Aaliyah Gale
Marinduque State University
"Romeroso, Aaliyah Gale U., summa cum laude!" followed by a round of applause after calling Aaliyah's name Of the emcee.
Aaliyah felt she was in a cloud nine as she walked up the stage to get the diploma, her mother met her on the stairs to go up at the same time. She sees in her mother's eyes the tears of happiness because finally her beloved child has finally finished college.
The mother and daughter went up on stage holding hands to receive Aaliyah's college diploma in the Hotel and Restaurant in Hospitality Management course.
"Congratulations! Greeted by the president of the University, once he handed the certificate to Aaliyah.
"Thank you sir" Aaliyah replied.
"Congratulations Mrs Romeroso" He looked at Aaliyah’s mother while offering a shake hand
As soon as the mother and daughter came down the stairs of the stage, Aaliyah's classmates applauded again, they knew how hard Aaliyah worked for that diploma and being the summa cum laude of their batch.
Kristel greeted her best friend and couldn't help but hug Aaliyah tightly.
"Congrats beshy", she said with tears in her eyes as she hugged her best friend, she and Aaliyah have been in the same class from freshman until they graduated.
"Thank you beshy" Aaliyah replied teary eyed.
"You deserve it, we knew how hard you worked for it" Kristel said to her friend with a smile. "Congrats mom, she hugged also Aaliyah's mother at the same time"
"That’s enough dear, after graduation you go with Aaliyah and have a little celebration at home” The she go back to her seat.
"Husssh let's sit down besh, enough for the drama" Aaliyah once pulled Kristel's hand to sit down.
Kristels smiled loudly "Fine, let’s go back to our seat" the two friends sat down at the same time until the end of the program.
After more than three hours, the 26th Commencement exercises of the University has finally ended, everyone cheered, You can see the smile on every Lips Of the graduates that night in various fields, more smiles on the Lips Of parents because their children have finally graduated from college.
"Hey Pamela, Raquel, Joshua lets come go to our house, my mother prepared a small celebration" Aaliyah shouted, she had to shout because of the noise around.
"Fine, Fine", Joshua replied, he never missed an invitation as long as many foods had been prepared.
"Hey, let's go at starlight” Raquel suggested.
"Sure, let’s go to our house first, then to Raquel, to you beshy, then last we go to Pamela and then let's go straight to starlight" said Aaliyah.
"Where's mom?” Kristel asked to Aaliyah
"After we took picture on stage, she went home immediately to prepare our foods," Aaliyah replied,
"Oh, Pamela and Raquel are here," She pointed out to their two friends who were approaching from the stage after taking a picture with their family. "Where's Joshua" Aaliyah asked.
"Oh my beshy, there" Then Kristel pointed on the direction of Joshua who was laughing with a beautiful lady. The girl is also their batch mate who took up nursing course.
"Joshua is really fond of talking and laughing with beautiful women, He never missed that opportunity” Kristel said while smiling
The friends laughed at the same time.
Joshua caught the attention of the laughter of his female friends, he shook his head and bid farewell to the woman he was talking to, he knew they were talking about him.
"Nice to meet you Nicole! I have to go, my friends are waiting for me,"
"Nice to meet you too" the woman smiled and motioned for her family to get closer to where they were.
"Oh my gosh Josh, you're really Mr. Congeniality" Pamela teased Joshua when he arrived.
“What’s new?, he is always like that Racquel added
"Shall we go guys, it’s getting " Aaliyah said to her friends.
The group left the University auditorium towards the parking lot.
The group arrived after few minutes at Aaliyah's house using the passenger jeep owned by Raquel's family. Not far from the low cost subdivision of the University where Aaliyah's family lives, the friends are often here during vacant periods or when their professor was absent. So They have memorized the place,
As soon as the jeep was parked, they saw Aaliyah's mother waiting at the door of their small house.
"Oh what took you so long?” Asked Aaliyah’s mother immediately after the two friends got out of the car that was already close to the door where Aaliyah's mother was standing.
"Its because Joshua, he flirted with one of our batch mates" Raquel answered immediately, Aling Julie was familiar with Raquel's talkativeness, but she was amused by it because it was fun like Kristel.
"Is that so?"where is Joshua?” Aling Julie asked again while smiling.
Aaliyah pointed Joshua who is with Brando besides the passenger jeep which is park few meters away from the house
“He is with Raquel's sister mom, the two are still smoking" replied Aaliyah to her mother while looking to the two boys" Joshua knew she hated smoke from cigarettes"
"Let’s get inside, Joshua!, Brando! You follow after that" Aling Julie shouted at the two men.
"Yes mother", Joshua replied, "let's just finish this bro", He looked at Racquel’s eldest brother while smoking.
A lot of food served on the table and there is a tarpaulin on wall congratulating Aaliyah for graduating college
"Mom, why did you prepare for that" simultaneously pointing the tarpaulin.
"It’s fine, and besides I paid that for a little amount of money" Aaliyah didn't answer, she knew her mother even though she didn't want to, nothing could stop her.
"Oh, Let’s eat, it's already eight o'clock in the evening, I know you're hungry" She handed the paper plate to his daugther's friends.
"Don't worry mom, we're really going to eat and we've been really hungry for a while" Kristel laughed. "Come with us now mother" Raquel said to Aaliyah's mother.
"Don’t mind me dear, I already ate as soon as I arrived form the graduation ceremony while preparing those foods" he said to her daughters.
“Mom where is Kevin?” Suddenly asked.
