Evening’s out. Morning came. It’s our graduation day. I couldn’t imagine how time flies so fast. I hit the shower for fifteen minutes without realizing Ani tiptoed inside my room. I was singing Katy Perry’s firework while shaking my booty. It’s just me making this day special and I don’t wanna be affected by other circumstances. This happens once in my life and I’m gonna deal with all on my own.
“Hey professional bathroom singer!” Ani’s giggling as she scanned my diary. I hurriedly run through her with my pink towel wrapped around me, taking my diary back. “I’m trying to start this day right, keeping good vibes and here you are, messing with me again” I can feel the smoke’s coming out of my ear. If only we were given the chance to choose our siblings, I’d be the first one to do so. I drag her outside the room and locked my door.
I dried and perm my hair, put a little blue eyeshadow, white eyeliner, make up and pink lipstick. I can do this forever. “I feel beautiful now” I said in front of the mirror trying to compose my self as I wait for eight thirty. Lucy and her family will pick me up today. They live one block away and her family is very supportive in her every endeavor. I made a proposal to Aunt Jen, Lucy’s mom if she could adopt me. But of course, she though I was kidding and didn’t took it seriously.
I can hear the engine from afar. I gave my self a smile in the mirror and hurriedly waited in the sidewalk. A red Honda CRV stopped in front of me. It was Uncle Melch who’s driving the family car. I got inside and everyone’s quiet. They knew my dilemma and didn’t bother to ask further thinking that might make me feel worse.
Everyone’s busy taking pictures. The program will start in five minutes. I went to the Student Council area to get my toga and put it on while scanning the environment. I couldn’t spot Evo. But anyway, were sitting near to each other. I find my seat and settled down. In 3..2..1.. “Hi” ‘twas Evo seated in front of me. I gave him a smile and the program begins. This is extra boring. Long talks, Inspirational Address, not my thing. I grabbed my blackberry and logged in to twitter.
Looks like nobody’s interested hearing the principal’s message. Everyone is restless, leaving their seats and grabbing some snacks. Messages should not be lengthy; it must be short and concise. No one’s listening. What graduates cared about is the “diploma”, not the message. I was ranting through my head and rolled my eyeballs.
“I need my diploma now” I tweeted. And put back my blackberry inside my purse. At last, the much awaited portion is here. I prepared myself as Sundae Clen was called. “Andrea Clevlet” with all pride, I grabbed my diploma. As I look at a bunch of audience, I couldn’t believe what I am seeing. Directly focused in my central vision was mom! It was mom! I almost wanna cry but I managed to hold my tears. I’m not the mellow dramatic kind of person and I don’t want people to witness that I’m very emotional at this.
I ran to mom, gave her a tight hug and kissed her. I’m happy, really happy. I thought this is going to be a nightmare but turned out to be the opposite. I didn’t get the chance to talk to Evo and the rest of my girls, we left early to buy food for granny.
Ani and Aunt Lett were waiting in granny’s suite. She’s weaker, looks dehydrated but still pretty. I gave granny a hug and showed her my diploma. It was me who decided to celebrate the after party with granny. Nothing feels like this when you’re with your family. We grabbed a bite of my all time favorite, sans rival. We were talking stuff from the past and laughed at ourselves. This is what I wanted. Thank you,Lord. I have the most wonderful gift for my graduation.
The laughing and the giggling stopped when somebody knocked at the door. It was a male nurse, in his early 20s dressed in blue scrub suit and white limited edition Nike sneakers. He gave granny’s medication, did a quick assessment and left. I never thought nurses can be so attractive.
It’s thirty minutes past five when Belle called. The network is crappy and couldn’t hear a single thing. There’s a sudden knock at the door. I wan actually expecting it was the nurse but sadly no. It was my two bestfriends, paying granny a visit. “I was trying to tell you that Wilbert organized a party tonight at the Relive Superclub. Thought you might wanna come.” Belle said with a smile. Wilbert is our batch valedictorian. He joined in most, if not all, contests and never failed to bring home the bacon. He was Mr. Extracurricular and it is in my distant thought that he would organize a party.
I gave mom a would-you-allow-me look that she might get a clue but I made up my mind. “Thanks Belle, but I want to stay here” aside from the fact that there’s a cute nurse on duty, this is the perfect moment in my family life. “You should go. It’s your day, you should enjoy” that was coming from granny. No one questions granny’s decision and for that, I didn’t question either.
I passed through the station to give a last look at the cute nurse but he wasn’t there. Disappointed, I walked fast as I can to catch up Belle and Lucy.
Arrived home, puzzled on what to wear. I decided not to look fancy tonight but on second thought, I think I should. I opened my closet, a pair of shorts and a floral blouse, jeans and boots, skirts and sleeveless, dress and heels. I am so not prepared, it’s too late for shopping, I hope I can figure this out.
I tried seven outfits and none of them flatters me. My last choice was the backless black bandage mini skirt that was given to me by my childhood friend, Ally, as a gift a year ago. They migrated in Italy, where her mom got the job that offered 3 fold of her salary. She now speaks Prada, Gucci and Vuitton, far from the simple Ally I knew. We talk every once in a while through skype. She got pretty good life and an Italian boyfriend. I met him once when she brought him here when they had their 3-day vacation last year. I couldn’t remember the name though.
This is it! This fits my long torso really well. The girls picked me up with Belle’s pink beetle. Lucy is wearing dull yellow spaghetti-strapped perfectly fitted to the contour of her body. Belle is the forever Ms. Simplicity is beauty. She’s wearing a pair of shorts and a pink top with animal print. It’s not so obvious but I must say, she knows pink as the only existing color.
I can see five persons inside the club. Looks like everyone’s after for a late night party. We found Wilbert sitting near the DJ giving him last minute instructions. I gave him a wave and turned my back. I hated him once for being obnoxious towards everybody during our 5th grade class. He belittled others and bragged his achievements, the kind of guy that gets into my nerves.
“As a host of this party, I would like to welcome and congratulate you. This is a good year for me and I thought how about I share my blessings to my batchmates. Enjoy your night ladies. I bet this will be your best party” Wilbert said as he was approaching our post. “I hope so” I gave him a fake smile as I turned around. I acted casual but in my mind, I already kicked his butt and put a crown of thorns for being the king of arrogance.
We sat on the couch in the corner, counting the persons getting in. “The best party ever!” sounded sarcastic, Lucy raised her glass shouting. People looked at her like a retard and we laughed really hard. This is gonna be a long night.
It’s 9 in the evening and there are more or less twenty of us inside. I went to the bar to grab a drink. “Let’s do tequila tonight” I said with no pause. This party is boring, let’s make it more interesting. I had my first shot of the night. It’s actually my first time to drink alcohol. I used to have iced teas during parties, I like the idea of being sober all these years. As a matter of fact, I was the one in-charge of bringing my drunk friends home safe and secure.
Out of curiosity, I too wanna experience the feeling of being drunk, go crazy and hangover for once in my life. And the experience starts now. Salt, Tequila, Lemon, I had three shots already but I don’t feel anything. I’m not tipsy, I feel normal. I had 5 more shots and nothing changed. I started walking away from the bar and I can feel everything around me is moving. Am I having vertigo? Or this is the so-called “drunk” feeling? I walk crisscrossed, I feel like floating, weak, chasing my center of gravity.
I found my self dancing on the dance floor alone shoeless with a bottle of vodka on my left hand. I feel weird, I’m happy, enjoying, feels like there’s no tomorrow. Lucy pulled me off, “Evo is here” I can barely hear her and kept on dancing. Evo entered the bar in cargo pants and army green shirt. He looked shell-shocked, caught me in the act.
