MY PRETEND BOYFRIEND

Chapter 17

Sophia has been sitting at Cat’s Cafe for hours, waiting for the time to pass before heading to lunch and then their afternoon class. Yvonne and Kat packed away their homework, and she separated from them to head to the bathroom, her stomach bothering her. She took a seat in the stall, hoping to take care of things quietly.

As she sat there, she heard someone walk in, and instantly, she tried to discreetly pass gas and finish up without making a sound. But then the person outside the stall started playing his guitar, completely ruining her quiet time. She tried not to scream, but the nerve of the guy!

Determined to finish quickly so she could throw a tantrum, Sophia rushed through her business. As she walked out to wash her hands, she saw him. Of course, it had to be David, the popular guy everyone worships.

“It’s you. Damn, David! Why are you playing the guitar here? It’s so annoying,” Sophia couldn’t help but snap.

David, with a carefree smile, shrugged. "None of your business. I can play wherever I want."

Sophia rolled her eyes, realizing arguing with him was pointless. She stomped her feet as she walked to the sink and started washing her hands. That’s when she noticed that one of his hands was injured and bleeding.

“What happened to your hand? What did you do to it?” she asked, genuinely concerned, but also curious since David and his friends looked like they hadn’t been in class at all.

“Music practice,” he answered, still strumming his guitar nonchalantly.

“Practiced so much that you messed up your hand like that?” Sophia raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

“Can you dress the wound for me?” David asked casually.

“No,” Sophia replied without hesitation. “If I see blood, I’ll faint. But it doesn’t count if you have a big dick.”

Sophia could’ve helped him, but she didn’t want to. David had plenty of fans and friends who would jump at the chance to help him.

“Then I’ll show you my d**k in exchange for your help,” David said, making her stop in her tracks.

Sophia turned to look at him, completely incredulous. “Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?”

“Nope,” he grinned. “Most people say I’m handsome. I’m a little embarrassed to hear it, but it’s true.”

Conceited, this guy!

Sophia stood there, speechless. “...This is ridiculous. You? Embarrassed? Damn! I’ve known you for a while now, and I’ve never seen you embarrassed once.”

“Anyway,” David said, changing the subject as if nothing had happened. “I’m going to paint my room.”

Sophia blinked in confusion. “Did you just change the topic? Why are you telling me this?”

“Can you help me?”

Sophia shot him a confused look. “Why don’t you hire someone to do that?”

“What color do you think is good?” David asked, still distracted, his hands busy with his guitar.

Sophia was dumbfounded. “Did I say I would help you?”

“Indigo is nice, or maybe just dirty white?” David continued, not noticing the absurdity of his request.

“Wait, David. Are you listening to me?” Sophia asked, her frustration rising.

“I’m listening. So what color do you like?” he asked, still strumming away.

Sophia was ready to lose it. “I’m not you! How am I supposed to know?”

David just shrugged. “Well, then see you. My place at five.”

Sophia’s eyes widened. “...”

“If you come on time, I’ll let you grab my d**k for free.”

Sophia was left speechless. “I love d**k, but not yours, David. Damn, you’re so stupid.”

She shook her head in disbelief, exhausted from dealing with his antics.

Later, at cheerleading practice, she was feeling the pressure. She sent some of the guys from the Music Club to let the seniors know she needed another day off. Thankfully, she hadn’t seen Adrian today, which gave her some relief. Still, it was only a few days until the big event, ‘The Alter Matter Fair’, and she could feel the tension building.

After class, she waited for the seniors in the Social Science building, texting the boy from Medicine to calm her nerves. She greeted some of the seniors as they arrived for practice. Then, another group of seniors showed up.

“Sophia, will David be here today?” one of them asked, referring to the group that had once asked about David’s favorite shoes.

“No, he’s not. Why would he?” Sophia responded, already annoyed.

“Oh! We thought he was after you,” the girl teased.

“What? I’m just his friend,” Sophia replied, trying to brush it off.

“I saw David’s friends teasing you on Instagram.”

Sophia felt her face heat up. “It was nothing. Just a friendly tease.”

“Oh! Is David close to someone? Does he have a girlfriend?” the senior asked curiously.

“I don’t know,” Sophia said with a shrug.

“Please ask him for me.”

“Okay,” Sophia nodded, eager for the seniors to start practicing so she could be done for the day.

By evening, after a long day of practice, Sophia was exhausted and starving. She just wanted to finish up and go home to sleep. The mosquitoes and the heat weren’t helping, and the cheerleading moves were starting to wear her out. But there was no choice—practice had to go on until the event.

She couldn’t help but think about everything—David, his ridiculousness, the upcoming event, and the chaos of it all.

Two hours start to become three. The sun rays are replaced by light on the ceiling. Sophia's stomach is slowly being replaced with the word "hungry," causing her intestines to break down. The seniors won't give them a break. She feels bad for the girls. They are sweating like crazy, and there's only water to keep them going.

"Sophia, swing your hands harder. Parang wala kang energy sa paggalaw mo!”

That's because she has none. Where is she supposed to get power from?

Kung ikaw kaya rito, miss ma’am!

"Krishna, why are you bending your knees?"

Shit! She bent too. She's been copying Krishna's moves the whole time.

