my stretch marks

11:35 PM

Dad

Who's driving? @Jem

Jem

Russ is dropping us home po.

Ace is driving the rest.

Dad

And? How bad do you and Ace look?

Jem

Bruised lang po.

Dad

I cannot believe you were in a fight. You were TIPSY and in a fight.

Jem

I wasn't about to hang back while they were going after Chini.

Dad

I know why you did it. That's not what I'm saying.

You were buzzed. You were not thinking clearly and now Ace has a bruised face because he was trying to keep you from doing something that gets you suspended.

What if it escalated further? What if you and Catrina and the other kids got hurt worse because you threw a punch instead of getting her out? What if something happened to you?

Mom

jess, sige na. he gets it.

Dad

No hon, he needs to hear this.

I'm not angry you protected your sister. I'm angry you put both of you in a position where something worse could have happened.

Jem

I got hit first, Dad. I didn't throw the first punch. They came at Chini and Kovi and then they came at me. What was I supposed to do????

Dad

I know you didn't start it. But not starting it doesn't mean you had no choice or agency in what happened after. Tipsy, someone swings at you, and you didn't exit. You had a window to grab Chini and go and you didn't take it.

Also, "I didn't throw first" doesn't protect you from what comes next. This is off-campus, it's not a team event, so it's mild—probably. But if it gets reported, if someone decides to make it a thing, it still lands on your record. You have a season to finish. You have teammates counting on you. You have a game in a few days. One night, one bad decision, and either your body or professional career is on the line.

But that's secondary. What I keep coming back to is you were tipsy and in a brawl and something worse could have happened to you or Chini.

You don't drink, Jem. You're responsible. You're always the one driving everyone home. So something was already off before any of this happened.

Jem

DAD, THIS IS THE ONE NIGHT I EVER EVER EVER DRANK

NOTHING WAS OFF I JUST WANTED TO DRINK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE

Dad

I hear you anak, but tipsy is tipsy. First time or hundredth time. And you still made a decision tonight that you might not have made sober.

Chini

dad it's not his fault

Dad

Jem, you're the kuya. Your job isn't to fight for Catrina. It's to prioritize both of your safety.

Jem

Okay

I'm sorry Dad

Dad

I just need the both of you home safe. We'll talk when you're here.

Chini

12:04 AM

kuya sorry

sorry talaga

Ba't hindi mo sinabi sakin you were still being bullied?

I asked you, remember?

yeah but

i thought it was going to stop or i thought i could handle it

marami ka nang iniisip kuya

i walked away naman na kanina e pero nakita ni ate kovi...

Yeah and look who stepped in regardless.

I'm sorry I didn't get you out immediately, that one's on me.

hindi ako bata kuya

sinabi ko rin kina dad and mom

PERO AKO PA RIN KUYA MO, CHIN

Pag may nangyari sayo, it falls on me too. It falls on me harder. That's how it works. I'd rather know about it than find out like this.

Nagkulang ako.

I should've been paying more attention. I got caught up in my own shit and I wasn't looking out for you the way I should've been.

hindi mo nga kasalanan, kuya.

you're my older brother, not my babysitter. i'm not your responsibility 24/7. you can't watch out for something i was actively hiding from you.

E 'di dapat napansin ko pa rin.

how? i didn't want you to notice, kuya. i was trying to handle it and failed. that's my choice, not your failure

i'm sorry. rattled lang si daddy but it's not your fault

next time i'll tell you, but kuya, you're allowed to have your own life. that's not you failing me or our parents

i get why dad's worried and upset, but you have been perfect for so long. one bad call doesn't make you a bad person.

Still feels like it.

Go to sleep, Chin.

May pasok pa tayo bukas. I'm just relieved you're okay also.

sorry ulit kuya

i love you, goodnight

Love you too.

Yvanna 😾

12:21 AM

Hey.

Yeah, I'm home and in bed.

what the fuck happened?

How'd you know? Nag-circulate na ba?

gwen was there with her orgmates

Ah.

How embarrassing.

you're okay????

Yeah. Fine. Couple of bruises. Nothing serious.

ok e yung hindi physical? like with chini and your friends and your parents? papagalitan ka ba ni coach?

Oh

Well, it was a lot for one night.

Dad's upset I swung back, dapat daw I exited the situation and got us out of it instead of barging in the middle of it. He was worried something worse could've happened.

Coach is...I don't know. I hope he doesn't find out.

I should've been paying more attention to Chini. I got caught up in my own stuff and I missed it.

you were protecting your sister. and you didn't know.

Yeah, but that doesn't make it feel less like I dropped the ball. Because I did. I was supposed to be watching out for her and I wasn't. And yeah, she didn't tell me. And yeah, I didn't know. But I still feel like I failed her and Dad and my friends and my team.

Especially Dad. He was beyond disappointed.

your dad was disappointed because he was worried.

and disappointed in you is not the worst thing someone can be.

this is one night, it's not a pattern. you'll be fine.

I'm supposed to be better than that.

says who?

Everyone?

Fuck, I don't wanna dump shit on you, Yvanna. But I just feel like I can't afford to mess up and I did.

Like my mistakes cost more than other people's.

college kids get into fights. they drink, they make bad decisions, they make mistakes, they get lectured by their parents, they have bad nights.

you just also happened to have a bad night.

you're in your head about it but it's that simple

Well.

When you say it like that it sounds so normal.

that being said, i was also worried about you.

Sorry po

But you should've seen the other guy. I won by miles

that's not something to be proud of

Well it means you're not talking to a loser 😬

while i love that you defended chini immediately, you could've seriously gotten hurt

My face already hurts though hahahahahahah

hay nako.

It's okay. You care about my face. Which means you care about me. This is gonna help with the recovery hahahahah

wag kang tumawa hindi ako natutuwa jem.

Oof

Mas takot pa 'ko dito kesa sa mga magulang ko, e.

Sorry na.

Mm? Sorry po.

k

ice it. okay?

and get some rest.

goodnight.

Sungit >:(

Yes po.

Goodnight, Yvanna.

Sweet dreams.

Ah, and thank you.

for?

I would've been in my head about this all night. You made it smaller.

fix your face, jem

as much as i like seeing you pissed off i don't like you hurt.

Why do you like me pissed off?

it was hot

read

fuck that slipped out

My face hurts smiling

ICE IT AND GO TO BED

Kiss muna

JEM.

Okay okay ito na po hahahahahahah

Goodnight, worried cat.

🙄

😽

🔒 @jyv

Ah, I feel a thousand times better.