"Oh yeah where is Kevin mother?" at the same time Pamela also asked while placing foods on the paper plate
"I told your brother to pick up the leche flan I ordered from our neighbor, oh here he is," Kevin carried the paper bag with tray of leche flan in his hand as he entered the kitchen, behind it were Joshua and Brando, Raquel's brother who drove the passenger jeep.
"Kevs, Brando lets eat" Raquel's, used to call Aaliyahs younger by that name. Ever since Kevin was in his first year of college, the young man was called by that name.
"Joshua is contented with a cigarette in his mouth even if he doesn't eat anymore" Pamela replied.
The women laughed at Pamela's joke.
"Oh you are soo harsh to me" Joshua said scratching his head with grimace facial expression.
"That's enough, Aling Julie laughed at the joke of these young people." Oh Joshua, Brando just eat, Kevin son, bring Barando at the terrace eat "suggested Aling Julie.
"Thanks mom, please defend me from these bullies, I cannot fight back from them" I'll only smoke once eh, said Joshua with mixed with protest at Pamela's joke.
"Come on Joshua, Brando. Let's go to the terrace" Kevin invited the two men, "Let's just let them here"
At the same time, the three men went to the terrace of the house with their paper plate with food.
"Beshy where do you plan to apply?" Kristel asked Aaliyah while eating.
"Well, we just graduated earlier, are we going apply for work?, We don't have credentials yet, we just have a diploma "Raquel replied.
"Hello, can we celebrate first? We have to go through a lot of hard work before we can graduate from our course, can we let’s relax first," Pamela added.
"This Monday, let's file for TOR so we can apply right away", Aaliyah looked at Kristel at the same time, Kristel knows more about Aaliyah's financial status than anyone else, that’s why she understands why she is eager to apply after graduation.
"Seriously, this Monday?Rachel exclaimed
"Yes" Kristel replied, "As long as Aaliyah and I will file a request for TOR on Monday to be able to apply immediately, when are you going to file a request? She added while sternly looking at them.
"I don’t know” Raquel answered. ”Why about you Pamela? While Looking at Pamela who was drinking a Juice. She first put down the glass before answering Kristel's question.
"I don't know either, maybe next week I'll file as well, but not on Monday friend, I still have a hangover that day, I’ll enjoy the moment we graduated first" Her long response.
"Okay, fine as long as beshy and I go to school on Monday, Just you change your mind just text us and meet at the school registrar"
"Okay Fine!" Pamela and Raquel answered Kristel at the same time.
"Oh common guys lets go, so that we don't spend too much time going to the starlight," Kristel interrupted.
"Wait and I'll just say goodbye to my mom" Aaliyah stood up and went to her mother at the kitchen.
"Joshua let’s go", Pamela called to the friend while chatting with Kevin
"Kevin, you stay here, I'll go home before 12 midnight " Aaliyah said to her younger brother.
"Can't I come with you?, Kevin asked his sister while scratching his head, he knew that his dear sister is going to a disco with her friends, and as a young man he was eager tag along.
"No" Aaliyah replied firmly to her brother. “Once you graduated from college, you go any time you want”
“Oh don't go to sleep right away, You have to open the door for me” Aaliyah added.
"Fine, Fine, be careful, bye bro Joshua, maybe some other time" And waved to Joshua. It was obvious that the two men were talking about whether Kevin would be with them at the Disco pub.
Aaliyah just smiled as she rides in the passenger jeep, her brother has become close to her friends especially Joshua to her brother Kevin.
"Joshua, hurry up, You occupy the front of the passenger jeep with Brando" Raquel shouted.
"Yes, your highness, Excited?” He replied to Raquel while smiling.
"Hello! What time is it,!" Pamela interrupted; Brando just smiled as stepped the steering wheel of the passenger jeep
"It won't close, they will wait us because you're the guest of honor of the starlight" Joshua joked back which was obviously trying to annoy Pamela.
"Weeh, if I know, you're the one who is very excited to go for a disco" Pamela joked who is behind the seat of the passenger Jeep.
"Of course ,! hahahaha" Dancing, queen ohhh " Joshua responded while singing and slowly dancing on his seat.
"Yaks baduy," hahahaha! at the same time the friends in the back of the jeep laughed.
This is what they will miss in their friendships and their teasing to each other.
It’s already nine o'clock in the evening when they reached Starlight disco , many young men and women that majority were students of their University
They occupied a table in the corner because all the tables near the stage were already occupied where there was a live band. The venue is easy to fill because it is popular in their province with a live band and in addition its already end of school year.
"Girls, let's just order a bucket of San Mig Light instead of barrel" Joshua suggested, looking at the waiter at the same time. "three bucket boss of san Mig light and 1 whole chicken"
"That would be enough, and besides we are already full full" Kristel agreed.
"What's your plan, next week? Pamela shouted to be heard because of the noise around
"I might go with Aaliyah and Kristel to school on Monday to file a TOR" Joshua shouted back.
"This coming Monday morning Josh because Kristel and I are early on Monday at school" Aaliyah replied.
"Let's just meet in front of the registrar on Monday or just text us" he replied to Kristel and drink the newly served San Mig Light.
"Are you guys serious?, are you really going to file application of your credentials on Monday? Pamela and Raquel asked almost at the same time.
"Yes, we are serious, Aaliyah replied, you kno guys, I need to look for a job right away, I feel sorry for my mother and Kevin is already college freshman" Aaliyah replied.
"Okay, I’ll just text on Monday," Joshua replied, Let's enjoy first tonight.
“Cheers!” Kristel's offered for a toast and she raised her glass
"Cheers" replied everyone simultaneously
"Bottoms up!"Joshua dared