Chapter 4 4

"Uhm," I heard Gab say, making me look at him. He let out a nervous chuckle, seemingly embarrassed. "Who's that?"

I blew on my fingers to dry my nail polish faster. "That's Bogart. Kimmy's and my neighbor," I answered bored, which made him nod.

"Where exactly do you live?" he asked again.

"At our house."

He stared blankly at my answer. Kimmy elbowed me and gave me a glare.

"Idiot! Behave, he's a police officer's nephew," she scolded, making my brows furrow. Why does she keep using that as a threat on me?

I scoffed before looking back at Gabriel. "I'm from there," I gestured in some direction.

He scratched his head. But then he smiled.

I was just joking around because he might suddenly show up at our house if I told him the exact direction. My dad might chase him with a bolo, and I also didn't want to show him the situation of our house. It was embarrassing.

"Can I just hang out here for a while?"

"Oh! No-"

Kimmy suddenly nudged me, making me frown. "Yes, you absolutely can, Gabriel!"

Annoyed, I put the nail polishes back in their container before stomping. "I'm already drowning in gossip, and now there'll be more."

They say I'm flirting with different guys here. They say I'm too young to be flirting. Ugh. Those ugly fellow vendors nearby. Hello! I'm just good at sweet-talking these flirty guys here so I can sell a lot because I need money! Ugh!

"Alright, fine. You can hang out here, but you have to buy something from my stall, okay?" I said to Gab, who readily nodded.

He smiled, as if shy. "Right. I'll buy." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black wallet.

My eyes almost popped out when I noticed how thick his wallet was. It had IDs, and holy moly, it was full of thousand-peso bills. All blue!

"What do your parents do? Why are you so rich?" I asked, curious about the source of his wealth.

From taking out money, he looked up at me and became even shier.

"Uhm, my father owns a jewelry store, while my Mom is a plastic surgeon," he said, looking away when he noticed I was staring at him.

Why didn't he bring his cousins? He looked like a puppy with its tail between its legs now. He was so awkward around me.

I nodded. "Maybe your mom could give us a free cosmetic surgery here?" I joked, which made him laugh.

He just shrugged, but I noticed he paused.

"I'll just have oranges and apples," he said, so I quickly put the fruits he chose into a plastic bag.

It was only two hundred pesos, so I told him the price. He handed me a whole one thousand peso bill, making me feel like I was going to faint.

You're so dramatic, you idiot! I scolded myself.

"Exact amount only. I don't have change," I said, about to give it back, but he shook his head.

"No, no. You can keep the change," he said, making my eyes turn into heart shapes.

Oh my gosh! It looks like I'll be going home with more than a thousand pesos today! And I'll still get money from Sir Chan later. That'll be enough for the whole school week.

"Thank you," I said, smiling.

Gabriel left shortly after. He said he was going to get ready for our movie later.

Kimmy beside me was absolutely giddy. I just shook my head.

"Beauty!"

My ears almost flapped when I heard Sir Chan's voice. That was the signal that he would take over my spot, and I would get my salary.

I was so happy while walking home. I just bought some viand so Papa and I would have something to eat later. The two idiots probably weren't home again.

But we hadn't even reached home when we both stopped because of a man we encountered.

My eyes widened, and I gaped.

"Uncle Steve!" I shrieked and clapped. Woah! He's out already!

"Tsk. What? Money again? I don't have money," he greeted, making me frown.

"Uy, no! We missed you here!" I shrieked and jumped to hug him. "Hmm! Still smells like a ruffian, huh!" I commented and chuckled when he threatened to flick my ear.

"Stop it, Maria. I'm not in the mood, okay," he grumbled.

I grimaced. "Not in the mood because you don't have money and a girlfriend?" I teased further, making his gaze sharpen at me.

I wasn't afraid even though Uncle Steve was fresh out of jail, even though he stabbed his girlfriend and got imprisoned. Crime happening here was probably normal to me, so I wasn't afraid of criminals anymore. Of Aswangs (mythical creatures), maybe, yes. Ha-ha!

