BETTY
Dawnvellichor · 3 chapters · 2,516 words
Betty’s Point of View
“When we are young, we assume we know nothing.”
Disclaimer:
This story is based on the Famous Taylor Swift Folklore Trilogy, these three stories will have a Filipino/ Dawnvellichor version. Some of these scenes will be based from Taylor Swift’s Folklore album. fiction names, characters, businesses, events, places, and incidents produced by the author’s imagination and own interpretation on the Folklore Theory, any resemblance to the actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
This story might contain mature scenes and strong language unsuitable for young readers, please read this at your own risk.
This story is purely
unedited
and has lots of errors please if you have encountered a typo’s language error please bear with me, I will try my best to fix it at any moment.
07-02-2023
BETTY : I (AUTUMN, WINTER AND MY SUMMER)
“Elizabeth Macy McGuire, what are you doing inside your house on a Sunday morning! It’s Sunday, we should be out there!!!” Ferrie said, emphasizing the word Sunday, a non working day that everyone should be seizing.
I smile at her, “Fine, susunod ako mamaya, I just need to change, and look outside, mukhang uulan pa and I look like a total mess.” I said in my long beige skirt paired with white sweatshirt that had a blue Harvard print in the middle. I just want to stay inside the house and spend my Sunday reading books or baking. But my Sunday always has Ferrie who’s always asking me out.
“Oh come on, you’re the infamous Betty from high school, the queen bee, the real definition of autumn beauty!”
“Autumn beauty, and now it’s the rainy season, ibig sabihin my beauty is not for this season, so, why don’t you wait for me outside and join the rest out there. Promise susunod ako.” tumayo ako, lumapit sa kanya, marahan itong inalalayan palabas sa aking Cabin.
“10 minutes, kapag wala ka pa rin doon, I will comeback!” she insisted. I nodded with a beaming face. “Yes, ma’am.” I said before closing the door. Finally alone again, lumapit ako sa glass window ng cabin.
Pull the curtains open wide inside my living area where it has a big glass wall, the small raindrop looks very winsome in the glasses. Rainy always feels so warm and cozy, a season that always makes me want to wear my mom’s handmade cardigans. I close my eyes and just feel the season.
Inhale, exhale, I open my eyes and smile. I need to change, maybe a cardigan will keep me warm outside. Pumunta ako sa isang silid malapit sa living area kung nasaan ako, binuksan ko ang pinto, hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti nang sumalubong sa akin ang walang pinagbagong silid kung saan lagi ginagawa ng aking ina ang mga cardigans na para sa amin.
I walk toward the rose pink closet, open it and a bunch of different colors of cardigan show. I can still remember how my mom would make one of these. Ano kaya ang magandang suotin? Kinalkal ako ang mga ito hanggang sa may nakakuha ng atensyon ko. Isang espesyal na cardigan. Hindi ito gawa ni Mama.
I made this one. Kinuha ko ito bago umupo sa window seat sa tabi ng closet. Kasabay ng pag-upo ko ay ang malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan.
I touch the cream soft crochet cardigan that I made when I was sixteen years old.
The sixteen year old Betty, the crazy in love sixteen year old Betty. The old Betty that was once a girl of summer until she turned winter.
I miss the old Betty.
(10 years ago)
“Betty McGuire! Can you get out of your room and help us here on baking!!!” malakas na sigaw ni Ate Lily, my twenty four year old sister who always hates baking. Mabilis kong tinapos ang aking ginagawa habang kagat ang ibabang bahagi ng aking labi.
I’m trying to hold my non-stop smile while finishing this not-so-perfect cardigan that I’m making. It’s winter and the summer is done so cardigan would be one of the best gifts that you can give to someone.
Someone special, I can’t help not to giggle just thinking about meeting him today and giving this to him. I just badly hope na magugustuhan niya ito.
“Betty, I’ll count now, if you don’t get out of there, I’ll kill you!!! One!!!”
“Faster Betty,” bulong ko sa aking sarili, one last twirl and lock it, cut and there you go finish! I just made a cardigan! “Yes!!” sambit ko ng tingnan ito, it took me one week to finally finish this, and good thing natapos ko siya ng exact day na dapat ko siyang ibigay.
Kinuha ko ang beeper ko at binasa ang message mula sa kanya.
“I’ll be at the park, I’ll wait for you.”
Sobrang tinding kilig ang aking nararamdaman ngayon, I hugged the cardigan I made, put it on a blue paper bag and run towards the door. Open it.
