The Story Of Us (UNDER MAJOR REVISION)

Prologue

SHIELA'S POV
Her Unsupportive Mom

“Oh my gosh! Nanalo ako!”

Hi! I'm Shiela Avila. I am 5'7 tall. My hair is in black and my eye color is hazelnut brown. We are currently living here in Makati City and I do love to sing. I still remember the days when I was just a little kid. That situation happened back when I was just a 7 year old girl. And now, almost 9 years had passed. Buong buhay ko matagal ko nang pinapangarap na maging isang propesyunal na manunulat pero kailanman ay hindi ako sinuportahan ng mga magulang ako, sila pa mismo ang nagpapabagsak sa akin.

Nagsimula akong makapagsulat ng maiikling kwento lamang noong 9 years old ako. At that time, I know I have so many errors and mistakes and that became my inspiration and my motivation to continue to improve my writing skills.

Sinubukan kong sumali sa mga writing seminars at workshops para mas matuto pa pero hindi ako natuloy dahil nga iniisip ni Mom na katangahan lamang ang ginagawa ko at nag aaksaya lamang ako ng oras. Pero kahit na ganoon pa man ang nangyari, nagpatuloy pa rin ako kahit pa alam kong tutol ang mismong pamilya ko sa pangarap kong ito. One time, I heard that there is a writing contest on our school and I immediately joined it, not because of the prize, but because I really wanted to show and encourage them to fight for their talents even if someone is trying to stop them. Walang mapagsidlan ang puso ko sa saya dahil nanalo ako bilang first place at may kasama pa itong kaunting cash incentives, medal at trophy. Ito na ang kauna-unahang tagumpay na nakamit ko sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulat.

"Shiela, stop what you are doing right now! I know that you are writing some nonsense stories again. Itigil mo na ‘yang ginagawa mo at bumaba ka na ngayon dito, bilis!” Mom shouted, AGAIN. Ito na lamang palagi ang naririnig ko sa bahay namin magmula noong malaman nilang nagsusulat pa rin pala ako.

"Yes, Mom! Pababa na po ako,” Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako sa ganitong eksena namin araw araw dito sa bahay. Hay! Ano pa nga bang bago? Tutol pa rin sila sa pangarap ko.

All my life, I've never felt her support on my writing journey. She never believed in my capabilities and skills.

I really love writing. No one and nothing can ever stop me. I will never stop because it is now part of my life and one of my happiness.

But despite all of this, I know that I'm still lucky to have friends like Aela, Ayesha and Adrien who's always been there to support me and has always been so understanding regarding my situation  from the very beginning. Maswerte pa rin ako dahil sila ang naging kaibigan ko, dahil madalas pa nga ay sila itong gumagawa ng paraan para palakasin ang loob ko at patuloy na sumali sa mga writing contests na tinatanaw ko naman bilang isang malaking oportunidad para sa akin.

For the nth time, Mom tried to stop me from writing.

"Shie, hanggang kailan mo ba balak ipagpatuloy ang pagsusulat mo?" She asked. I can see how irritated and annoyed she is of what I am doing.

"I won't stop from doing what I love the most, Mom. Kung sinusubukan mo na naman po akong pigilan sa ginagawa ko, pasensya na po pero itigil nyo na po ‘yan ngayon pa lang dahil hindi ko po hahayaan na pigilan nyo pa po ako sa mga bagay na gustong gusto kong gawin lalo na't isa din naman ito sa mga pangarap ko para sa sarili ko kaya pasensya na po talaga," I answered her directly. I know I may sound a bit disrespectful, but I've had enough of her now.

“Sige, anak. Pasensya na kung hindi ka man lang namin sinuportahan at pasensya na rin kung wala kami sa tabi mo bilang mga unang tao na dapat maging masaya at gumabay sayo. But if that will not result to something good, you know by that time that you have to stop. Did you get me?” Kahit papano ay ayos na rin sa akin ‘yon. But I seemed a bit shocked, what's with the sudden change? Bahala na nga lang, makukuntento na lang din muna ako sa ganitong sitwasyon ko sa ngayon.

“Yes, Mom. Hindi ko po kayo bibiguin, pangako po. Those words are already enough for me. Maraming salamat po,” niyakap ko na lamang sya sa sobrang saya na nararamdaman ko dahil kahit papano, alam kong nabawasan ang bigat at sakit na dinadala ko, na kahit papano ay pumayag na rin sya. Alam kong walang kasiguraduhan ito pero susugal ulit ako at papatunayan ko na tama ako sa daan na tinatahak ko.

Today is Saturday and it's the only time that I could spend most of my day through writing and updating my stories, happily.

Evening came, we are already done eating our dinner and it's time for me to brainstorm my ideas in mind to write a good story. I always write down stories in the morning and also before I sleep in the evening. That has been my schedule everyday because I still need to do some household chores and also some of my homeworks.

Since I was in Kindergarten, I have been a consistent honor student up until now that I am in Grade 10.

Kailangan ko munang matapos lahat ng school works ko bago ako makapagsulat dahil siguradong mas lalo lamang akong mapapagalitan nito ni Mom mamaya.

There are many times that Mom has been disappointed on me because she wants me to exceed all of her expectations. She has always wanted me to be on top even if it's so hard for me, but I continued to do my best, because apparently, I don't want to disappointed her again.

Tonight, the story that I am writing is entitled “A Girl's Dream” because it also reflects my life right now. It is about a girl that has always dreamed of having a supportive parents on her life, just like me.

I admit that sometimes I feel envious of my friends and their family because their parents are always there to support them and to simply ask if they have been doing and feeling well or not. I've always dreamed of having that kind of family but that would definitely become just a dream that is very unreachable.

Hours came, I am done in writing. It feels tiring but I also feel so productive and fulfilled. I've written about five chapters ahead of time. I published it immediately because I know that my readers are waiting for my update. Before doing that, I checked and reviewed all parts of it first. Sa ngayon kasi, karamihan sa mga isinusulat ko ay sa Wattpad ko na rin ipina-publish at masaya ako na mayroon din palang mga nagbabasa ng gawa ko at doon pa lang ay kuntento na ako.

It's now time for my night/bedtime routines. I went straight to the bathroom to wash my face and also to do my skincare routine at night. Mayroon kasi akong magkaibang skincare routines, pang umaga at pang gabi or bago matulog.

11:30 pm na pala. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng gutom kaya kumain at nagluto na muna ako ng midnight snacks ko habang nanonood ng movie. Nang dalawin na ako ng antok ay agad kong niligpit lahat ng gamit ko at agad na akong nakatulog.

Lord, ikaw na pong bahala sa lahat, pati na rin po sa akin at sa buong pamilya ko. Maraming salamat po sa lahat. Sana maging maayos na po ang lahat. Sana maramdaman ko na ulit na may mga magulang ako na handa akong suportahan sa pangarap ko at lalong lalo na sa mga bagay na gusto kong gawin para sa sarili ko at para na rin sa kinabukasan ko.