The Famous Ex Boyfriend

I heard a thunderous applause from the combined students, parents and teachers of the school when my name was called from the microphone. I wholeheartedly stood up and walked towards the stage where I would receive my diploma and medal. Mama was waiting for me at the bottom of the stage, crying because of the great joy she felt. I hugged Mama without saying a word. It quickly responded and hugged me. We climbed the stage together to accept the honor and diploma I got. I had a medal, because of someone who taught me the times when I didn't understand anything in the teachings of my teachers.

Today I have become an inspiration so that everything we share together is not wasted. The time will come when we will meet that person again, and I will dedicate the medal I received to him.

"I'm so happy to see you like that, son!" Mama tearfully put my medal on me. I also cried accepting that. I shook hands with my principal before facing the entire student body at the bottom of the stage. Everyone applauded because of the honor I received. Out of our four friends, I was the only one who received a medal, so my friends Niña, Elaine and Bianca were very jealous of me. Even so, they were very surprised by what they saw. So when I sat in the chair, they asked me.

"Why are you with your nanny? Your parents don't attend?” they asked me in surprise.

I felt ashamed of myself. I hid everything from my friends for a long time. Now, is it time for me to tell them everything? It hurts me to keep a secret from them, but it hurts me even more that they will hate and distance themselves from me if they find out the truth.

"Yes, my parents can't come because there's a lot of finishing work. I understand that everything they are doing is for my future, so it's okay." It smiled and nodded at me, as if I had convinced them of what I had done. I'm not ready to admit everything to them yet. Maybe instead of us being happy to be apart this year, this will be a reason for them to hate me.

After I said that, I looked again at Mama who was sitting on the other row of chairs. His somewhat wrinkled face disappears when he smiles at me. I'm just sorry because I can't brag about him to others. Because I'm afraid they might laugh at me.

"Not now, but one day I can be proud of you to my friends..." I only uttered to myself.

After the graduation day, we each said goodbye to each other. We'll just talk from time to time. I don't know if I will be able to enroll in college but maybe I will work first and save.

"Son, we have to go home. Sir has a lot of visitors today so I need to be there so I can help with the jobs. You son, you can not work first. Madam knows that you are a graduate too. I saw them a while ago, I was just shy to ride in their car so I said that you are still getting something from your teacher." Mama explained to me.

What Mama said was right. I don't want to go with Mama and my boss's car because Niña will definitely be surprised.

Yes, Mama is a maid. And her being a maid is what makes me study here in this beautiful and wealthy school. Mama doesn't pay the entire tuition fee, it's just my pocket that she uses to make ends meet every day. Mama's employer paid my tuition fees so I was able to graduate from a good school, even though Mama was only a maid.

Papa has been dead for a long time. He died of an illness that could not be treated. I'm an only child, that's why Mama takes care of me on a daily basis. Everything I want is stored by him. Be it nice clothes, shoes and other things I need, he makes a way to make me happy. Because Mama's boss is kind, he understands people like us who are poor, so Mama is very grateful to her bosses.

We went home so that Mama could go back to work. Mama said, we can celebrate but after her work. That's why I said no because it's a waste of money. I also don't have a guest like Mama's boss's son so there's no need to celebrate. I also thought that there was nothing to do either, so I would just help in the kitchen to wash the dishes that the guests had eaten.

The house of the maids is also close to our master's house. It is also just inside their big yard. I went to the kitchen to help the other maids there who were busy with their work.

"Oh, Aira! Why are you here? Didn't you just graduate too? You should be joining them outside," said Eva. There is twenty years older than me and it is also a maid there.