Chapter 4

Maria's ( P. O. V )

"You all can go, I will just park the car." my dad informed us.

"Okay." We all replied in unison.

All of us got out of the car at the same time, then we proceed to walk to the event hall.

Where the graduation ceremony is being held.

"What time is it now son?" Mrs Jessica asked Jason.

"8 o'clock." Jason replied, gazing at his wrist watch.

I stood next to my mom and walked along side her.

"Mummy I'm so glad you here." I professed smiling profoundly.

"Me to honey, I had to do a lot of begging to come." she insinuated with a little smile on her pretty face.

My mom isn't that old, she gave birth to me when she 16 years old, so she's 36 years old at the moment.

"What?!" I exclaimed in surprise. "Mom I can't believe you had to beg to come to your own daughter's graduation ceremony." I fumed in anger.

I can't believe my mom had to beg Mrs Jessica to attend my graduation ceremony, begging is one thing I never ever wanted my mom to do no matter what. 

In our family we never begged for anything, that was our motto.

To Never beg for anything in life.

It's so sad that today she had to beg to see her own and only daughter graduate.

I'm so disappointed.

"Mi hija please don't worry." My mom mumbled, shrugging her shoulders. ( My daughter )

"Mom, seriously!!" I responded my voice rising a little. "Are you trying to say begging for something doesn't matter. You taught me to never beg... for anything, you taught me to be independent." I raged in anger. 

"Honey I had to, I really wanted to come see my beautiful daughter graduate. I've always dreamt of seeing you graduate, that's why I brought you here from Mexico. I did that for you, only for you, you are my only child and I want to make you happy." She confessed. "Maria, Jason convinced his Mom to let me come so I didn't have to beg for too long." she continued, with unshed tears in her eyes. 

"You should practice what you preach mom, I understand the sacrifices that you had to make for me, I'm aware of that but you didn't have to beg." I admitted, still bothered by the fact that she had to beg.

"Mi amor  don't worry about it just focus on your graduation speech, you have to say a speech right. All valedic - " I cut her off. ( My love )

"All Valedictorian's, mom." I corrected.

"I know Maria, all valedictorians have to say a speech right." she responded rolling her eyes. I laughed.

"Yes mom I'm saying a speech, and I'm already prepared." I stated confidently.

"Hey, you two still outside I thought you were inside." my dad acknowledged walking towards us.

"We were just talking, lets go inside now since you here." my mom replied with a small smile grazing her lips.

Once we walked inside the graduation ceremony hall.

I immediately spotted Lola and Carla waving at me, Lola taped a sit next to her and I smiled happily. 

Lola, Carla, Jason and I have been friends since we were in high school... well Jason and I have been friends long before we met Lola and Carla.

Lola and Carla are cousins, Lola has beautiful long black hair that reaches the tip of her buttocks, beautiful dark brown eyes and a thin body.

Carla on the other hand has brown hair that reaches her shoulders, light brown eyes a slim body and beautiful skin. 

"Mom, dad I'm going sit with my friends." I informed hugging my parents and planting a kiss on both they cheeks.

"Okay honey." my dad replied.

I walked over to where Lola and Carla were seated. I sat down on a chair next to Lola while Carla sat next to Lola on her right side.

"Hey you two." I responded happily.

"Hey, how are you, you look really beautiful today." Lola pointed out, grin on her face.

I smiled. "I'm fine and you two." I replied. "Oh thank you, you two look beautiful as well." 

"Thank you." Carla smiled at me.

"So are you ready to say your speech?" Lola asked.

"Yeah I am, but I'm a little nervous." I honestly admitted.

I know I told my mom I'm ready, but in actual fact I can't help but feel nervous.

"Don't worry, when you on stage don't look at anyone else just look at me and you will feel confident enough to speak." A voice remarked.

I turned to see Jason smiling at me.

I can't believe he said that.

"Don't be so full of yourself Jason. I'm not going to do that." I stated, rolling my eyes.

"Why not Maria, that's actually a good idea." Lola interjected grinning at me.

What The heck!

What are they trying to do?

I don't wanna look at Jason throughout my speech. I know I will freeze up if I do. I can't even look at him without feeling like my cheeks are gonna burn up how am I gonna stare at him during my long speech....

No I can't and I won't do it.

"Lola I can't do that." I replied nervously.

"Why not, is it because you like him, huh huh!" Lola questioned, nudging my shoulder.

"Maria answer her, do you like me or not?" Jason inquired.

Oh my....

"What, No!!" I protested. "Why would you think that? I love Jason has a friend and that's all."

"Now drop the topic." I nervously remarked.

Why do I feel so nervous?

What's going on with me?

"Okay, prove to me that you don't have any sort of romantic feelings towards me." Jason challenged.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked confidently.

"I want you to stare at me and only me while you are saying your speech." he requested with a smirk on his face.

Why does he keep smirking it's annoying.

"Okay I will." I argeed a little less confident then before.

He always finds a way to turn the tables on me.

Anyway, how hard can it be to just stare at him throughout my speech?

"Yes, yes, I got you. I turned the tables on you, just like you did to me. Hah hah!" he laughed.

His so childish sometimes, it wasn't even a competition.

"But I'm still a Valedictorian." I pointed out, a smirk plastered on my face abd I playfully stuck my tongue out to him.

"Ha-ha-ha I got you too..." I laughed happily.

He glared at me.

"shut up." he said annoyingly.

I laughed, he looks so cute when he is annoyed.

"Sit here next to me." I said, he sat next to me and smiled.

"You two are so childish." Carla said laughing, we all ended up laughing too.

"What are you guys laughing at?" Rebecca asked.

Oh God, why did she have to come here.

"Nothing Rebecca." Jason said annoyingly.

"Can everyone please take they sits, the event is about to begin." our deputy principal said.

Rebecca quickly sat next to Jason, she is so clingy.

"I can't believe we are all graduating today, well I can believe Maria is because she is so smart, but all of us, I really can't believe it." Jason said looking at all of us, I smiled at him.

"Yeah you right Jason." Lola said.

**** ( skip )

"We would like to call upon our Valedictorian, Maria Rodriguez! please give her a round of applause." our principal said proudly.

I smiled at my friends and Jason winked at me, I just smiled at him, I got up and went on stage, I waved at the people applauding me, I smiled at my Mom and dad, I looked at my principal and smiled at him too, he gave me the mic and I thanked him.

"Greetings to all my fellow classmates, to all the parents present here, the staff and to my principal" I said looking at everyone, I took out my paper even though I didn't need it, I knew that I had to look at Jason and I was.

"My name is Maria Rodriguez." I started, I felt so nervous, I looked at all of the people at the audience, they were all smiling at me, then my eyes landed on Jason, he had a smile on his face, he signaled me to continue, he is always there for me, I love how much he cares for me, but what if it's more than that.

what am I saying, he can't be in love with me, I'm the maids daughter. 

****