Ten Years Ago

Isa went home feeling defeated. She did not even get to finish her classes; she rode the bus to go and walked a few blocks to reach home. Isa went inside her bedroom and dropped her tired body on her humongous, soft, and comfy bed.

Her bedroom is coral in color with white and wood accents. The design is pretty mature for her age, but she loves it. She spends most of her time in her bedroom and reading books and watching romantic movies. Isa is the introverted type; she's the one who does not enjoy the outdoors and socializing. In fact, she stays away from the crowd as much as possible, though it becomes unavoidable in recent circumstances in her life.

Her mom, Pamela, is a busy one. They barely see each other on a daily basis. Nevertheless, she appreciates her efforts to give her a better life; something different from what she was born and raised from; poverty. Her dad passed away when she was just a baby, and since then she has lived in a studio-type apartment with her mom.

Pamela tried her best to provide for Isa, but it was merely enough to make ends meet. But now she lives a life that is comfortable and ample but lonely. What miracle took them out of the slums, you may ask? It is none other than Sir Tobias Moore, an aristocrat who fell in love with her mom. It is a typical boss and secretary love affair.

Isa could not deny that Tobias's love for her mom was authentic and, as a father to her; she couldn't complain either. He is strict but, nevertheless, generous to her and her mom. That was more than enough for her, knowing her mom was taken care of. It's not like she was expecting equal treatment and love from a father compared to what Tobias gave his biological daughter, Deborah Moore.

Debbie is a senior at their school. She is someone most would consider an "it girl". Beauty, brains and billions, she got it all; what more could she ask for? As compared to her stepsister, she is nothing but a speck of dirt. That's why she would not even dare compare herself to Debbie.

Her relationship with Debbie at home is actually quite pleasant. Debbie is not an arrogant bit*h that one would expect with a girl like her. She is gentle and caring and acts like a big sister and best friend to Isa, even if there is no blood relations between them. This is why Isa's heart broke when Debbie ignored her in the school cafeteria on that fateful day.

Debbie is graduating this year and explained that she just did not want to get into trouble since she has a pending demerit at school that might taint her good standing in her grades. Though Debbie was relentless in asking for forgiveness from Isa, and she ultimately understood her, that incident still left a deep mark on her.

"Am I that ugly?" Isa mumbled as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She can't believe how an equally unattractive dork dumps her just like that. Isa groaned as she remembered how even she could not call herself average-looking.

It had been weeks, and she hadn't seen even the shadow of Cayden. Isa could not accept the fact that Cayden did not only dump her out of the blue, but also left her hanging for good. Cayden's whereabouts were unknown to anyone in school. It made her more frustrated.

"knock, knock". Isa was startled when she heard the knock on the door. "It's me." Isa instantly knew it was Debbie. Her voice suits her perfectly, gentle.

"Come in." Isa responded. She blew out her cheeks, preparing herself for a session of scolding with her sister.

Debbie went inside the room and stood beside Isa, who looked grumpy in front of the mirror. "You look so upset. What happened to those past weeks when you couldn't take that smile away on your face?" Debbie curiously asked Isa.

"That dork ghosted me." Isa confessed to Debbie.

"What? Why the heck did he do that?" both of them sat on the bed. "I thought he sincerely liked you. Wait… you said he would be your date for dad's party?" She asked Isa questions after the other.

Isa took a deep sigh and answered frustratingly, "I thought so too." If she only knew the answers to those questions, then it would have been a lot better than sulking for the answers that would never come. Her tears were so stubborn that they started falling without warning.

"Oh, dear. Forget about that prick! He does not deserve even a drop of your tears." Debbie patted Isa's shoulder. Isa knows her sister is just trying her best to console her hurt ego.

"Sis… I think I'm ready." Isa said in a low voice as she wiped her tears off her face.

Debbie gasped and covered her mouth in surprise. "Are you sure?" She asked Isa excitedly.

Isa nodded without hesitation.

Debbie grasped Isa's hand. "I'm glad you finally agreed." She paused and looked directly into Isa's eyes. "You have to trust the process. This will be long and tiring. Can you handle it?" Debbie wanted to make sure Isa's heart was in it.

"I'll try my best." She responded with enthusiasm in her voice even though deep inside her heart was breaking.

