Chapter 23

It was such a good way to end and begin another day!

Finley and I slept—like sleep lang talaga. We didn't even hug or cuddle hanggang maka-tulog. I barely remembered what we were talking about when I fell asleep. Basta we were talking about something hanggang sa maka-tulog na ako.

Finley woke up earlier than me, pero nagising din ako agad when he flushed the toilet. Naka-upo na ako sa may bed and I was rubbing my eyes nung lumabas siya sa CR. And could I just say that... damn, this boy's attractive! Kahit medyo magulo pa iyong hair niya! But so unfair kasi usually puffy ang face pagka-gising, but apparently, not in Finley's case.

"What?" he asked.

I quickly shook my head. "Nothing," I replied. "So... do I get a breakfast in bed?" I asked, teasing him.

Come to think of it, never ko pa nakita magluto si Finley! His condo is complete naman sa gamit, but baka display niya lang 'yon? But for someone who eats healthily, paano 'yon? Food deliveries? Or does he have a personal chef? I mean... to be honest, it isn't far from the realm of possibility at this point. This boy has buildings.

"Sure," he said. "But it will take some time. And I have a whole day planned."

My eyes widened. "Really? Hindi 'yung last night 'yung gift mo sa 'kin?" I asked, really surprised! Kasi super okay na for me 'yung last night. It was a really nice dinner and I really love the flowers and 'yung bracelet... but most importantly, I loved that I got to spend time with him. Lagi kasi siya mag practice for basketball. I thought talaga magkasama lang kami sa unit the whole day. Like him playing his mobile games while I do my school works. That would be super okay with me already.

"You're such a jerk," sabi ko sa kanya.

I thought kung ano iyong plan na sinasabi niya! Nandito kami sa gym ngayon. He also has a private gym pala don sa may court na pinuntahan namin. So spoiled.

Finley lifted some weights habang nandon lang ako sa treadmill. After a while, na-bore na din ako kaya naglift na rin ako ng weights. We stayed there for like two hours.

"Ano'ng next? We'll join a marathon naman?" I sarcastically asked. Bakit ako nagwoworkout sa birthday ko? I should be relaxing!

Tinawanan lang ako ni Finley na akala niya cute iyong ginagawa niya. Bumalik kami sa condo. May kinuha si Finley from the back of his car na bag.

"What's that?"

"Bag."

I frowned at him. "Why are you being so annoying today?"

Tinawanan niya lang ako. "Bilis mo kasing mainis."

"Nakaka-inis ka kasi."

"How come? Sinagot ko naman 'yung tanong mo."

"Well, I have eyes. Obviously, alam ko na bag iyong hawak mo."

"So, bakit ka pa nagtanong?"

I gritted my teeth. Tinawanan lang ulit ako ni Finley.

Pagdating namin sa loob ng unit, binaba niya iyong bag niya sa may couch.

"We have lunch reservation at 11:30," sabi niya. "AM," he continued, being super annoying like iniisip niya na iaask ko if AM or PM e sinabi na nga niyang lunch. I frowned so hard at him.

"Sorry," he said, pressing his lips together pero obvious na he's having the time of his life habang iniinis niya ako. "You have two hours to get ready. That's enough? If hindi, I can call to push back the reservation."

"No, that's fine," I simply said na lang kahit naiinis talaga ako sa kanya.

Habang nasa shower ako, I kept on reminding myself na birthday ko at may tomorrow naman para mainis ako. Besides, daily naman talaga nag-e-exercise si Finley. Baka sinama niya lang talaga ako since wish ko rin naman na magkasama kami the whole day. Talagang he took it literally.

After I showered, I proceeded to drying my hair. Nasa labas kasi si Finley. Ginamit niya iyong bathroom sa labas. Nung dry na 'yung hair ko, nagsuot muna ako ng pambahay na clothes. Kahit naman in a relationship kami ni Finley, we're still super young, noh! We do kiss a lot, but we're very much aware na may mga things na hindi pa naman dapat gawin. So, wala akong balak lumabas ng room while wearing bathrobe lang.

