Chapter 02

"Oh, my god, I missed you!" I said as I hugged my Chanel and Dior handbags! Ilang days lang kaming naghiwalay, but I really missed them so much! Mabuti na lang and nakuha ko 'yung jewelry box... I'd rather sell those kaysa sa bags ko. I have some sort of attachment sa kanila. I felt like they're my kids!

When my eyes glanced at the rearview mirror, I saw Finley looking at me like I was some kind of weirdo. So judgmental of him! At least I just love my bags! Siya kaya may unhealthy attachment sa basketball! Like he's literally just playing basketball all the time! When he rejected me kaya, the consolation I kept on telling myself was that Finley's already married to basketball—that that was the reason and not because I was ugly kaya he'd rather date a freaking chair.

"Why were you following me?" I accused him.

"Told you. I had a feeling that you were going to do something dumb."

"Stop calling me dumb!"

"Then why break in? You know that's illegal, right?"

"That's our house!"

"Why did I see a 'foreclosed' sign?"

I rolled my eyes so hard. "You know? Just drop me off. I'd rather walk in the dark kaysa kausapin ka."

But this jerk, instead of pulling over to let me out, sped up! Kapal-kapal talaga ng mukha, my god! I instinctively held on to the seatbelt for my dear life while this Finley jerk floored the gas of his sports car! So annoying!

"Oh, my god. Why are you so annoying?" I asked him when he finally slowed down. "Just let me out! And stop pestering me! We're not friends naman!"

"We're here," sabi niya.

I looked around and it was not the sketchy place that I was living in. My forehead creased when I saw that it was the building that I was supposed to live in.

"Why am I here?"

"You can stay in my place."

My eyes widened. "What?"

"You're not just dumb—are you also deaf?"

"Stop saying I'm dumb!"

"Then why do I always need to repeat myself?"

"Say that I'm dumb one more time and I'll punch you," I told him because I really would! Kapal ng face niya na sabihan ako ng dumb! Porke ba mababa ang grades ko sa acads, I am dumb na agad? Hindi ba pwede na I excel on other things?! Well, sorry if my life doesn't revolve around school!

Finley the jerk just rolled his eyes. Tusukin ko 'yan, he'd see!

"You can stay in my place."

"With you? You wish!" I said, scoffing.

"Idio—" he said, but stopped when he saw me glaring at him. I swear to God kahit mahal ko iyong bags ko, ihahampas ko 'tong Chanel sa mukha niya! "Of course I won't stay there with you. Asa ka pa."

"Baka ikaw umaasa!"

"Hindi ka maganda."

"Mas hindi ka gwapo!"

"Ah... kaya pala gusto mo akong maging date dati."

"Well, sabi mo nga idiot ako, so I probably made some stupid judgment from way before!"

I was already fuming with anger, but this jerk was just looking at me like I was some kind entertainment! I seriously couldn't with him! I just wanted to strangle him!

"Maia," he called. I glared at him. "Do you... do you sometimes realize how annoying you actually are?"

My lips parted.

Did... did he just tell me, right to my face, that I was annoying?!

I was pretty sure that my lips were parted at his audacity, pero siya ay mukhang tuwang-tuwa sa reaction ko. I was starting to believe that he's some kinda devil who preys on people's negative energy! Because he's always making me mad and he always seemed so satisfied by it!

"Unlike you, I still have a house—"

"Why are you such an asshole?!"

"Well, I still have a house."

"Well, it wasn't my fault that our house got foreclosed!"

"Did I say that it was your fault?"

I shouted in frustration. "You're seriously the one who's going to kill me!" And this asshole just laughed! "Isang tawa pa, ihahampas ko na talaga 'tong bag ko sa 'yo! Don't try me!"

He pursed his lips. Obvious naman na he was just trying to control his laughter, but he was still laughing at me! What kind of a jerk laughs at another person's misfortune?!

"Just listen first," he said.

"Listen to you humiliate me?"

He rolled his eyes. That's it! Hinampas ko sa kanya iyong Chanel shoulder bag ko!

