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It takes him less than a second to reply, “Yeah, it was the best!”

Amado details all his classes, professors, and classmates animatedly, like the characters he draws. He enthuses about learning the art of animation, along with its history. He worked harder than ever on both his animations and studies.

“It was my major and my luxury,” Amado says.

“Wish I would’ve gone to Anderson Arts School,” Reyna says. She met Amado at Anime Expo. Their undergrads are a twenty-minute drive apart.

“At least a degree in biochem made it easier for you to find a job.”

I knead my hands together. I have a sudden flash to Jaya, Jian, and Alondra talking about their arts school experiences, then think about the images on the Jansen website, mentally Photoshopping myself in one of Lalaine Bautista’s classes.

“Was it worth it?” I ask Amado. “Majoring in animation?”

He studies his phone as he thinks this over. “Well, I don’t want to work at Sandwich One forever,” he says. “But I enjoyed all my animation classes. I don’t regret anything. Yeah, it’s been tough finishing up my animations and finding a better job. But I love drawing, and I love learning about it. I don’t feel that way about anything else.”

“That’s great!” I say, thinking about the past several weeks. How I’ve taken so many photos from so many different angles, staying up to edit, and presenting them to people who I mostly recognize by faces.

“Applying to college soon?” Reyna asks.

“Yeah, I’m going to be a senior in August,” I reply.

“Best of luck!”

“Salamat! How was undergrad for you, Atè Reyna?”

“I loved it!” She rests her head on Amado’s shoulder. “I’ve always been interested in bio and chem, so I’m glad my major combines both.”

As Reyna raves over her biochem classes and other undergrad adventures, I glance at Ava and Gabriel again. They barely reacted when Tito Rommulo and Tita Aurora mentioned their financing careers. When Ava talked about sea animals, it was a stark contrast from her replies to my questions about her grad school life—or lack thereof. The only time Gabriel smiled today was when he saw a video game GIF. When we were kids, he once said he wanted to make video games. I thought it was just a childhood dream, though I secretly wished he’d gone through with it since it sounded cool. Even now I think that, and I wonder if Gabriel’s childhood dream is a dream in his twenties.

“What’s your plan?” Amado asks.

Before, it would’ve been second nature to say I’m going to major in bio at a UC.

Now, though, I reply, “Hindi ko alam, Kuya.”

I really don’t know. Guess I haven’t come prepared after all, and I’ve never felt so afraid.

“You have time,” Amado says.

“I have until November.”

“That’s more time than you think.”

“Ohoh,” Reyna agrees. “I applied to my alma mater a week before the deadline.”

This gives me a little bit of hope. Though I don’t know if I’d want to apply anywhere a week before the deadline.

At the island, Tita Maricel grabs a few rolls of lumpia.

“Someone stop me from going back for thirds,” Aprilette says when she approaches us.

As if to emphasize how masarap the pagkain is, Piolo shovels a heap of pancit and mmms.

“You’ll have to do the same for me.” I stand up, then finish the last bits of my pork liempo. To Aprilette, I say, “Save my seat please, Atè?”

“I’ll steal it,” she says.

I throw her a look and snort. On my way over, I turn back, Aprilette occupying half my spot on the couch.