Chptr 49 Graduation

Despite having an all night exercise with Alma and having slept for two hours, he still woke up at five in the morning. He can't help it since it became his habit waking up at that exact time. This was his body clock. Even though, he wasn't that tired. This was the effect of his morning routine, it made him have unusual stamina than the others.

Looking at the woman who was hugging him, he smiled and slowly moved his body away from her. He doesn't want to disturb her. He immediately took out his running attire and went for a run. After an hour with his sweats dripping all over his face, he went back to the inn and found Alma soundly sleeping.

He showered and then got dressed. But before he move out of the room, he kissed her forehead, left a note with his phone number written on it and placed it beside the table.

Before leaving the inn, he went to the receptionist and extended another day for his stay. Though he wouldn't be staying there, he did it for Alma so she could rest properly.

It was still so early so he had his breakfast in a restaurant. After eating, he remembered Alma so he ordered food for her and told the staffs there to deliver it at the room he stayed at. He also told them to deliver it during lunch.

Arriving at his alma mater, he saw a lot of improvement. The once uncovered court were now fully covered and there was also a new building besides it. Before coming out from his car, he disguised himself wearing a sunglass, wig and hat. He immediately went towards the principal's office and saw that she was still the same principal when he was studying there back then.

Despite her old age and should have retired, she still chose to continue doing her profession. She was the epitome of goodness to everyone who knew her. She rarely got angry and the way she spoke could calm a person. She's also honest, kind, helpful and very approachable. That was the reason why everyone liked her.

"Morning principal!" Ajy greeted while removing his disguise.

"Well, well, I didn't think the little bastard from before knew how to visit his alma mater," The principal joked with a smile, "How are you know Ajy?"

"I'm good principal, thank you. I brought some cakes for you and for the other teachers." Ajy replied as he placed the cakes he brought on the side of the principal's table.

"Now, now, the little bastard also knew how to care for his teachers ey?" The principal teased as she thanked him for the foods he brought. "What brought you here child?"

Ajy began informing her about his graduation surprise to his sister. He would act as a hired photographer and would also be willing to take pictures of everyone during the graduation. He would only remove his disguise after the graduates had their final photo with each other. He would then leave the projector, camera with its content, the printer and photo papers.

The principal smiled at him, "Make all of us gorgeous when taking pictures then."

"That's a must ma'am!" Ajy replied smiling. Then he bade goodbye and took his leave, but just before he went out of the room, he heard, "Don't let that rape incident judge who you are child. Everyone of us here knew you would never do such disgraceful thing!"

He felt warm inside his heart hearing that, he saw the principal checking some papers, he just smiled and disguised himself again.

He then prepared the three cameras he would be using during the graduation ceremony. One would just be for photo taking, the other one for taking the video of the whole ceremony and the other one was for aerial viewing. He also set up the laptop and printer, so if anyone wanted to have their picture be printed out then they were free to have it.

While he was busy setting things up, he saw his sister always looking around. Of course, he knew that she was probably looking for him. He also saw his youngest sister and his parents with bright faces, they were wearing their brightest smiles. He saw how proud they are to his sister.

There were also a lot of people there whom he personally knew and some of them were quite close to him when he was young. In particular, he saw two of his classmates who used to quarrel a lot and it seemed that they were now a couple, seeing how intimate they were with each other.

After his set up, he got the camera and took pictures of everyone around. He specifically went towards the graduates and took their pictures. He didn't specifically took pictures of his family and his sister since the camera and its content would be given to the school as he told the principal. Every photo could then be seen in the projector at the side of the stage.

He wasn't a good photographer but he took pictures with decent quality. So, there were some people who wanted to do some modeling posts and they wanted to take their pictures. He smiled and complied.

While doing those, the guest speaker of that day's graduation arrived. He was a soldier of the country, someone whose rank was a general and also an alumni of the same school. Ajy also took a picture of him and his family while they were walking since he was the acting photographer of the school for that day.

When everything and everyone settled down, the event started with a prayer followed by singing the national anthem. Then the principal went on the stage to welcome everyone, "First and foremost, I would like to say congratulations again graduates and may your future be filled with success."

She then looked at the crowd, "I would also like to welcome everyone for sacrificing your time to attend the graduation of these youngsters especially to our guest of speaker and his family."

