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“Congrats, Anikka!” I heard Lau from the side as the outgoing President talked to me, congratulating me as I won the election. I was immediately hugged by my friends when the president left and went to the other winners . Dame with a huge smile on his face, Rafa with his signature “I told you so” look and Nico who just grinned at me. Si Adi busy kumuha ng photos, pang org daw,
“Galing naman, Slo!!” Nico said while hugging me. I hugged him back, sunod kong niyakap si Dame, Adi at Rafa na nanalong Vice President, ‘di naman pala ako mabobored dahil kasama si Rafa sa council.
“I informed the parents na pala, they said we should go to Klay’s house for dinner,” Dame said kaya hinanap ko si Klay pero wala siya?
“Where's Klay?” Napansin kong kulang sila dahil wala rin si Sven,
“Nasa meeting ‘yong dalawa for school paper. Kaya nawala rin si Lau, humabol lang talaga for your announcement since covered niya ata ‘yong election?” Nico explained,
“Hintayin ba natin sila or?” I asked dahil hindi naman kami hatid sundo and usually nagsasabay sabay kami pag umuuwi since magkakalapit din lang naman kami,
“Sven said he’ll drive nalang. Sabay niya na si Lau at Klay,” Adi said,
“Kaya talaga crush ng bayan si Sven eh ‘no,” Dame laughed, “sobrang ideal man ni kuya mo,”
“Agree, teh!” Dagdag ni Adi, “crush na crush ‘yan nung mga girls sa section namin. Diba konti lang girls namin, siguro nasa kalahati ‘yong may gusto sakanya,”
“Walang nililigawan naman si kuya Sven mo,” Nico’s forehead creased, “Payag naman si tito Se,”
“Wala ka ata during tito Se’s birthday party, pre,” Adi tapped Nico’s shoulder, “May chinika samin si tita Seul!” He laughed na para bang may malaking secret siyang nalaman,
“Ohhh I remember that!! The best birthday gift daw ni tito Se ‘yon,” Rafa said habang dinidial ‘yong driver nila. 18 na silang lahat kaya pwede na sila mag drive pero pinasundo kami ni tito Won kaya ayon,
“Alam mo naman sabi ni tito Se years ago anak niya raw unang magkakagirlfriend,” Adi looked at me, “Nics, ‘di mo ba type si Sven?”
“Adi, kulang ka lang sa tulog,” sabi ko dahil biglaan naman siya nagtatanong?
“I mean, gwapo naman si Sven, good boy pa tas secured na future mo,” he pouted, “alam ko maglalaw ‘yon eh,” Rafa added na kulang nalang eh magpresentation dito sa kalsada kung gaano ka ideal man si Sven,
“Teka nga ba’t bigla natin napagusapan si Sven?” Dame asked na ikinatawa si Nico, nagdadaldalan kasi sila,
“Wala naman. Seniors na tayo next year, trip ko lang mag pairing,”
—
Sven's POV
“Oh, the announcement is done na?” I asked Lau as she entered the classroom where the meeting is going to be held. I went upstairs first and dahil needed ko pa ayusin ‘yong iba while Lau was downstairs to cover the election.
“Yeah. Nica and Rafa won,” Klay who just arrived also heard the news and was jumping,
“See!! Rafael won!! Imagine that kid was so afraid pa because of the expectations people have on him,”
“And oh, family dinner daw sa inyo Klay,” Lau said,
“Sven, you'll drive us? Dala mo ba car mo?”
“Yep dala ko,” Buti nalang dinala ko ‘tong car ko. Ewan ko ba sa Tatay ko ang aga magregalo ng sasakyan, also dinala ko siya kasi maaga ‘yong meeting ko kanina with my research groupmates,
—
Lau, Klay and I are on our way to Klay’s house. There will be seven families in total for the family dinner. Lagi naman kasing kumpleto yung generation ng QC Boys nila Dad, dagdag mo pa sila Tito Lay na kaclose rin nila.
“Lau, bat parang never mo pa nakausap si Dame?” Tanong ko kay Lau na nagdadrama sa backseat, kumakain ata ng binatog si girl,
“Bat parang never mo pa nakausap si Nica?” Tanong niya pabalik kaya natawa si Klay,
“Luh, anong connect?”
“Wala lang. Busy lang ako sa buhay,” Nagkatinginan kami ni Klay dahil sanggol palang ata kami kilala na namin ‘to si Lau, hindi ko rin alam, lagi magkakasama mga Tatay namin eh.
“Pero oo nga, Sven, need mo rin ata maging friend si Nica. Malay mo first job mo sa organization ang interview with the president-elect,”
Kasama ba sa job description ‘yon?
“Sino ba kasi nagsabing I-elect akong editor-in-chief?” Tanong ko rito, akala ko kasi si Lau ang mapipili, “Akala ko ba si Lau dapat?”
