Chapter 04

I probably looked super sketchy with the way I was walking. After ng class, agad akong umalis since I have a job pa na kailangan kong puntahan. It's my second day. Late ako yesterday and pinagalitan ako. I was contemplating if I should quit na lang since hindi ko naman na problema iyong food kasi super daming binigay sa akin ni Finley, but I decided against it. Marami pa rin kasing project sa school, so extra money na lang kung anuman iyong kikitain ko sa may parttime job ko.

"Oh, thank god," I uttered to myself when I saw na super sakto lang sa time iyong pagdating ko sa may resto. I immediately went inside. I greeted iyong mga kasama ko sa work tapos nagstart na akong magwork. They were nice to me naman, but iyong isang guy masyadong feeling close. Ayoko sana siyang pansinin but apo daw siya nung may-ari, so I was just trying my best to ignore him.

"Pauwi ka na?" he asked me.

"Yup," I simply said.

"San ka? Hatid na kita."

"No, thanks," I quickly said tapos naglakad ako mabilis paalis. Mabuti na lang na kahit gabi na, marami pang tao sa paligid. I just walked as quickly as I could para maka-uwi na ako.

Even though I was super tired already, I still managed to do my skincare... but then I was reminded na mauubos na iyong moisturizer ko and I needed to do a restock na. I checked online kung magkano ba iyong skincare ko and parang nadagdagan na naman iyong problema ko nung makita ko iyong price. Hindi ba pwede maghilamos na lang ako?!

Ang mahal naman maging babae!

The next few days, kahit pagod na pagod na ako, pumupunta pa rin ako sa work kasi kailangan ko talaga ng money. Last resort ko talaga na ibenta iyong mga bags ko, but as much as possible, ayoko talaga kasi babies ko sila. I did a research na lang and I decided to buy local skin care kasi hindi ko talaga afford iyong brands na ginagamit ko dati. How I wish na maayos na ng parents ko kung anumang problema iyong napasukan nila kasi I cannot live like this!

"What?" I asked nang may gumising sa akin.

"Lunch time na," sabi sa akin.

"You go ahead," I just replied tapos ay bumalik ako sa pagkaka-tulog. I was so tired kasi bigla ako nag-overtime last night and wala pa ako halos tulog. Pag-uwi ko kasi, I still needed to do my homework pa. Tapos pagka-kita ko sa orasan, kailangan ko na magprepare for school.

I was so out of it today that I was a bit confused at first kung bakit papunta kami sa locker... then I was reminded na kasama nga pala ako sa may player for track and field. I needed to participate in a game sa intramurals and feel ko pinaka-madali na iyong pagtakbo kaysa magvolleyball ako or something.

"Why do we even need to practice?" I murmured pero narinig ata ako nung president ng room namin tapos tinignan ako nang masama. Tss. Bakit kasi big deal masyado 'to e intrams lang naman? Saka bakit ba ako nagpa-practice tumakbo?

"Go!" biglang sabi nung president namin. She was even timing me, so I had no choice but to comply. I began running but it was so hot and I was so hungry and tired and—

"What—" I said and then I looked around and saw that I was in the clinic.

"Kamusta ang pakiramdam mo?" the nurse asked me.

"I'm fine," I replied tapos ay napa-hawak ako sa ulo ko kasi biglang sumakit 'yon. "Can I have some water?" I asked her and she nodded. While she was getting me some water, I grabbed my phone to check kung anong oras na... but napa-kunot iyong noo ko nang mapansin ko na ang daming notifs sa phone ko.

"What... the heck?"

My eyes widened when I clicked on a link that my friend sent me and napunta ako sa twitter. There were pictures of me and Finley na buhat-buhat niya ako. I looked like some damsel in distress being saved by the prince except he wasn't a prince but a frog! Bakit ako buhat ni Finley at hinimatay ako kanina?!

I was scrolling through the reply section of the tweet at umiinit iyong ulo ko sa nabasa ko because they were accusing me na sinadya ko raw mahimatay para magpapansin kay Finley. Excuse me?! Ni hindi ko nga alam na nandon siya and besides, how could I plan na himatayin ako?!

"Sabi nung boyfriend mo na hintayin mo raw siya—"

"He's not my boyfriend!"

