Okaaaayy. So.. I wasnt able to update this weekend. I'm so sorry about that. I had lots of things to do due to the fact that I thought I had the whole weekend and whole week for me. SOORRRY. But here's an update for you. I don't like this update very much. [hr] [b]26.1[/b] 26. We went to the dancefloor and I had my first dance with Raphael Perez. Everyone was looking and I couldn't be more happier. I mean, I'm not thinking of a romantic relationship with this guy, but it's kind of good to know to meet another person who makes you look like you've lost nothing.. no one. "I really owe you a lot.." I whispered to Raph. "Yeah, you owe me big time." He grinned. "Yeah, I know." I smiled at him. "Thanks a lot." "Oh come on, let's enjoy the night. Bukas mo nalang ako pasalamatan." He winked at me and spinned me around. So medyo nabigla ako kasi we were doing a slow dance kasi nga first dance diba? So medyo nabigla talaga ako and even yung magpartners sa gilid ko. Napatingin ako sa kanya. Then he pulled me back again and he chuckled. "Oh, sorry." He said. I chuckled with him nalang din. "Small world, don't you think?" He smirked. "Yeah, indeed." "The first time I saw drinking coffee at the shop, you were with those two guys I just met." "Really?" "I noticed.. you're more intimate with the other guy though.. than Vincent." "You mean.." "Rhys." He whispered. I moved my eyes away from his gaze para maitago ko ang storya sa likod ng aking mga mata. "And you know what, the second time I saw that girl, she was crying.. so hard. Sa tingin mo, dahil kaya sa lalaking yun?" He moved his eyes to Rhys' direction and I followed his gaze. I saw Rhys dancing with Gabby and I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. "Y-Yeah." I whispered to Raph. "Hindi ko alam kung anong storya ninyong dalawa, but I have a big feeling that he'll regret this whole thing." He smiled at me. Natawa ako ng konti kay Raphael. Hindi ko alam, pero feeling ko alam na alam niya kung anong nangyayari. "Alam mo, your eyes doesn't shine anymore." "Ha?" "Compared sa first time kitang nakita with those two guys, your eyes were the brightest at pakiramdam ko, it was screaming of happiness. The second time I saw you, it was kind of fading." "Second time? Yun na ba yung umiiyak ako?" "Hindi. Kasama mo si Vincent nun." "Nandun ka din?" "Yeah. I always drink coffee there." He smirked. "Eh bakit dun pa? Malayo naman yun sa school mo?" "Hmm, maybe kasi I was waiting to see that 'girl' I've seen before?" "It's not me, right?" "Wrong." "Aisshh, Raph naman eh. That's not even a joke!" I scowled at him. "Hahahaha. Anyway, yun nga." He looked at Rhys again. "He's actually looking at you." He smiled at me. "Oh." "Bakit naman kasi hinde, napakaganda mo kaya. Probably, nagsusumamo na yun." He laughed. "Goodluck." He leaned and whispered on my ear. Then suddenly, switch partners. I was surprised when I found myself in Rhys' arms and smiling face. "Hey." He said while smiling. "Hey." I said and smiled back at him. "Hmm.. you look good tonight." He said. "No, you always look good.." He shook his head. Nakatingin lang ako kay Rhys, naghihintay ng "joke" at the end of what he said. Pero wala eh. Nakatingin lang din siya saken. "Thank you." I said. "It's good to know that you and Vincent are friends again." He just smiled. Silence. Silence. Silence. It was damn deafening. And again, it hurt like hell. "Y-Yana.." He broke the silence and I flinched. "Hm?" "N-Nothing." He said and smiled again. "Yeah?" "So you're.. really going to.. France?" He asked nervously. I can see at his eyes that he's hesitant to open the topic about it. I don't know why.. but his eyes said it all. It seemed like.. ayaw niyang marinig ang sagot ko. In which he exactly knows kung ano. I looked far away and smiled to myself. "Yeah." "Right. I thought so too. You should go. It's a very.. good opportunity." He let out a heavy breath and smiled. "Yeah. I've seen that. Sayang naman kung hindi ko kukunin." I smiled back at him. "Well.. congratulations." "Thanks." "And.. I'll always be-" Then switch places. He looked at me while dancing at Katie's arms then he smiled like, 'nevermind'. I'll always be.. what? [hr] After ng first dance, announcement na kaagad ng prom queen and king. Yeah, may prom king. Yung votes and nomination will be taken from the girls parin. So.. yoon. We sat down at our table na while others are still dancing parin. "Yana, sayaw tayo." Vince asked me so napatayo narin ako at sumayaw kami ni Vincent. Then after awhile, napagod na ako, so umupo na ulit kami and everyone was laughing sa table namin kasi Raphael was making his banat na naman to everyone, you know.. the jokes. But Rhys.. he's super quiet. Yung parang.. ang lalim ng iniisip niya. He doesn't even talk to Gabby that much. So medyo, napaisip din ako kung bakit siya nagkakaganyan. I mean, it's Rhys. Nung kami pa, kwento siya ng kwento. Tapos ang kulet kulet niya pa. Pero bakit ngayon.. "Hello ladies and gentlemen." We heard Ms. Gauchingco taking the mic so napatingin kaming lahat sa stage. "You all look gorgeous and handsome. But of course, there will always be one.. who will stand out. One from the our gentlemen and one from our ladies." She smiled and everyone cheered. "And don't be sad if your bet's do not make it to the final judgment." She winked and an enveloped was passed to her. "So here goes for our nominations.. for PROM KING!" Everyone clapped and cheered again. "Josef Penuela!" Josef whatever ran to the stage and everyone cheered for him. "Vincent Yap!" Napatingin kami kay