahad niya sakin ang mortarboard ko bago ako bigyan ng isang mahigpit na yakap. I smiled as she let go of the hug, giving me a soft pat above my head.

"Let's go?" Isinilid ko ang kamay ko ang kamay ko sa braso ni Andrei. Nagtungo kami sa pinakasentro kung saan papasok ang mga graduates.

Bawat graduates may kapartner pagpasok ng venue. Saka lang maghihiwalay kung nasa mismong paglalakad na sa red carpet. Halos matawa ako nang makita ko sila Miguel sa bandang likuran ko na nakikipag away pa sa mga kapartner nila. I also eyed Ali and Stef few meters away from us so I gave them a wave before walking step by step.

"It's been a long ride, right?" I heard Andrei whispered from my side. Sumulyap ako sakanya bago tumango, he let out a silent giggle before fixing the tie on his tux.

Iniharap ko siya sakin nang makita kong nahihirapan siya sa pag ayos ng tie. I exhaled a large amount of breath in the midway of fixing it. "It is."

Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat nang hinawakan ko siya sa balikat, I didn't see much of his face because I was bowing down. He went silent for a couple of seconds before looking at me. I raised a brow when our gazes met, he had the urge to laugh so I did the same thing.

"I'm proud of you." Wika niya nang malapit na kaming maghiwalay para sa red carpet.

"So am I."