Chess: The Next Move

Chapter 7: Camille Antonio

Today I called my sister, Camille. I told her I'll meet up with her at the bridge today, three weeks after she called me for the first time in 20 years. I have to admit, I'm having second thoughts, but I have to do this. I mean, who else wouldn't be jittery when meeting your sister after 20 years of being separated?

Many questions rose to my mind as I drove the way there. I wonder if she is still in contact with mom and dad. I mean, birth giver and her fling. I don't wanna call them my parents when they treated me like crap. They loved her more because she was older and smarter. I was always known as the girl who "couldn't do anything right."

I got out of the car and waited by the bridge railing. I looked down at the traffic flowing from below the bridge, waiting. My body felt light and tingly. I've never felt this way before. 20 years of being separated from someone and seeing them again is too much. The three dead spirits that talked to me either gave me a good idea or a way to give me a panic attack. I'm freaking 23 years old. I'm the baddest bitch in town. I'm Jen Nakpil.  I should be able to handle meeting the one bitch that betrayed me when I was 3. Running away at 3. That's common in abusive families. I'm just glad that even though I was found by my biological dad's enemy, he treated me better and actually loved me.

I have a lot to say to her. And there's nothing wrong with me yelling. She deserves to hear what she did and who she walked out on. Audrey once told me, "dark bitches have dark pasts." I'm about to unleash that side to me when we get into that serious conversation. It's been 10 minutes. No sign of her, unless she's really old now and I can't recognize her. She's 5 years older than me, but 5 years can make a huge difference.

A suspicious looking Toyota Corolla parked behind my BMW replica of James Bond's car. And the person who got out of the car; it was her. Camille Antonio. She looked slightly older than me. I'm taller, though. She was an average girl's body size. She has red tips in her hair. I'm facing the bitch that walked out on me. The one who sold me out.

"JC--"

"Don't call me that!" I hate when people say my biological name. It brings back the pain.

"Jen..."

I couldn't even look straight at her without wanting to rip her head off.

"Jen, do you remember me?"

"Of course I do! You're the dumb bitch of a sister that sold me out when I was only 3!"

"And I'm sorry--"

"Sorry? With all this pain in my heart and grudge for you, you come back to my life and just say sorry?!"

"Well, what else am I supposed to do? I can't bring back what happened and fix it!"

"You could fix the problem by never talking to me or my BETTER family again!"

"Jen! You're gonna hear me out."

"What do I need to hear? You have nothing to say! I'm the one you're gonna hear out!"

She just looked at me. Story time.

"Ever since We were young, mom and dad always praised you. They always chose you over me. When you got a paper cut or a sprained ankle, they aid it right away. When it happened to me, they scolded me. Called me stupid, told me I never watched where I was going. They always said I can never take care of myself. I was three for pete's sake! How was I supposed to know what to do at three!?! When it was your birthday, they always had a big celebration for you. I wasn't even allowed to have a lot of cake. When it was my birthday, none of you bitches even bothered to greet. You just acted like its a normal day. Praise Camille. Torture JC. It was always like that. Why? Why did you always make me the dumb one?! Well, actually I don't need to know that. On the day you and i ran away, and I fell asleep under the tree, you sold me to a lonely couple who wanted a kid. I couldn't believe you sold me out like that! But guess what? All that doesn't really matter to me anymore. Yeah, when I ran away from that couple's car I was homeless for two days. Searching for food wasn't hard because I was super adorable and people willingly gave their food to me. But, one morning, I was sitting on this very bridge. Then, dad's enemy, Gabriel Nakpil, drove by. He saw me, and asked me if I needed help. I did, so obviously I took his help. When we got to his house, I learned he adopted two boys before me. Tristan and Jack. They're dead now. But anyways, I was cleaned up. I was given first class treatment. In fact, it was better than first class. I was pampered. I grew up a Nakpil, and slowly threw away my Antonio roots. Mr. Nakpil treated me respectfully and actually cared about me when I was hurt. Unlike you guys. And then, as the years passed, I grew up to be who I am today. Whether you like it or not."

She was speechless. She looked like she was gonna cry. I loved making traitors cry. I know, it was twenty years ago, but those years with them, never have I heard them say," I love you." So of course it was painful and I would burn them.

"Jen..."

She still hasn't said anything.

"Jen, I'm not the only one here."

"What do you mean?"

She pointed to the car. I can barely see who's inside. The back windows were sort of tinted. But the doors opened, and do you know who came out?

My "parents." Carlos and Mia Antonio. The two asses that verbally abused me when I was younger.

I was stunned, but ready to stun.

"What are you two doing here?" I said as I glared.

They were trying to get near me, but I backed away.

"Stay away from me. Don't even touch me."

"Jen," Carlos said.

"What?" I said without a care in the world.

"We're sorry..." Mia said.

"Don't give me that bullcrap," I said out of the bloom.

"But we really are," Carlos said, depressed.

"Either you do or you don't. I don't really care."

"Jen, why are you so cold hearted?" Mia asked like the stupid girl she is.

"Why? You're really asking why? Take a look in the mirror."

They looked down on themselves.

"Growing up, all I could think about was forgetting you traitors. Cuz ever since I ran away, I hated all of you. I still do. And if there's still space for you in my heart, it's gonna be full of hatred."

I walked past them to my car and drove off.

I couldn't help but feeling to cry. Facing the idiots that flushed my trust down the toilet, and now they're apologizing.

It's too late to apologize. It's hard for me to give second chances.

•two weeks later•

I never contacted them again. I didn't feel like talking to them ever again. I remember Camille asked me if I was dating Liam, and I simply nodded.

Liam and I. I don't even know what we are. Yeah, we had one kiss last week but it wasn't very special. I don't know what else to say.