"Now it's time for us to look back at our high school days," Lily announced in a dreamy voice.

"And literally look back at our high school photos courtesy of our resident photographer and our very good friend, Jeff," Brian added, looking at our table.

The four of us clapped our hands for Jeff and he gave us a sheepish smile.

"If there's one person in our class who has photos of all of us, that's none other than him."

"Exactly," Brian agreed. "In case some of you have forgotten, Jeff had been the official photographer of Eastview Gazette for three school years. And he was also awarded for his exceptional shots during his first year."

"So, if you want to get some old photos of someone back in high school, you know who to ask," Lily laughed.

"Let's give it up for Jeff."

Jeff stood up from our table and walked over to the table on the right side of the gymnasium where the white screen and projector were set up too. He hunched over his laptop as he prepared playing his presentation.

I smiled the second the song started playing. It was "Here's To Never Growing Up" by Avril Lavigne. It wasn't a song from our high school days but it was fitting for tonight's event. The first picture that popped on the screen was our class picture from freshman year followed by our class pictures from the next three school years.

"I'll always love how cute we are in our uniforms," Bianca whispered.

I giggled beside her as I remembered the first day that I wore my uniform. I had been ecstatic that I would finally be wearing knee-high socks.

"Oh my God, you looked so skinny, Migs," Bianca teased.

"This is embarrassing," Miguel chuckled, slapping his forehead.

Our class pictures showed how most of us changed throughout high school. Some gained weight, others grew taller, and the most obvious change was in hairstyles. Some of the girls had chopped off their bangs or had their hair straightened. On the other hand, most boys had maintained their signature hairstyles throughout high school with the help of their hair wax.

I couldn't help but smile.

"At least we all glowed up already," Bianca consoled Miguel.

The presentation went on with pictures from different school activities such as seminars, competitions, and stage plays performed at school.

"You're in every picture of the stage plays," I commented to Bianca.

She smiled and her shoulders rose as if she was being tickled.

"When you're the best actress, you have to be in the photos," Miguel added.

Different pictures followed like pictures during classroom activities, mostly during our TLE and science laboratory activities, foundation weeks, nutrition months, and Buwan ng Wika wherein the band debuted. The next pictures showed all of the boys in class dancing while wearing matching outfits from the '80s and everyone laughed. The boys even cheered for themselves. A few candid group photos and a stolen picture of me holding a pink clip board and gesturing something to a few people showed up. Although I wasn't looking at the camera, I was the only one facing it and I was obviously unaware that someone was taking a photo of me. In fact, I couldn't remember seeing that photo before.

Pictures during interschool sports fest followed. There were pictures during volleyball games, badminton, table tennis, and track and field. Then there were pictures of basketball games perfectly capturing the cheering crowd of Eastview. There was also a picture of the basketball team from the awarding ceremony and a few candid shots including the whole basketball team crowding around Vino.

"Ah, those were the days," Miguel mumbled, patting Vino's shoulder. "Still one of the best shots."

"The day we got into the finals."

"Hell, yeah," Miguel laughed.

"We used that photo in the front page of the gazette," I reminded both of them.

"I know," Vino responded. "I have it framed in my room."

***

7 years ago

It was Red Warriors versus the Eastview Tigers. We had been playing away from school and Red valley was hosting the game. It had been the third game of the semi-final's series between the two teams which meant it was a do-or-die game. The score had been tied at 75 and we were into the last six minutes of the game.

Everyone was excited and nervous, especially us since we had lost in the previous year's championship game. The team wanted to get back into the finals and bring home the cup. I could feel the energy of both teams who were both hungry for the win.

The Red Warriors power forward shoot a lay-up with a bonus free throw and threw a punch in the air. I glanced at Vino who was scratching the back of his head, apparently dismayed by the call. It was his fourth personal foul.

"What?" he asked the referee in front of him.

I couldn't see what the referee was saying because his back was turned to us.