“Damay mo ko jan, sino ba nag top nung competition. Tsaka duh? Mas matagal ka na kayang may experience sa campus journalism.” Lau said, “Deserve, Svennie! Kaya dapat marunong ka na kumausap ng tao,” she teased,
I got elected as the editor-in-chief of Highlight kasi, kaya pala nagpatawag ng meeting kanina. With the final examinations ending, and the seniors graduating, inaayos na rin yung line-up of the new set of officers for next year.
“How about Adi? Is he transferring to the publication?” I focused my eyes on the road dahil malapit na kami sa village nila Klay when Lau started speaking,
“He promised Gabbi na he’ll renew sa Photography eh,”
“Cool. Baka he got elected na rin don?” Klay hummed, “I think Dame would join there, too, not sure with Nico?” Klay turned to Lau, “how about your twin?”
“Basketball Team.”
—
“There's my baby!!” Se shouted when he saw his son and his niece and nephew entering the house,
“Hello, Tito Ninong!” Klay greeted his uncle before going to his mom, Lau did the same and went to search for his father after,
Sven approached his loud dad and hugged him, feeling all his energy being drained after a long day. Sven is happy his dad is here.
“Come on, andon na sila sa dining area,” tita Rene appeared with Sven’s mom, Seul who also hugged her only child,
“Are you okay?” His mom looked at him with worried eyes, Sven just smiled and hugged his mom tighter, “Power hug lang, Ma,”
Sehun couldn't help but smile at the scene and when he looked back, he saw someone smiling while looking at the mother and son duo, too.
They might not be the best of friends, di nga ata sila nag uusap pag sila lang ang magkasama but Se could see the look on Anikka’s face and the way her eyes light up when she's looking at Sven,
Sabi ko sa inyo, Cheol, Won at kuya Su, mauuna talagang magka girlfriend anak ko.
“Sven! Dalian mo ubos na ni Adi ‘yong shanghai!!”
At mukhang anak pa ni Cheol ang uubos sa shanghai.
—
“Seryoso bang ‘di mo kaklase si Slo?” I heard Rafa upon entering their house. Summer break namin pero start of classes na rin next month. We just had a month of real vacation before commitments started calling us.
I walked to the living room and saw Rafa and Lau. Hindi ko na hinanap si Klay dahil nasa Singapore siya, si Dame naman expected ko na pag andito si Lau, wala siya.
“Wala kayong workshop or anything?” I greeted them with a question, wala lang trip ko lang. I sat beside Lau and kung nakita ko man ‘yong phone niyang umilaw, secret ko nalang ‘yon
Pero Rome ‘yong name nung nagtext.
“Wala. Si Adi at Dame nasa photography and art workshop, sinulit na bakasyon.” Rafa said, ang spontaneous din nung dalawa eh no.
“Yung kakambal ko nakipag date ata,” Lau rolled her eyes after saying that. Hindi niya kasi trip ‘yong dinedate ni Nico, masyado raw bitchesa.
“Parang ‘di magkakaroon ng jowa si Nico,” biro ko dito,
“Anyway, ano ‘yong pinag uusapan niyo? Lumabas na ba ‘yong sections?”
“Yeah. Hiniwalay tayo based on specialization eh.” Lau answered, “Eh diba undecided pa ako dati tapos impulsive ako kaya Engineering pinili ko,”
“Huh, wait ako rin.” I told them and scrolled the post of the student council since they posted a copy.
“We’re classmates dude, si Rafa kasama si Nica and Klay, they went for Medicine eh,” Ayan, undecided pa more.
Ah. I saw the list na, it was just a room apart, Klay on the medicine section then the rest naman kasama na namin,
“Lau, palipat ka kaklase natin si Dame,” I told her,
“Kakasabi mo niyan, pag kami nag clash non ikaw talaga una kong hahanapin,”
—
Anikka's POV
I smiled at Miss Lei and went inside the elevator. Kakatapos lang ng meeting namin sa student council kaya pabalik na ko sa room. Si Rafa naman dumaan pa sa canteen dahil andon si Adi, uwian na rin kaya nagpalate na ‘yon. The final examination is almost over for our batch kaya nagplan na kami kanina for the senior ball. I think it was also planned earlier para makapag promposal pa 'yong iba? bahala na if I go stag, it's not like mababawasan ako pag wala akong date plus pwede ko naman hilahin nalang si Adrian pag ganon,
When I arrived at the 6th floor, I saw Lau outside their room looking stressed kaya nilapitan ko na rin siya, “What happened? Mukhang binagsakan ka jan,” she remained silent pero ang sama nung tingin niya sa likod ko?
Tumalikod ako and saw the boys walking to us. ah, kaya pala masama ang tingin, nakita si Dame. Nawala rin ‘yong tension dahil nag aya na silang umuwi. There has been a fight between Dame and Lau simula pa nung CETs season, 'di nalang namin pinipilit alamin dahil parehas silang tahimik lang. They're professional naman when we're with our parents, kala mo 'di sila magkaaway or ano man nangyayari sa kanila.
