"Oh nasaan sablay mo ha?!" pasigaw na tanong ni Ella kay Keily.

"Oh nooo." at ayun nga nakalimutan niya yung sablay niya.

"I knew it. Burara ka talaga. Pictorial natin ngayon for grad pic Keil, of all things na kakalimutan mo yung sablay pa" sermon ni Ella.

"Sorry na Els" sabi ni Keil while trying to calm Ella.

"Fine, you can borrow mine" para talagang nanay si Ella.

Malapit narin yung graduation ceremony namin and today is our scheduled picture taking for our grad pic.

"You look good in that dress" I got startled when Lance suddenly talked.

"Thank you, ikaw rin.. I-I mean in your barong" I looked at what he's wearing, he really looks good in a Barong kahit na mukha na siyang foreigner.

I did some final retouch bago yung turn ko and checked my hair of naka'pin parin ng maayos yung other side ng buhok ko.

"Miss dito po tayo titingin" sabi ni kuya photographer.

I nodded as a response.

"Ready miss?" kuya asked.

Am I really ready? Hell. I'm damn sure I'm ready sa lahat ng napagdaanan ko para sa pangarap na'to. Giving up was never an option.

"Yes. I'm ready"

I smiled thinking of all the things i've been through, remembering all the people who never doubted that I had it in me.

"I did it" the camera flash hit me like rays of what I had always dreamt of. The smile I had will forever be a reminder of how much I wanted to achieve this.

"I did it Ali.." I whispered as soon as the last shot snapped. Thank God and every existing Saint, I'm so proud of my self.

I opened my eyes after the prayer, this is finally the fruit of my journey.

A little while later, our dean got called for his opening remarks for our graduation. It still feels surreal, all these? it feels too much, like before it wasn't even possible that living it now seems like a continuous dream.

Imagine living without passion, or having a passion but not living for it. This made me really realize just how much one would do and how far one would go for the things you love.

"Thank you, and congratulations our dear Doctors" dean Castro ended his speech which made us all smile. Nagulat ako when my phone vibrated in the pocket of my white satin long sleeve fit dress.

I reached for it after clapping.

"Gurl rinig mo yun?! omggg we're finally doctors!! ackkk watch moko mamaya sa stage kakaway ako sainyo :D"

I smiled at how wholesome Keily always is, how she celebrates our every achievement by making us feel like we're always a part of hers.

Another text came in as I read Keily's.

"Hoy tago mo cellphone mo, mahuli ka sanang babaita ka"

I looked around to find Ella, malapit lapit lang naman ang C sa F kasi alphabetically arranged kami, si Keily lang nalayo, San Pedro pa nga.

Then I caught a glimpse of her glaring at me. I just laughed at her before she rolled her eyes at me.

She has always been our motherly figure around us, she kept us sane for another four years of insanity. Always makes sure we're safe, cooks for us when we're sick, as if hindi namin kayang alagaan yung mga sarili namin.

I was about to put my phone back when it vibrated once more.

"What are you laughing at? you caught my attention again"

Lumingon ako sa likod to look at Lance, halos magkalikod lang kami since Gonzales naman siya.

I saw him smiling back fondly, the twinkle in his eyes show how happy he is for finally having a name for himself like he always wanted to prove to his parents.

"Wala, tong si Ella kasi kala mo nanaman angsama sama ko" I replied.

He just smirked reading his phone before looking back at me and hiding it.

I did the same and fixed my dress before listening to our guest speaker.

"Back then I was just like you, I was thinking what if I go nowhere after this? after everything I worked hard for? what if what I have and what I am is just not enough for what's next?" every word hit me hard, like I was once again at the start of something, like how I was before.

Every part of me just worries about what is coming, until someone taught me how more important today is.

I smiled at the thought of that night.

~~~~

"Bakit parang anglungkot mo naman boo? katatapos lang ng final exams ah"

I looked at Ali smiling sadly.

"What if I get tired boo? paano kung one day maisip ko na bakit ito pa yung pinili ko? paano kung maghanap ako ng mas madali?" my voice trembled as my eyes started to get watery.

Ali sat infront of me sa bed.

"Hey.. we all get tired boo, you'll have those times. You're just starting, madami pang mangyayari. And this chose you, this dream whatever it is that you really yearn for. Please never ignore what you have already achieved because of the things you still haven't" a tear fell on my cheek sinking in her words.

She pulled me into her chest and kissed my crown.

"Go on, cry. I'm here" she always have the best words, she keeps me on my feet all the time.

I sniffed after I let all my worries slide from my eyes.

She cupped my cheeks and looked me straight in my eyes .

"How about ice cream at the beach this weekend?" I smiled at her, eyes still filled with tears.

~~~~

I wiped my left cheek as I felt my tear slide down. I kept my composure and took a deep breath.

