We drove down the road in the suburb. I'm at the backseat of the car while my mother on the driver seat.
I stare outside the window to look at the houses we pass by. Each houses looks luxurious like the neighbourhood I live in California.
Its been two weeks since we move here in the Philippines and this is the first time I go out to see the neigbhourhood.
Mama said we'll meet some people and playmates in the park. I almost die out of boredom inside the house, so I am exicited when mama ask me to come with her .
I look ate her direction on the driver seat and ask, "Mama, when are we going home?"
"We'll be going before lunchtime dear." She answered without looking at me in the mirror . Her attention is on the road.
"No mama, what I mean is in California."
She doesn't answer for a long time and only the engine of the car can only be heard.
Why isn't she answering my question?
"Ma?"
"Elara, you're grandfather is sick. We should stay by his side 'til his healthy and strong." She firmly said while looking at me at the mirror. I see her blues eyes looks cold but I see a glint of sadness.
And after that, we arrived at the park.
We walk out of the car. Before we walk towards the crowd , she kneel down to see my face clearly.
"Have fun Elara. Play with other kids okay? Don't fight with them." Mom said while fixing my hair then she kiss me at the cheeks.
"Yes mama."
She smile at me then she stand back and hold my hand . We walk towards the crowd.
Other mother saw us and then wave at us. When we got near, one of them immediately hug my mother which make my mother let me go.
She let my mother go while smiling back at her.
"Carmen, my gosh, it's really you! Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita. Kamusta ka na?" The woman ask.
"Ayos lang naman kami. Theo is busy for the meantime dahil sa nangyari."
I'm shock when my mama answer the woman while smiling. My mother is a very cold woman but she is a softie to me, my siblings and to my papa. This is the first time I see her smile with other people other than us.
"By the way. This is Elara, my daughter." Mama introduces me to the woman.
"Oh my, hi Elara. I'm Theressa, you can call me tita Theres." She is full of energy, she's complete opposite of my mama . I wonder how mama involves with Tita Theres .
"Mano po." I offer her my hand and she accept it then I slightly damp my forehead on her hand. Mama said I should do this to the people older than me to pay respect.
"Ang galang naman ng anak mo Carmen. She's so cute." Her hand quickly change into pinching while looking at me.
Mama stop her. "Theressa don't do that. Hate na hate niya yan. Baka kagatin ka niya."
I don't actually understand what she is saying because I am still learning to speak Filipino.
"Elara you may now go. Meet new friends okay?"
"Yes mama." And with that I run far away from Tita Theres because I'm scared she might pinch me.
Grrrrr, I really hate that feeling.
When I assure that I'm far from Tita Theres, I stop.
I look at the children playing with each other.
I sigh. I miss my friends .
I look at my mother's direction. She sat down together with other mothers in benches talking and laughing.
I sigh again. I guess we will be staying here in the Philippines permanently. I'll never be able to meet Natasha and Harry anymore.
I might as well meet new friends.
As when I walk towards the children playing, I heard something on the bushes.
I got curious so I went on that direction.
In the bushes I see three girls who probably ganged up to beat a frail girl. The girl looks thin and her white dress got dirty. They are bullies!!
"Madumi ka! You have no rights to be here!" Girl in the pink dress exclaimed.
"Sydney's right, anak ka ng isang kabit madumi kayo ng mama mo!" Sided by the blue dress girl.
The poor girl is still on the ground silently crying. I don't understand what is happening but they are clearly hurting her!
I promise my mom not to fight with other children here but I cannot tolerate this.
"Hey! You there!" I shouted so the three of them look at me.
The three girls look at me as if I'm a joke.
"Who are you?" The green girl ask while raising her eyebrow.
"You don't need to know who I am. What you did to that girl is wrong!" I angrily said while pointing at the white dress girl.
"Who are you to tell that? You're new here. You don't even know her." Pink girl said.
"I may not know her or what she did. No one still deserves what you did to her!"
"Shut up you horse!" The pink girl shouted .
She call me a horse? I like horse but I don't want to look like it.
"You shut up flamingo!"
They gasped.
" You!..." They run towards me.
"Come near and I will call our mothers."
They slowly stop. Their faces are full of rage as if they want to hurt me really badly.
"Hmph. Next time Sandra we will hurt you very hard." Blue dress girl warned the white dress girl . They all flip their hair then leave.
I approach the white dress girl and tend to her.
"Are you alright?" I worriedly asked her.
Her eyes are watery then she burst crying.
"No one *hic* has ever done *hic* this to me. Thank you."
Her sudden outburst really makes me worry so much but when she said those words, I smiled.
"Don't worry, I will protect you from them."
"Like knight-in-shining-armor?"
I shake my head. "I'll be the princess with a magical powers."
She laughs and that's make me smile.
"I'm Sandra." She offer her hand for a handshake.
"I'm Elara." I accept her hand.
"Let's be friends forever Elara."
BINABASA MO ANG
My Adamant Elara (Under Editing)
Fiksi Remaja"Elara, you are the most adamant woman I have ever met. I don't regret everything I did just to make you happy. Even if that means helping you to have him."
