Chasing Mine

Chapter 1

“Ohmygosh Jean is that you?” Mom exclaimed to the woman. A former friend of hers maybe.

Tiningnang maigi nang babae ang mommy na parang kinikilala. “Uy Grace kumusta. Long time no see. Grabe ang ganda mo parin” buong saya niyang bigkas.

Mom slightly laughed. “Eto naman bolera ka parin hanggang ngayon. Masaya naman”

“That’s good. Actually, nalungkot kaming lahat nang bigla ka nalang nawala” her aura slightly change into a sad one. Maybe remembering what happened before.

“Ano bang nangyari?

Mom sighed, “Kinailangan ko lang buuin muli ang sarili ko. Alam mo naman ang nagyari diba” It’s as if their agreeing on something painful that happened in the past.

The woman mom called Jean just nod agreeing to her.

I really don’t understand what they’re talking about so, “Mom! Mom! I wanna go home na” I irritatingly whispered to my mom. Napalingon naman siya sakin.

“Alright baby. Just a second mommy’s talking to Tita pa” mom lovingly smiled at me.

“But mommy”

Mom threw me a dagger look. “Abby behave” I have no choice but to nod to her. I shouldn’t have gone here if only mom didn’t scare me with confiscating my gadgets.

“By the way Jean, this is my daughter Abby” mom introduced me. The woman immediately smiled as she focus her attention to me.

“Hi babygirl, I’m your tita Jean. You’re so cute. How old are you?” She’s nice. I like her.

I politely answered her with a wide smile.

“I’m turning 14 this Saturday but I’m not cute Tita I’m pretty. PRETTY”

Tita jean slightly chuckled at my response “Manang mana sayo Grace”

Mom laughed as if agreeing to what tita said. “Sinabi mo pa” she replied.

Tita then turned to mom “Sige Grace baka nakakaabala na ako sa inyo” she said with a smile.

“Ano ka ba Jean hindi naman” mom answered her.

“Ay nga pala birthday kase ni Abby sa Sabado baka hindi ka busy” pahabol niyang sabi kay tita sabay bigay ng invitation car kay tita. Well I don’t dislike the idea that tita’s gonna come. I mean she’s nice naman.

Akmang sasagot na sana si tita nang may biglang dumating galing sa likuran.

“Mom! I’m already finished na. Let’s go” he said as he came face to face with tita.

As I saw him, I think my world stopped. He’s so handsome, I mean from his structured face unto his pointed nose and thick eyebrows. I think he’s just around my age a year or two older maybe but the way he carry himself as he talked to tita he looked more matured without a care to the world.

“Just a minute Vince. Say hello to your Tita Grace and her daughter Abby first” tita lovingly said to him. Vince what a nice name.

As he look at mom and then me. My heart started beating so fast I think it’s gonna burst.

“Hello” he said without any emotion shown in his face.

A simple word from him but caused great havoc in my system. I want to greet him back and give him my most beautiful smile but I just can’t find the means to do so. It’s like I stood rooted unto the ground.

“Pagpasensyahan niyo na Grace. Ganyan talaga iyan hindi palasalita” tita explained as he saw that Vince doesn’t seem to say anything more.

Mom understandingly replied, “It’s alright. Tahimik din naman itong anak ko ‘pag tulog” she joked and it’s in front of him. Not funny.

“Moooom!”

“Just joking baby” she sheepishly smiled. I hate her. Not literally but I really do at the moment. Then, I looked at Vince and surprisingly he’s also looking at me with an unreadable expression. He quickly averted his eyes as he realized I’m looking deeply at him.

“Hala sige na Grace. Pupunta nalang kami ni Vince sa Sabado” biglang paalam ni tita. At this moment, I hate myself for suggesting mom earlier to go home already.

Mom nodded to her “Sige mauna na kami”

Nagsimula nang maglakad palayo sila tita at ganun narin kame ni mommy. But I can’t leave it that way, I have to do something. I turned back and saw that tita and Vince is not yet that far so I did the unthinkable.

“Vince!” I shouted not really minding people around.

As he turned back, shock was evident in his face but he quickly covered it with his poker face.

I did what I haven’t done earlier. I gave him my most beautiful smile and desperately wave my hand “See you on Saturday!” I shouted unto him.

Having said that. He then turned his back to me without really giving me an answer. As I look tita she’s like giving me a thumbs up assuring me that they’ll really come. I nodded happily. Then tita hurriedly approach Vince as he was really kin on leaving already. 
 
I then turned to mom nonchalant of the stares I was getting from the people around “Ikaw talagang bata ka” she smile sheepishly at me.

“He’s cute mom. I like him” I happily smiled at her.

“Juskong bata ‘to. ‘Pag nalaman yang pinagsasabi mo ng daddy mo” pananakot niya. Dad can be very strict sometimes as he always says that I’m his princess and I’m only allowed to have a boyfriend at the age of 35. I mean that’s too old. I want Vince now.

I gave mom a cute and puppy face “Mom! Don’t tell dad. Pretty please” I tell her and lovingly hold her left arm to agree with me.

“Hayys, alright baby. How can I say no to my baby” Yes, success.

“Love you mom” told her then kiss her on the cheeks.

“Ikaw talagang bata ka” she said and hug me tighter from the side. Then we continue our way home.

Just wait Vince you’re gonna be mine. SOON.