The guest speaker together with his family stood up and wave their hands while the audience clapped their hands.

"Next, let us also give a hand of applause to today's photographer for giving his service free for today's ceremony. If you want a copy of a certain picture, you can just go to his table and ask him so you can print it out. And you don't have to worry about the payment since it's all free. Remind you that you can only get one picture per person." The principal informed the audience.

Ajy nodded his head to the principal, he also nodded towards the guest speaker and his family in which they all reciprocated by smiling. Lastly, he bowed to the graduates and then waved his hand to the crowd.

After that, the ceremony continued as lots of presentations were presented showcasing the talents of the students. Then there was the speech of the guest speaker who talked about three things: hard work, respect and being resourceful co-exist with each other. Even if one was lost amongst the three, then anyone could still achieve a greater height in their life. But if there was only one, then expect less in life. Ajy agreed to his words and he gave him a well deserved clap after the speech.

Soon, the awarding came and a lot of students were awarded for doing their bests in competing outside of school. Then the honor students were called in front and his youngest sister was among them. He felt proud so he clapped proudly.

Next, was the awarding for the graduates. His sister got an award for placing second place in science quiz bee. After that, the honor rolls also came up and his sister being the salutatorian, she had prepare a speech to present to everyone.

She talked about her life experiences all through out her high school life and included him in her speech while she talked with hoarse voice, "I was mad when I learned that he was accused of raping, it ... affected my life and studies. It was even difficult for me to .... go to class. I was afraid that they would talk ..... bad things my brother. But he called me to go to school or else he would just broadcast to the country that he really raped Mira Goldwyn so he would just spend the rest of his life in jail. What a big jerk my brother is!"

The audience laughed, even the guest speaker and his family giggled. She then continued, "If only he was here. Even if he was not here, I know.......kno....."

Removing his disguise, his sister saw him and was thoroughly shaken. She was now emotional as she cried in front of the audience. He smiled at her then urged her to continue, "My... my.. *sob* .. he.. he.. *hic* was my.. my... hero. He... he.. he would *hic* always *sob* teach.. me.. me.. *hic*... when it comes.. comes... to.. *sob* my studies. He... he... *hic* also protected us a lot. *sob*"

She then bowed her head to the audience while crying as she ran straightly towards him and threw herself into his body. "Elder brother!"

His youngest sister also joined them. She too was crying and hugged him. Ajy felt so blessed to have these two sisters of his. He was proud that they never wasted the money he always sent for them to use during their studies. They have used it exceptionally especially that one graduated with awards and a salutatorian while the other one was an honor roll.

"Hush hush kiddos, I still have work you know," Ajy hugged them, kissed their foreheads and urged them to let him go. They looked at him, smiled and nodded their heads.

After that short commercial, the event continued with the last part having pictorials. Of course, he was now too busy printing photos he has taken since it was being requested by a lot. So he asked one of the teachers to give him a hand.

Since Ajy was one of her students before, a bastard yet good in academics she was willing to help especially that she brought cakes for every staff of the school. She at least knew that the way they disciplined her before was never wrong seeing how much of a good person he was now.

The teacher called two students, one was good in taking pictures and the other good in technology. Though they were good at those things, it was still their first time to see those kinds of advanced technology so Ajy decided to teach them. Since they were both good in their respective fields, he didn't even took an effort in teaching them, they eventually grasped everything he taught. She, as the teacher also helped in maintaining order of those who wanted to print out their pictures.

Having two assistants, he didn't even work as the two students did everything on their own. He was like an outsider. Still he entertained the people who wanted to have their photos be printed out.

"Classmate, long time no see!" A couple approached him.

"Uy! You guys together now? Despite how quite both of you were bitching each other way way back?" Ajy laughed teasing them.

"Will you still be a bastard and just knew how to tease? Huh?" Gibanay said while rolling the sleeves of her shirt indicating she was ready to fight.

"Naah! Don't mind her bro," Bagtang casually said.

"Don't mind who?" This time, Gibanay was confronting her man while Bagtang was shaking his head as if fearing her.

"Thought your name's Bagtang, why suddenly became Andres!" Ajy laughed commenting at the side.

"Shut up bro!" Bagtang glared at him and everyone who was also looking at them laughed merrily.