"Dress code?" I asked him. "Casual?" I asked again when I saw na he's done na and he's wearing white denim pants and black polo. May naka-sabit din na shades sa may polo niya.

"Yeah. And wear comfortable footwear."

I frowned. "Kapag talaga ako pina-takbo mo."

Tumawa siya at saka binaba iyong phone niya. He was playing games. "Promise, no marathon involved," he said. I glared at him. "I swear."

I glared at him one more time bago ako pumasok ulit sa room ko. I decided to wear white mini skirt, black baby tee, and white sneakers. My hair's in a tight bun. Gusto ko rin sana magdala ng sunglass, but wala ako. I'll probably borrow Finley's na lang.

"I'm ready," I said paglabas ko sa room.

Finley looked at me habang hawak pa rin niya iyong phone niya. He looked at me from my head down to my toes. What? I looked cute kaya! I know so kasi I took a few photos. I knew I looked good.

"What? May problem ka ba talaga sa mini-skirt ko?" I asked kasi ito rin 'yung same skirt na sinuot ko sa New York. Iyong sinabi niya na dahilan bakit ako may sakit.

"Did you purposely match with me?"

My forehead creased... and then my eyes widened upon realization.

"Oh, no, I didn't—" But I knew that any explanation wouldn't matter to him. That smirk on his face told me that he'd always bring this up! Like I really planned na matchy-matchy kami!

I couldn't even ask Finley kung saan kami pupunta! The whole way to wherever, I just kept on repeatedly telling him na hindi ko naman talaga sinadya na match kami ng outfit.

"So, are you saying that it's destiny?"

I made a face. "Ew. Don't say things like that."

He laughed. Ugh. Why was he so gwapo when he's laughing while his right hand's on the wheel and his left elbow propped against the closed window?

After a while, we arrived at a restaurant. We had a really nice lunch—although I wasn't sure if nice was a good word to describe the lunch because Finley was just teasing me the entire time.

"So, what's next?" I asked him.

We were just walking around. We got gelato. Mine's stracciatella while he got the pistachio flavor. It was nice to just walk around with him. I mean, it's still the weekend. There's a chance na may maka-salubong kami from school... but it's my birthday. I was giving myself a chance not to give too much damn.

Besides, I did tell Finley na if malaman sa school, I won't deny it.

Finley's my boyfriend—deal with it.

"Why did you stop?" I asked him.

"I wanted to get you one, but I know you don't trust my taste," he said.

My forehead creased. "What are you talking about?" I asked, confused... and then I looked around and realized that we were in the area of the mall na puro luxury stores. I snapped my head back to be able to look at Finley. "Are you buying me a bag?" I asked, still confused.

I mean, this guy did get me first class tickets! I knew he's absurdly rich, but this still didn't feel right!

He nodded like it was no big deal.

"You already got me this," I said and then looked at my bracelet.

"And I'm getting you another gift."

I looked at him and shook my head. "Nah. It's fine," I told him as I began walking. I took two steps before I had to stop because I felt Finley's hand on my arm. "What?" I asked.

"I told you to wear comfortable shoes because I thought you'd be walking around trying to decide which bag to buy," he said.

I wanted to appreciate Finley for this... but for some reason, I kinda felt bad...

So, was this how he saw me?

As someone materialistic?

Because we had dinner in a five-star restaurant, he got me diamond bracelet, and now he's buying me a designer bag...

I knew this wasn't even a dent in his pocket but in all honesty, I just wanted to spend the whole day with him. I knew I was teasing him about what gift he'll give me, but even if flowers lang ang ibigay niya sa akin, I'd be super grateful for that.

Finley's forehead creased.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice a bit panicked. "You can buy more bags," he continued like he would give me whatever just to make me stop crying.

But that only made me cry even harder.

I was that materialistic in his eyes!

And it's my fault, too!