“Hey, Nica,” Sven called me habang papalabas ng campus. Nauna na sila Klay at Adi dahil may ganap sa bahay ni Adi tapos yung kambal nakaalis na rin, si Rafa naman may shoot pa with Dame.
“Do you have to go home na?” Sven broke the silence, “I was wondering if I could interview you,” he shyly said,
“For?”
“For the school paper, our theme would focus on the student-leaders of the graduating batch,” he smiled, “we’d really want the president herself to be featured,”
Oo nga pala, siya ‘yong EIC, “Sure, an honor that the EIC himself asked me to be part of it, ang sosyal naman,” biro ko pero nangiti lang siya lalo, “Well.. sa may coffee shop nalang tayo? I’ll treat you na rin kasi ako nang abala sa time mo hehe,”
Jusko, Lau! Ang pogi nitong best friend mo.
“Ang bilis nung oras, it’s almost 7pm na, hatid na kita sa inyo?” Biglang sabi ni Sven. We didn’t notice the time dahil napahaba ‘yong usapan from an interview about leadership to talking about our college plans.
He also talked about his barkada and I can see how much he treasure the boys, they’re like brothers miski si Nico na ‘di nila madalas kasama sa galaan dahil mahiyain ay ka-close nila. Sadyang mahinhin kasi yung mga Rivero.
I’ve learned that like his parents, Sven wants to be a lawyer. Nag stay lang siya sa STEM dahil andon ‘yong barkada, he told me he also find joy in solving the questions in Physics. Sana all.
But more than that, it was his passion for what he does that stood out, juggling academics, being a research leader like Dame, and the Editor-In-Chief of the school publication, he’s like a magician who can finish all his tasks and still manage to land as the highest in class.
--
I went home with a huge smile at ‘di ko pa malalaman ‘yon kung hindi ako tinawag ni Dad asking why I look so happy,
“Slo, are you okay? Halos mapunit na ‘yong mouth mo kakangiti,” he slowly said, halata naman na malapit na siya sa tono ng nang aasar,
“You could name drop if you want, we’re not forcing you though,” Mom told me,
“What do you mean?” Anong name drop sinasabi ni Mama?
“Aren’t you smiling because of a,” she paused and turned to Dad, “what do kids these days call that?” she asked, trying to remember the word she’s looking for,
“Happy crush, darling,” Dad said,
“Di ko naman happy crush si Sven?”
Ano raw?
“Wait, Slo. Can you repeat it?” Mom held my hand while Dad was… he’s smiling?
“Se’s gonna be thrilled when he hears this,” Dad is laughing so bad already,
What’s funny?
“We always knew you and Sven had a different connection.. Whenever both of you are in the same area, there is this connection that everyone else can see, I don’t know why it took you long to realize that,” Mom said,
“But Sloane, don’t rush things.. Whatever you and Sven have, kahit friendship palang yan, treasure it,”
I wasn’t able to sleep that night because I was still trying to comprehend what my parents were saying but I've realized that it was easy to figure it out,
Mom said there is a connection that we don’t know about,
But when Sven tweeted a photo of me that night, the connection was evident,
Sven’s my soulmate because he makes me feel like I am the most special person to exist,
He quoted one of my answers in the interview, and there I saw how he pay attention to the things people tend to neglect,
Sven @claudemarco
Got to interview SC’s President, Anikka Casal today about servant-leadership, and one takeaway from the conversation was to always know our purpose and why we are doing our responsibilities.
As part of Highlight’s tribute to the fearless, dedicated and loving student-leaders of the Seniors, an article will be released from the 13th of March until the night before graduation.
---
“Casal, Anikka Sloane Im,” The MC called my name as I walk to the stage to receive my diploma,
High school out!
It was also that night that the families gathered for another family dinner celebration where all families attended. Andi, Adi’s sister was also there, Dame and Lau were ignoring each other the whole night
Just when we thought it was getting better,
It was a fun night because I got to celebrate it with the people close to my heart, after all, it was that truly mattered.
When i thought the night couldn’t get better, Sven appeared beside me in the lounge and asked me to join him in a walk to the garden of the Alonzo’s villa, And asked me to be his girlfriend,
Safe to say I didn’t go stag to the Seniors Graduation Ball as I marked my first and last dance of the night with my boyfriend.
Sven and I went from being colleagues in the same barkada who never spoke unless it’s for academics, to having the little coffee dates and late night calls for research (maybe, also harot) to graduating with honors, and now entering the same university.
It was truly an unplanned moment but a reminder of how destiny work. It was never forced nor did I pray for it to happen, but it just found its way to its right place
Sven and I are just on our start, where we both feel very much in love, and we both know it won’t always stay the same and quarrels might come our way as we would not agree on things most of the time,
But the most important lesson here is to find someone who is kind and knows how to understand because I know whatever hurdles may come in between us, I will still be with a good person.
Whenever, wherever, I'd always choose to be with Sven.