Nabigla iyong nurse sa sinabi ko. I immediately pursed my lips and apologized. Natawa lang siya sa akin at napailing.

"Sabi nung schoolmate mo," she said, "Hintayin mo raw siya. Babalik ata dito after dismissal."

Napa-kunot iyong noo ko. Was she talking about Finley? Because it's so weird and out of character of him to ask the nurse to tell me to wait for him. I mean, sure he was a bit nice nung binigyan niya ako nung grocery but as he said, naaawa lang siya sa akin...

And it's been a few weeks na rin pala... Medyo nainis kasi ako sa kanya when he told me that my parents left me to fend for myself. I knew they kinda did, but they're still my parents. Ako lang ang pwedeng magreklamo sa mga desisyon nila sa buhay. Finley can judge, but he should keep it to himself. Hindi ko naman jina-judge iyong family niya rin.

"I have a question," I said to the nurse. "Is it... this guy?" I asked and showed him a picture of Finley galing sa may Instagram niya. Nakaka-inis kasi sa ibang guys, kailangan ko pang magdig sa profiles nila to get a decent picture but kay Finley ang daming options. Hindi siya iyong tipo ng guy na kailangan kong sabihin sa friends ko na 'no, he actually looks really good in person!'

Tumango iyong nurse.

"Uh... did he say anything? Also do you know kung bakit siya iyong nagdala sa kin dito?" I asked again. Because may teacher naman ako... saka paano napunta si Finley doon? Pinapanood niya ba akong tumakbo? I have so many questions!

"Wala naman. Sinabi niya lang na hinimatay ka sa field."

"Did he look worried?"

Natawa sa akin iyong nurse. "Mukha naman."

"Did he—"

Agad akong natigilan nung marinig ko na bumukas iyong pinto sa clinic. Napa-balik ako sa pagkaka-higa tapos ay pinikit ko iyong mga mata ko. Narinig ko na natawa iyong nurse. How I wish lang na hindi niya ako ilaglag kay Finley and tell him na kanina pa ako gising!

I could hear them talking sa labas but hindi ko masyadong marinig. I was so tempted to eavesdrop, but before I could even move, I heard Finley's footsteps coming nearer.

What the heck was he doing? I wasn't sure since hindi ko naman siya nakikita but I could definitely feel that he's watching me! So, as realistically as possible, I opened my eyes and yawned.

"What—"

"Para kang tanga."

My lips parted. "Rude," I said, frowning. "Why are you even here?" I asked kasi hindi naman niya alam na nagising na ako kanina and I already asked the nurse kung sino iyong nagdala sa 'kin.

"Naubos mo na ba 'yung grocery?" he asked instead of answering my question.

"No. Hindi naman ako ganon kalakas kumain."

"Bakit hinimatay ka? Hindi ka kumakain?"

"I don't know. It's not like I planned it," I replied, frowning, as I tried to get off the bed. Napa-tingin ulit ako sa phone ko. Nanlaki iyong mga mata ko when I realized na kailangan ko na umalis kasi male-late ulit ako sa work ko.

I tried to grab my things when I realized na nasa classroom pa pala iyong ibang gamit ko.

"Finley," I said. Naka-tingin lang siya sa akin with that ever present smug look on his face. "Can I ask for a favor?" He shrugged. I rolled my eyes. So annoying. "Can you grab my bag sa room namin?" I asked.

"Bakit hindi ikaw kumuha?"

"I have to go somewhere," I told him. Medyo malayo kasi 'yung classroom namin dito sa clinic and I really needed to go na. "Please? Iwan mo na lang sa lobby nung condo. Okay? Thank you so much!"

I sprinted palabas nung clinic tapos ay super bilis kong naglakad hanggang sa maka-rating ako sa may work ko. I was five minutes late. I was ready to receive an earful but iyong apo nung may-ari iyong naka-bantay nung dumating ako and he told me that it's okay. Ugh. He's so creepy.

It was Friday, so maraming tao sa may resto. I was super busy and also super annoyed because the guy kept on trying to help me. He's just being super annoying. I kept on telling him that I was okay and that I didn't need help, but he kept on offering.

"Maia." I felt chills creep up my spine when he called my name. "Hatid na kita mamaya."

