2. B I G D A Y

One, two, three, go! I breathed. My right leg went first up the stairs and then my left leg.
This is it, this is really it. I squealed nervously. “Marhion Angeles Pearson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pearson” the school directress announced. I went up the stage. The audience clapped.
I felt like a 星, 星级 on a rise.
I saw Riley on the crowd, my eyes glued to him. Ah! I tripped. The audience gasp some stood up to see if I’m okay some of them laughed and snickered. 鸭, 德雷克 Cell, the school news anchor video taped my clumsiness, he smiled. I quickly stood up. My cheeks were red, I was embarrassed.
“I’m okay, “I announced. “I’m alright.” I walked quickly, shook the directress’ hand, handed my diploma and smiled for the camera. Nervously, I went down quickly to 加入 Norah and Aeyla.


My 日 went fine after graduation. My schoolmates were congratulating me, we shook hands and talk for a while. Sierra came up to me and we hugged. We were both already crying.
I felt like the world is going to collapse and I’m never going to see her again. She laughed.
“I’m going to miss you, Mariah.” Sierra 说 while wiping her eyes with a blue handkerchief.
I don’t know what to say, I just spilled whatever I can. “Me too, Sierra,” I hugged her again.
I wish I could convince her dad about Sierra moving to New York but, it was too late to ask.
A red Toyota idled up the road. I and Sierra looked at it. “That’s my dad,” She explained.
I don’t want her to leave. If I could just tie her up on a 树 或者 something and never let her go 或者 that’s just plain stupid.
“Sierra, bye,“ I hugged her really tight.
She pecked me on the cheek.
“Bye. I’m going to miss you.”
“You’re my bestfriend. Bestfriends don’t leave each other.”
“Mariah, I have to. And bestfriends sacrifice for each other too.”
“Right, good luck in New York. Call me when 你 land.”
“Okay! Bye, 爱情 you!” She shouted while getting inside the car.
“Love you, too! “
The Toyota went away leaving me without a bestfriend.
I told Norah to meet me at the house. We were celebrating. I need some time to think.
I already gave her my 帽 and gown. As 你 can see, I’m wearing a short turquoise dress and my white checkered 夹克 around me.
People were leaving the place. The service 面包车, 范 was packing up the sound system and the stage craft.
Then another service 面包车, 范 went to park, to pack up the chairs and the other stuff.
I thought I was the only one left in the place.
Oh my gosh, I whispered. I didn’t even notice how beautiful this place is.
Up a small hill, I saw an 苹果 树 and even a Bermuda grass.
I went up, sat 由 the 树 and read a book I pulled out of my backpack.
‘This morning, I woke up with the feeling of sadness. I didn’t notice that I left the house without a goodbye to my little sister,’ I read through my eyes.
‘I wish I could regret that very moment with---‘I broke off.
Someone fell from the branch above me. “Ouch! Damn it! Agh!” Riley shouted.
He fixed his polo and took away the leaves from his jeans.
I got up like someone twitched me with a needle. I looked on his face. I was hypnotized.
“What are 你 doing here?” I demanded.
“I came not to 加入 my friends.”
“Huh? What?”
“I mean I stayed. I don’t want to be with my 老友记 for a while.”
“Oh. Well,”
I forgot, Norah must be waiting for me at home.
“Um, okay. I better run off.” I 说 while stuffing my stuff in my backpack.
“Where 你 headed?” He asked smiling. It made me smile too.
“I’m going home, to celebrate.”
His cellphone beeped. He looked at it and shoved it back to his pocket.
“Yeah, um, can I come?” He asked politely.
I don’t know if Norah is expecting visitors but, I’m sure she will now. He’s just so cute and handsome.
On the bright side if she let him out of the house, I’ll tell her it’s my special 日 and she will understand. Riley was waiting for me to answer. He looked tensed on what I’m going to say.
“Sure, 你 can come.” I 说 quickly.
He let out his crooked smile at me and 说 thanks.
The ride in his car was a bit different.
It was like I was riding in a brand new car. The smell still exists and the 座位 is 更多 comfortable.
Don’t say that it’s my first time inside a car. I have been in a lot of rides, including my dad’s car, a ride with a few friends, something like that. But, the last time I rode in a brand new car was the time my dad bought one, years 以前 and I kind of miss the feeling.
“Seatbelt,” he ordered.
Right, seatbelt, I thought.
On the ride home, we didn’t talk. I was thinking of a subject but, before I can ask, he sighed and played a Chris Brown song. We were going north and his eyes were straight on the road. I mouthed the lyrics.
It was my 最喜爱的 song. Riley caught me mouthing the words then let out a soft laugh.
“What?” I stopped.
“Don’t tell me 你 like Chris Brown?”
“Oh. Him, right, I like him. I mean his songs.” My voice sounded cool.
He composed himself for a while.
“Good. Then can 你 sing this?” He teased and pressed the 下一个 track.
The song was playing was Forever. I gulped. I was speechless. I don’t know what to say.
Riley, still wearing his teasing face. My 心 pounded.
“I’m not a good singer, 你 know.” I blurted.
“Oh come on. Just…..try.” He smiled handsomely.
Come on, Mariah. This is your moment to 显示 him you’re confident to do anything in a simple way.
Go on just sing. One of the voices in my head said.
(singing) “I’ma take 你 there, I’ma take 你 there. 你 be there. Don’t be scared. I’m right here baby. We can go anywhere. But first it’s your chance to take my hand. Come with me…..”
I stopped and laughed. We both laughed.
“See, you’re good.” He smiled. The teasing face, erased.
I felt embarrassed but, 唱歌 in front of a guy seemed like the shyness went away.
“Really?” I was surprised.
“Yeah, “
I never enjoyed like this before. I’m going to remember it. This was fun.
We laughed like we embarrassed ourselves.
I didn’t notice that we were already at home.
The house looks like it has been quiet for weeks. I clearly understood that Norah 说 there will be an after party after the program ends. There was a note on the door:


The party was moved. Go to your Aunt Lourdes’ house.
Meet 你 there with Aeyla.

I groaned when I read the letter. I fished out the letter and stashed it inside my 夹克 pocket.
Riley agreed that we are heading to his place. This time, he opened the door for me. What a surprise. He got in and turned the car around.




The Cruz’s residence house made it look even brighter. Imagine a house covered in lights. 音乐 was already playing and a few of the jocks were playing ball on the grass. There were cars parked front of the house, some parked it anywhere. Riley parked the car under a 蓝莓 tree. Riley opened the front door for me. The whole house was full of students partying.
On my right side, I can see Aeyla laughing with a two blond girls with a cup on her hand. Aeyla’s direction turned to me, congratulated me, hugged me then went back with the blonds. “Oh Mariah, honey,” Norah came up. “Congratulations. I’m so happy for you.” She squeezed me. I was crying. Yup, tears of joy. All I did was hugged her back and laughed a little. I told her I was hungry. She led me to the buffet 表 and said, “Eat, okay? There’s plenty more,” and went to the living room. Sigh. This party is cool. I grabbed myself a plate and sat on the 长椅, 沙发 where Aeyla and her 老友记 were but, they weren’t there anymore.
In front of me, I didn’t notice Zane Medley was all that noisy playing his PSP, “Go, go, go, YES!” and cheered for himself while 鸭, 德雷克 Cell, the school news anchor, his face disgust straight to Zane. I stared at 鸭, 德雷克 while I chew my corn.
His arms folded and looked at me, then looked away. “Don’t do that,” he now seemed irritated.
“Okay, just want to make 你 laugh,” I 说 cooly. He looked at me. “Yeah like the video I taped 你 tripped in graduation. Ha! Made my day,” I stopped chewing and placed my plate on the coffee table, folding my arms. “Just kidding, this guy just can’t stop yelling, go, go, go,” he 说 cold. “He’s a moron!” he added.
In the middle of the dance floor, a girl named Angeline did a hip hop dance. The crowd went ahs and ohh.
“I heard that! Yes, go!” Zane 说 looking at the screen. 鸭, 德雷克 yelled whatever to Zane before I went to the 厨房 to place my plate in the sink. 水果 punch, I thought. At the corner counter of the kitchen, I reached for the container. Very suddenly, we did the same, our hands touched. “Sorry, 你 first,” Riley chuckled. My 心 thudded. I don’t have else to say so, I did what he told me.
I don’t want him to see me giggle so I walked 前锋, 期待 to the garden. “Hey,” he reached my hand. I felt a shock through my body. My body tried to look back.
“Riley,” we both looked at Aunt Lourdes. She gave him a congratulatory 吻乐队（Kiss） on the cheek and a hug. “Congratulations,” she smiled. Her smile reminded me of someone. An old friend of my mom’s maybe.
“Oh. My, Mariah, is that you? Haven’t seen 你 in years,” she asked as if seen a ghoul. I tried to hide my smile, but it wasn’t a good idea to hide it now. “Yes. This is me,” I 说 embarrassed. Riley looked puzzled, wearing a face that does-my-mom-know-this-person-thing. “You know her?”He asked.
“Of course, I was her mom’s bestfriend since high school,” she smiled at me.
“Oh. Hmm,” was all he blurted out. “Have 你 eaten, dear?” she 说 nicely.
“Yes. I did.” I chuckled. A cell phone rang in the background; Aunt Lourdes picked it up and went towards the door. “That’s cool,” Riley nodded. I sighed.
“Yeah, your mom’s sweet.” I complimented. Riley laughed. God, I 爱情 his laugh.
I was hypnotized. We both went to dance with the others and enjoyed the night.