It Must Be You

Chapter One

Charlene Russell

That's my real name. I'm 16, Born in the Philippines but I was raised in Lake Tahoe California, United States of America.

I'm living with my Dad. Si mom naman ay may iba nang pamilya. Divorced kasi sila ng Dad ko kaya naman ganoon. Ngunit ngayon ay nasa Pilipinas na ako kasama ko parin ang Dad ko.

Life wasn't easy for me. Strict kasi ang Dad ko. He doesn't allow me to hang out with friends or go to somewhere unless I have his permission. Hindi ko naman siya masisi kasi nga he had his first son at the age of 19 and that time, his first wife was 16 and her name was Donna Blodsoe. Kaya ayaw niyang magaya ako sa first wife niya.

Pero kahit na pinagbabawalan ako ng Dad kong lumabas ng bahay, ay may friends parin namin ako and I do have a social life. Isa nga lang ang kaibigan ko, he's name is Shane. He's a boy, a 16 year old boy who's living next door.

He's my only bestfriend simula nang lumipat kami dito. Araw-araw kaming nag-uusap through phone kaya naman medyo hindi narin ako nabobored dito sa loob ng bahay.

Marami kasing mga bagay na pareho naming gusto, katulad na lamang ng soccer. He's a soccer player in our school at ako naman ay mahilig sa larong ito. Minsan nga iniisip ni Dad eh, lesbian ako. Mas gusto ko kasing manuod ng basketball and soccer instead of beauty channels. It doesn't mean na gusto ko ang mga yon eh tomboy na ako, I'm just a sporty girl 😄😄

Partners in Crime ko rin siya. There are some nights that he will sneak into my window and come inside my room with his flashlight and ask me to go somewhere. Minsan ako naman ang gumagawa niyon, vice versa kumbaga.

We have cars. I have mine and he has his car too at the age of 16. Btw, he's a white boy. Isa rin yun sa dahilan kung bakit kami magkasundo. Naiintindihan ko kasi siya because I lived in California for 12 years. Kaya marunong ako sa salitang Ingles.

"Where do you want go?" He ask me while his eyes are focusing on the road.

"Everywhere" I said while grinning at him. "Yahhhooo!" I shouted because of too much excitement. This night will be full of fun, I'm sure dahil kasama ko si Shane. I have the feeling of happiness and of course, FREEDOM!

"I know some place that where fun is" he said while grinning. Napatango na lamang ako. Nakafocus parin sa daan si Shane habang ako naman ay nakaupo katabi niya at hinahagip ng aking mata ang mga tindahang nadadaanan namin na nakasarado na dahil nga 12:55am na.

"You know what? No one could ever replace the happiness that I'm having when I'm with you" napalingon ako kay Shane nang bigla siyang magsalita and his words touches my heart.

"Me too"sagot ko saka nginitian siya.

"We've been through a lot Shane, We've fought many problems together and did a lot of crimes. That is what friends for" sabi ko rin sa kanya.

Andami na nga naming pinagdaanan ni Shane pero kahit anong problema man ang dumating hindi mawawasak ang friendship namin. We have the strongest friendship that anyone could ask for. Kaya nga napaka importante ng lalaking ito saakin eh.

"Thanks, for being there for me always" sabi niya.

"Stop being so dramatic Shane! I don't wanna cry" sabi ko na ikinahalakhak naming dalawa.

"We will conquer our parents TOGETHER!" Sigaw ko at itinaas ang isa niyang braso. Pareho kasing strick ang parents namin. Napangiti na lamang siya habang napailing.

"Crazy!" Bulong niya na ikinatawa ko.

"Both of us we're crazy" dagdag ko pa ikinatawa niya.

"I'm not. I'm Awesome and Cool" sabi niya na nakataas noo pa.

"No, you're not!" Pagtutol ko sa sinabi niya. Tinaasan naman niya ako ng kilay.

"Of course, I am" sabi na naman niya. Ilang oras din ang lumipas na ganoon lang kami, nagtatalo habang nagkukulitan.

"We're are we going? How far are we now from there?" Tanong ko. Halos 30 minutes na kasi ang lumipas ay hindi parin kami nakakarating. "Where are we going? And In what place are we now?" Ang dami ko nang tanong. Mukha kasing malayo na kami sa city at puro puno na yung nakikita ko.

"We're almost there" tanging sagot niya.

Inihinto niya ang kotse sa may gilid. Para kaming nasa loob ng gubat. Puro puno lang ang nakikita ko at ang dilim. Tanging liwanag lamang ng buwan ang nagpapailaw sa paligid. Anong lugar ba to?

"We are here!" Sabi niya sabay pinatay ang sasakyan. Binuksan niya ang pinto ng driver seat at lumabas na. Lumabas narin ako.

"Where are we?" Tanong ko.

"Wait here!" Yun lang ang naging sagot niya at tumakbo papasok ng kagubatan.

"Shane!! Don't leave me here!" sigaw ko pero bigla na siyang naglaho sa paningin ko. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng takot.

Nagulat ako na may halong amazement nang biglang umilaw ang paligid. Napuno nang mga ilaw galing sa napakaraming lights at bulbs. May carousel sa paligid, ferris wheel, car station at mga naglalakihang statue ni Mickey Mouse. Parang carnival.

"What can you say Abcdef?" He says between his laughs. Ayan na naman siya sa nickname ko. Urgghh!

"Stop calling me that! Jerk!" Inirapan ko lamang siya. Abcdef kasi ang nickname ko. It's pronounce as Ab-c-def.  My dad gave me that name kasi nga daw unique.

"Whatever!" Sabi niya habang napapailing.

"Btw, where are we now? What place is this? How did you found this?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko. Nakakamangha ang lugar na ito. The word beautiful is not enough to describe this place. This place is so peaceful, the air is warmth and cool. It's awesome and perfect.

To be continue..