“Two, hey!” I push my sister out of my way while hiding the paper bag at my back and run downstairs. “Sorry, I’ll help you later, ok!” sigaw ko at tumakbo palabas ng bahay.
“Betty, madulas ka! Saan ka pupuntang bata ka?” sigaw ni Mama mula sa loob pero hindi ko ito pinansin, mabilis kong kinuha ang aking bike at lumabas ng gate at inayos ang suot kong skirt bago sumakay sa bike, at tinahak ang daan papunta sa kanto kung saan may maliit na Park.
Tumigil ako sa parkingan ng bike, bumababa dito at tinabi ang aking bike sa gilid. I saw him already. Hinawi ko ang bangs ko at tinabi ang nakatirintas kong buhok sa aking balikat, bago naglakad papunta sa swing kung saan siya nakaupo, at naghihintay.
Ramdam ko ang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko habang papalapit sa kanya. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago ito kinalabit sa kanyang balikat.
“James.” lumingon ito sa akin, and his smile, that dimple and that bright eyes that feels like it could melt my heart in just a seconds. I can’t believe that I have something with this wonderful boy in my school.
“Betty, hi.” my name sounded so lovely when he said it. My man, oh man, you exactly know how to make my heart skip beat. “Naghintay ka ba ng matagal?” ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko sa kilig.
“No, not really, and if I was waiting for so long, it’s all worth it when it;s you, Betty. You look exceptionally pretty.” How can a seventeen year old boy know so many words that can make a girl flip and fall in love again and again?
“You also look exceptionally ha-handsome, James.” my tongue is twisting, calm down Betty.
He chuckled and looked me in the eyes, “Thank you, Betty.” Those stairs make me flutter. Then pumasok sa isip ko ang cardigan na dala ko. Oo nga pala ang gift ko sa kanya.
“By the way, for you.” inabot ko sa kanya ang paperbag na hawak ko, nagulat ito pero nakangiti niya itong tinanggap at binuksan. Pinanood ko siyang kunin ang ginawa kong cardigan, he looks at it and fall in love.
His dimple we’re free to watch, it didn’t leave his cheeks because he smiled ear to ear. “For me? And you made this?” he asked.
“Oo, medyo hindi pa perfect but you can wear it for winter or summer. Hindi naman siya mainit suotin, and I know you love summer like I do-.” I was cut off when he suddenly kissed me on my lips. It was a peck, but it was my first kiss!
My heart is pounding so fast. “This is the best gift ever, Betty. Thank you so much.”
And that’s the reason why I started loving the summer, because James always feels like summer, where daylight hours are the longest and darkness hours are the shortest, with day length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice.
Like him, bright days are longer than the bad days when I’m with him.
And, my summer starts here with a invisible strings.
09-15-2024
DAWNVELLICHOR
BETTY : II (SUMMER BREAK)
To James,
Good morning, see you at school. Last day. I can’t wait to spend summer with you.
I bite the bottom of my lips and reply.
From James,
Good morning pretty Betty, yeah, so excited for summer with you.
I texted him and put my phone in my pocket.
“Ma, gonna be late for school!” Nakasimangot kong sambit, pilit minamadali ang aking ina sa pagterintas ang aking buhok. “Why does it always have to be braids, can’t I just go to school with messy hair?” Tanong ko. Mom smiled, slowly shook her head and said, “You are my lovely beautiful Betty, with her hair always neatly braiding, these curly baby bangs out, those rosy cheeks and her lovely eyes, they always have to shine.” My mom always has this sweet mouth.
She always loves, fantasizes life and natural beauty and I love her for that, she always sees the good in everything. Nawala ang pagkakunot ng aking noo at sumuko na lamang sa kanya, I lean my back on her chest and close my eyes. “When was your first kiss, ma?”
“Bakit mo naman iyan biglang natanong?” Nakangiti nitong sambit, malapit niya nang matapos ang pagtetirintas sa aking buhok, iminulat ko ang aking mga mata, “Wala lang po, I just wonder what it feels like?” I asked, as the touches of James’ lips never leave mine.
She waited until she finished the braids and looked me straight in the eyes. “It was magical, wonderful, whimsical, everything that feels so good, well, that only happens if you really love the person that you give your first kiss with, bakit? Did you just have your first kis—.” I cut her off, my cheeks burned.
Umiwas ako ng tingin kay mama, hinawakan ang aking nakaterintas na buhok at inabot ang aking bag. “Hindi po, I just wonder, because we’re discussing Romeo and Juliet’s kiss in school, bye ma, see you later!!!”
