We are just too busy; we don't see each other much but Margie and Barbie try to call me once in a while. Especially when graduation gets nearer the pressure of getting everything done is there, about half of the school year, the National University started announcing the entrance exam requirements and scholarship grants, I submerged myself in studies and doubled checks every now and then if I got everything in place, the requirement, the applications, the schedules. I juggled everything but I can say it went smoothly, the date of the exams came up, I took the test, and 3 months later it announced that I passed. Margie and Barbie took the time to meet with me and I took them to a different Restaurant from before but they still sell alcohol, it's just the ambiance is normal and not loud like a bar. We toasted my passing at National University with flying colors
"Congratulations to both of you for passing National University" I didn't know that Margie applied to it as well but she's not on a scholarship
"Don't worry Margie I will support your expenses" Margie scratched her head
"Just go through your graduation first and worry about yourself, I saved enough for the first semester, I'll try to deal with it as much as possible, I will work my ass off" Margie shrugged the struggle ahead. I tapped her shoulder
"Don't worry Margie, as you work, I will help you as much as I can with your papers" Margie stood up and went from behind us Barbie hugged us and said
"Thank you so much both of you, I love you and I will return the favor in the future. It's good to have siblings, please never leave me alone" We laughed the night away and we parted ways again, we will have a busy month to look forward to as we will have to attend each other's graduation.
I never brought Mr. and Mrs. Bumi up to start the topic but I just reciprocate with full of respect whenever Margie and Barbie open things up about them. Barbie started
"Mom and Dad will be back in the country 1 week before your graduation Grei, I think they will attend each of our graduations" I just thought, it's been so long, I haven't seen them ever since I entered the orphanage again and I never called the number Mr. Bumi left in the phone he gave me.
"I see, that would be great" We're lucky that our graduation is not scheduled on the same dates and mine will be the first, two days after will be Margie's and the next week after is Barbie's. Margie just made a face and said
"Okay, I thought they already forgot that they have children back here" Barbie just chuckled,
"Whatever, let's just promise ourselves that we will be present at each other's" We agreed all together and hugged each other, I just realized that I got taller than both of them, and I could hug them both with full arms.
My graduation came and no presence from Mr. and Mrs. Bumi. Barbie said their schedule got mixed up and didn't get to have a chance to re-book. It's okay for me but Margie's graduation came and they still didn't make it.
Margie cried a lot, the whole ceremony she had red eyes. But we just couldn't control anything in our lives, I just thought at least we're all moving up and strong. But there comes Barbie's graduation, Mrs. Bumi showed up first, still a fine woman, more mature, with white hair strands showing from her head and fine lines from her face. She lost her bright aura when I first saw her but she's still as beautiful and elegant, Barbie resembles her so much. Mr. Bumi was late, the ceremony ended when he showed up and it was time for picture-taking. At least he's present for the memories. He looked my way after the commotions and he held out his hand for a handshake, I took it and shook it in a firm and brief way.
I almost believed that I would never see the Bumi family again but here we are they are back again. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just think that I would not need this drama in my life anymore. I'll just stick around to see my sisters fulfilled with their lives as well. The dinner after Barbie's graduation ceremony was awkward and silent, we exchanged tip-of-the-iceberg information like what people feels when they are applying for work in a panel setup. Even Margie and Barbie feel distant from their parents, especially Margie when she just cried so much last time when she understood that her parents won't be able to make it to her graduation, I think that she hasn't moved on from it yet completely. I didn't want to pry, so I never initiated any topic that would feel unnecessary.
Acting civil is the best way to get through situations like this. After that dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Bumi insisted on sending me back to my place at the orphanage or we could just but I said they don't have to. Luckily Barbie brought her car and she drove me back with Margie. Barbie said
"All right, I'll see you again next week" I rest my arms on her rolled-down car window
"…I will get you here and bring Margie with me to help you with your packing" Margie and I still have a month before the university semester starts but I will be staying with the apartment next week.
"Got it, I will be ready, no need for so much preparation, I don't have much stuff just 1 travel suitcase and 1 backpack" Margie widened her eyes before she spoke
"What? It's not that I'm not happy, more space for my stuff but how did you live with just that?" Barbie adds
"Well, she's right on that part though. You're not living too frugal right? We're just worried that you're not taking care of yourself properly" I cut them
"You guys really don't have to work yourself up for me. We don't have much space for ourselves, my room is like a dorm type. We have a locker for each person, we each have a single layer of shelf in cabinets, I'm even lucky that I got a desk of my own beside my bed for my school stuff, and we use shared utilities in all other necessities, like bathroom and kitchen. Besides I'm a guy, I don't need much for personal things and I don't care much about styling myself" Margie shrugged her shoulders
"Whatever you will be living with me and I will take care of you, I will style you to my heart's content and you will tell me everything when you start to have girlfriends, you are still our youngest, and I will not accept that people don't like you, like you" Barbie chuckled,
"She's right, no matter how busy you are with important stuff, you need to start having fun as well" She added,
"By the way, I won't be moving out completely next week, I'll still stay with you in a week or two before my first day at work starts. And I'll spend your birthday with you before I leave"
"Oh, that's right, I almost forgot that another year has gone by" Barbie continued
"I've got my own apartment, walking distance to my new workplace. My things are ready for move out, all in boxes and such but I can't move them all one time. Don't worry, Margie and I could squeeze into her bed in the meantime" I got a little worried
"If you don't mind, I don't mind" Barbie nodded
"Right, You could even come with me to my new apartment and you guys help me move heavy stuff" I also nodded
"uh-huh, I could do that, I'll help you with everything when I get to move in with you" Margie smiled
"I'm getting excited, we still have so much to talk about and so much to do" I nodded again and said our goodbyes. I waited till I didn't see their car from afar.
"I hope I can settle with another environment quickly, and with Margie with me, I'm not quite sure if I should be worried or not"