"Uh... no, thank you," I replied as I was wiping the table.

"Bakit? May boyfriend ka ba?"

Bakit kailangan kong magka-boyfriend to turn down his offer to walk me home? Hindi ba pwede na ayoko lang? Or that hindi ako comfortable kasi sino ba siya para ihatid ako?

Before I could answer him, I felt my phone vibrating. I saw a message from Finley. I immediately clicked on his name.

"Nasa lobby—"

"Can you come get me?" I asked as I looked at the guy who was still staring at me. I felt really uncomfortable with the way he was looking at me.

"Pauwi na ako," he replied. "Gumala ka pa ba? Kahit hinimatay ka na kanina?" he asked na parang pinapagalitan pa ako.

"Please?" I asked.

I didn't know if it was the sound of my voice, but Finley asked me, "Nasan ka?" The tone of his voice changed.

"Work," I replied. Muli akong napa-tingin doon sa apo nung may-ari. "I'll send you my location," I said as I sent him my live location. The guy was still watching me like he was gauging kung boyfriend ko ba iyong kausap ko. Did he really think he has a chance with me?! Ni hindi nga ata kami same age bracket!

"May kasama ka ba d'yan?" he asked.

"There's a guy here..." mahinang sabi ko.

"Okay. I'm on my way. 'Wag mong ibaba iyong tawag."

Finley wasn't saying anything habang naka-on iyong tawag. I tried to keep my cool and just continued wiping the tables clean. Bakit ba kasi ako ang naka-assign dito? Saka bakit kasama mo 'yung creepy na lalaki na 'to? Mas okay kung ako na lang mag-isa kaysa may audience ako dito.

"Maia."

Halos mapa-talon ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang may tumawag na naman sa pangalan ko. I turned around and breathed with relief when I saw Finley standing on the entrance of the resto. He looked like kaka-galing niya lang sa practice ng varsity dahil sa suot niya.

"Let's go," he said. I saw how he threw the creepy guy a look like he was telling him that he's watching him. I didn't even know that Finley could be that scary! Most of the time he's just annoying kasi.

I almost ran towards him. Sabay kaming naglakad palabas. I quickly got inside his car at saka napa-sandal ako doon sa upuan.

"What was that—"

"Thank you," I quickly told him. Napa-tingin siya sa akin na bahagyang naka-kunot ang noo. "I really owe you one."

"Dito ka nagta-trabaho?" he asked.

"Yes."

He looked around. "Doesn't look safe."

"It's okay..." I silently said. "Medyo creepy lang 'yung guy."

Okay naman talaga 'yung work. Okay din iyong place. Okay din iyong ibang ka-work ko bukod sa creepy na lalaki na 'yon. Why did he have to ruin things for me? I was just trying to work para may pambili ako ng skin care!

"What did he do?" Finley asked.

As he was driving, I just told him how he's always watching me and always offering to walk me home and stuff like that. I mean, he really didn't do anything... He was just being so freaking annoying.

"Why are you still there?" he asked when I was finished talking.

"It's fine."

"How's that fine? That's basically harassment."

"He's all talk. Besides, he thinks you're my boyfriend. I think he'll leave me alone now," I explained. Naka-tingin lang siya sa akin. "What?"

"You sound dumb."

Napaawang iyong labi ko. "Wow."

"Do you seriously think he'll leave you alone dahil lang tingin niya may boyfriend ka?"

"Ye—"

"Dumb."

"Hey!"

Umirap si Finley. Napa-kunot iyong noo ko nang may iabot siya sa akin na card galing sa wallet niya. Naka-tingin lang ako doon. I didn't know why I felt so offended. He's basically giving me his credit card—free money. Why was I so offended? It wasn't like gusto ko magtrabaho at wala na halos oras matulog.

But I kept on remembering how he basically called me an orphan because my parents abandoned me.

The sting is still here.

"Just take it," sabi niya nung hindi ko tinatanggap iyong card niya. "My parents won't even notice."

I tried to keep my voice calm. "I know you see me as charity, but can you at least let me keep some of my dignity?" I asked as I unbuckled my seatbelt dahil nasa harap na kami ng condo. "Thanks for the ride," I told him as I quickly got out of his car before he could call me dumb again. 

**

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