Chapter 09

I glared at him before ignoring him because I was so painfully aware na may mga naka-tingin sa amin. I told myself pa naman that I'd enjoy this fieldtrip fully tapos ni hindi pa ako nakaka-alis sa Pilipinas, may stress na agad na sumalubong sa akin.

Couldn't catch a break!

Lumapit ako sa friends ko... which didn't seem like a bad idea at first, but then they started talking about all the shopping that they'll do. I immediately felt jealous. I wanted to do that, too. I wanted to shop without worrying about money.

Gosh.

Was I that materialistic?

Kaysa mas lalo lang sumama iyong loob ko, I excused myself na lang. It wasn't their fault naman. It's all on me. I asked my teacher if pwede na mag-ikot muna ako since hindi pa naman complete kami dito. Sabay-sabay kasi kaming magche-checkin. She told me not to wander too far. Saan naman ako makakarating? As if ang daming options dito sa NAIA.

I was dragging my luggage with me, thinking kung saan ako pupunta, nang makita ko si Finley na naglalakad sa gilid ko.

"Why are you even here?" I asked.

"Bawal?"

"Hindi ka naman sumasama sa ganito," I told him.

He shrugged. "Pano mo nalaman?" he asked back. "Are you monitoring my every activity?"

Ugh!

Was this flirting?!

How would I know?! Never pa naman ako nagka-boyfriend much less flirted with a guy! Si Finley ata iyong naging first serious crush ko, so when he avoided me like a plague before, nagka-fear na ata ako magka-crush dahil sa ginawa niya. For a moment, I thought I was repulsive until I convinced myself that I was not. Ang ganda-ganda ko kaya. So, I concluded na bulag lang talaga si Finley.

"In your delusions," I just replied.

I continued walking and he continued to follow me. Tuwing titingin ako sa kanya, he'd act as if this was a public place and that he's free to walk wherever he wanted. He also insinuated na ako ang sumusunod sa kanya. I really couldn't with him!

When we got to the escalator, I tried na ilagay sa may step iyong luggage ko, but it was too big, so it was quite a hassle. I was trying to find an angle para mailagay ko siya nang maayos when Finley grabbed the handle from me. Agad na napa-tingin ako sa kanya with my forehead creased.

"Ako na dito," he said.

"What?" I asked, confused again.

"Go ahead," he said.

I wanted to argue some more, but then napa-tingin ako sa likuran niya and may ibang mga tao na doon. Nauna na ako sa may escalator. Naka-lingon ako para tignan siya. Ano ba'ng balak niyang gawin?!

Unang nilagay ni Finley iyong luggage ko, then siya, tapos iyong luggage niya. He was holding them easily as compared sa akin kanina na nagstruggle. Bakit nga ba ako nagulat? Finley's basically a giant! Ano kaya ang pinapa-kain sa kanila sa bahay?

"You're welcome," he sarcastically said nung iabot niya sa akin iyong luggage ko.

I made a face. "I didn't ask you to do it."

He just rolled his eyes at me and began walking. And for reasons unknown even to myself, sumunod ako sa kanya. What the heck was happening?! Kanina, siya ang naka-sunod sa akin. Why was I following him now?!

Finley stopped in front of a café. Pumasok siya roon tapos ay huminto siya sa harap ng vacant table.

"What do you want?" he asked. "Coffee," he added like he foresaw the impending what that I'd reply.

"Iced macchiato," I said. "Decaf," I added because I wanted to sleep in the plane.

"You're gonna sleep?"

I nodded. "That's the plan," I replied. "I don't like plane food."

It's just not hitting. At most, I'd just eat the dessert they provide or request for cup noodles. Ewan ko. Ayoko talaga sa food sa plane.

"Aren't you in first class?" Finley asked like he was genuinely confused.

I just shrugged. I didn't even want to think about it. I really thought that I'd, at the very least, would be in business class dahil usually nandon naman ako. It seemed like my parents have been facing financial difficulties for quite some time now... Made me think sa lahat ng mga pinabili ko sa kanila dati. Were they hurting already back then? Why didn't they just tell me? I feel like I'd understand naman kung pinaliwanag nila sa 'kin... instead of just one day springing it on me.

"Won't your friends ask kung bakit ka nasa economy?"

I didn't know if Finley was making fun of me or something. I just shrugged. I plan to just tell them na naubusan ako ng seat. Whatever. Ayokong isipin pa.

Finley went to the counter habang binabantayan ko iyong bags namin. He got me my order plus a slice of brownie. I thanked him because that was nice of him kahit minsan ang sarap niyang sakalin talaga.

We didn't stay longer dahil nagtext na sa akin na kailangan ko ng bumaba. Finley asked me kung saan ako pupunta. I told him na sa escalator siya tapos ay sa elevator ako dadaan. I really didn't need any more gossips surrounding me.

My friends didn't even ask me dahil naka-pila na sila doon sa may line for business class. I was quietly minding my own business don sa may line for economy. Hindi naman ako mag-isa dito since kasama ko iyong mga chaperone plus ibang mga students na hindi rin naka-business or first class.

"Good morning," I greeted the lady in the check-in counter. I gave her my passport, ticket, and ID. I waited while she was processing my things.

"Hi, ma'am," she said. I readied to receive my passport and boarding pass. "You got a free upgrade to first class."

