We were eating snacks when my highschool bestfriend suddenly said, “Angel, do you ever wonder what our life will be after we graduate in this institution?” I paused, not knowing for amoment what to say to her. Then I answered, “No, Ives, as far as I am concerned, only God knows what we will become in the near future.” But she insisted, “If that is so, then is it possible that we will never see each other again?” I nodded, but with hurt in my eyes which I cannot hide.

Graduation time came, the school was flocked of students who are candidates for graduation, teachers, parents, relatives, friends, influential people in our city, and spectators from various places. But we did not mind them. The only thing that prevailed on our minds was to treasure and make use of our last day in high school. We were like crazy people at that time. Amidst the huge crowd, we hugged, embraced, and kissed each other goodbyes with additional promises that made our hearts heavy. Nevertheless, we did not cry. We promised to ourselves never to cry in front of our dear alma mater, because for us, such act only implies the possibility of not coming back. One dear friend approached, hugged and said to me, “Angel, shall I see you again?” I quickly answered him, “Of course, you will”, but with a little doubt in my voice. After hearing my response and the tone in my voice, he hugged me once again, and said in parting words, “Remember me always.” Understanding his message, I nearly cried but I didn’t dare because I was very aware that almost all of us graduate students were helding back the tears for the sake of our dear alma mater. Then more schoolmates and friends approached me and asked me the same thing and I answered them all the same. Graduation, I realized, is a joyous, at the same time, a hurtful event in my life.

Now I am in the present. Everyday I strive to what I want to be in the future. Memories of my past and the question “Shall I see you again?” kept tingling in my head. But as I have said to my bestfriend, “only God knows what we will become in the near future,” and that includes the reality if the Lord grants us the chance to see each other again, or maybe, not. Who knows?