Kimmy and I parted ways after that. I ate for a bit before changing my clothes into t-shirt and jeans. The three men weren't home, so the house was quiet again.

"Hey, pregnant cat! Eat now," I called out to Rosalinda, who was dozing off on the side. She quickly got up and ran to her food bowl.

This cat is really something. I'm the tough one here, but why am I serving her? What is she to me? She's not even my pet! Why am I wasting money and food on her? Why does she seem like the boss here?

I sat beside her, contemplating.

Rosalinda, even though she gives me problems with what meat to feed her, I can't bring myself to neglect her even though she's not my pet. She makes me happy somehow. She's so cute, especially her round belly. When will she give birth? And what will I do with her kittens? Adopt them? I can barely feed myself.

I scratched my head. "Why didn't you choose a rich person to adopt you? Why me, a pauper? You should have gone to someone like Gabriel for adoption. You wouldn't go hungry there because they have money," I sneered before returning to my room.

I only brought an old sling bag and a phone that was almost ready to be thrown away.

When I came out of the room, I found my siblings who had also decided to come home, accompanied by Uncle Steve.

I rolled my eyes at them, who seemed surprised to see me dressed up.

"Oh, where are you going, Maria?" asked Damian, who was counting money. Where did he get that money again? When he noticed me looking, he grinned even wider and handed me a thousand pesos. "Oh, your allowance. Study well, okay? Once you graduate, we can sell you to a rich man."

If he had handed me a rock, I would have thrown it at his head. But it was money. I just tucked it into my pocket and rolled my eyes at him.

"Even if you don't sell me, I'll go willingly, especially if I marry a billionaire," I said playfully, which made him laugh.

Ambitious Maria! my mind screamed.

"Kimmy!" I banged on my friend's door and looked around.

There were so many people around.

Kimmy and I went to the entrance of the market because that's where Gabriel's golden carriage would pick us up.

It was exactly five-thirty when Gabriel arrived. I immediately knew it was him in the fancy car that stopped in front of us.

Kimmy was absolutely giddy and even slapped my shoulder. "Say yes to him, girl! When you escape poverty, include me, okay!"

I flicked her head and glared at her. "Idiot! He's not even courting me, and I have no plans to be courted right now. Don't you see we're still studying?"

I'll only start flirting when I'm done with my studies. When I have money to fix our house and whatever else.

The man got out of the driver's seat and smiled. I, on the other hand, stopped dead in my tracks when I looked at his face, which was beaming with happiness.

"Let's go..."

IT SMELLS SO GOOD.

Gabriel's car smells so good. It smells rich. It drives smoothly too, and it looks so fancy.

"Is this car yours?" I asked him as we drove to the mall in the city.

The guy gently nodded and gave a faint smile. "Yep."

"Really? At your age, you already own a car? You've got nothing on me!"

Both of them looked at me, puzzled.

"Why?" Gabriel asked.

I smirked. "At the age of eighteen, I've already accumulated a lot of resentment. You hear me? Resentment," I said intensely, which made him pause. My face soured, and I leaned back against the seat, crossing my arms. "Life is annoying," I added irritably, then took a deep breath.

Who wouldn't be annoyed if money and food were always a problem? I only get to eat properly when I get paid.

Why did our mother leave us anyway? She had children, and then she couldn't even stand by them! Who's suffering now? Her children, that's who! Everything's messed up.

Papa said she's rich. She comes from the wealthy Alonzo clan. She's related to my cousin Thylane's mother. But why can't she even spare a single cent for us, her children? Why doesn't she even show herself? Why did she abandon us if she has money?

I frowned, thinking about that person again. Ugh! If I ever face her, I'll definitely tell her off!

"Why? Is there a problem?" Gabriel asked, concerned, bringing me back to the present.

I just shook my head, losing my enthusiasm. Annoying. Thinking about my life's frustrations again just killed my excitement.