"What the—"

"Serves you right, you jerk!"

"I was about to offer you to live in my condo tapos hahampasin mo ako!" he shouted like he was pissed.

"Well, why on earth would I live in your condo with you?! Excuse me, ha, I'm too young for that kind of set-up! Hindi kita type! I'd marry a dirty old man rather than shack-up with you, you jerk!"

His forehead creased. "You done shouting? And assuming that I want to live with you?"

I pursed my lips. "Whatever."

He rolled his eyes. "You can stay there. I'll just go home."

I arched my brow. "And why would you do that? Devil ka kaya."

"Di ka lang pinapansin sa school, devil agad?"

My lips parted. "Excuse me! Ako ang hindi pumapansin sa 'yo! Let's get that clear!"

He scoffed. "Sure."

"Masyado mong sineryoso iyong 7th grade! I was literally a child back then!"

"Well, you're still a child now."

"You—" I said, but then stopped midway because I knew that there's no way in hell that I'd win thsi argument... He's just so freaking annoying! Parang nagpractice siya mula pagka-bata!

Finley arched his brow. "Can I continue now?" he asked. I just rolled my eyes. "You can stay there."

"Yun na 'yun?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Akala ko kung ano."

"Akala mo sasabihin ko na dun din ako titira? Asa ka pa."

"As if gusto kong tumira kasama mo. Gwapo ka?"

"Sa mata mo? Oo."

"Kadiri." He just laughed. Ass-face! "So, what's in it for you? For sure hindi mo naman ako papagstay-in sa place mo without getting anything in return," I asked. Mabuti na iyong clear! Mamaya he's expecting something from me pala! In his freaking dreams! I'd only give it up sa asawa ko, noh!

He shrugged. "I just saw the place you're staying at. Felt bad. End of story."

"That's it?"

"Yeah. As you've said—you're the 'less fortunate.' I consider this as my act of charity for this year."

I closed my eyes and drew deep breaths... God... How could a person be this annoying? Was being an asshole imprinted on his genes? Why was he so good at this?

"Good offer... but no, thanks," I answered.

"Are you sure?"

"Did I stutter?"

He smirked. "Okay... but you'll have to sell your bags. We have a field trip next month. Bayad ka na ba 'dun?"

My forehead creased a little... then my eyes widened when I realized na oo nga pala! We have field trip! I wasn't sure where it was this year, but last year kasi we went to Washington, D.C.!

"Just stay in my condo. I'll take that as my good deed for the year, so I can be a jerk without feeling bad."

What was he even?! I heard from people na mabait iyong mga kapatid niya... Isa talaga siyang sumpa na pinadala ng langit!

* * *

I weighed the pros and the cons and I realized that he's right... I was only in Grade 11, and I still had the rest of the year to finish. Who knew kung kailan matatapos ang problema ng family ko? And I was studying in an expensive school, so most probably, marami pang expenses ang biglang dadating...

This was the smart choice!

"I'm changing the locks," I told him as we got inside his condo.

"Wag kang feeling," he replied.

"You're still a guy."

"And you're still not my type."

"Excuse me—maganda ako. That's a fact."

"And you're still annoying. It turns me off, and that's a fact."

I rolled my eyes so hard. Freaking annoying ass!

I looked around his condo and it was immaculate! I thought he's a slob, but his place was really neat! Though puro black, white, and gray colors lang iyong nasa condo.

"Won't your parents ask kung bakit ka uuwi?"

"I'll handle that."

"Are you seriously just letting me stay here?"

"Oo nga, 'di ba? Paulit-ulit? Tapos nagagalit ka kapag sinasabihan kang tanga."

I closed my eyes and drew deep breaths... So freaking annoying!

"Fine. E 'di thank you na lang."

"You're welcome," he replied with an annoying smile.

Finley got a duffel bag and threw some of his basketball things there. Two naman iyong rooms dito, pero mabuti na lang na he wouldn't stay here kasi asa naman! Hindi pa ako nasisiraan ng ulo to stay in a place with him, noh! Hindi naman kami married! And, at the very least, hindi nga kami friendly!

