Chapter 4
The Unwanted Son: Part 1

Calix's POV

"Babe, should we call your dad?" Natasha asked. I just ignored her and focused myself on driving the car.

We just went to the mall to shop. She mostly does the shopping. I do the purchasing.

I'm pissed right now. I don't know why I am pissed off. Maybe because of the way Natasha giggles or the way she spends my money on things that are utterly useless.

Dad arranged everything for me, even my future wife. I hate this idea. I hate her. I hate them. Who would want to plan their lives for them? Not me. Of course.

Natasha fixes her lips while I push the go-pedal hard as f*ck, boosting us forward like a bullet. I just wanted to end here once and for all.

I stopped. Hitting the stop-pedal. Natasha's stuff flew over the dashboard. All her make-up, even the powder got smeared all throughout the glass blocking the view. What does she even use? Flour? I also saw her hit her forehead after the impact. Now, there is a red spot on her head. She waited for me to react, to care if she was hurt. Well guess what Natasha? I don't fucking care about you.

"Ouch! Babe, can you fix your driving. You're ruining my skin." Reklamo niya. I paused. I hate her. I can't even bring myself to like her, I don't know why even think of arranging me to her. Was this because of her parents? Might be. It was all just business after all.

I never spoke to her. Not even reacting to her complaints on how horrible her nails were and they needed to get fixed a.s.a.p. I ignored her completely. I drove as fast as I could so that I could get rid of Natasha.

As soon as I drove her to her house I immediately drove off. I parked my car down in our basement. I went upstairs and dumped my ass on the soft cushion and dozed off.

The next morning, a soft pinch was felt on the layers of clothing that was wrapped all over my body. It was Yaya Toning. I smiled and rubbed my eyes before greeting her good morning. She can't speak so I signed it to her.

'Good Morning.' I signed. She smiled and signed back. Everyone in the house is very respectful to Yaya Toning. My parents are literate when it comes to sign language and I myself was taught to respect people with disabilities.

'Your mom and dad are waiting for you in the dining area. Your dad seemed so angry about something that he urgently called your presence on the table.' She signed. My smile disappeared upon knowing what Yaya Toning said. Dad. It's all about him again.

'Thank you.' I signed and sprinted outside the room. I'm just wearing my undies and sando that I didn't even remember wearing.

"We need to talk." I saw dad's obnoxious face. I calmed myself and sat right next to mom's seat. I grabbed the serving spoon and served myself some fried rice and tocino.

"What is this about?" Ani ko. "Was this about yesterday?" I asked.

"It's about your report card." Dad.

"What about it?" I said without any emotion.

"Ugh. Cal, your grades are failing. Don't you have anything to say about this?" He said disappointingly. "Your teachers also said that you bully kids at school. Some of them are severely injured because of your immature pranks." Diin nito. Mom didn't even flinch when he raised his voice at the end.

"I'm sending you to LakeSide!" He added.

"What?!" I reacted. Not there.

"To LakeSide? Really?" A familiar voice intervenes.

"Sofia?" Mom was surprised to see her.

"Mom, dad!" She exclaimed and approached them to give them a hug. She just came from abroad finishing her Phd in medicine.

"How's life here mom?" She asked. Mom turned her head to me and signaled my sister that everything was completely messed up.

"Your brother's grade is so baba. What do you suggest we should do?" Mom asked to ate. Ate's smile slowly fades away.

"Ugh? What happened?" She said disappointingly.

"Try to ask him?" sarkastikong saad ni Dad.

"Long story short. I did my best okay." I exclaimed.

"Well your best isn't good enough. Cal, you'll be the next face of our parent's empire, if you don't man-up now then all that we have established will go to waste." Diin nito. She grabbed her stuff and went upstairs but halfway there she turned her head to us. "LakeSide is a good choice, Mom. Let the teachers impose discipline in his little brain."

I rolled my eyes, I hate her even more. She loves to rub all of her achievements into my face. Like I am some bastard son. Mom continued eating, and so was dad.

"So, I was also thinking. What if we hire you a tutor. Just to freshen up your mind." Mom suggested.

"Am I too old for that?" Saad ko.

"Well, pwede ka rin maghire ng ka-edad mo that can guide you through your studies. A classmate perhaps." Mom added. Ugh. This is so childish.

"I'll think about it."

"You could also make friends with this person. I'll be sending you the payment everyday para ganado siyang magtrabaho sa'yo," I just continued chewing my food. "I don't want your tutor to be tortured by you." She giggled.

"What do you think of me? Walang kaibigan?"

"Kind of." Tipid nitong sagot. I clenched my fists as they continued to talk shit about me. I'm trying to fight this anger. Why are they acting this way towards me? They are really good at making me feel unwanted.

I fixed my hair and just joined them. I swallowed the food with doubt and anger if ever I would make my parents proud. It's so stressful knowing that I would one day inherit my parents business and the burden once theirs will be mine. I don't like the idea that they paint me to be this golden child where in fact I'm every parent's unwanted son.

***

Monday. My doomsday. I dressed myself the way my mom would hate me seeing. A black leather jacket, firm pants and black mask. She hates this aesthetic that I am wearing and I don't care if anybody finds this an eyesore.

