Chapter 24

Before I could even scroll through the blog, Finley's name appeared on my screen. He's calling. He normally calls me, but I knew that this wasn't a just because call. He probably read the blog. He probably agrees with it. I mean, didn't he call me materialistic yesterday? He said it wasn't exactly a bad thing... but others would disagree. They didn't like me like how Finley likes me.

I wanted to answer Finley's call, but I knew that the moment I hear his voice, the moment he asks me a question and I answer, that will be the moment that my voice will break.

And I didn't want to cry because of this.

Because they're wrong.

And even if they're right, only a fraction of it was right...

But I guess that that fraction was far more interesting than my truth. And they wouldn't care about my boring, uninteresting truth.

'On my way,' Finley messaged when his call got dropped. 'I know you read that stupid blog. Don't mind them.'

I stared at Finley's text.

I didn't know if my own brain was trying to sabotage me by nitpicking Finley's text... but didn't he say that they're wrong? Couldn't he have included that in his message?

Did he think they're right?

After all, he did call me materialistic...

I knew it.

I was too happy yesterday.

And I couldn't be too happy.

I was quietly waiting sa pagdating ni Finley sa condo. I told myself not to cry in front of him. I knew he's probably already worried about me... I didn't want to add to that.

My phone vibrated. There was an unregistered number calling me. I was hesitant to answer it kasi what if this was the person who posted that blog? I didn't want to talk to this person... I didn't even want to know what this person wants from me because I was sure that it can never be good.

'Anak, answer the phone.'

My eyes widened.

I didn't even want to second-guess myself nor wait for the number to call again. I called it myself.

"Maia."

My heart throbbed when I heard Mama's voice. It's been so long since I heard her voice! Ang dami kong gustong sabihin—mostly panunumbat because how dare they just leave me here? But I stopped myself. I didn't know if it was because I didn't want to argue or because I was already spent...

"Where are you?" I asked.

"Hindi pa rin namin mahanap iyong mga nanloko sa Daddy mo."

I remained silent because what was I supposed to say to that?

"Totoo ba iyong sinabi sa 'min?"

"What?"

"Boyfriend mo iyong anak ng mga Suarez?"

My lips parted. "How... did you even know that?" I asked. Wow. Ang layo naman ng reach ng blog na 'yon na tipong nakarating din sa parents ko na ni hindi ko nga alam kung nasaan sila!

"May nakapagsabi lang sa amin. Totoo ba 'yon?"

"Yeah," I replied because why should I even lie to my parents about this? But alam ba nila because they're still keeping tabs on me? So... they're still worried about me, right? They didn't just completely abandon me out of the blue?

"Anak," she began. "Can we ask for a favor?"

I remained silent. Wala pa siyang nasasabi, but I had this inkling that I would not exactly like kung anuman ang sasabihin niya sa akin.

"If you can ask your boyfriend to ask his dad to set up a meeting with your dad."

I bit my tongue and remained silent.

"Okay, Maia?" she asked, but it didn't seem like she's really asking me. "We have to help your dad."

Hindi pa rin ako nagsalita. Because how would I even ask Finley that? I haven't even met his parents yet tapos mag-a-ask na ako ng ganitong favor?

"Ayaw mo ba kaming bumalik na sa Manila?" she asked. That's so unfair. Of course gusto ko na silang bumalik sa Manila. I like this whole set-up with Finley, but I miss my parents. I miss my family. Of course I want them back. Why did she even have to ask me this?

But then I heard someone knocking. I knew it's Finley. I wanted to thank him for giving me the chance to escape this uncomfortable conversation. I wished to talk to my parents, but not about something like this.

"I have to go," I told my mom.

"Okay," she said. I knew her enough to know that she was displeased with my lack of concrete answer. "Maghihintay kami ng dad mo."

Hindi na ako sumagot pa roon. I heard Finley knocking again. I drew a deep breath before I stood up and opened the door.

"Wala pang masyadong bukas na coffee shop," he said as he showed me box containing a cupcake.

I just said na I won't cry in front of him! Did he really go to a coffee shop to buy me a cupcake pa? Was this his way of trying to cheer me up?

I snatched the box from him and uttered a small thanks. He followed me inside. I placed the box on the table. Kahit naka-talikod ako, I felt watching's eyes following my every move. I really thought he'd go straight to asking me about the blog... I guess he's just really worried about me. It's like he's in his tippytoes around me.

"Maia," he finally said when minutes passed and walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa.

I just turned my head to look at him. I didn't know what to say. That blog heavily implied that I was just using Finley for money... Tapos ngayon, gusto pa nila Mommy na i-ask ko iyong parents ni Finley to help us out financially...

I didn't know it was possible to feel this small.

"Did you read that trash?"

"You didn't?"

"No," he replied.

"I mean, it's about us..."

"More so," he said. "Why should I have to read about us from other people? Kasama ba natin sila?"

I chewed on my lower lip. He's right... but the urge to just dive in the negativity was just so strong.

"Besides, whoever wrote that's a freaking weirdo. What? They're just following us around? Weirdo," he said with his forehead in deep crease. But when he looked at me, his face softened. He reached for me and tapped my head as if I were some child. "You haven't read that, right?" he asked. I nodded. "Good. Promise me hindi mo babasahin 'yon."

Hindi ako nagsalita.

"They're all lies."

"I mean... they're probably not all lies."

"What? That you 'seduced' me?" he asked, using air quotes. "When did this alleged seduction happen?"

I looked at him. "You know that's not what I mean."

Finley rolled his eyes. "What? The gifts? So fucking what?" he asked. It was the first time I heard him curse. Even before kahit naiinis siya, he's always been in control of his words... I guess he's more pissed than he's letting on. "My own family doesn't mind. So why do these other people care so much?"

Shit.

His family.

Why was I in this position? I didn't want to ask Finley for help! But I knew that my own mother would just make me feel bad kapag hindi ko ginawa iyong gusto niya...

"Maia," he called once again nung hindi ako nagsasalita. "It's just photos of us shopping."

"So you did look."

"Fine," he said. "But I only looked because the lawyer was asking—"

My lips parted. "What? Lawyer?"

"Yes," he said.

"You called a lawyer?"

"Yes," he replied again. "Did you honestly think I'd let some weirdo lie about us on the internet and get away with it?"

Oh, god.

Why was a lawyer involved na?! This was getting out of hand!

"They're already looking at the IP address. I think he said they'll look if they can file cyber libel," he said. "I'll update you if there's anything you need to know, but I don't want to worry you about this, too."

My mind was aching from everything that was happening. Then I felt Finley reaching for my hand and holding it tightly as if he was telling me that everything will be fine.

"Do you want to go to school together on Monday?" he asked after minutes of nothing but silence around us.

"I think I'll be skipping school for a few days," I told him.

Hindi nagsalita si Finley. I knew he wanted to tell me to just go ignore them. I wish I could. I could tell him that I'd do exactly that, but I also knew that I would feel exactly the opposite of that.

I'd care.

A lot.

And I'd get hurt.

Because at one point, they're right...

And it will probably be right again if I did ask his family for help...

Finley stayed with me the whole day. He was just on the couch. I was trying my hardest to sleep in the room. I just wanted to sleep because the thoughts were too much.

And when Finley finally left, I let out the tears that I'd been holding for so long.

Why was it so hard to just be happy? 

**

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