Chapter 01
YOLO
"Gia, everyone will be there! We need you there!" I stared at her and rolled my eyes as I tucked the excess hair behind my ear. I hate her high-pitched voice, and she keeps on bragging about that stupid party of this Laurence guy, who's a friend of my ex.
"I know, Candy! Will you please lower down your voice? I hate it when you use that fuckin' voice!" She rolled her eyes at me and she crossed her both arms. And now, she's having her baby tantrums.
"What's special about that party, anyways?" I turned my head on the other side and waited for her answer— Melody.
"Well, it's Laurence's birthday. And you know how much Candy admire that guy, right?" I nodded my head as I remembered how she admired that guy so much. I don't even know what's special about him.
"So, you'll be there? Midnight, Laurence's place." I shook my head and turned my body around to stared at the both of them. I sighed and they knew from that moment that I can't go with them but, I really love this two girls.
"You know that my mom won't allow me to leave, right?" They both nodded and I smirked, "I'm grounded for a month but, you know my motto. Be there around 11:30, I can't use my car. We'll be there at Laurence's before midnight, ciao!"
I both gave them a flying kiss before running out of our university. I saw our family's car and my brother with our personal driver. And there he is, waving like an idiot as he is.
"Hi, ate!" I rolled my eyes as I heard him calling me "ate".
"For Pete's sake, George! Stop calling me "ate", we're twins!" He moved on the other side as the driver opened the car's door. I sat on the other side and placed my bag on the middle. So, he can't go near me.
"I don't have any virus, Gia." He muttered out but, I just rolled my eyes and smiled just to pissed him off.
"Alam mong grounded ka, 'di ba?" Tumingin ako sakaniya at inantay kung ano ang susunod niyang sasabihin. I raised my right eyebrow as I stared at him, "And it's Laurence's birthday today."
"Yes, and so what?" He sighed and I knew that he's already pissed about my attitude. I sighed and rested my body on the backrest.
"Alam kong pupunta ka, knowing Candy, she likes Laurence. A lot." I stared at him, "Ano namang kinalaman nito sa'yo?"
"Gusto ko na lang na magingat ka. Knowing mom? Ipapadala ka niya sa Pilipinas kapag hindi ka nakinig sakaniya." George's right, and he has a point. But, I can't say "no" to the girls. May isang salita ako.
"I can handle myself, George. Huwag mo na lang sana sabihin kay mommy ang gagawin ko." Tumingin ako sakaniya at agad siyang tumango and he even acted like he zipped his mouth and threw the lock out of the car's window.
"Mauna na ako sa taas." Saad ko sakaniya nang makapasok na kami sa loob ng bahay. I don't know if nandito ba si mommy but, all I know is bantay
sarado niya ako dito kahit wala ako.
"Aakyat ka na agad? Hindi mo man lang ako babatiin?" Agad akong napatigil sa paglalakad nang marinig ko ang boses ni mommy. I don't want to hear her nagging again about my attitude so, I turned around and smiled at her.
"Good afternoon, mom." Naglakad ako patungo sakaniya at niyakap siya. She smiled at me and after that, nawala na naman ang masigla niyang mukha.
"Give me your phone, and do your homework. You know that you're grounded, right?" I sighed as I nodded my head. Kinuha ko ang phone ko sa bag at inabot sakaniya.
"Pwede na ba akong umakyat para magpahinga?" Tinitigan niya muna ako bago siya tumango saakin. Agad naman akong umakyat at dumiretso sa kwarto ko para humiga sa kama. Masakit padin ang likod ko dahil sa nangyari kahapon and that's the reason why my mom grounded me for a month.
Agad akong tumayo sa kama nang marinig ko ang katok mula sa pinto ng aking kwarto. Bumukas ito at pumasok ang kapatid ko, hawak ang kaniyang phone.
"Gusto ka daw makausap ni lola." Inabot niya saakin ang phone niya at agad na lumabas ng aking kwarto. Tumingin ako sa camera at ngumiti nang makita ko ang lola ko.
"Hello, grandma! I miss you po!" We both waved at each other and I smiled when I saw tito Liam. Agad din naman itong umalis dahil may aasikasuhin daw ito sa opisina.
"How are you, Gia?" My lola asked me kaya naman agad akong sumagot.
"I'm grounded for a month, lola." I pouted and she laughed. Pangatlong beses na siguro ito at alam na alam lahat ni lola ang nangyayari saamin dito kahit na malayo ang agwat namin. Nasa Pilipinas siya at kami ay nasa America.
"Alam mo naman siguro kung bakit ka siya naghihigpit sainyo, 'di ba?" I nodded my head. I knew what happened 21 years ago, and that's the reason kung bakit lagi siyang mahigpit saaming dalawa— saakin.
"Yes lola but, my mom and I are different from each other. I know how to handle myself besides, I'm 17 na naman po lola." My lola nodded on the other side.
"Yes, I know sweetheart. But still, you're not old enough. As long as you're living with your mom, you need to understand and obey her rules. I know your mom, I know Denise. Ginagawa niya lang kung ano ang makakabuti para sainyo." I nodded my head and after a few more conversations we said our goodbyes.
Lumabas ako ng kwarto para iabot sa kapatid ko ang phone niya at agad naman ako bumalik sa kwarto para gawin ang mga homeworks ko. I still know how to appreciate the education, and that's one of my priorities. Sadyang gusto ko lang talaga na ienjoy ang teenage years ko dahil, alam kong hindi ko na magagawa ito kapag nagkaroon ako ng sarili kong pamilya in the near future.
*****
At exactly 10 pm, natapos ko na lahat ng homeworks ko. Good thing nandito ang laptop ko at mabait ang kapatid ko para ibigay ang password ng wifi namin na binago ni mommy para hindi ako makapagpuyat. I opened my social media account, and I saw my friends chats on our gc. They're still waiting for my response kaya, nagiwan na lang ako ng message na mababasa nila kahit na off ako. I told them to be here at exactly 11:30 para sunduin ako at ihahatid ako around 1 am.
Mabilis akong kumilos para maligo at magayos ng sarili. I just wore a fitted tank top, and denim ripped pants and I partnered it with a denim jacket and of course, my favorite boots. Malamig dito ngayon dahil, malapit na ang winter. I opened my account once again and good thing, napaaga sila. Sumilip ako sa bintana and I saw them waving inside Melody's car. Kumaway ako pabalik and I told them to wait for me. Inayos ko ang kama ko at nilagay ang unan sa ilalim ng kumot. It's just a camouflage just in case my mom walked in here.
Agad akong lumabas ng kwarto ko at dumiretso sa kwarto ng kapatid ko. Gising pa ito at nanunuod ng movie sa laptop niya. And the way he stared at me, I knew that he's disappointed but, there's no time for that. Agad aking lumabas sa balcony niya at sinilip ang metal ladder na nakadikit sa pader just in case na magkaroon ng sunog, ito ang dadaanan namin.