I drove my big bike to school. LakeSide. I hated that school as much as I hated my parents. There are a lot of memories left there that I don't want to look back on. I hated how everyone was a bully there and it changed me forever. On how I perceive things in life. Even my parents were the one who helped establish that school, people never learned to appreciate me and my family. In short, hinuhut-hutan lang nila kami. Kids there are worse since binubully nila ako. I don't want to go back there even if they change, come and go, the memories stay.

I closed my eyes and embraced the warm morning air. The sun hitting my face gave me a sense of hope, somehow, despite the trauma I have saved up inside my heart, I'm still hopeful for a new beginning.

I opened my eyes. I jolted and swiftly turned the wheels to the right when I saw someone crossing the street. We almost crashed into each other.

Our eyes met and because of the motion, he twirled to the left. All of his papers flew everywhere. I saw him bumped his ass on the ground. He seemed confused. My heart stopped. Not because of the fact that I almost hit someone, but because his face looks so angelic. His dome cut hair. His fair skin touches the sun rays. His lips are just enough to be touched by someone's lips, my heart can't comprehend this feeling. I hate this.

Our eyes met once more. I started to sweat real hard.

"What's your problem, dude!" I exclaimed. I suddenly felt this crazy burning feeling inside my stomach. I can't explain this overwhelming feeling.

"Ikaw ang may problema. Di mo ba tinitingnan ang dinadaanan mo? Muntik na akong mamatay dahil sa paharurot mo!" Sigaw nito. My stomach can't take this anymore. I need to find a diversion.

"Ikaw yung tumatawid diba? Edi ikaw ang mas may kakayahan na sumilip kung may dumadaan ba sa bawat gilid."

"Okay. If you say so," Why does he look so cute when he gets angry. His nose starts to blush on its own. Nagmukha siyang si rudolph. I was about to talk to him but then na feel ko ang kakaibang vibration sa pants ko. It was the alarm that I set. Mrs. Diana must be waiting na. Patay. "Di mo man lang ba ako tutulungan--" before he could even finish his sentence, I drove away.

I went to the other entrance ng campus and there I saw Mrs. Diana waiting for me with her stopwatch. She's my surveillance teacher that my parents hired. She will serve as a bodyguard also for me kung magtatangka man akong mambulabog. She put her watch inside her pocket and waited for me to park my motorcycle. She glanced at me in disbelief after she saw my earrings. It's strictly prohibited here to wear earrings and dress like a hobo, like me right now.

"You are fifteen minutes late!" Diin nito. "Mr. Torres is waiting for you at the faculty. I see that you didn't bring any things with you."

"I don't need em." I plainly said.

"Well, in your previous school you were at GAS?" She asked. I slightly nodded, showing no interest in what she was trying to imply. "According to your father he said that you loved arts and history? So we've decided to put you in HUMSS."

"They're basically the same." I said irritatingly. She smiled, yung tipong smile na tipid lang.

"Ahuh! Diyan ka nagkakamali, in HUMSS we venture into public speaking and disciplines of human society, some of which do not manifest on your previous strand." giit nito. I just nodded and never understood a word from her.

We enter into a room filled with busy teachers. Siguro ito na 'yung faculty. So close from the other entrance. Medyo lumaki na rin ang ibang mga gusali dito, di gaya ng pagkakatanda ko.

Dumaan kami sa isang masikip na lagusan na napupuno ng mga paper works na nakatambak sa gilid. Pumasok kami sa isang pintuan na may nakatatak na Vice President. Siguro ito ang room ni Mr. Torres.

We entered. I saw Mr. Torres sat silently while checking some documents. He stopped when he noticed us. A large smile showed on his lips and handed me a hand as a greeting. I lent my hand and firmly greeted him even if it was against my will to interact with anybody.

"Mr. Levarde, I am expecting you."

"Hmp." I smiled.

"So your parents contacted me. They said that your grades from Northshire were failing, and they hope that here you will regain your grades. Your parents are good friends of mine, I hope you will also find your circle here. I know you're a smart kid and we can work it out," I just slowly nodded while not making any eye contact. I was once a straight-A student, but I guess I got tired when my parents started to compare me with Sofia. I just stopped pushing myself to be better. "I have greater hopes for you, child. So, I transferred you to HUMSS even though we are in the middle of the school year. I tried to push your name in the list. So here is your room name." Iniabot nito sa akin ang isang piraso ng papel na may numero. Room 475, HUMSS C.

Mrs. Diana and Mr. Torres had their little chats first before we continued we head off from his office. They talked about some issues from other teachers. Naglakad na kami ni Mrs. Diana patungo sa aking room and as we ventured out, there were a lot of students that couldn't stop their eyes from looking at me. I onced felt the struggling feeling I had before.

'You turd! Hahaha!'

'Weakling!'

'We are only friends, because your parents are rich'

Mrs. Diana pointed her index finger to my room without making any eye contact, and seconds later she left. I cleared my throat before turning the knob of the door. I opened it and the first thing that I saw was the guy that I almost ran over with my motorcycle.

My heart skipped a beat when his eyes landed on mine. I didn't even care what others might think of me, I just can't explain this feeling when I saw his charming little face.

Ano itong nararamdaman ko? I should stop at this instance.

✒️INKMAGINE.