Temporary (Montenegro Series #6)

SIMULA

"She's just being too overprotective, Lola." reklamo ko.

"Your Mom is just protecting you. Tingnan mo ang nangyari sa Ate mo. The guy that knocked her up didn't even bother to man up for his deeds. Also, you almost died that night" saad ni Lola.

Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong umalma sa sinabi niya kahit hindi naman totoo iyon. Laging ganon ang kinekwento ni Mommy sa mga kamag-anak namin kapag nagtatanong ang nga ito tungkol sa tatay ng pamangkin kong si Kieth, anak ni Ate Corrine.

"Well, I know how to protect myself. Hindi ko alam bakit dito niya pa ako pinadala. I can enjoy myself here. You are here. Atsaka, the truck driver is drunk. He is at fault." sabay mwestra ko sa kanya at umiling naman si Lola.

"Diyan ka nagkakamali, iha. Your mother specifically told me to teach you a lesson. Nandito ka dahil ako ang magpapakain at magbibigay sayo ng matutuluyan. Your parents will take care of your requirements and all pero ang panggastos mo ay sayo manggagaling." sabi ni Lola at hindi ko na mapigilang mapairap.

"Whatever, masyado silang OA. I can survive."

"Really?"

"Yes, I brought my cards here with me. That should be no problem." confident na saad ko at narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Lola.

"Your cards are on freeze, Isla. Your mother wants you to learn a lesson. Madali pa nga yan kumpara sa naranasan ng Mama mo sa akin." inform ni Lola at napabuntong hininga naman ako.

"Baka pati cellphone ko kukunin rin?"

"You can have your phone. Ngunit kailangan mong maghanap ng paraan para magkaroon ka ng baon at pambili ng mga kakailanganin mo." she challenged me and I nodded.

"May magagawa pa ba ako? I'll take a nap muna po sa kwarto ko. I'll probably going to swim later." pagbibigay alam ko kay Lola.

Tumayo na ako para yakapin siya at niyakap naman niya ako pabalik.

"This is for you, hija." she whispered.

This is probably my mother's worst punishment for me. I guess she really did have enough of my rebelness kahit hindi ko naman ito masasabing rebelness.

I am just living my life to the fullest. After all, you only lived once might as well enjoy every single moment without regrets. Without what ifs.

Just like how I almost ended up six feet underground three months earlier.

"Saan ka na naman pupunta?" tanong sa akin ni Mommy ng makita niyang nakapostura ako para ngayong gabi.

"It's summer, Mommy. Of course may mga party akong need attendan. It's for my social life." saad ko habang nakatingin sa mirror namin malapit sa sala.

"Kakauwi mo lang kaninang madaling araw and you're going at a bar again? You spent almost a hundred thousand yesterday, Isla." ramdam ko ang pagkainis ni Mommy but I grew accustomed of it.

Hindi pa rin naman nila ako pinagbabawalan.

"Napressure lang ako dahil kinantyawan ako nila Carrie na manlibre." rason ko.

"We have money, yes, but that doesn't mean na wawaldasin mo lang ito dahil napressure ka. I'm going to call your Kuya para samahan ka. Hindi na ako natutuwa sa ginagawa mo, Isla." she said while swiping through her phone.

"Iistorbohin mo pa po si Kuya para lang samahan ako mag-bar. He had a girlfuend waiting for him at their condo Mommy. Atsaka hanggang bukas nalang naman ako aalis." pangungumbinsi ko.

I don't mind if Kuya Gio is with me pero ayoko lang na maisip ng mga kaibigan ko na need ko pa ng chaperone sa mga ganito. I'm almost 22 for Pete's sake.