Chapter 07

Never in my life did I think na pupunta ako sa police station! I didn't think that Finley was serious until we really did stop in front of the station. I thought maybe he just wanted to cut classes tapos dahil bored siya ay sinama niya ako. But we're really here! Gosh, he's stressing me out!

He unbuckled his seatbelt and then tumingin siya sa akin because I wasn't moving.

"Tara na," he said.

I looked at him. "Balik na tayong school."

His forehead creased. "What?"

"Please? I don't want to press any charges," I told him. Naka-tingin pa rin siya sa akin na para bang I grew two extra heads and hindi niya maintindihan why I was acting this way. "Please?" I pleaded again. "Kahit sa condo mo na ako idaan. Wala na ako sa mood pumasok sa school."

Finley's stares were starving to unnerve me kaya naka-tingin na lang ako sa labas ng sasakyan kahit na feel na feel ko na naka-titig siya sa akin. He's really shameless when he wanted to!

"Can we go—"

"Fine," he said. "Tell me why first."

Napa-tingin ako sa kanya and napa-kunot iyong noo ko. "What?"

"Tell me why you don't want to press charges," he replied. "We're already here. There's evidence right there on your arm. I don't understand why you're resisting."

Hindi agad ako nagsalita. He just kept on staring at me.

"You really won't let this go," I said.

He shrugged. "You think?"

I drew another deep breath. Tumingin ulit ako sa labas. I hated talking about 'serious' conversation. It makes me feel so uncomfortable that I was seriously debating on just going out of his car and maglakad na lang ako pauwi. But I also knew that Finley would just drag me back to his car.

"Because," I said and then paused for a while. Wala akong narinig na salita from his end. He's really waiting for some semblance of explanation on my end. "Because it's my fault," I continued. I could barely hear my voice.

The silence from his end was making things feel real for me. Parang bumalik na naman ako sa kagabi na paulit-ulit kong iniisip iyong mga bagay na possibleng nangyari kung hindi ako naka-alis agad doon.

Na what if mas malala iyong nangyari?

What if—

No. I shouldn't think about that anymore kasi mas lalala lang.

"Why do you think it's your fault?" he asked after minutes of nothing but silence from me.

"Basta."

Hindi siya nagsalita. Napa-tingin ako sa side niya. Wrong move. He was staring intently at me kahit kakatama pa lang ng mga mata namin.

"Are you seriously making excuses for that creep?" he asked.

I drew another deep breath. I held on to my bag tighter na para bang doon ako kumukuha ng emotional support.

"It's just easier that way, okay? Because if I blame him, then I can as easily blame you because you were late kaya nangyari 'yon. But then again I can just blame my parents for putting me in this frustrating situation," I continuously said. "Ang dami kong pwedeng sisihin, okay? But I just choose to blame myself because it's easier."

I looked at Finley, expecting him to roll his eyes at my messy explanation... instead, he just nodded at me and started the ignition of the car.

"Aalis na tayo?" I asked, a bit shocked.

He nodded. "But you're not working there anymore."

I sighed. "Yeah, I know..."

I was silent during the entire ride home. I didn't know for sure if naka-tingin sa akin si Finley, but I did feel him staring at me. I ignored him, tho. I was not in the mood to bicker with him. Ewan ko ba. It felt like whatever happened last night was finally catching up to me. Did that mean na may adrenaline pa rin ako from all the running and fearing for my safety last night? Possible ba 'yon?

Sobrang lalim ata ng iniisip ko na hindi ko napansin na nasa basement parking na ulit kami.

"You could've just dropped me off," I told him as I was unbuckling my seatbelt. I faced him to thank him for driving me here kahit basically, he kidnapped me from school. Pero hindi ako nakapagsalita because when I turned my head to look at him, he's got that serious look on his face once again.

"It was my fault," he said. "You can totally blame me for what happened last night."

My lips parted.

What the heck was he on?

"And because it's my fault," he continued, "Before you say anything, this is not charity. You can pay me once your parents figure out their situation."

I felt the crease on my forehead deepening as I listened to him say... words. Feel ko talaga nasa upside down ko dahil sa mga lumalabas sa bibig ni Finley. Was he pranking me?! Because I swear, just a few weeks ago, he was still treating me like I got some contagious disease!

But then he rolled his eyes.

There he is.

"Coach made me stay behind last night kaya na-late ako," he explained kahit hindi naman ako nagtatanong. Finley averted his gaze for a second. He, then, cleared his throat tapos ay muling humarap sa akin. "Magkano ba allowance mo talaga?"

"I didn't mean na sinisisi kita," I said.

"It's my fault, though."

"I was just pissed."

"And so am I," he replied that made my lips part in surprise again. "Just send me your bank details. I'll transfer the money. You can just pay me later. Don't go back to work there again," he said like it was an order that I had no choice but to comply with.

Hindi pa rin ako makapagsalita. So, we were just there, inside his car, doing some sort of staring competition. I so badly wanted to avert my gaze, but I wanted him to do it first! Why was he saying all these things?! He's making it weird!

"Fine," I huffed. "But I'll pay. With interest."

He rolled his eyes. "Sure, sure, whatever."

Quickly, I unbuckled my seatbelt. Lumabas na agad ako bago pa kung ano na naman iyong sabihin niya. The moment I got inside the unit, napa-sandal ako sa may door.

What the heck did just happen?!

* * *

I didn't tell Finley kung magkano talaga iyong allowance ko. I just made a computation on how much I needed to survive comfortably. Dito ko na-discover na may hiya naman pala ako kahit papaano. Kasi if wala? I'd ask kung magkano talaga iyong binibigay sa akin ng parents ko.