Vino gestured his hands in disbelief that he was called for a foul. He shook his head and whispered something to the referee but the latter only ignored him and walked away. He faced the Eastview's bench and mouthed, "I didn't do anything".

Brian approached and tried to pacify him. Vino was still ranting but he walked to the painted area and stood on the line nearest to the basket. When the opponent successfully made the free throw shot, I saw how Vino bowed his head in disappointment.

The score had been deadlocked for eight times already but I could still see Brian and some of the guys still confident. Brian clapped his hands and reminded the team that it was okay. He and a senior were playing as guards, two sophomore students were playing as forwards and Vino was playing as center.

Brian set the play and passed the ball to the shooting guard. They rotated the ball and passed it back to Brian who attacked to the basket but two defenders guarded him, leaving Vino alone under the basket. Brian dropped the ball to Vino giving the latter an easy lay-up shot.

The Eastview students who were watching with us clapped and cheered. Vino searched for me behind the team's bench and pointed his index finger at me as he grinned. I felt my cheeks burning from his gesture and I pressed my lips together.

"Go, Supervino," Lily screamed before nudging me.

Some female students behind us were screaming in exhilaration and I craned my neck to look at them. They were junior students from Eastview. I once heard one of them had a crush on Vino. Now it seemed to me that the rumors were true.

"These juniors behind us better shut their mouths," Lily muttered furiously. "They scream as if Vino was pointing them when obviously he was pointing you."

"Don't mind them," Bianca responded, trying to pacify her.

"But they are so assuming."

"They can scream all they want but nothing will happen," I answered.

The opponent's crowd started chanting, "Let's go, Warriors, let's go..."

The Red Warrior's point guard set up their next play, dribbling the ball as the other players took their position on the floor.

Our side of the bench started chanting, "Defense... Defense..." and Lily and Bianca joined in the chant too.

The point guard made a bounce pass to his teammate but it was anticipated by our senior shooting guard, successfully stealing possession. Brian, realizing the opportunity, already ran towards the other end of the court.

The players on the bench all stood up in excitement and Miguel, who was already fouled out from the game, started shouting, encouraging Brian to push and run faster.

The senior shooting guard passed the ball to Vino and the latter made a cross-court pass to Brian. As expected, Brian made a basket causing another eruption of cheer from our side of the bench. It was deafening and exhilarating at the same time.

Brian, being himself, even showed off by blowing his palms as if they were literally on fire.

The other side of the bench started booing Brian. Vino, on the other hand, gave Brian a high five.

"The second thing he likes next to winning a game," Lily screamed on top of all the cheering around us. "He's done throwing finger guns."

I giggled. "I think that number 45 is starting to hate him."

I pointed the player from Red Valley who was glaring and grunting after Brian's little show.

"He's definitely pissed at Brian," Bianca agreed.

"Then they should do better defense if they don't want Brian to make any basket," Lily scoffed.

The game continued with both teams exchanging baskets. In the last 17 seconds of the game, with the score tied at 91, Brian set up another play. They started passing the ball around, and even changed positions to help Brian get away from his defender.

Everyone thought he was going to take a jumper but three defenders guarded him immediately, knowing better than to leave him unguarded. He had no choice but pass the ball to the shooting guard and a defender immediately guarded the latter, making it impossible to take a shot. Our shooting guard spotted Vino at the three-point line without any defender.

I swore he hesitated to take the shot. He was more of a defensive player and wasn't the best scorer in the team and he was aware of it but realizing there was no time left, he had to take it. In the last three seconds, he was able to make the shot.

The crowd had gone wild. Everyone had been cheering and screaming, and I watched as Vino raised his arms in Victory. Brian had thrown a punch in the air, screaming. All the players on the Eastview bench had come running to Vino and Miguel was the first among them who ran up to hug him. I had seen Jeff running to capture the player's emotional moment.

"You have got to write a great article about this," Lily had demanded.

"Oh, I sure will," I had assured her. Thismoment deserved to be on the first page of Eastview Gazette's next issue.