***

Debbie helped Isa get some self-care in place to get that glow while she was undergoing puberty. She got her hair treated for the first time, the dry and coarse locks on her head at last felt smooth and silky. Her prickly and oily face and dry skin found nourishment with the moisturizers that the dermatologist gave her.

Debbie's sense of style is impeccable, so that she easily passed it on to Isa. They both used this time to bond and enjoy their time together while their parents were missing in action as always.

Isa also finally agreed to be introduced to Debbie's friends in school as her sister. It helped Isa gain her confidence and also shooed away the bullies by being one of the popular girls in school. She has never felt accepted and normal in her life after Cayden left her.

Debbie's intervention was a great help for her in getting over the disaster in life brought about by Cayden. But the most devastating turn of events has yet to come; one of the happiest moments in her life turned into the tragedy she will remember for life.

Isa had been pacing back and forth for a few minutes now as her graduation party ended and yet her mom had not yet arrived. She had prepared the longest nag she could tell her mom the moment she arrived. She promised to herself that Pamela would have an earful.

"Isa, come here. I have to tell you something," Tobias said as he tried to conceal his tears. His fists were both turning white as he clenched them too tight. It is the first time Isa saw Tobias with that concerned look on his face.

"What is it dad?" She reluctantly asked Tobias.

He reached out his hand to her and squeezed it tight. "Your mom, she got into an accident on her way here." He paused and wiped his tears. "She did not make it to the hospital." His voice cracked as he spoke.

Debbie rushed to her side to comfort her. Isa cried her heart out, screaming as if the pain would go away. The Moore household was never the same after that night. Isa spiraled back to her old ways; she forgot how it was to be happy and to take care of herself. Tobias drank more than he should, and their empire collapsed before they knew it.

One of the hardest things for Isa was when Debbie turned her back from her. The friendship they built and the sisterhood they shared slowly dissipated as days went on. Isa moved out and did not even have the chance to say goodbye to Debbie when she left the mansion. She had not received a single word from her since they parted. Debbie also would not even reply to any messages and calls. They remained that way for many years that made Isa just totally gave up on their relationship.

****

Isa got off the provincial bus and instantly the scent of the seaside reminded her of the place she grew up in. Nostalgic, to say the least but she did not want to put more emotions done she could handle. She took a deep breath before she hopped on the smaller city bus.

Klane is such a small town, but looking around, but what is interesting is that there are not many familiar faces today. "I wonder if all the people I know moved out of Klane like me." She sat near the window, trying to savor the peace and quiet before she faced the battle at home.

The Moore mansion is not something someone would miss from afar, as it sits on top of a hill. It is actually regarded as a town treasure. It is the biggest and most luxurious home in Klane, that's why, when they were in high school, people dubbed them as the "Princesses of Klane."

Isa stepped off the bus and walked towards the very familiar beaten path she used to walk on every day after school. It was this path where Cayden would walk her up to their gigantic steel gate. The path is a bit overgrown, which was unusual. The mansion was always maintained well and grand, but as Isa stood in front of the rusting iron gate, she felt a little sad.

It is not hers per se, but she lived here and seeing it losing has glory shoots a pain in her heart. She dragged her feet and heavy heart to the main door. She knocked for a few minutes and was surprised that no one answered the door. Isa remembered when she lived in the mansion. They have a couple of house helpers ready to open the door for her anytime.

Isa got her phone out to call Debbie. "Ring, ring," she called Debbie over and over again, but she was not answering. "What's with this woman? She called me to come all the way here, but they won't even open the door for me?" She gritted her teeth in frustration.

Isa turned her back to the door and walked towards the gate and down to the overgrown beaten path once again. She was tired from the long trip and now she was on her way to hop on the bus stop again.

"Hi, miss? I'm sorry, but aren't you Isa?" A man walked up to her as she was waiting for the bus.

Isa was a little surprised that someone here still remembered her. "Hmm, yes, I am. Why?"

"Oh, good thing I caught up with you here." He was panting as he paused. "Debbie left in a hurry; she forgot her phone in the mansion."

"Ah, okay. Mr?" Isa wanted to know who she was talking to.

"Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce myself. I am John, the driver who brought Debbie to the hospital." He answered apologetically. "

John spoke more but Isa did not process any more words as her heart pounded hearing Debbie was rushed to the hospital.