FHS # 6 | Dubbed as the golden girl of Filimon Heights, everyone thinks Joana Cohen has everything a girl could ever want. However, what she has is the very thing that keeps her from getting what she truly wants.
With a life riddled with misconcep...
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"What's your favorite memory with me?"
"Do you really think I can answer that when I have so many?"
"What's the first thing that comes to your mind then?"
"Remember that one rainy day in July?"
"Joana Therese Cohen, stop biting your nails!" Mom yanked my hand down.
Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya lalo't nakatitig lamang ako sa bintana ng sasakyan, pinagmamasdan ang malakas na buhos ng ulan. Ni hindi ko napansing kagat ko na naman pala ang mga kuko ko.
I smiled apologetically. "I can't help it, Mom."
"Yes, you can! Jesus, Joana! Gusto mo bang magaya ang kuko mo doon kay Mimi?" Mom said with her usual over-dramatic tone. Wala akong kawala sa kanya lalo't pareho kaming nasa backseat ng sasakyan.
"Mommy naman, there's nothing wrong with Mimi's nails." I chuckled heartily.
"Nothing wrong?" Mom sighed exasperatedly. "Sweetie, parang sa isang construction worker ang mga kuko niya! I bet her nail polish is--"
"Mom, Mimi's my friend," I pleaded with a smile. "She's been very good to me--"
"Good to you?" Mom looked at me as if I just said the craziest thing. "What kind of friend would not invite you to her 16th birthday party? On your sweet sixteenth, let's not invite her din."
"She invited me, Mom," I reminded her for the nth time. "She sent me a DM on Instagram. There was just a glitch--"
"At kasalanan pa ng Instagram?" Mom chuckled, shaking her head. "You're too naive, Joana."
"No, I'm not." I smiled, letting out a light laughter. "You just don't know her the way that I do. "
"Okay, fine!" Mom sighed and raised her hand faintly. "I apologize."
Mom flashed a sweet smile, but I could tell her sarcasm.
"I apologize to the hardworking and honorable construction workers for comparing them to that brat."
I knew it.
Napatingin ako sa direksyon ni Mang Egay na siyang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan. 1 month pa lang siyang nagta-trabaho sa amin, tapos ganito pa ang mga naririnig niya. Nakakahiya sa kanya.
"Kumain na po ba kayo, Mang Egay?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan.
Napatingin si Mang Egay mula sa rearview mirror at ngumiti, para pang nahihiya. "Naku, Ma'am. Tapos na ho, salamat."
