Scars of the Past (Hernandez Series #1)

Chapter 1

"Ayos ka lang?" he asked me when he noticed I shivered.

Nag zone out pala ako, I didn't realize that!

"Yup! I just don't like being touched my other people," I said, shock was visible in his face but he immediately smiled after a few seconds.

Siguro nagulat siya sa pagka pranka ko. Ever since that night, I've always said everything that was in my mind.

"Oh, sorry! 'Di ko alam."

Tumango naman ako. "Well, thank you for showing me the way," I waved at him and I started to enter our room.

"See you again, Callista!"

Nalagpasan ko na ang trauma ko pagdating sa pag-usap at kita sa mga lalake, but I don't like being touched by them. Not unless I really trust them.

So far, si papa pa lang ang nahahawakan ko. Hanggang hug lang, hindi rin nagtatagal. I mean I trust my father, but there's still fear.

Gusto ko mang mapalapit kay papa pero hindi ko talaga kaya. Nag b-break down ako eh, buti na lang mahaba ang pasensya nila at nauunawaan ako.

Umupo ako sa harap, I still find happiness in listening. Gustong-gusto 'kong matuto, it's fun.

I've been homeschooled for the past few years and now that I've graduated senior high school, I think I'm ready to face the world. It maybe hard, but it doesn't mean it's impossible.

Nagbigay lang ng guidelines ang professor tapos dinismiss na rin kami.

I went to the canteen and sat at one of the tables. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko inopen ang messages ko.

To: Venus

Where are you? I'm here at the canteen.

From: Venus

Otw.

Venus is my cousin. She's one of the few people who knows about my past including my doctors, the police, my lawyers and the judge.

Papa made sure that what happened to me will not be known in public. I was devastated and I didn't need to worry about the media. Baka raw anu-ano ang sabihin sa akin ng mga tao, and that time, it feared me.

Ang daming reporter's no'n and I know, papa paid millions just to shut down all their stories.

Akala nga ng iba, namatay na ako. Hindi na kasi ako nagpakita sa mundo after that incident. I never said goodbye to my friends at school. Venus was there for me though, magkasing edad lang kami pero mature na rin siya mag-isip no'n.

She visited me when she got the time. Malayo-layo pa naman ang school niya sa bahay namin no'n dahil pumapasok siya sa all-girls school. Tapos malayo-layo rin ang bahay nila sa amin pero ayon, binibisita niya pa rin ako.

"Ang cute ng baby mo, Callie!" she said while looking at my baby.

Kaka-anak ko lang last week at ngayon nakauwi na kami.

I can't even explain the pain I've been through while giving birth. I'm only fifteen for Christ sake.

"Shh, be quiet, Vee! Magigising si baby," I said.

But that pain was replaced with happiness when I saw my baby.

I passed out after I saw her. Buti at nakayanan ko at hindi kami nalagay sa panganib. Imagine, I wasn't even a grown up woman but I manage to pull off giving birth!

"Ano'ng pangalan niya?" tanong niya na man.

Napatingin ako sa anak ko na nasa crib, natutulog siya nang mahimbing.