Forever and Always

Chapter 1

Sa maingay na lungsod ng Cagayan de Oro City nakatira ang pamilyang Sarmiento. They weren't that wealthy, they were comfortable. Aniela Ryale Sarmiento lives with her grandmother and mother, ang tatay nya? Wala may ibang pamilya nya. Iela is a bubbly kid, her grandmother and mother were enough for her. Matalinong bata si Iela, at the age of 5, Iela could read well, and write well. She could spell words that contained 5 to 6 letters, and today is her first day in Kinder 1, sinabihan ng principal ang ina ni Iela na pwede syang mag skip ng dalawang grade and she could proceed to 1st grade, but her mother wants her to mingle with kids her age, at gusto lang din ng nanay ni Iela na mamuhay ng normal ang kanyang anak, pumasok si Mariela Sarmiento sa kwarto ng limang taon na anak, dapat ay gigisingin pa niya ito, ngunit gising na ito at naka bihis na

"Oh Iela, you woke up so early. Excited on your first day at school?" lumapit si Mariela sa kanyang anak sabay yakap ng mahigpit, naka ayos na ang kanyang anak, pero ang buhok nito'y naka wrap pa ng tuwalya, she made Iela sit on her chair, and blow dryed her hair, she tied Iela hair after it dried and added some cute pink clips. Iela was wearing her baby pink baby doll dress, paired with her cute pink backpack, sa murang edad ng lima eh fashionista na si Iela. Gabi palang ay pumili na ito ng sarili nyang damit.

Sabay na bumaba si Iela at Mariela at nag handa na para kumain ng agahan, naka upo naman si Lucianna Sarmiento sa kabisera, ang lola ni Iela, sa edad na sixty ay parang nasa 50's pa din ito

"Good morning grandma!" masiglang bati ni Iela sa kanyang lola, ngumiti si Lucianna sabay beso sa nag-iisang apo nito "Good morning apo, kain na tayo, I'll drive you to school, o sya kain na."

Sabay na kumain ang pamilyang Sarmiento. Right after they finished eating sumakay na ang mag lola sa kotse, Lucianna Sarmiento drove her grandkid to school.

"Enjoy your first day of school hija!"

"Will do po lola!" Iela was then escorted by her teacher inside her classroom, because of Iela's height she was seated at the back, beside a boy.

Their class started with a prayer and they were then given a name tag one by one, their teacher asked them to introduce themselves one-by-one.

It was Iela turn she proudly stood up and said her name "Hi classmates and teacher Jo. I'm Aniela Ryale Sarmiento. I am 5 years old. I love to read, sing, and play. You can call me "Iela" it's easier and shorter than Aniela and Ryale"

Her classmates clapped and when she sat the little boy spoke, "your name's unique, I like it"

"Thank you! It came from my mommy's name, her name is Mariela, that's why I'm called Iela!"

"My name's Vesper Anthonius Mallari, I love to read, you can call me "Anton"

"Wow your name's also nice, but is it okay if I call you Vesper? It's cool" nagniningning ang mga mata ni Iela.

"Yeah sure, as long as I call you Ryale. Want to be my friend?" tanong ng batang Mallari kay Iela, "yeah sure!"

Simula nung araw na yon ay naging malapit si Iela at Vesper. They had their own little pack. They enjoyed playing together, eating together during snack time, they spent their birthdays together, they did almost everything together.

Aniela met Vesper's parents, and Vesper also met Aniela's mom and grandmother. Lumaki silang dalawa na kasama nila palagi ang isa't isa. They were partners in crime. Bonnie and Clyde madalas na tawag ng lola ni Vesper sa kanilang dalawa.

They made an oath to never be apart and be best friends forever. When they graduated first grade, niregaluhan ni Vesper si Iela ng star na bracelet, while he had a crescent bracelet. Ever since Vesper gave that bracelet to Iela, she never removed it. Throughout the years their friendship grew stronger.

They celebrated their achievements together, they studied together, they did everything together. Iela was present when Vesper won his first gold medal when he competed at a junior swimming competition, and Vesper was present when Iela won her first pageant. They graduated elementary together.