Way Back Home Page #4

when I tell you I love you,

you'd say it back.

But you just laughed to my face.

AJ...

And I'm not gonna give you another

chance to do that to me again.

So, what should I tell them?

I'm dead.

Shut up and be serious, Jess.

What's the problem?

We found Joanna.

I heard.

Isn't that a good thing?

Yeah.

It should be.

Or so I thought...

I've been praying

for this for years...

for our family to be whole again.

So that everything will be okay again.

But why isn't everything okay?

What do you mean?

You know..

I didn't feel happy

when I saw her again.

I'm horrible, right?

I tried to feel good about it.

I even persuaded Dad

to look for Joanna.

I thought my feelings would change.

I wanted my feelings to change.

And?

They never changed.

I'm so pissed off.

I was so mad when I saw

how happy Mommy was.

She never smiled at me...

or looked at me the way

she does with Joanna.

I was so angry at her..

when she chose not to come with us.

Because it broke my Mom's heart.

Jess...

You know what I don't

want to feel again?

Guilt.

Guilt?

I feel guilty because...

I feel guilty because I'm happy.

I'm happy that Joanna..

is never coming back.

Goodness, Jessie!

Where have you been?

Quick, quick!

Sir! Ma'am!

Jessie's here!

- Happy birthday!

- Sir! Ma'am!

Lewinsky!

- I'm sorry.

- I'm so sorry.

Happy birthday, Jessie.

Your Mommy has a surprise for you.

Really?

Happy birthday, Jess!

Here is our surprise for you!

Happy birthday!

Ana, come here.

Hello, Sis.

Happy birthday.

Hassle.

Bad trip.

What are you doing?

Sis, let's put all these back

so that you can rest.

Where will you sleep?

Are you going to do that every night?

I'm sorry, Sis.

I thought you were already asleep.

Sis?

What?

You once asked me if I can't

remember you anymore.

I can remember that song

that Mom taught me.

Duh!

That's how we found you, remember.

Yes, Sis.

What I mean is,

I can still remember that.

And I can still remember

that when we were kids,

I was so afraid of the monsters

in our bedroom.

Sis, I don't want here.

There are monsters.

I'm scared!

But then you lay down beside me..

so I won't be scared anymore.

Don't be afraid. Sis Jessie is here.

Leave the monsters up to me.

You can borrow Hoggy.

Then, you lent me your toy.

Let's sleep now. When we wake up

tomorrow, it will be my birthday.

Happy birthday, Sis!

That's so sweet!

And then,

you embraced me.

Do you still remember that, Sis?

No.

Really?

I'm sorry.

I'm getting confused.

I might have just

invented that because...

I really want to remember you.

Happy birthday, Sis!

Wow!

There.

This is how we make a living

in the province. Dried fish.

How do you do it?

We dry the fish under the sun,

then Mama and Grandma

add salt and spices.

I see.

Jessie's finally here. We can eat!

Come Jessica, let's eat!

What do you want, Sis?

Dried or smoked fish?

No, thanks. I'm on a diet.

Please get me some milk.

Yes, Jessie.

How do you want

your coffee, Mommy?

I don't take coffee, baby.

I drink juice.

Yaya Minda prepares this

really nice juice for me.

How do you prepare

Mommy's juice, Yaya?

I don't make the juice.

Jessie does.

Sis,

what's in Mommy's breakfast juice?

Jess, I didn't know that you're

the one who makes my juice.

There's still more

that you don't know.

Like, the fact that

our juicer's busted.

I'm sorry.

Maybe next time,

I'll teach it to you.

I have to go.

We are also happy to

finally meet you, Joanna.

It's Ana, Mrs. Borja.

Oh Ana, I'm sorry.

We're so used to Joanna.

We have heard and read about you...

in Jessica's stories,

poems and essays.

You may take your seat.

Class,

by the way, Ana has been

accelerated one year ahead.

She's an honor student and she will be

a perfect addition to this class.

Hi.

I'm AJ.

Hello!

I've seen you

in a lot of Sis' pictures.

Well, we used to be friends.

Used to be.

Jess, let's eat.

Sis, you're so popular here!

You're on every bulletin board.

Sis, you think I can

join the swim team?

It'll be fun to train together.

Oops, I'm sorry Sis.

Why are you following me?

It's lunch.

Aren't we eating yet?

Breakfast, dinner until we go to bed,

we're together.

Can't you leave me alone for lunch?

You're a big girl now.

You survived 12 years of poverty.

You're so used to living without me.

And I'm sure you'll survive

this place on your own.

Okay?

Sorry.

Two more and we're leaving!

What fish is a karate expert?

What?

Tilap-yaaaah!

Woah!

Hey, you now wear shoes!

Of course!

You've moved up in the world.

You're now So-fish-ticated!

My sister, she's so-fish-ticated.

And her classmates too.

I wish you were in my school so that

I'm not the only one who's...

Not sophisticated?

No.

So that I'm not the only one

into corny fish jokes.

In other words,

you miss me.

Of course... not.

Alright. Just so

you won't miss me,

I'll drop by your house

sometime. Okay?

Really?

Promise.

Wait.

What really happened

between you and Sis?

Why aren't you friends anymore?

Long story.

Come on, tell me.

It might help me

understand her better.

Come on, AJ. Spill!

Hurry! Shoot!

You know, I don't believe you.

I think you still love my sister.

What makes you think

I still have feelings for her?

I might like someone else now.

Liar!

Why don't you try

courting her again?

Why don't you try

shooting that ball first?

Okay, if I make the basket,

you'll have to say

'I love you' to Sis again.

- Game?

- Okay, game!

Unfair! You cheated!

That ball should have gone in!

No fair!

You are the cheater! Give it to me!

Jess,

how would you feel

if AJ courts Ana?

Nothing.

Should I feel

something about it?

So, you won't get mad

if they become a couple?

Hey, give it to me! Cheat!

Jessie, come on! Let's play!

You already have

someone to play with.

You don't need me.

Aren't you joining us, Sis?

Go away. I'm busy.

Stop it! I'm studying!

Grumpy Jessie!

Payback!

Hello Mama! How are you?

How are the boys? How's grandma?

Ana, I can't hear the TV!

- I'm sorry, Sis.

- Get out!

Lewinsky, say..

'I don't like Ana'.

Lewinsky, bad dog!

Bad girl.

I'm glad you have Joanna

back home with you.

Is she having hard time adjusting?

She's doing very well.

Sis, the coffee here are expensive!

And difficult to pronounce.

Ca-pu-si-no?

Ma-ch-ya-to.

Macchiato. Capuccino.

Is that how you say it?

Stupid.

- Where?

- Let's sit here!

Compress!

1-2-3!

Smile!

- I finally got it, Daddy! Look!

- Wow!

Yahoo!

Ice cream is such

a big help, isn't it?

- Let's eat!

- Here, have some.

Yum!

This is the right answer.

Mrs. Borja is here!

She's here with the rankings!

I'm so excited!

Oh, our retreat is pushing through.

That's 2 Fridays from today.

You have enough time to get your

parents to sign the consent forms.

Those without consent

forms can't join.

- Okay?

- Yes, Ma'am!

Mrs. Borja, where are the rankings?

I'm about to post it.

Here it is!

Yes!

You're still number one, Luisa!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes