Chapter 03: On My Own
1120 Words
“What the hell?” I said, picking up my suitcase from the ground.
“It's blocking my door,” the brute answered.
I glared and stood. “That doesn’t give you the right to just push it down. A decent person would simply push it to the side,” I spat.
He arched his brow and boredly said, “Then, I guess, I am not a decent person,”
“What?” I blurted but he just shrugged and went inside his unit.
Wow! Rude.
My mouth parted for a second but seeing the scratches his action did to my suitcase, my shock evaporated immediately and replaced with anger. I stood and banged his door,
“What now?” he asked upon opening his door.
“What now, your face! Look what have you done to my suitcase!” I said, pointing at my suitcase.
“Okay, so? What do you want me to do?”
“It's Rimowa! How much do you think this suitcase cost?”
He arched his brows. “So, you want me to pay for your suitcase?”
“No! A simple apology would—” I wasn’t able to continue my words when he suddenly closed his door in my face. At my freaking face!
“Here,” he said after opening his door again, handing me a blank check. “I am not sure exactly how much your suitcase is, but I am sure that it’s expensive.”
“What?” My mouth parted once more.
“Just put whatever price you wanted as a compensation, I wouldn’t mind,” he said lazily. He tried to close his door again but I was fast to put my feet on it to stop him from doing so.
“I don’t want your money! I want you to apologize!”
He rolled his eyes. “Look, miss. I don’t have time to waste. So please, take the check and leave.”
“Just an apology. Was it so hard to say?” I asked but he just looked at me tiredly. Halatang walang interest sa mga sinasabi ko. “You know what? Whatever!” I added, slamming his door shut in his face. I grabbed my suitcase and went inside my unit.
“What was that?” Tate asked, seeing me slamming my door so hard I felt the walls vibrate.
I sighed and rolled my eyes and said, “Just a rude neighbor.”
“What did he do?” he asked, activating his ‘protective cousin’ persona.
I tapped his shoulder. “Don’t bother. He just pushed my suitcase down and it got scratches,” I said and went straight to my bed, putting the black check beside my pillow.
Tate walked to me and took the check. “What is this?” He asked, checking it. “Evander Alexus Sandoval? I think I have heard this name.”
“Probably in one of the bars you always went to,” I told him.
“I don’t think so,” he answered, shaking his head. “But why would he give you this blank check?”
I rolled my eyes. “Payment for the damage he caused to my suitcase, although I am not asking for it.”
“But you accept this.”
“I didn’t! I just need to because he closed his door in my face when all I wanted was his apology.”
“He closed his door in your face?”
“Yes! But don’t worry, I got my revenge already. I closed his door to his face, too, when he opened it again and handed me that check,” I said, grinning from ear to ear. But he just looked at me like he was so done to me.
"I don't really think this is a good idea," he said.
"What do you mean?" I asked, brows creasing.
"Isobel, hindi ka pa nakaka isang araw dito ay may kaaway ka na agad? How do you think I will be at ease with you living alone here?"
"Hindi ko naman kasalanan yun, no!" reklamo ko.
"Jesus! Bakit pa ba ako nagtataka, e manang-mana ka sa daddy mo," ani niya pa.
Napasimangot naman ako at sinamaan siya ng tingin.
"Don't look at me like that. I was just stating facts, okay?"
I rolled my eyes. “Stop comparing me to him, okay? I am not as cruel as him.”
“But as savage as him?” he still teased, arching his brow and grinning at me.
I snorted in return. “Shut up, Tate. Kairita ka.”
Tate shrugged. “I will sleep here for the night to make sure you will not get yourself in trouble.”
“What? No! Umuwi ka na, ah!” I protested.
“After all the hassle I endured, you’ll just shoo me away?”
“Where do you think you’ll sleep here, huh?” I asked him. Nabaling naman agad siya sa loob ng apartment ko. “I’m grateful for all your help but I swear, I can handle it from here.”
“How can I be sure you’ll be safe here?” he asked instead.
I rolled my eyes. “You’ve checked this building, remember? You know how tight the security here is, so chill.”
“Hindi ang security ng building ang inaalala ko, ikaw. Paano ako makakasiguro na maging mabait ka rito kung wala ka pa ngang isang araw dito ay may nakaaway ka na agad?”
“It’s not my f*****g fault, alright? He triggered me, Tate.”
“That…” he said, putting his pointed finger on my forehead. “You’re so short tempered. Bakit pa ba ako umaasa na hindi ka mapapa-away?”
I rolled my eyes and pushed his hand away from me. “Umalis ka na nga.”
Iritado ko siyang tinulak palabas ng apartment ko. Natatawa namang nagpaubaya ito sa pagtulak ko sa kanya.
“Call me if you need anything, ‘kay?” he reminded him.
“Oo na! Alis na,” taboy ko pa.
Tate put his hands inside his pockets and said, “Alright. Good night.”
I rolled my eyes again. “Good night. Ingat ka,” I said.
Tate shrugged and pushed my door closed. I even heard him say, “Lock your door.”
“Oo nga!” I replied, pressing the doorknob’s lock and pushing the handle of my second and third lock Tate insisted on installing.
Ugh! Safety freak.
I turned my back on the door and faced my almost empty apartment. The silence enveloped me that it was deafening.
“I’m on my own now, huh?” I muttered to myself.
- Writer
