All the tables were already occupied since everyone was already here and done with the registration and pictorial. I was already seated on one of the tables in front with Bianca, Miguel, Jeff, and Vino.

Brian and Lily walked up to us before taking their place by the rostrum up on stage. They started by welcoming everyone and greeting Mr. Cruz and the faculty. Then they requested Elisa to lead the invocation.

"Thank you, Elisa," Lily said as Elisa walked down the stage. "Now, we would like to invite our honorable principal, Mr. Cruz to come on stage for his welcome remarks."

"Let's give him a round of applause," Brian added.

We all gave a round of applause as Mr. Cruz stood up from his seat. Brian and Lily stepped away from the rostrum to give room for Mr. Cruz.

"Thank you, Brian and Lily," he started, gripping the microphone in his hand. "And good evening everyone."

He stepped back from the rostrum and walked towards the center of the stage. "I am always grateful to welcome Eastview's alumni whenever they want to hold a reunion here at school and I am thrilled to be here celebrating with you tonight. Five long years. It's been five years but it still feels like yesterday when you graduated here."

He made a sweeping glance and sighed. "Wow. I can still remember you as teenage kids, sprinting to your classrooms to get to your class on time. Also, I wouldn't forget how talented you all are. Of course, we have our varsity players. Please raise your hand if you've played for Eastview," he requested.

Brian, Miguel, and Vino raised their hands along with a few others who had played for other sports.

"And our drama club..."

We clapped our hands and cheered for Bianca, who was beaming in her seat, with her raised hand. She had been one of the best drama club actresses in our high school days.

"And the talented band exclusively from your class..." Mr. Cruz added, gesturing at the drum set behind him. "I believe we'll see them perform once again."

A louder cheer erupted and the band members, Miguel, Noah, Enzo, and Lily all raised their fists in the air.

"Of course, there's also the student body organization officers... And Elisa Morales who served as the president during your time."

I glanced at Elisa, who nodded modestly at the acknowledgment.

"And also, there's the gazette led by Ms. Sanchez. Please raise your hand if you've been part of the gazette."

Jeff and I raised our hands along with a couple of other classmates.

"And please raise your hand if your picture has been published in the gazette," Mr. Cruz requested, and the majority raised their hands and started cheering.

"Sometimes, I cannot believe that you're all adults now. But when I look in the mirror and see my balding head, that's when I get reminded that yeah, I am so old now and a lot of kids from Eastview are adults now," he stated humorously and we all laughed with him.

"I am happy to be here and you are always welcome to hold your reunions here. This night is all about all of you and the memories you've shared together here at Eastview. I am so glad to see you all and let's enjoy the night," he finished his speech.

Lily and Brian walked back to the rostrum and Mr. Cruz handed the microphone to Brian.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Cruz," he stated, his voice booming in the sound system.

We all clapped as Mr. Cruz made his way to his seat.

"May we now call on our senior year class adviser—"

"The ageless," Lily continued.

"—funny—"

"—smart—"

"And gorgeous—Ms. Ocampo," Brian introduced.

"Let's give a round of applause for her."

Everyone applauded as Ms. Ocampo walked up to the rostrum.

"Thank you for the flattering words, Lily and Brian," she said, beaming at the two as they both stepped back from the rostrum.

"In case you're wondering, I hired them to introduce me tonight. I'm the one who wrote that script," Ms. Ocampo laughed. "I am speaking on behalf of the faculty and we want to say how grateful and happy we are to have you here tonight."

Ms. Ocampo was probably still one of the funniest and most cheerful teachers in Eastview Academy.

"I love seeing each and every one of you... my former students—my favorite students," she chuckled and everyone cheered and applauded at her remark. In a whispering voice, she added, "Please don't tell the other batches."

"She didn't change a bit," Bianca whispered to my ear.

"She didn't," I agreed, nodding.

"Look at all of you. You all look gorgeous and dapper tonight," she complimented as she looked around the gymnasium. "But your teachers look equally gorgeous and dapper, don't you think?"

"Yeah," someone yelled, prompting everyone to applause.

Ms. Ocampo's speech went on saying how much she missed us and reminiscing our high school days at Eastview. She even shed a tear at some point. I had known her since sophomore year and the only time I had seen her cry was during our graduation day.

"Let's get the party started," she yelled, ending her speech, and we all applauded her.

"Alright," Brian mumbled after Ms. Ocampo returned the mic to him. "That was quite a speech."

"Thank you, Ms. Ocampo," Lily added. "I heard we have some lovely guests, Brian."

"We sure do and they are a talented and good-looking bunch."

"I wonder who they are."

"This is one of the most-awaited comebacks," Brian explained. "I am proud and honored to welcome, the best and most talented band our class has ever produced. Let's give it up for The Band."

We clapped our hands as the four-piece band gathered on stage. Miguel rolled up the sleeves of his blue dress shirt before taking his seat on the throne. Enzo strapped on his bass guitar and stood at the right side of the stage while Lily and Noah picked up their guitars and stood on the center.

"Good evening everyone," Noah greeted. "It feels so nice to be back on stage."

The lights dimmed a little more, leaving a spotlight on stage. Miguel tapped his drumsticks together three times on cue and they started performing their first song.

I watched them in awe like seeing them play forthe first time.