PRESENT

Calm the fuck down.

I breathed through my nose, trying not to throw a fucking fit at the sight of my pickup truck. I didn't know who the hell the fucker was, but they vandalized my truck this time. I eyed the big bold red letters sprawled on the hood.

K I L L E R

My hands turned into fists. This shit had been going on since late last year. They were only a few harmless messages at first. But the fucker had the balls to ruin my fucking pickup now.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths.

Three years ago, I would've blown off my shit and hunted down this stupid motherfucker. But a lot had changed since then, and I couldn't let this get to me. I transferred here to get the past behind me and move on.

And that was exactly what I was gonna fucking do.

I headed to Target using Byron's Audi, he was already gone for the summer. I was packing up my things and getting ready to go back home to Mount Valley but then this shit happened.

The fucking timing.

When I got inside the store, I noticed there weren't many people around. It was a college town. Most of the residents probably already went away.

I grabbed a plastic red basket and went to the hardware section. I scanned the shelves for a glossy black spray paint to cover up the vandalism.

I knew I'd do a shitty job, but I just wanted to cover the words before I took it to a shop and get a whole new paint job.

Fuck, now the stupid shit got me spending money.

Spotting what I was looking for, I grabbed about half a dozen cans and put them in the basket. Maybe it was too much. But I was too pissed to give a damn.

I just wanted to get this fucking day over with.

"Hey, Nine!"

I frowned, turning around.

Only Coach Saxon and my teammates called me by my jersey number. I saw Mack nod to me as he jogged over to where I was. He was just a sophomore, but he was already pretty tall and muscular for a wide receiver.

"Yo, Mack."

"You're still in town," he said, crossing his arms and showing off his tanned biceps. Yeah, as if I'd be intimidated by this bitch.

I looked at him with a bored expression. "No shit. I got held up."

"I see." His eyes locked in on my basket full of black spray paint. He shook his head and turned his attention back to me, before adding, "Listen, I gotta talk to you about something."

I had a feeling I wasn't going to like the shit he was about to say. He was too mouthy for an underclassman, always wanting to prove himself by riding on everyone's case and acting like a goddamn warden.

But hell, I was in a bad mood as it is.

"Shoot," I told him.

He hesitated for a second, like he was gathering his shriveled up balls. Then, resolution filled his expression and he nodded determinedly.

"Next year's your last year in the league," he said, stating the fucking obvious yet again. "I know you'll be starting law school and shit... but I was wondering if you could... not mess up next season."

My eyes narrowed. His words hinted concern, but his undertone told me he was patronizing me. I wanted to laugh in his face but I was too damn pissed. And me reaching my tipping point? Not good for anybody.

"I don't know if it's a curse or just bad luck," he continued, shrugging. "But everything around you turns to shit."

The corner of my lips curled up. "You done?"

He only nodded.

"I'm in a fucking awesome mood today," I said, laughing humorlessly. Maybe it really was bad luck. "And you're like the icing on the goddamn cake."

You know, I could've really just let it go.

I could've made fun of his lame attempt at making me feel like shit and left his whiny ass there hanging, too bored to be bothered. But at this point today, I was too far fucking gone to act like his words meant nothing to me.

With all the shit that had happened to me over the last few years, a part of me also wondered if I was cursed. It didn't help that this dipshit had to voice out what had been fucking nagging me from the back of my mind.

Naturally, I snapped.

I grabbed his neck with my free hand, curled my fingers around his throat, and tightened my grip. I was taller than him by a couple of inches. That was why when I raised my throwing arm, he was already on his tiptoes.

"I'm dying to let it out on some motherfucker," I deadpanned, with a lowered voice. "You wanna fucking volunteer, Mackenzie?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed my arm and tried to push me away. He raised his knees but I knocked them with the basket. He was obviously struggling to get free, so I raised him higher.

"Now you keep your mouth shut?"

He tried to speak, but only a raspy sound came out. His eyes looked like they were about to bulge out, filled with tears and panic.

Oops, I guess I went too far.

I let him go. He crunched over, hands on his knees, and all red in the face as he coughed and made choking sounds.

Ah, shit. I was angry, but I didn't want to kill him.

Damn it, Alfie.

"Aw, man." I sighed. "I didn't mean to choke you."

He was gasping for breath. I made a face, before awkwardly patting him on the back. Geez, I really gotta control my anger.

"You good?" I asked him.

Sure, ask the guy if he was good after almost choking him to death.

"Fu...cking... sup...er..."

At least, he was still alive.

* * * * *

I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples.

Mack looked pretty shaken up, but he seemed okay when he left five minutes ago. He went home without buying anything. Maybe he just wanted to get away from me before I could choke him again.

Well, at least I wasn't pissed anymore.

I was walking towards the counter when a familiar denim jacket caught my eye, the one with a beige sheepskin collar. I turned and followed the girl wearing it. She had her dark hair up in a messy ponytail as she scanned the snacks.

Please let this be the silver lining to my crappy day.

"Aren't you supposed to be in San Francisco by now?" I asked, leaning on one of the shelves behind her.

Arisa jumped in surprise, before turning to me with her almond-shaped eyes wide. "'Tangina, Alfie," she muttered under her breath.

I cocked my head to the side, guessing it was some curse word in Filipino. I always heard that word come out of her mouth whenever I was around, mostly followed by my name.

She shook her head, and brought her attention back to the snacks. "My folks told me to meet them in New York instead."

