James’s Point of View

“I’m only seventeen, I don’t know anything. But, I know I miss you.”

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.

09-30-2024

JAMES : 1 (BEST SUMMER)

“James, wake son.” I’m still in my deep sleep, when I start hearing my mom’s voice. Ang boses na gumigising sa akin araw-araw. Malumanay, malamig sa pandinig at sobrang sarap pakinggan. “James, gumising ka na d’yan, this is the last day of classes before summer, wag ka naman nang magpalate pa anak.” fine, I open my eyes. Bumangon at inayos ko ang magulo kong buhok.

“I’m awake mom,” sambit ko, bago dahan-dahan tumayo, dumiretso sa banyo upang magtooth brush, while brushing my teeth, I kept on checking up my face. My handsome face. “Hey, nagluto ako ng breakfast sa baba, sumabay ka sa amin ng papa mong mag almusal ah.” she pops up beside my bathroom door.

“Ma, nagsisipilyo ho ako,” sambit ko. Ngumiti ito, “Bakit hindi naman maamoy ni Betty ang hininga mo sa umaga ah, isa pa halatang nagpapapogi ka masyado d’yan.” pang-aasar nitong ani. “Mama naman, bakit nadamay si Betty sa pagsisipilyo ko, hindi ba pwedeng malinis lang sa katawan.” umirap ito at halatang, hindi naniniwala sa kung ano ’man ang aking sabihin.

“Bahala ka nga d’yan, dalian mo na at maligo, bumaba at mag-almusal.” again she check on me with her teasing smirk before leaving my room. Sinarado ko ang pinto at inayos ang aking buhok sa harap ng salamin.

I have to look good for her. She’s too pretty and perfect, I can’t bear to be a loser beside her. I want to be the best for her. My Betty.

I take a shower and step out of the bathroom, before dressing up I check my phone. Malaking ngiti ang aking pinakawalan ng makita ang umagang mensahe ng aking nobya.

From Betty,

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.

To Betty,

Good morning pretty Betty, yeah, so excited for summer with you.

“James, what’s taking you so long?!” I heard my mom’s voice again, I put my phone down and ran to my closet and wore my plain white shirt, paired with my Levi’s pants, I grabbed the hand made cardigan that Betty gave me.

I wear it in front of the mirror and smile, she made this cardigan and this is my favorite clothing. Never get tired of wearing this. I will wear this hanggang sa pagtanda.

“James!”

“Coming!” I shouted, grabbing my phone and bag. Lumabas ako ng aking silid at tumakbo pababa sa dining area kung saan kumakain ng breakfast ang aking mga magulang.

“You lover boy, what’s taking you so long to dress up? Was it be-be-be-Betty haha.” My brother Joe teases me. “F*ck yo-.” before I could finish mom stabbed me with her glare and said, “Nasa hapagkainan tayo James.”

“Sorry, ma.” I whisper.

“So, what’s your plan for summer boys?” Papa asked while reading his daily newspaper.

“Well, I’ll be joining a summer camp, pa.” sagot ni Joe at inagaw ang kinukuha kong bacon.

“Hey!” I hissed and that caught dad’s attention. “How about you James?” he asked.

“I’d like to stay here, Pa, Betty and I plan on attending some summer class together-,” he cut me off and asked. “Why do you need summer classes? Your grades are fine.” seryoso nitong tanong.

“Ahm, yeah it’s fine, but Betty and I want to study together and learn more stuff. Para hindi naman masayang ang summer namin together. Also we plan on going on short trips.” nakangiting tumango si Mama dahil sa sagot ko. She’s always been supportive of my relationship with Betty.

“No, you’re coming with me.” what?

“We’ll help the grandparents with the wood business this summer.” kunot noo ko itong tiningnan, “But, I’d like to stay here Pa.”

“Not your choice to make, you’re 17 already, you need to learn to help at the wood business, Joe once stayed there in summer.” I looked at my mother asking for help but she shook her head and mouthed the word sorry.

“But-,”

“No buts, help the grandparents this summer. Betty can wait.” My plan for the best summer is over.

“You can still call Betty during summer, it’s not that bad. Night talks with her.” My mother tried to cheer me up, I just nodded at them and continued eating.

Pagkatapos kumain, we headed to the school with my scooter and arrived at the room in time. My day lightened when I saw Betty sitting at her seat with her blond hair braided on both sides and those cute curly bangs on the side of her forehead, her light skin, pinkish cheeks and bright smile.

My Betty.

---

“Folklore Woods it is.” Masiglang sambit ni Papa pagtigil ng sasakyan namin sa harap ng shop at bahay ng aking lolo at lola.

I step out of the car still wearing my cardigan, that again I wear everyday.

“Hey, remove that cardigan, ang init-init.” Utos ni Papa but I didn’t listen and follow him inside the house. “James!” sinalubong kami ng aking lola Jane at Lolo James. Yes, they got my name from this handsome old man.

“Grandparents!” bati ko at niyakap silang dalawa.

“We’ll have the best summer together, apo, you know what, why don’t you go to the beach para ramdam mo na ang summer and we’ll talk to your dad.” Lola said, masunurin akong bata, kung kaya’t tumango at naglakad ako sa likod ng bahay, kung saan sa backyard ng bahay na ito ay ang daan papunta sa dagat.

Binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad sa akin ang napakagandang dagat na aking pinupuntahan palagi nung ako ay five years old lang. It still hasn’t changed. It’s still beautiful. I wish I had Betty with me here.

Nakaramdam na ako ng init, kaya napilitan akong hubadin ang cardigan na suot ko at sinabit ito sa aking braso at naglakad papalapit sa dagat.

“August, sandali!” natigilan ako ng may biglang babaeng dumaan sa aking harapan, nabangga ako nito dahilan upang mahulog ang cardigan na nakasabit sa aking braso. “Sorry!” sigaw ng isang magandang dalaga at nagpatuloy at pagtakbo at pagtawa.

“Yari ka sa akin, Augustine!” the girl running after her said.

Hindi ko maalis ang aking tingin sa babaeng tinawag nito. She looks like summer in her yellow dress with messy hair. She felt like summer.

Augustine.