Escort

By Ivan Arcena

An upbeat music from the large speaker lingered from my ears. Finally, this is the day we have
been waiting for—the graduation day for the Senior High school.
“Congrats!” While my dearest classmates are exchanging salutations; I am in a mood of silence
whilst standing in the queue.
All of them have proudest parents in their side, but I do not have any.
“Janice, don’t you have any escort for the graduation?” asked by my classmate at the back.
I glanced over at her while painting my lips with custom smile.
“My Mom and Dad are always busy, that’s why they’re not here.”
But the truth is, Mom and Dad are not actually busy. They just don’t accompany me in reaching
my diploma—a precious moment we have been rooting for as a family. They’re broke as I am, as
they knew what happened that day. It is just a gloomy day to celebrate graduation.
Meanwhile, the marching towards gymnasium started. ThroGazed by my burrowed eyes was the
satirical stares kept fabricating stories while others, kept hissing all ‘round—but I wasn’t taking
time to thorn in one’s side. They’ve always said some things to you, but you knew yourself better
than them—that’s the only thing I’ve always said to myself.
A solemn moment roamed the gymnasium as the National Anthem played right after the
processional and followed by the invocation.
We seated on the chairs with name on the back, while behind that was a chair reserved for
respective parent.
The principal talked to officially started the ceremony. Followed, by a warm addressed for this
year’s salutatorian.
At last, a warmth claps dominated the ceremony—an indication to the start of giving diploma to
the graduates. We let go ourselves from the chairs and created a line on the right side of the stage.
Every stepped by the graduate on the long cemented platform were in the same way audiences
gave a warmth claps.
All I saw were the grinning smiles and crystallizing eyes of the proudest parents of my co-
candidates. All of them were delighted for their sons/daughters finally reached the apex of senior
high school while proudly brandished the grasped diploma—the conclusive results of sleepless
nights and endless sacrifices done not only by us, the student, but also by the parents.
As soon as my name called. “Janice S. Makabantang.,” called by the announcer on the microphone.
I wore my custom smile again right before I started to stepped up towards the platform. Silence
roamed the noisy gymnasium. Audiences started to paint abstract strokes in their faces. Little-by-
little I lifted my feet on the stairs.
“Why were you alone Ms. Makabantang? Haven’t your parents accompanied you here? Don’t you
have any escort, Janice?” worried by my adviser that was standing on the right side of the platform.
At this point, hidden smile was painted on my timid lips, heart pumped fast and my body turned
into frozen. Nightmares of the past struck again over my head; broken alleys, coffee-colored
pantaloons and aggressive clutched. I remembered again everything, the day someone raped and
molested me, but he wasn’t someone else—he was my long lost father.
“I am with my beautiful baby. She is my escort,” I answered with a custom smile while rubbing
my bloated belly.