"I'm not sure if old people are still into kiddie snacks," I commented lightly, as I watched her grab some junk food I munched on when I was a kid.

"You don't say," she said sarcastically, without looking at me. "These are for my cousins in Manila. We do this thing where we exchange childhood snacks." A small smile appeared on her face, before she added, "It's fun."

Manila... Philippines?

"You going there for the summer?"

Why was I so goddamn curious?

She nodded, and finally faced me. "You want anything from there?"

I looked at her suspiciously. "What's the catch?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head at me, a smile playing on her lips. I was suddenly reminded of that time I almost kissed her.

"Not everyone is like you, Alfred. Sometimes, there are just people like me who are genuinely nice."

I stared at her. "I don't believe you."

I was only shitting her. I knew she was nice – almost as nice as Halo, my best friend Oz's pure as fuck girlfriend. She was way far from a saint, though. Our first meeting proved that (she helped us steal beers from some racist piece of shit).

"Suit yourself," Arisa said, shrugging.

I grabbed her arm when she started to walk away.

"Kidding, geez."

She smirked, and fuck me if I didn't find that cute.

"How 'bout those sliced mangoes you brought Byron after Thanksgiving last year?" I suggested, thinking back on the snacks I found in our apartment.

"Dried mangoes?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I made a face, because I couldn't remember if that was what it was called.

"I guess?"

"Okay, I'll bring you some," she promised, before turning to walk ahead.

I followed her, walking beside her as she looked for chocolates this time. She pursed her lips as she scanned the different brands in front of her.

I could tease her and mouth off some stupid shit just to void the silence. But for some reason, I didn't wanna disturb her. I was satisfied with just watching her do her thing – shopping for chocolates.

Great, I was a fucking stalker now.

"What are your plans this summer?" she asked suddenly.

"Not much," I said. "Just going back home to Mount Valley."

She stopped and looked at me. I met her stare. With the way she was looking at me, I knew she was trying to read me.

The thing about Arisa was, she was an open book when she wanted to be. At the same time, she was so damn good at hiding her emotions.

Well... right back at you, babe.

I didn't let anyone see through me unless I wanted them to.

"You don't sound excited," she remarked.

I snorted, one of the corners of my lips lifted up in a crooked smile. I didn't expect her to catch that. I thought she was too busy eyeing the chocolates.

"Should I be?"

"You'll be seeing your friends again, won't you?" she offered.

"Sure." I'll see them move on with their lives... without me.

"You're not throwing another pity party for yourself again, are you?"

I blinked, refocusing on Arisa. She was giving me the stink eye, there was a warning there. I couldn't help but burst out laughing, like a hearty fucking laugh. And just like that, I was good again.

Seriously, this girl.

Standing up straight, I raised a hand and crossed my heart. "I swear to you, Arisa Emilia Madrid-Esquival, that I won't throw myself a pity party," I promised, grinning at her as I bit my bottom lip. "Happy?"

"Overjoyed," she said, flashing me a sweet smile before turning her attention back to the row of chocolates.

"Does your sarcasm ever run out of battery?" I asked thoughtfully. "I should get you some while we're here."

"Don't worry," she told me, going on her tiptoes to reach a big jar of Nutella. "It's solar-powered."

Always. Always, she had a goddamn comeback. It was what made talking to her entertaining as hell.

I grabbed the Nutella she was reaching for and handed it to her.

"Thanks," she breathed out, smiling a real smile at me.

"No problem."

Damn it, I was staring at her smile too much I forgot to be a smartass.

"Are you driving back to New Jersey?" she asked, as we made our way to the cashier together.

I was planning on driving but my pickup got fucking vandalized.

"Probably just take a train," I answered absentmindedly, thinking about the hassle of getting my pickup fixed.

Now that I thought about it, I could just take up Dad's offer of buying me a new car. I could drive that back to Cambridge in the fall, and sell my pickup after the new paint job.

"I'm taking the train to New York, too," mentioned Arisa.

I glanced at her, waiting for it.

"We can ride together."

There it is. "You sure you wanna ride me?" I leered.

I caught her lips twitch, daring to show a smile, but she managed to reign it in. But too late, I already saw it.

"Like a horse?" she asked me, mocking innocence.

"I've always pegged you to be a cowgirl."

"Aw, I've always pegged you to be a pet."

I laughed. "You win this round, Arisa Emilia."

"Excuse me?" she scoffed playfully. "I always win, Alfred."

With that, she went ahead to the cashier first and laid out all the junk food from her basket. As I was watching her, the realization that I was practically in a grocery store with a girl came to me like an ice bucket being poured over me.

I had a freaky sense of déjà vu.

Back in high school, I sure as hell made fun of Oz for doing the exact same shit with Halo when he went to do groceries with her. Being the good friend that I was, I never let him live it down.

It wasn't like I went here with Arisa. We just bumped into each other, and I was too bored to leave her alone so I tagged along while she shopped.

Besides, Oz was fucking whipped for Halo.

I was nowhere near whipped for Arisa.

I mean, she was right when she said she'd always win. But only because for her, I'd always willingly lose. That didn't mean I was whipped, though.

It just meant I had a crush on her.

Not even gonna deny it.

_____________

Welp, this chapter certainly proved that our Alfie with anger management issues is still there. Lol

Next Update: Wednesday

Coming up next... Chapter 4: Nice To Meet Ya
Do you want to know how Alfie met Arisa?

#TaintedMeWP