Before The Last Sunset [Before Trilogy #1]

28

"Summer Madison," I heard someone call my attention.

I heard the voice clearly, but I chose to ignore it. My fingers continued to tap on the screen, trying to beat my own high score in a game that I was recently addicted to. I was so close to reaching it my phone was turned off. 

I scowled deeply, turning to Mother. She scolded me and swatted my hands. "Keep your phone. Pay attention to the ceremony." 

I rolled my eyes and obliged, keeping my phone in my purse. My arms crossed in front of my chest as I watched students in togas go up and down the stage. How long was this gonna take? I was slowly dying of boredom. The people who actually enjoy attending graduation ceremonies must be maniacs. There was nothing amusing watching people collect thin sheets of paper in exchange of their years of hard work. 

"Savannah Margaux Corbyn, Salutatorian." 

A chorus of claps came after her name was announced. My mother stood up and started to take pictures as my sister went up the stage. A proud smile was plastered on my father's face as he stared at his pride and joy. I, on the other hand, watched with a small frown. 

She just had to raise the standards once again. 

Savannah was the picture perfect daughter anyone would dream to have. She was beautiful, kind, intelligent, almost unreal if you ask me. The ideal girl. Our parents worshiped the ground she walked on. I mean who wouldn't? She was the epitome of perfection. 

Being her sister, I had to live under her shadow. 

I was expected to perform the same as her. They wanted me to be her carbon copy. I had to act like her, do the things she did, like the things she liked and even think the same as her. The more that she achieved, the more she was compared to me. If I failed to reach her level or surpass what she had done, I would be labeled as a disappointment. It was like I was born to be a different person. I had no sense of individuality. 

All my life I was just known to be Summer, Savannah's little sister. 

Who I was without that title, I did not know. How could I when that was the label I've been given since the day I was born? 

As much as I hated the way I was being treated by my parents, I couldn't find it in myself to hate my sister. She was just too kind for me to despise. She was an actual angel in the flesh. Besides, it wasn't her fault that I had to follow her footsteps. I can't blame her for simply being herself. 

I just hated the fact that no matter how hard I tried, I could never be like her. 

As we both grew up, I just found myself struggling to keep up with Savannah. We may be related by blood but we were very much different from one another. I felt myself slowly become a different person from Savannah, which was the last thing I wanted. I was growing more miserable as the years passed. The only escape I had was at my Aunt's place. There, I could actually move without my parents breathing down my neck. 

"'Nak! Bumaba ka na rito!" tinawag ako ni Tita. 

Tita Julie, my mother's sister, treated me like her own. Her home felt more of mine than my actual family's house. I spent more time here that I ever did at our place. Tita was the one who raised me and she actually taught me Tagalog. She was more proud to be a Filipino than my mother who would rather barf than speak her home language. She taught me about my roots, making me love her so much more. 

"Ito na po, Tita!" naglaho ang ngiti ko ng makitang naghihintay sa baba si Savannah. 

Tita forward, smiling at me. "Your ate is here to fetch you now," she spoke in English so Savannah would understand her.