My eyes widened. "What?" I asked, a bit confused. I asked her again kung tama ba iyong narinig ko. Seriously? Did the heavens hear my complaints kaya binigyan ako ng free upgrade?!

I was still confused kahit nabigay na sa akin iyong boarding pass ko at may naka-lagay na first class nga doon. Hanggang maglakad ako sa may first class lounge ay iniisip ko pa rin kung ganoon ba ako ka-swerte? I mean, I was kinda dreading the economy seat already. I'd be flying for nearly a whole freaking day! I was ready to have my whole body ache.

This must be the break that I'd been wanting to catch for a while!

When I got in the lounge, I immediately spotted Finley. Napa-tingin din siya sa gawi ko, so I had no option to but acknowledge his existence.

"Aren't you trespassing?" he asked with his arched brow. "Don sa labas 'yung economy."

I glared at him. This jerk. "I got an upgrade, okay?" sabi ko tapos iniwan ko 'yung gamit ko doon sa table niya. I was hungry, so I looked for a sandwich. Medyo mamaya pa 'yung boarding.

Kami lang 'yung tiga SCA na nandito since majority of them were in business lounge. Hindi ko muna kailangang layuan si Finley. I mean, there was no need since he was, as expected, playing his mobile games again. Seriously, ganoon ba ka-enjoyable 'yon kasi sa more than an hour na nasa lounge kami, nagla-laro lang siya.

"Don't wake me up," biglang sabi ni Finley nung nasa plane na kami. Binigyan na lang din ako ng first class suite, hindi pa tinodo. Bakit kailangang nasa tabi ako ni Finley? I couldn't have complete peace!

"Bakit naman kita gigisingin?"

"Don't take photos while I'm asleep."

"Mamaya magka-virus pa 'yung phone ko," I said. "Also, there's a do not disturb button for a reason."

He just shrugged as a response. I honestly didn't know if I should be worried or impressed dahil tulog lang talaga siya majority of the flight. Naka-bed mode lang iyong suite niya at natulog lang talaga siya. I didn't even hear him order food. Tsk. What a waste of money—but it's probably just nothing for him since he's stinking rich.

"Oh, god," I said when the pilot mentioned kung ano iyong degree sa New York. I mean, alam ko naman na malamig, but still!

I was dreading the cold hanggang maglanding kami. I wanted to go to the bathroom para maglayer na, but I told myself na wala naman kaming itinerary today. I just have to brave the cold for a while dahil sa hotel naman na iyong diretso namin.

I was mentally preparing myself habang hinihintay namin iyong mga schoolmate namin. Nauna na kasi naming nakuha iyong luggage namin.

"Maia."

Napa-tingin ako nung tawagin ako ni Finley. Kumunot ang noo ko nang may makita ako na iabot siya sa akin.

"May kamay ka naman," I said nung ipapa-hawak niya sa akin iyong coat. Bakit kailangan ako pa ang maghawak? Personal assistant niya ba ako?

He rolled his eyes again. "Bilis na," he continued.

"Ipatong mo na lang—"

"God, why can't you just say thank you and leave it at that?" he said, cutting me off.

Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita. My lips were parted. Finley grabbed my hands and put the coat on them tapos ay iniwanan ako.

Did... he bring this coat specifically for me?

Dahil alam niya na wala akong matinong coat na dala?

What the heck's happening?!

Mabuti na lang at hindi kami magkasama doon sa may shuttle papunta sa hotel. Dumiretso ako sa hotel room after ng checkin. My assigned roommate told me good night dahil matutulog na raw siya.

I took a bath and changed into my pajamas. Hindi pa ako inaantok dahil naka-tulog naman ako nang maayos sa plane, but I felt like tulog ata lahat ng kasama ko ngayon. I'd just stay in. Ayoko ring umalis mag-isa. New York's nice, but it isn't very safe lalo na sa medyo walang street smarts na kagaya ko.

I was browsing through Pinterest when I received an e-mail.

I was so confused because I thought I saw Finley's name, so I quickly clicked on it...

'Gising ka?'

Did he seriously e-mail me para lang i-ask 'yon?

'Yes. Why are you emailing me? And where did you get my email add?'

'Samahan mo ako. Nagugutom ako.'

Did he purposely ignore the question I asked?!

'I'm tired. And nasan na friends mo?'

'Sleeping. Also, I drive you around even when I'm tired.'

'I didn't ask you to?'

'Great. See you sa lobby in 15.'

Was he serious?!

I didn't know if he's being for real, but I had a feeling na if hindi ko siya puntahan sa lobby, for some reason, malalaman niya kung anong room ako assigned and pupuntahan niya ako rito. I didn't want to risk my roommate asking kung bakit kumakatok sa amin si Finley Angelo Suarez.

And because I was already in my pajamas and hindi kasama iyong ngayong araw sa planned outfit ko, I was just wearing a light grey jogger, fitted white shirt, black baseball cap, and iyong coat na pinahiram niya sa 'kin.

Agad na nakita ko si Finley. He was standing with his eyes on his phone. He was wearing black pants, gray sweater, light brown coat, and gray beanie. Why did he have to look so good?! When he obviously didn't have to try?!

"You see me every day. Why are you still always in awe?" he said after he walked towards me... and just like that, the mood was freaking ruined. He's such an obnoxious jerk. 

**

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