"Concentrate!"

Starving is the only word in her head right now.

Riiiing~

Some idiot's phone rings, and they finally get a break.

"Sophia, tumu-tunog yung phone mo!" Oh, it's hers pala.

"Okay."

"It says David is calling."

One of the seniors pokes her head out to see the incoming call. She gets out of the line to go grab her phone immediately. The thing is, she promised David that she wouldn't give his number out to anyone. Or else, she will be dead.

[What are you doing? What time did I tell you to come?]

She answers the call and hasn't even said anything, but the other end of the call is already blurting out.

"I'm at cheerleading practice. If you need to paint your room, just do it then. Why do you need me? I am f*****g gutom na."

[Nasaan ka ba kasi?]

"Faculty."

[What do you want to eat?]

"Why are you acting like you're coming?"

[What do you want to eat?]

"Anything that will feed me. If you are coming, buy a lot of food, okay? Other friends are hungry too."

[Did I say I will come?]

"..." It is like you are given hope that you're going to win an Oscar, but the emcee just announced the wrong name. It hurts.

[Are you crying?]

"I really hate you."

[Up to you.]

"If you come, I will let you grab my boobs."

[Okay. See you in five minutes!] Then he ends the call so fast.

What the f**k? He is quite perverted, isn't he? What would his fans think if they hear this? f**k! Why did she offer a part of herself to him like that?

In less than five minutes, the tall body of the person she talked to earlier appears amid a series of screams from friends and seniors. Now, nobody cares about the training. They all just want to attack David, and whoever does first is the winner.

"David, you're so adorable buying us so much food."

"It's Sophia's treat. Here's yours." he says, putting the plastic bags on the table. Then he walks far away to sit down without any care in the world.

"Your popularity is rising," Sophia says as she follows to tease him. She sits on the chair across from the tall guy.

"Kumain ka na lang," he said while pushing the food and opening the water bottle in front of her.

"You're so kind pala. I'm sorry for calling you a bastard before."

"Can I grab your boobs now?"

"Bastos mo, I was just kidding!" she says, and his annoyance rises again.

Sure, David doesn't like messing around. He doesn't talk much, doesn't like being the center of attention. But he's the opposite with someone he's close with. He would talk so much. He would be so annoying and so perverted.

"I am serious."

"f**k. You are scaring me..."

"When do you get off?" He asks her while she's eating. Sophia feels like he is going to swallow her whole.

"I don't know. What about you? Did you go to the club today?"

"No. Ansakit ng kamay ko." She lowers her head to look at his finger. When she sees the plasters, she is relieved.

"Don't strain yourself next time. Take a break. Human life must always know how to set the time. Even the clock adjusts itself to 00.00 at midnight."

"How? Normally, mine's 24.00."

"Can you stop killing my vibe? And are you going to heal in time for the music event?"

"Hmmm, worried ka lang sa akin.”

"Don't be silly. It has nothing to do with you. I worry about the club."

They both become silent with each other. David lets her eat with joy as he's busy managing the non-stopping notifications on his phone. His followers on i********: are increasing overwhelmingly. Sophia is sure the sound of the notifications right now is from the seniors and friends in the cheerleading team.

"David, I tagged you on your i********:. Give it a like, please." One of her seniors shouts.

The focus is on that.

"Like it," she tells him.

"Tamad."

"I'll do it for you. Give me your phone." She holds the spoon in one hand, and the other open. She wiggles her fingers, and he gives her his precious phone. Apparently, he is not using the old phone anymore.

"Woah..." She is amazed to see so many pictures that tagged David. There aren't just photos of the food today but also a bunch of photos that captured every moment of his movements. They tagged him and captioned the photos very creepily. Importantly, there are so many direct messages left there for so long. He never answered them. What a great guy.

"They messaged you ages ago, why haven't you answered them yet?"

"Who sent the message?"

"Who else? Your fans! Look." She shows him the torch window.

"I don't know how to use it."

Right. She is sorry. She totally forgets that this is David, who doesn't know anything about social media. He only signed up for i********: with only one goal – chasing cool people like her to outwit Adrian. But Adrian never noticed it...yet.

"Should I answer for you?" She makes a suggestion. She really wants to help him rid of his stupidity with social media.

"There's no need. Just leave it." So she gives him back his phone.

"Oh, a senior wanted me to ask." She finally thinks of it, so she starts a new topic –

David's style.

"What?"

"You're not seeing anyone at the moment, right?"

"Ano na naman ba?"

"Want me to give you a bloody nose? I am serious."

"I said I am flirting with you. Who else would I be messing with?"

"I am not talking about the fake-flirting with me. I mean like for real. Is there someone you like right now?"

"Do you do it like this?" He is not at all listening.

She wants to die a thousand times when talking to him. She sees him looking up and down or some s**t, so she just lets him do his thing.

Ding~

Her phone vibrates. Therefore, she focuses on her phone instead.

@David.Horan started following you.

She quickly looks up at the guy sitting across from her. The tall guy is still looking down, staring at his phone. With his deep voice, he says, and it is all clear to her.

"Yeah..."

"..."

"The person I just followed... That's who I like."

And her i********: account is now the only account that David follows...

Ano raw?!