"You're so KJ, Chanty! Are you sure you won't come with us? Remember that's my birthday party, huh!" Monica is still trying to convince me to join her party.
Because in our circle of friends, they will all attend Monica's party except for me. I tried to tell my mother about attending, but she didn't let me. She's so very strict to me that's why it's very hard for me to act as a free teenager.
Because the party will be held at night, my mom doesn't want me to spend the night outside. It's dangerous nowadays, especially for the women, who are outside the house since here in our area it's a trend for women to disappear. On the social media page of our province, it was three or more days before the missing women were found and according to the police report, they found them dead.
And that is something my mother is very worried about.
"I'm really sorry, Nics. I really want to attend, but as you know my mother is strict when it comes to such walks or occasions. Maybe if the party is from morning to afternoon, I'm sure my mom will agree."
"We have class that day so we can't move it to morning or afternoon. It would be good if there wasn't an exam on that day," Jade said. "Come along, sis! You're only going to rebel once—I mean, you're only going to disobey your mom's order once, so go ahead. We'll just help you escape."
My eyes widened at the suggestion Jade gave me. Since I was a child, I have never tried to disobey my mother. I never contravene to her orders because I believe that everything my mother does for me is right. All the reminders she gives me, no matter how broken she is in repeating them to me, she doesn't do it just to make me listen. She tells me things I shouldn't do because she knows it won't do me any good.
Because I believe that mother's instinct is always right.
"Maybe I'll just attend your next birthday party, Nics. I really can't stand disobeying my mom-"
"Do you want us to ignore you once you don't give in?" Faye responded. "We are the only ones who have been patient enough to pay attention to you and talk to you since the first day of high school, right? You used to be the toy of the bullies, but when you became part of our circle of friends, did they still approach you? Did they still hurt you?"
And the short answer for her question is... no. Faye is right. Bullies are only brave to the loners. Bullies just love playing with those students who are alone, and they think they can play with them without attacking them back, because there's no one who would dare save those loners from them. But when there are those friends, he has a backup so they will probably be afraid to bully him. Because in our school, bullies work that way.
"Just think that attending the party is your birthday gift to me, sis. I don't require you to bring a gift. Seeing you attend my party and being able to flex on my social media accounts that the whole troop is at my party, that's enough for me." Monica even showed me her puppy eyes to beg me while she's still looking cute.
Like her, the other friends in the group seem to be encouraging me to join them after the exam to party.
Although I'm still having second thoughts because it's my first time disobeying my mom, I'm afraid she'll catch me and scold me.
"Alright, I'm going. Just help me run away from home. Are you okay with that?"
"That is where Faye is an expert, you didn't know?!" Jade talked proudly and she still had Faye's arm around her. "We'll just go to your house and trust that your mom won't catch you!"
"See you at the party, Chant!" Monica said and the three of them left to head to the canteen.
I just sighed. Even though that day hasn't arrived, I'm starting to get nervous about what I'm going to do. I hope that the first time I disobeyed my mom, my life would not have been in danger. I hope I won't regret disobeying her for the sake of my friends.
—
"Chanty, let's eat!" From my room I heard Mama's scream downstairs. "Get down there and join me for dinner here!"
I immediately looked at the clock; seven o'clock in the evening. Because usually Mom's home time from work is eight o'clock. That's why I told Faye to pick me up at home at seven o'clock because I'm sure my mother won't be here, and she won't be able to reach me.
However, it looks like she was out of work early.
"Chant!" I heard a strange noise at my window, and a series of knocks. I immediately opened it and saw that Faye had arrived.
"Let's go!"
"My mom is downstairs. I didn't expect her to come home early."
"And so?"
"I can't leave. I won't go with you anymore, Faye."
"Are you crazy?!" she whispered emphatically. "We are here. Our car next door is ready and now you change your mind. You're already dressed up, are you sure to back out?!"
"Well, because-"
She immediately grabbed my arm and forced it through the window. "No more excuses, Chanty. Let's go!"
I didn't do anything but follow her. Even though I was wearing a dress, I crossed the window and carefully jumped from the height of the roof to the ground. I didn't jump that high, so I didn't get any wounds or scratches.
When our feet hit the ground, we went behind the house and crossed the huge grass to the road. And there was indeed a car waiting. Faye and I got inside and passed by as if our house weren't there. I even caught a glimpse of my mom standing up in the car and maybe peeking at me in my room.
"You almost teased us that you wouldn't come. This will make Monica angry," I heard Cynthia, who was the car driver say.
I'm not afraid that Monica will be angry with me. What I fear is that my mom will be angry with me once she finds out that I ran away from her and that I partied late at night.