We were attracting attention. Finley grabbed me and we stood on some hallway. My back was against the wall while Finley's standing in front of me. I wanted to stop crying, but I couldn't! I felt so bad. I didn't want him to see me this way! Did he really think na I was just in this for the money? I mean, I did tell him that I'd marry rich...

But that was all talk! I said that before I fell for him...

Before he made me feel all these things.

Now, I couldn't imagine marrying for anything but love.

I now know how love feels like.

I want that.

For the rest of my life.

"What?" he asked when like a child, I pulled the edge of his shirt.

I looked at him through my tear-stained vision. "I don't want the bag..." I said, not really knowing what to say or how to explain how I feel.

"What do you want?" he asked like he'd really give me anything if I ask him to.

"Nothing," I told him.

"Are you... mad at me?" he asked.

"No," I said.

"Why did you cry?"

I looked up to him. I bit my tongue for a while. I drew a deep breath.

"Because," I began as I drew another breath. I felt like I was one word away from crying yet again. Why did I suddenly become a cry-baby?! "Because... I realize you see me as someone materialistic."

"You are," he said.

I cried again.

Finley's face was filled with confusion as he cupped my face. "What? I thought it's common knowledge," he said as he wiped the tears with his thumb. "You love material things, and it's fine. I like that it's easy to make you happy. Why are you crying about this?"

"I don't like this," I said in between sobs.

"Don't like what?"

"That my boyfriend thinks I'm materialistic."

"But you are."

I cried harder.

This time, he's laughing at me while wiping the tears. Why was he such a jerk?

"Maia, it's fine, really. You love bags; I love basketball. We love some things the unhealthy amount. So, what?"

I just kept on crying because I knew that I would never win this argument with him. He probably didn't even care about buying me things because he could easily afford them. I was probably just so sensitive about this because I felt insecure.

Or maybe because I love him, and I didn't want to feel like I was using him.

I should probably tell him this...

But I couldn't.

"Besides, it's your birthday. I'm allowed to spoil you today of all days."

Damn this jerk.

Alam na alam niya kung ano ang sasabihin.

Finley kept on trying to convince me to buy something, but I was adamant na ayokong bumili ng bag. I mean, sure, before, I acted like a brat na parang I'll die kapag wala akong bags. But it's been months. Buhay pa naman ako. Clearly, I overreacted.

To try to cheer me up, Finley got me a slice of cake in a café. And then he excused himself. I busied myself with Instagram while waiting for him.

"What—" I said when I saw him walking towards me. He was carrying a Chanel paper bag. He placed it on the table. "I told you—"

"Look at it first," he said.

I was glaring at him, but I did as he said. I looked at the content of the paper bag. I got the box and opened it.

"I told you I don't want this—" I paused when I saw his reaction. "What?"

"You called that your baby. You can't recognize it?"

"What are you—" My eyes widened. "Wait—" I looked at the bag and then I looked at Finley. It was like a movie playing inside my head. He was with me when I sold this! I specifically remember him going bag inside the store. I thought naki-CR lang siya or whatever. "Did you buy this back?!"

He nodded casually like it was no big deal.

"Why—what—"

Both my thoughts and my words were failing me.

"Happy birthday, Maia," he said, looking at me. "I wish you'll care about me like you care about your bags," he continued, teasing this time.

I glared at him, but he just laughed at me. This jerk will die kapag hindi niya ako nainis at least once a day!

I knew Finley would shut me down kapag sinabi ko sa kanya na I'll pay for this... but I will... hindi ko pa sure how and gaano katagal, but I'll pay for this bag back.

It's so weird na kung kailan boyfriend ko na siya, saka pa ayoko na he spends things for me. I was constantly worried na he'll think I was just using him.

How can I show him na I like him for him? That just spending time with him was enough for me na?

But I guess that was the least of my problems because I woke up the next day with an anonymous blog popping out calling me a gold digger and materialistic bitch who seduced the Finley Angelo Suarez. 

**

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