Tumakbo ako papalabas ng bahay, kinuha ang aking bike, at nagbike ako papasok sa school. I’, studying in a small Country School here in our town, halos lahat ng students and parents ay magkakakilala lang. It was a nice and calm school, and that’s where I met James.
My James, my wonderful, magical and whimsical James.
Sobrang excited na akong makita siya, the school is ending for summer, I can’t wait to ask him for summer activities with me, although we already talk about attending summer classes together. I still have a ton of ideas in mind, this summer would be the best summer ever.
Kinagat ko ang aking labi, habang papalapit na sa aming school. As I arrived I parked my bike in the bike parking and locked it on before I ran inside and headed straight to our classroom. Pagpasok ko agad hinanap ang aking mga mata ang pwesto ng upuan ni James.
Only to find out that he’s still not here. Baka late, umupo ako sa aking desk sa harapan, malapit sa table ng adviser namin. Kung saan nakaupo sa aking tabi ang aking mga kaibigan. “Betty and James, sitting in the park, K I S S I N G, hmf!” Inez teases.
“First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Betty with a baby carriage!” Taylor continues. I couldn’t hide my smile from them. How did they find out!
“You guys were at the park?!” Tanong ko, they both looked at each other and playfully nodded.
“So, how was it? How was it kissing the Dashing James? In the park! You sneaky little brat!” Inez said and pinch me on my arms, “It was unexpected, hindi ko alam that he would kiss me there, I was just giving my gift for him, alam mo na it’s his birthday.” sambit ko, bakit feeling ko sobrang init ng pisngi ko.
“Ohh, she seems to like it, look at those tomato cheeks, kinikilig siya.” Pang-aasar ni Taylor, “Tumigil nga kayo, isa pa bakit ba pinakikielaman niyo kami ni James, it’s normal, he’s my boyfriend.” It still feels like the very first time calling James my boyfriend. It sent a lot of butterflies in my stomach.
“Yeah, it was normal, but it was your first kiss!!!” tumaas ang boses ni Inez, kaya agad ko siyang hinila at tinakpan ang kanyang bibig. “Don’t shout!” suway ko. She chuckled and removed my hand off her mouth. “Fine, titigil na kami, just tell us something that could satisfy our curiosity, was he a good kisser?” How would I answer that, James just gave me a peck on my lips.
I still can’t say if he’s a good kisser yet, well. Maybe soon. Thinking of that thought got me burning onto my bones. “Siguradong yes ang sagot sa tanong natin, look at her she’s so red! I hate her! Inggit ako!” Taylor said, hinayaan ko na lamang sila kung ano ang nais nilang isip.
“By the way, it’s summer, what’s our plan? Do you have any plans this summer Betty?” tanong nila sa akin, agad pumasok sa isip ko si James, I would like to spend my whole summer with him. “I plan on attending summer classes,” I utter.
Speaking of my summer, James arrived and enter our classroom, kasabay niya ang adviser namin, umayos ng upo ang dalawang babae sa tabi ko. Habang nanatili ang aking mga mata sa lalaking nagpapatibok ng aking puso. He smiled at me and walked past my chair, touching my hand before heading to her seat at the back.
His touch gives so much electricity in my body, nakita nila Inez ang ginawa nito at hindi pa ’rin ako tinigilan sa mapang-asar nilang mga tingin. I avoided their gaze and tried my best to focus in front.
But, my mind is lost around James touch. I can’t wait to spend the whole summer with him.
“I won’t be in town this whole summer, I’m sorry.” What?
Looking at James, my smile slowly faded, how can this be happening? Whole summer? Why?
James look so sad and guilty, bakas naman sa kanyang mga mata na pati siya ay hindi masaya sa ideya na wala siya dito buong summer pero wala siyang choice.
“My dad said that I should be with the grandparents this whole summer, helping them at the wood business, Dad said I have to learn about the wood business since I’m already seventeen, someday I’ll be helping them out, I tried to ask if I could stay here, but he said it wasn’t my decision to make, I’m so sorry, but don’t worry I’ll always call you every day, every night, every single moment.” He said, his eyes said how much he hated that idea of us just calling each other this whole summer. I also hated it but we had no choice.
I smiled at him and hugged him. “It’s ok, we still have a lot of summer to spend, this summer was just an exemption. Call me every hour ok, promise.” I gently whisper, he tightens his hug and kisses my head.
“Promise.” This summer is not that bad, right?
03-16-2024
DAWNVELLICHOR
