"That's all for this session you all can take your lunch" the professor said as he walked out our class, hindi ako makapaniwala na patapos na ako sa senior high, it's been brutal, but it's bearable since Damian is around, hindi ko man siya nakakaisap pero masaya na ako na nakikita siya, "Rin rin, tara bili tayo sa Canteen" narinig kong tawagin ako ng kaibigan ko, si Avriah, "Avriah, Hillary, tara, gutom na ako eh, makipag chikahan tayo kay Ate sa canteen habang kumakain" we we're friends with the canteen staff so each lunch time we would go there and talk different topics.
"Ate, sabihan mo nga itong si Rin rin, malapit na matapos school year pero ayaw pang mag confess" Hillary blurted out, "Tanga sa tingin mo magugustuhan ni Damian yung kagaya ko?" Sagot ko naman sa sinabi niya, Imposible na magka gusto ang isang Genius sa katulad kong laging second place, baka nga isipin niya na rival niya ako, "Bakit hinde? Rin rin ang talino mo tas mabait ka, ano pa need niyang hanapin?" Sabi naman ni Avriah habang hawak ang mukha ko, "Manahimik na nga kayo, anlamig na nang pagkain oh" pagkasabi ko naman sa tonong naiinis. Ilan minuto ang lumipas at natapos narin kaming kumain, bumalik kami sa classroom, and long behold, Mr. Genius was sitting there alone, "Avriah samahan mo muna ako" narinig kong sabihin ni Hillary at ginuyod si Avriah kasama niya, ano nanaman plano ng dalawang yon? Binalewala ko nalang to at umupo sa desk ko, this is the most awkward thing I've ever experienced, kami lang ni Damian sa room and the rest are still out, chance naba to na binibigay saakin ni Lord? Then maybe...- pagkatayo ko sa inuupuan ko biglang pumasok si Brix, kaibigan siya ni Damian and magkaklase sila since junior year, siguro hindi yon chance na binigay ni lord, umupo nalang ako ulit hanggat sa mapuno ang classroom, dumating na rin ang teacher namin and nagsimula na yung discussion.
Nag ring na yung last bell, meaning class is over, inayos kona yung mga gamit ko at lumabas na nang classroom nang makita ko na kausap ni Avriah and Hillary si Damian, ano nanamang ginagawa nang dalawang to? I just shrugged it off again and went my way out the school, naghihintay na sa harap ang kaibigan ko from ICT si Zandrei, "Ang tagal mo naman kanina pa ako nag hihintay," inis na sabi ni Zandrei, "Sorry na, may ginawa lang," sumakay na kami sa paradahan ng tricycle, "Zan, sa tingin mo mag confess na ako?" Tanong ko sakanya "There you go again, why not? Baka ma miss mona yung chance mo if you don't," she replied, "Takot lang kasi ako," alam ni Zandrei yung pinagdaanan ko and she knows because of that incident, I lost my self confidence. Ilang minuto lang at nakadating na ako sa bahay, nag paalam ako kay Zandrei and umandar na ulit yung tricycle, I entered the house and set my stuff down, after which I greeted my grandma and went to my room, doon bumagabag nanaman sa isip ko kung mag c-confess ba ako or hindi, natatakot ako na ma reject niya, I mean he barely knows me and we barely interacted even if we've also been classmates for the whole junior and senior year. Hours passed of me pacing back and forth in my room, hindi ko alam kung ano gagawin ko, tomorrow is the last day and I am overthinking if I should confess or not.
After hours of thinking and skipping dinner, I decided on not going to school on the last day, and maybe just be low-key sa graduation, I thought of this since, If I don't confess I won't get rejected and If I don't get rejected I won't feel the pain, kaya kinabukasan, nag stay nalang ako sa bahay telling my grandma na wala naman kaming gagawin.
My classmates held a little feast inside the classroom as a goodbye before graduating, I knew this since they we're sending pictures in the class group chat, katapos non nag pop-up yung friends group chat namin nila Avriah and Hillary, I read the message and it was Hillary who sent a chat saying; Damian gave Alisson a Chocolate, in which it really crushed my heart, siguro okay lang na hindi ako nag confess, may iba pala siyang gusto, malapit na tumulo luha ko pero syempre matapang tayo, pinigilan ko nalang at ngumiti, katapos non hindi ko muna tinignan ang chats sa GC, I found myself na pabalik balik na naglalakad sa kwarto ko, graduation is the day after tomorrow, after that hindi na kami magkikita, I don't know what college he's going to pero, I'm sure he won't be in the same college as me, I had already enrolled to a university outside the country, kaya imposible na magkita kami ulit.
The day has finally come, with each graduates getting their diploma, and after a long wait, it was finally my turn, I had told the faculty beforehand that after I got all my awards and documents, I would be leaving since I booked a flight the same day, ayoko nang magtagal sa ceremony, lalo lang akong masasaktan, I went out the ceremony hall and outside the gate, grandma moved in with her siblings for the years I'd be staying in Canada so I was all set to go, entering the car that was arranged by my godparent who lives in Canada, I saw Damian walk out the Ceremony Hall, and he looked like he was looking for someone, I didn't mind this and got in the car, there's not a chance it's me he's looking for, after that I saw Alisson walk up to Damian, again, that scene crushed me, "Let's got Sir," I told the driver and we we're on our way to the airport.