I'm happy now, I feel proud. Let's not ruin it. I told my self.

"Choi-Santagio, Bella" nakangiting umakyat si Ella sa stage after her name was called. I secretly took a snap of her with my phone before clapping.

"Fajardo, Sophia Hannah" I felt every step I made, into the middle of  the stage, shaking their hands, bowing infront of hundreds more of people like me.

I smiled and looked at the eyes of the people that helped me up to this point of my life.

Keily was almost jumping as she cheered for me, Ella was busy taking pics so I faced her direction and a smile appeared on her face as she gave me a thumbs up.

Lance..how do I even describe his smile, I've never seen him like this. My heart suddenly felt warm with his look, I smiled at him and felt my eyes once again felt wet.

I was already sitting down when Lance was called.

"Gonzales, Lance Andrei" I let go of my diploma to clap for him, he looks so fine up in that stage. I took a quick picture of him before he got down.

"San Pedro Keily" as promised and as always, Keily waved at the three of us, wearing her biggest smile, she looks so bright, parang bumalik kami sa pagkabata and memories flashback in my mind.

College, our times of despair, celebrating and our silent days. How fast does time fly? that no one gets to stop it, not even once. At the same time, it's for the good, I can't think of how many times I would have stopped time if I could.

I hugged Ella as we met each other outside the hall.

"Congratulations Els" I greeted.

"Uh-uh, call me doctor" we laughed again and hugged once more before we were surprised by Keily jumping to tackle us.

"Mga beh!! ackkk! I can't believe it! doctor tayong lahat!!" she celebrated.

"Oo nga! mukha tayong ewan" sagot ni Ella.

Nagulat nalang ako when I felt hands grabbed me from my waist before turning me around and lifting me up.

"Hmmmm!! Sophh! we're finally doctors!" Lance dropped me before smiling.

I was still shocked kaya hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot ko.

"Wow so kayo lang doctor?!" I then heard Ella scoffed.

"Haha may nagtatampo, don't worry you get a hug too!" Lance tackled the both of them and kissed them sa cheeks.

"Aray! kadiri naman Gonzales e!" Ella complained earning another hug from Lance.

"Huy ano ba!? makakakuha ka sakin e!" tumigil na sa pangaasar si Lance when Ella threatened to smack him.

"Oh hindi na!" he backed up and stood by my side.

"So? where do we drink?!" he asked excitedly.

"Ayan naman pala! inuman na!!" Ella jumped at him which made him plop on the ground and made me and Keily laugh.

"Yan kasi, lintik lang naman talaga ang walang ganti" Keily commented.

"Ready ka na? on the way na kami"

I read the text from Ella which made me nervous.

It's our oath taking today, sabay sabay kaming pupunta since we have a plan na sabay sabay ding aalis, we reserved a place sa isang hotel. Tonight we will celebrate before we go our own ways to success.

"Wow! lady in red!" Keily shouted as I got in Lance's car.

Ella just smiled, but I saw somethin else in her eyes for a moment, na distract lang ako when Lance spoke.

"So? seatbelt?" I quickly buckled up and decided na mamaya nalang kakausapin si Ella.

We took our oath and was already done with the ceremony. I was sitting down sa table namin waiting for the three since ito yung plano namin.

"Soph" I was pulled out of my deep thinking when I heard Lance's voice.

"Oh, san sina Ella?" I asked.

"They went to the comfort room lang saglit, shall we walk to the car?" he offered his hand so I took it before standing up.

We already reached his car pero wala pa sina Keily so we dicided to wait nalang muna sa parking lot.

Lance was busy on his phone when I saw the two walking towards us, I looked at Keily and saw her expression, like she was real surprised.

Then I saw Ella who has her brows furrowed.

Tumingin ako sa direksiyon ng tinitingnan nila and saw my hands still intertwined with Lance's.

My eyes widened and looked at him frozen.

He looked back with a confused face, then turned pink when he realized what I was looking at, he immediately removed his hands and pretended to go inside and start the car.

I was left with Ella and Keily's gaze.

"Hoyyyy! kikiligin na ba ako?!" Keily greeted while laughing.

I gulped at Ella's stare.

"Do you have something to tell us Sophia?" she coldly asked.

"W-what" I stuttered.

"Wag mo kaming mawhat what" she replied seriously.

"That was nothing, hindi lang namin napansin" I reasoned.

"Di napansin?" she asked confused.

"Ay gurl? di napansin na ano?naglakad yung kamay mo papunta sa kamay niya? aminin niyo na kasi hngg" Keily was confused now too.

I sighed.

"There's nothing going on between me and Lance, please believe me, that was an accident" Ella raised her eye brow.

"Fine, I believe you"

"Ughh thanks Keil" I smiled at her.