Sana talaga maayos na nila... Paano na kapag college na ako? Weird naman if dito pa rin ako sa condo ni Finley naka-stay! Magtataka na iyong parents niya. Ayokong dumating sa point na ma-meet ko iyong parents niya!

"I'm so excited! Have you chosen your OOTDs na?"

"What?" I asked, a bit confused.

"For our fieldtrip!" she excitedly replied.

My eyes widened. Oh, shocks! Oo nga pala! Iyong New York trip naman! Gosh, I completely forgot about that sa dami ng nangyari sa life ko!

Buong araw tuloy ay iyon lang ang iniisip ko. Malamig pa naman sa NYC ngayon... Lahat ng clothes ko na appropriate for the weather ay nasa bahay namin... Hindi na ako makaka-balik don kasi for sure, after the stunt I pulled before, mas mahigpit na iyong security.

Gosh.

Ano'ng gagawin ko?

Pag-uwi ko, iyon pa rin ang iniisip ko... hanggang mapa-tingin ako sa baby ko na nananahimik sa may dresser.

"Oh, no..." I whispered. "I can't," I added. "I should just skip the trip... but then it's already paid for... But wala na akong money... Ang mahal pa naman ng food sa US... Hindi enough 'yung money na binigay ni Finley..."

Kung hindi ako mamamatay sa gutom, sa overthinking ata ako matutuluyan!

Ni hindi na ako naka-kain ng dinner dahil para akong baliw na kina-kausap iyong Classic Chanel bag ko. This was a gift from my dad! Ayokong ibenta 'to.

"Bakit ba ang hirap maging mahirap?!"

I kept on thinking kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin... but then I decided that I could always buy another bag... Mas sayang if mafo-forfeit iyong sa New York trip.

'Busy ka tomorrow?'

I didn't expect na mababasa agad ni Finley iyong message ko.

'Depends.'

'Depends on what?'

'Sa sasabihin mo.'

Bakit ba bawal manakal through text?!

'Wag na nga.'

'Arte nito. Bakit nga?'

'I'm going somewhere.'

'Feel mo personal driver mo ako?'

'Sabi ko nga wag na.'

'San ka pupunta?'

Ang hirap niyang kausap!

Hindi na ako nagreply sa kanya. I went to Google Maps instead and looked kung may malapit na bank doon sa pupuntahan ko para I'll deposit na the money agad. Ayoko ngang maglakad na may hawak na money. Gusto ko sana magpasama kay Finley but if he'll be annoying about it, 'wag na lang.

The next morning, maaga akong nagising. I decided to make use of the amenities in this building. I went to the gym. Medyo natagalan ako dahil hindi ko alam kung ano iyong ginagawa ko. I kept on checking Youtube. There was a guy who tried to help me. He looks cute naman, but after that creepy weirdo, ayoko muna makipag-usap sa kahit na sinong lalaki.

"What are you doing here again?" sabi ko nung makita ko si Finley na naka-tayo na naman sa labas ng unit ko.

"Magreply—" sagot niya tapos ay natigilan siya nung mapa-tingin siya sa akin. What? If any, I looked cute! I was wearing a light blue cycling shorts and sports bra. Dahil ba I was sweating? Well, sue me, I just exercised!

"What?" I asked again nung nalimutan ata niya iyong sasabihin sa 'kin.

I saw him gulping. "Sabi mo magpapasama ka."

"Oh, that," I said as I walked past him para buksan iyong unit. Pina-pasok ko na rin siya since unit niya naman talaga 'to. "No, it's fine. I figured it out na."

"San ka ba pupunta?" he asked.

"I'm gonna sell my bag," I told him as I stood in front the ref to get myself cold water. "Will you join the fieldtrip?" I asked kasi last year, hindi naman siya sumama.

"Sasama ka?" he asked.

"Yup," I replied. "My parents already paid for it. I just need money for pocket money."

"I'll give you—"

"No," I said, cutting him off. "It's fine," I told him.

He's already helping me survive. This fieldtrip was more of an unnecessary expense. Saka may Dior pa naman ako na bag... Hindi naman necessity iyong bags ko to survive.

Gosh, is this maturing?!

* * *

I told Finley to see himself out dahil maliligo na ako, but paglabas ko, nandon pa rin siya. He was actually sitting on the couch and it looked like he's playing mobile games on his phone.

"Aalis na tayo?" he asked ng ni hindi man lang inaalis iyong mata niya sa phone niya.

"Why are you still here?"

"Sabihin mo kapag aalis na tayo," he replied instead.

Ugh.

Pumasok na lang ulit ako sa room at saka tinapos iyong pag-a-ayos ko. I wore a mom jeans, white baby tee, white bucket hat, and chunky shoes. I applied a very light make-up since nagtitipid ako. Ang mahal ng foundation!

"Let's go," I said nung matapos ako after an hour.

"Wait. Patapos na," he replied.

What's it with boys and games?! Dahil mukhang 'di ko naman siya mahahatak paalis, I just went to the ref to get water again. Pagbukas ko, napa-kunot iyong noo ko nung may makita ako na paper bag from Denny's.

"Is this your food?" I asked him.

He nodded. "Hindi na pala ako gutom," he replied with his eyes still on his phone. "Sa 'yo na lang."

I chewed on my lower lip. Did he see na wala akong food kaya nagdala siya? He's so annoying sometimes!

Naka-tingin lang ako sa kanya hanggang sa matapos siya sa laro niya. It seemed like nanalo naman siya dahil sa itsura niya. He was sporting a grin when he finally peeled his eyes from his phone and looked at me.

Hindi ko talaga alam if it's all in my mind, but I saw his eyes widened a little when he saw me. But why?! Araw-araw niya naman akong nakikita!

"What?" I asked because of his weird reaction.

He shook his head as he stood up. "Tara na," he said instead and then walked out first. This weirdo. 

**

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