Glimpses of Yesterday (Isla Contejo #2)

Chapter 1

Important Note: This story is not for everyone's liking. The conflict of this story isn't really that ideal. Maiinis po kayo sa dalawang bida. Arsen is a "red flag". Ako mismong author, alam ko na 'yon sa simula pa lang. Jaeda isn't perfect as well. May mga magagawa siyang bagay sa bandang huli na maaaring kainisan ninyo. She has flawed decisions, too. Walang cheating dito, walang third party, no physical abuse, and so on. Ngunit wala ring perfect protagonists dito, utang na loob. Kung ayaw ma-stress sa conflict at sa flawed decisions nina Jaeda at Arsen, just please leave the story as early as now. Para rin sa peace n'yo 'yan :>

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PADARAG akong binitawan ni Daddy nang sa wakas ay makauwi kami. Mommy was already waiting for us. Her arms were crossed and she was looking at me sharply. I sighed and just kept my head down. They started throwing their lectures at me and I had nothing to do but to take it all in.

"You really sneaked out just to attend that stupid party?!" Mommy furiously exclaimed with hands both on her hips now.

"Because if I asked for your permission, I was certain that you wouldn't allow me," I tried to reason out.

"At talagang hindi ka namin papayagan!" My dad intervened. "Anong oras ang party na 'yon? Dis oras ng gabi? You should be sleeping by then! Sinong matinong magulang ang hahayaan ang anak nilang lumabas pa ng ganoong oras?"

"Dad, my friends' parents are always allowing them! Cool 'yong mga parents nila and why can't you just be like them?"

I could understand Tagalog and I could also speak in that language, but not really that fluent. Minsan lang ako mag-tagalog and every time I try, I was being labeled as "conyo". As if I could do something about it? Yes, I'm a pure Filipino. My parents are both Filipinos, but I was raised here in America. Dito rin ako pinanganak, so basically, English language ang nakagisnan ko. Saka lang ako tinuruan nila Mommy to speak Tagalog when I was ten years old.

"Tigilan mo kami sa mga pa-cool-cool na 'yan, Jaeda!" si Mommy. "Even though we're living here in the U.S doesn't mean that we also need to be as liberal as them. Iba 'yong pagpapalaki nila sa mga anak nila, iba ang pagpapalaki namin sa iyo. We are trying to take you away from the lifestyle of the people around you. We told you so many times to stay away from those stupid friends of yours 'cause they are bad influence!"

"Mom, they're not—"

"Oh, they are!" sabat na naman ni Daddy. "I saw party drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, and other stupid things that you kids should avoid by now! Jaeda, kung hindi kita sinundo sa punyetang lugar na 'yon, baka may nangyari nang masama sa 'yo! Puro mga lasing at naka-droga ang naroon! Baka pa ipasubok din sa 'yo—"

"I'm not taking drugs, Dad!"

"Of course, you should not! Pero hindi malabong mangyari 'yon kung hindi ka lalayo sa mga kaibigan mong walang kuwenta!"

Tamad akong napairap sa kawalan at napasapo sa aking noo. This conversation was already becoming so stressful! And they were so overreacting! I just went to one of my friends' house to attend her birthday. I just went there for a little drink and some chitchats. I wasn't planning on doing anything wrong!

I still knew what's right and wrong. I still have morals and principles. Just because some of my schoolmates were getting high with their drugs doesn't mean that I should also join them. No. May sarili akong desisyon at hindi ko need na gayahin 'yong mga ginagawa nila just to fit in.

"I can't believe you, Dad! Do you really think that I will try those things? Wala kayong trust sa 'kin?"

"We have trust in you, but we don't trust the people around you," sagot pa niya. "Paano kung lagyan nila ng droga ang iniinom mo nang hindi mo nalalaman? See? Kaya pinalalayo ka namin sa mga 'yan kasi wala silang magandang naidudulot sa 'yo kundi puro pagbubulakbol at kaestupidohan."

Bumuntong hininga na lamang ako at napa-scratch sa aking ulo. Inis din akong napahawi sa aking buhok habang pinakikinggan ang mga lintanya nila. They continued exchanging litanies until Mommy suddenly stopped talking.

Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa kaniya to ask what was wrong. She was gaping and it seemed like she couldn't believe what she was seeing on... my neck?

"What the hell is in your neck, Jaeda Lianna?!"

Kumunot ang noo ko at napahawak sa aking leeg. Napatingin na rin doon si Daddy at marahang hinawi ang buhok ko sa gilid. Mommy, on the other hand, immediately advanced toward me. She held my jaw to examine my neck better.

"Mom, what are you doing—"

"You have a kiss mark, for Christ's sake!"

"What?!" gulat at galit na reaksyon ni Daddy.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at agad na napahawak sa aking leeg. What the hell! I didn't know that Ryo would leave a mark on my neck! We were making out earlier in the party until his kisses went down on my neck. I stopped him even before his lips went down more.

"What were you doing, you stupid girl!" galit na galit na singhal ni Mommy and it seemed like she was already on the verge of pulling my hair.

Napakagat ako sa pang-ibabang labi ko.

"M-Mom, he was just kissing me—"

"Just kissing?! Punyeta! You are just sixteen, Jaeda!"

Napanguso ako at napayuko na lamang. Ilang sandali'y nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Daddy to ask for some pity and help. But just like Mommy, he was also looking at me disappointedly. He shook his head like I disgusted him so much.

"Punong-puno na 'ko sa 'yo! From now on, you won't see your friends again because you'll be staying in Isla Contejo!"

Nalaglag ang panga ko at muling napaangat ng tingin kay Mommy dahil sa sinabi niya. I noticed that even Daddy was shocked. Kinunutan ko ng noo si Mommy na mariin pa rin ang tingin sa akin and she already had this determined expression like nothing could ever change her mind.

"Mommy, what are you saying? I can't stay in that province—"

"Yes, you can! If that is the only way for you to stay away from your bad influence friends, then be it! Doon ko na magka-college!"

Mas lalong nalukot ang mukha ko at napapadyak na dahil sa inis.

"You're unbelievable! My whole life is in here! Dito na 'ko lumaki and you'll just throw me to that place na parang sanay akong mamuhay roon?!"

"Jaeda, I think this is for your own good," segunda ni Daddy.

"For my own good? Wala akong kilala sa province na 'yon! And 'di ba, we already have a plan kung saan ako magka-college dito?"

Umiling-iling si Mommy at matigas pa rin ang ekspresyon.

"No. My decision is final. Doon ka na titira hanggang sa maka-graduate ka ng college."

She immediately turned her back and headed to the stairs. Mabilis ko siyang hinabol at hinawakan sa braso. Nangunyapit ako sa kaniya habang nagsisimula nang mamuo ang luha sa mga mata ko.

"Mom, please! Don't do this! I'll be a good girl from now on! I won't attend parties anymore! Hindi na rin ako tatakas. Just please let me stay here!"

Halos lumuhod ako sa harapan niya ngunit inilingan niya lang ako. Lumapit na sa akin si Daddy upang pigilan ako sa pagmamakaawa. Nang mailayo niya ako kay Mommy ay agad itong nagpatuloy sa pagpanhik.

"Mom!"

She didn't turn to look at me again. Bago pa siya makapanhik nang tuluyan ay narinig ko pa ang kaniyang sinabi.

"Magsimula ka nang mag-impake, Jaeda."

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Thank you for reading the Prologue and the 1st chapter! Hope you stay with this story 'til the next chapters :>