Ella just scoffed before entering the car.

What the hell have I done again?!

"Cheers to all our next years of being doctors!" Lance tossed our drinks as we settled beside the private pool area sa hotel.

"To getting wasted!" Ella shouted before downing the bottle of beer on her hand.

There is definitely something wrong.

We drank our way to insanity, Lance and Keily was on the pool when I felt something on my shoulder, Ella's head was sliding, she's half asleep but still talking.

I admit I was already half drunk, sana lang walang malunod samin ngayong gabi.

"Els, halika na sa kwarto" I tapped her cheek.

Nagulat ako when she started sniffing.

"Els?" I faced her and cupped her cheeks.

"Ella" she was already crying softly.

I didn't know what was happening, is it the alcohol? or is there really something else?

"Ella what is it? why are you crying?" I quickly looked to see if nakatingin dito sina Lance but they were busy splashing around while grilling meat sa may gilid.

"Bella!umayos ka nga" I slowly lifted her para makaupo siya ng maayos.

"What the hell is wrong?" she looked at me still crying.

"Tangina Soph!" she pushed me slowly but I held onto her.

"What?why?!" I was confused as hell.

"Si Ethan" humahagulgol na siya at this point.

"What? ano si Ethan?!"

"S-something happened.. b-between us" she cried harder holding on to my hand.

My eyes widened sa revelation ni Ella, is that why she looked really pale these past few days. I mean sila ba? what the fuck?

"Ella, kayo ba?" I asked her soflty, I didn't want her to thnk that I'm judging her.

"No" she answered straight.

"The hell.." I whispered.

"See? this is why I didn't want to tell you guys!" she complained.

"No- no Els, it's just you look so wasted.. did you not like it?" I tried to joke para gumaan yung pakiramdam niya but she just hit me on my arm.

"Huy! ano nga? sarap?" I teased her making her smile while still crying.

She wiped her tears and sniffed.

"Sherep" she laughed at me.

I hit her back this time and just took the issue slightly. It was just sex, okay. We're adults now, atleast that's what we want to consider.

"Umayos ka bago ka nila abutang mukhang basura, though basura ka naman na ever since" I fixed her top na halos iluwa na yung kaluluwa niya.

"Naman kasi! samahan mo ako magayos sa kwarto" she pulled my hand.

"Lance! Keil! magbibihis lang kami saglit!" nagpaalam muna ako sakanila bago nila mahalata na wala kami.

Tumango lang si Lance habang si Keily lumakad na papuntang table para ihain yung inihaw.

"Ano? gusto mo ako nalang bababa?" I asked Ella as she lied down sa kama.

"Hoy hinde!" she immediately stood up kahit hindi na siya makalakad ng maayos.

"You're so drunk Els" I told her.

"But you're not, so let's get more drunk?" she just pulled me pabalik nang pool side.

I was already in my silver silk shorts and buttoned shirt na pantulog ko. Ella is wearing a red nighty, parang wala kaming kasamang lalake e.

Nagpaalam na rin si Keily at Lance na magbibihis muna bago kami magstart na mag inuman at kumain ulit after our small party sa pool.

"Oh" abot sakin ni Ella ng beer.

"Els I've had enough beer" I replied.

"Okay" she said before going to the small fridge sa may grilling station and bringing back a bottle of vodka.

"Your favorite" I rolled my eyes before proceeding to chop lemons and bring back salt sa table para masimulan na namin to.

"So, keep my secret?" Ella gave me a glass.

"Of course" I took the shot and sipped a lemon.

"Okay now tell me yours" she then added.

It made me scoff.

"What secret?" I asked confused.

"YOU tell me" she insisted.

"Fine, uhm let me think" I pretended to not know what she's talking about.

"Sophia you can't fool me"

"Ellaaaaa" I groaned.

"What?"

"Walang meron samin ni Lance!" I took another shot.

"Wala daw pero napapainom" she teased me.

"We kissed" she almost choked on the lemon when she heard me.

"When?!" her eyes were wide.

"I don't know I forgot" I lied.

"So hindi lang isang beses?!" she asked.

"N-no! it was when we went to La Union, that's all I remember" I reasoned.

She shook her head.

"Hmmm slutting huh" she smirked.

"Stop it! nandidiri na ako sa sarili ko Els, wala yun, walang namamagitan samin ni Lance!" I shouted.

But she didn't answer back, eyes suspicious.

I looked at the direction she was looking at and saw Lance standing behind me, in his blue shorts and gray muscle tee.

"Ugh" I whispered before taking another shot.

"Hoy! why did you guys start without me!?" Keily's voice once again saved the atmosphere.

"Halika na maarte ka pa" Ella said.

"Let's light this party up!"

~~~~~~~

uwu:>