Vincent. "Aba.. may nagnominate." I teased him. He just smiled and went upstairs. Syempre si Bea, super saya kasi nominated ang partner. ".. two more, Rhys Romualdez and Raphael Perez!" Syempre nagkatuwaan na sa table namen kasi hamakin mo, karamihan sa nominated andun lang sa gilid namin, mga escort lang namen. Raph and Rhys went up stage together. Syempre, napasigaw sigaw din kami ni Gabby. "Wow.. look at these four guys. Indeed, they all deserve to be right up here and be crowned as Prom King. Right girls?!" "Wooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!!" "And now.. for our Prom Queen! Come on right here, Gabrielle Altuna!" Gabby as expected. We cheered. She smiled at me before going up the stage. "Ashley Uy!" Umakyat din si Ashley and smiled at everyone. "Pauline Jimenez!" Umakyat din si Pauline at ngiting-ngiti sa lahat. "And.. Miss Strasbourgh Juliana Antonio!" Bea and I looked at each other. No, this can't be happening. Pano ako napunta diyan sa nominations?! Bea winked at me and pushed me up stage. I just smiled at everyone and Raph winked at me. "Ano to, sabotahe?" I whispered to myself. "Hindi, you really deserve to be up here." Raph whispered at me and smiled. "Oh." Yung iba napa.. 'ayyyyeeeee, sweeeetttt!' and all. Napatahimik nalang ako at napatayo sa gilid. "Can I see the nominees? Come on! Josef Penuela! Vincent Yap! Raphael Perez! Rhys Romualdez!" Yung apat na lalaki pumunta sa harap at ngumiti lang. "Very nice! Very handsome guys! Right, girls?" "Woooooooooohhhhhhhhh!" "Now for your Prom Queen nominees, may I have Gabrielle Altuna! Ashley Uy! Pauline Jimenez! And Juliana Antonio!!" Pumunta kami sa harap and smiled at everybody. Hiyang-hiya pa ako kasi.. duh, parang spot the difference yung dating ko dito no. Although its really flattering to be up here. :] Then may binigay na naman na envelope kay Miss. "Woooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Everyone made some noise again. "Wow, okay! The votes were tallied! That was really fast, thank you Prom Committee!" She smiled sweetly at the girls na nasa gilid ng stage. "What do you want.. the Prom queen or the Prom king?!" "Proooooooommmmmmmm Kiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggggg!!" "I thought so too. So here it goes.." She opened the envelope and her eyes widened and she smiled. "Our Prom King iss....." *drumrolls* "Rappphh!!SeefffffRhyyysssssVinceeeeeeeeeee!!!!" "Our Prom King for 2008 is..." *drumrolls* "Rhys Romualdez!!!!!" Everyone cheered and Rhys went to the centerstage. "Congratulations, Rhys. Make your speech." "Woooooooohhhhhhhh!" "Hey.. uhm, thank you for this." He pointed his crown. "This is terrific! Let's rock!" "Wooooooohhhhhhhhh!!" "Thank you, Mr. Romualdez. Now for your Prom Queennnn!" *drum rolls* "GabbbbbbbbYanaAshhhPauiiiiiiii!!" "Our Prom Queen is.. Gabrielle Altuna!!" "Wooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!" As expected. Gabby will get the crown. Don't you think they look good together? I do. They went center stage and held the crown at his head. Geez. I don't know what's gotten into me, but for a second there, honestly, I was expecting the teacher would actually call my name. Funny, I know. Well, I guess that's it for tonight. The Prom King and Queen, Gabby and Rhys. Who else? [hr] "Hey, I had a great time." I said to Raph when he dropped me off at my house. "Same here." He grinned. "Thanks again. I'll.. go ahead. Bye." I said and rang on the doorbell. When the gate opened, Raph held my right arm. I turned around and looked at my arm with his loose grip. "Something wrong?" "That guy.. Rhys, right?" "Huh?" "Is he.. nevermind." He said and smiled at me. "Good night. See you around." Then he turned around and got in his car. Ni hindi lang man ako nakapagsalita. Nagkibit balikat nalang ako at pumasok ng bahay. [hr] Graduation. March 19, 2008. Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman ko. Parang excited akong magcollege and at the same time, ayoko pang magcollege. A few weeks before the graduation, everyone was busy deciding kung san papasok sa college. Karamihan samen, sa Ateneo papasok, yung iba sa UP at Lasalle. Parang yan lang ata ang tatlo na papasukan nila. Yung iba, lalabas ng bansa.. kagaya ko. "Geeeeekkkk!" "Beea." I smiled at her. "Go right up there, gandahan mo ang speech mo, make it true and all.. then, it's goodbye." Bea smiled at me while a tear fell from her eyes. "Not now. You'll smudge your mascara all over your face." I grinned at her and went upstage. "...the future is not in our hands, but if we make it right, with the help of the Lord, we can make it. No matter how hard and high our goals are, as long as we are determined and focus, we will never ever fail. Today will be the last day of us being called, high school students or high school girls furthermore, today will be the start of a new journey that we will all explore. I wish you all the best in life and let us don't forget each other. Let's always remember our bonds, our friendship, our camaraderie that we formed here at Lourdes Academy. Thank you and may God bless us all." Just after I went down the stage, my tears started falling. And as Miss Huyett shouted, "Congratulations, graduates!", it didn't help me at all. Mixed emotions, they would say. I feel happy because I've finally finished one part of my life, sad because I'm leaving my friends, scared because I will be in a new environment after a short while, hurt because... I still wasn't able to say goodbye at Rhys - [i][b]for real and for good.[/b][/i] [b][..to be continued..][/b]