"The ref and cupboard are full, pero kapag naubos, mahiya ka naman at ikaw na ang bumili," he said while throwing some of his shoes inside.

"Duh?"

"Baka humingi ka pang pera sa 'kin."

"I have my bags to sell."

"Baka iyakan mo."

"Di ka pa ba tapos? So you can leave na?"

"Condo mo?" he annoyingly replied.

I was already tempted to strangle him, so I just went outside to check the ref if true nga na puno ito... And he was right—puno nga iyong stocks niya... though parang puro ready to eat na. May nagvivisit ba sa kanya para magdala ng food?

Not my business anymore.

"Finally," I said when lumabas na siya ng room.

"Saya ka?"

"Very," I replied, rolling my eyes. "You sure your parents won't mind, ha! Baka bigla silang pumunta dito and say stuff! Ikaw naman talaga iyong pumilit sa 'kin!"

Finley, being annoying, just rolled his eyes as if hindi legitimate iyong concern that I just raised! Jerk!

"Here are the keys and the pass," he said, placing those on the table.

"Thanks," I replied kasi he's nice naman to let me stay here.

"Anything else?"

"Wifi password?"

He rolled his eyes. "CaptainFinley21."

I laughed. "Wow... narcissist much?"

"Pa-tanggal ko 'yung wifi, gusto mo?"

I pursed my lips and just forcibly smiled. "Do I need to know anything else pa?"

Finley didn't say anything else. He didn't even mention how I'd pay the bills... baka siya na rin ang magbabayad? I mean, if ako iyong charity case niya for the year, sulitin niya na! He's so mean kaya! Deserve ko 'tong condo!

After he left, umalis din ako to get my stuff from the apartment. I fought with the lady pa because ayaw niyang ibigay iyong deposit ko and the 1 month rent! If I didn't threaten to bring police, hindi pa ibibigay! Gosh!

"Maia?"

My eyes widened. "Mandie..." I said with an awkward smile.

"You stay here na rin?" she asked.

I smiled as I nodded. "Uh... yeah," I replied. I mean, I wasn't lying naman since dito naman na talaga ako naka-stay...

"Really? I thought you didn't want to leave your house—" she said, but when the elevator door opened, I immediately got out kahit hindi ko naman floor pa iyon. Bahala na nga!

"Bye! Talk to you soon!" I said as I watched the door closed. Ayoko na malaman niya kung saang floor talaga ako because I knew that she'd immediately figure it out. Huge crush ni Mandie si Finley! She'd put two and two together, and honestly, I had no energy for that. Sobrang chismis pa naman sa school. Baka bumalik na naman iyong issue from way before pa! Sobra kaya iyong stress level ko nung grade 7! My hair fell out because of the stress and humiliation!

I was panting for air when I finally reached my floor... Gosh! I needed to run more! Sobrang napagod na agad ako sa ganon?

The next day, I woke up extra early kasi ayoko na may maka-salubong ako sa elevator or whatever. I didn't need the questioning right now. Maaga akong dumating sa school... but if swerte ka nga naman...

"Gosh, my luck..." I whispered to myself nang maabutan ko iyong basketball team na nagja-jogging. I really just wanted a day to myself without seeing Finley. I mean, I managed to avoid him for 3 years, but for the past week, I saw a lot of him! Quota na ako!

"Please don't look this way," I chanted habang dumadaan sila... but my luck definitely didn't fail me because tumingin siya sa direction ko. I thought aasarin niya ako kasi he's been so annoying! But what would you know...

The jerk just continued jogging like he didn't know me at all.

"Feeling gwapo talaga!" I exclaimed as I was so pissed at him, but maybe I spoke a little too loud because the entire basketball team looked at me at the same time. Oh, just my luck, really!

**

This story is already at Chapter 05 patreon.com/beeyotch. Subscription starts at 100php per month for all stories. You can also join the patreon facebook group. You can email [email protected] for assistance :) Thank you!