About The Story

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Do not distribute without the permission of the author.

This story is a part of the Artsy Series. This is a stand alone story, but you can also read the other stories related to this for better appreciation. 

Related story: Eyes On Me, Baby.

Anyone who comments irrelevant things in the story shall be banned and muted. Please learn to practice respect at all times.

Anyway, enjoy reading!

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Chapter 00

Chapter 00

I looked at my mentions… The last one who tweeted at me was two days ago pa. No one missed me. I wondered if I ever go missing… how long would it take for someone to notice? A week? A month? Or would they ever care enough to even ask if I was indeed missing?

I tried to compose a tweet. A simple hi. But… what if nobody replied? That would just bum me out. I didn’t need to be bummed out. Instead, I got my airpods and watched some episodes of The Return of Superman. Seeing the babies grow up just weirdly calms me down. Some of them were attending school already! Time flies so quickly!

I kept on looking at the time. I shouldn’t miss my flight. So, twenty minutes before the supposed boarding time, I removed my airpods na. I stretched and stood up to go to the bathroom. After that, I looked around to buy myself some chips. While I was looking at the selection, a hand tried to grab at my Pringles.

“Excuse me—” I said, but stopped when I saw the owner of the hand that dared. I frowned. “Oh. It’s you pala,” I continued, frowning because of all places naman na I’d see this guy, dito pa sa airport! So malas of me!

“Akin na ’to,” he said, grabbing the chips.

My lips parted. “Oh, my god. The audacity.”

Instead of doing the gentlemanly thing, he just shrugged at me and then proceeded to pay for the chips. I couldn’t believe it! I didn’t know what I ever did in my life to deserve the treatment of this guy.

When he finished paying, papalabas na siya sa store. He stopped when he saw me right there waiting.

“What?” he asked.

“That was mine.”

He looked at the chips. “Ay, ganoon ba? Wala naman akong nakita na naka-lagay na property of Zondra dito.”

I frowned. “Why do you hate me so much?”

He scoffed. “Grabe naman sa hate,” he replied. “I don’t hate you.”

“Then why are you so mean to me?”

“I’m not mean to you.”

“You are.”

“When was I mean to you?”

“You blocked me on socials!”

“You were stalking me.”

“How was I stalking you? Your accounts are in public, mister!” I said. I immediately felt embarrassed because some people were looking at us. I said sorry to them and then looked back at Dominic who looked delighted at my social disgrace. “You’re so mean.”

“If you say so,” he said, shrugging and then tried to walk away. Naiwan ako roon. I didn’t know whether to follow him… but I decided not to follow him na. I needed all the energy I could preserve pagdating ko sa bahay. I used to love the holidays… now? Not so much.

I sat on the vacant seat until it was time to board. I just wore my airpods while waiting to get in the plane.

“Thank you,” I told the flight attendant after she checked my boarding pass. I went to my spot and placed my bag on the cabin and then my other bag on the floor. I sat on my place and then tried to make myself comfortable because it’s going to be a long flight.

I was looking at the movie selection when I saw someone trying to seat on the spot beside me. My lips parted when I realized who it was.

“God, just my luck,” I said when I saw Dominic. He was still eating the chips! It’s pissing me off for some reason.

“Hello again,” he said while he was putting his bag on the cabin.

I ignored him and tried to watch the movie.

“Hey,” he said while I tried to concentrate on watching the movie. I purposely ignored him. “Zondra,” he called.

“What?” I asked, frowning.

“Paki-gising ako pag nagserve na ng food.”

“What am I? Your alalay?”

“Ex-loveteam ko sa social media?” he asked, teasing but I just made a face at him.

“Ha-ha. Do you enjoy making fun of me?”

He was laughing, still. “No, not really,” he said. “But can you wake me up?” he asked.

“No,” I said.

“But—”

“You tell them to wake you up, not me,” I said. They would wake you up naman talaga. Why did he need to ask me pa?

“Fine…” he said, pouting a little. Ugh. Why was he cute even when he’s being so annoying?

“Ugh. Fine.”

“Talaga?” he asked, his face lightened up a little.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said.

“Thanks!” he said, grinning before he adjusted on his seat and began to sleep. Buti pa siya he could sleep… I couldn’t sleep. I kept on thinking about what I’d do once maka-balik ako sa bahay. Would I just act like nothing’s wrong? Haay.

A little while later, the flight attendant began to distribute food. When they were just a few rows away from us, I woke Dominic up. Admittedly, he looked very cute kapag bagong gising. His hair’s a bit messed up and his eyes a bit puffy from sleeping kahit sandali pa lang naman siyang nagsleep.

“Thanks, Zondra,” he said after he tried to stretch. I just nodded and shrugged. Dominic chose pasta for his first food while I chose waffle and eggs. After that, he tried to peep at my screen to ask me what I was watching.

“Mr and Mrs. Smith,” I replied.

“That’s a good movie,” he replied.

“It’s good,” I said. “Just not my type.”

“Then why are you watching it?”

I shrugged. “It’s what’s available,” I said and he just nodded at me tapos ay hindi niya na ulit ako kinausap. The routine of me waking him up kapag malapit na iyong food continued until we had to get off of the plane for the layover.

“Di ka natulog buong flight?” Dominic asked while we were waiting for the hotel details to be given to us. We had a 12hour layover, so the airline provided us with a hotel room.

“Nope.”

“Di ka pa inaantok?”

“Not really.”

We were given the hotel information na. I accidentally saw Dominic’s hotel and wow… same hotel din kami and everything. So freaking weird.

We checked in na. I went to my room, but I couldn’t sleep. I was hungry again. I went out to ask the lobby about food, but while I was walking, I bumped into Dominic. Again.

“Wala ka ba talagang balak matulog?” he asked.

“I’m hungry,” I replied. “And ano ba’ng paki mo?”

He laughed. “Akala ko gusto mong magka-paki ako sa ’yo?”

“That was for social media lang, no? Did you really think na type kita? Ew.”

He laughed again. “Grabe… And here I thought you really liked me,” he said, faking a hurt, but I just frowned at him because he was making fun of me na naman.

I was directed to the restaurant of the hotel. I ordered there and while I was patiently waiting for my food, Dominic suddenly sat on the empty seat.

“Back in Manila, kulang na lang magfile ka ng TRO. And now, you’re weirdly always approaching me,” I said. “You’re weird.”

He shrugged. “It’s still a long flight,” he replied. “Did you order already?” I nodded. Dominic ordered food, too. And then after, he looked at me. I arched my brow at him.

“Can I make an observation?” he asked.

“No,” I replied.

He chuckled. “Please?”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine,” I said.

“You seem… normal in real life,” he said.

“And what does that mean? Na abnormal ako online?”

He quickly shook his head. “No. I mean… looking at you right now, you seem okay.”

“So, you think I wasn’t okay?”

“I didn’t also say that.”

“Then what are you saying?” I asked.

“You just seemed too pushy.”

“Just because I asked you to appear in my videos?”

“Not just that,” he said. “You also purposely wore the same clothes and accessories to further the issue.” I remained silent because I did do that. Oh, my god. I was creepy. “See?” he said when he saw the horrified expression on my face.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not admitting to anything.”

He laughed. “But in all seriousness… why were you doing that? I mean, I get that I’m cute… but there’s a lot of other guys out there who would collab with you.”

I remained silent. Why would they collab with me? I was basically a nobody online. If not for that ‘viral’ video, no one would even know my name.

His question got ignored. The food arrived na and I just focused on that. After that, I wanted to sleep na, but I still wasn’t sleepy pa… pero tired na ako.

“God, I want to sleep,” I mumbled.

“Sleeping pills?”

“No. Baka hindi ako magising,” I said.

“You’re so slang.”

“Oh, my god. I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize that how I speak affects you,” I said then he just laughed at me. Tsk.

My forehead creased when Dominic ordered alcohol.

“Pampatulog lang,” he said.

“Kapag tayo naiwan ng flight,” I said.

“Nah, we’ll be fine,” he replied. “So… cheers?” he asked.

I looked at the shot glass containing vodka and then looked at him. I mean, it’s not not safe to drink with him. I knew him—he’s Dominic Olivier Miller, basketball player of Brent, the guy I went viral with because he flirted with me while I was interviewing him as a part of my job as a courtside reporter.

“Fine…” I said as I grabbed the shot glass.

The one drink became two and then three and then four.

“Where are you going exactly?” he asked.

“Nashville,” I said, not really wanting to tell him where I was from.

“I’ve been there,” he replied. “Nice place.”

“Yeah…” I said and then poured myself another shot. Maybe it’s good if maiwan ako ng flight. Ayoko talaga umuwi. “What?” I asked when I noticed that he was staring at me.

“Nothing,” he said.

“Don’t judge me.”

“Never.”

“You already did,” I said because he just basically told me that I was a ‘fake’ kahit hindi niya naman ako talaga kilala.

Dominic became silent after that. He just watched me as I tried to pour myself another drink again. But then he stopped me, saying na baka malasing na ako.

“Maybe it’s better and then maiwan na rin ako ng flight,” I said as I just continued to pour myself a drink. I looked at him. I felt… freer. “You know why I wanna be ‘famous’ online?” I asked him as I used air quotes.

“Zondra—”

I shook my head. “No, no,” I said. “I can’t even speak straight Tagalog, right? So what the hell was I doing in Manila?” I asked and then chuckled at the absurdity of it all. “You see… my mom died when I was four. And then my dad married my stepmom. I love her and I loved her daughter. I treated her as my older sister. Then we learned that she has cancer. I loved my sister… We all love her… Whatever she wants, she gets… I just—” I said and then drew a deep breath. “I just didn’t think she’d want my boyfriend, too.”

I saw the shock in Dominic’s face—how his eyes widened and his lips parted.

“You know, I thought they’d at least say sorry to me? Because he’s still my boyfriend? But all I received from them was about how I should ‘give’ him to my sister because she has cancer? I mean, it’s crazy, right?”

Dominic blinked. “What—”

“So… I got mad. And they got mad at me and everyone called me selfish because why the heck was I making her cry? She has cancer and I could just apparently get anyone,” I said, smiling at him as I raised by shot glass and cheered myself. “Long story short—I went to Manila because I hate everyone there and I have no friends and I’m so sad and I feel like the people in the Internet are my family,” I said as fast as I could because I sounded so freaking pathetic.

I looked at Dominic and he was just staring at me.

“What?” I asked because after a full minute, I started to feel uncomfortable with the way he was staring at me.

“Do you have your phone?” he asked.

My forehead creased. “Why?”

He was still staring at me. “I don’t know… Let’s vlog or something,” he said and then averted his gaze and then ran his fingers through his black and bouncy hair.

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Chapter 01

Chapter 01

“Okay…” I told myself as I stood outside the airport. It’s almost 1AM but for some reason, it’s hot and I was tired and I felt dirty from all the traveling I did. I was already looking forward to sleeping and eating! I wanted to try sinigang because I once heard Dad saying that that was my mom’s favorite. I also heard that she grew up in the province and that she wanted to bring me there, but she didn’t have the chance. I had a whole bucket list of things I wanted to do! I couldn’t wait to settle down so that I could do them all!

I looked around. I needed to get a ride to be able to go to the condo. There were people who were being picked up. I didn’t arrange for any ride for me because to be honest, this whole me going to Manila was really… unbecoming of me.

“Hi,” I said to the guy who was standing beside me. We didn’t know each other, but we were from the same flight, so… I guess we’re connected that way?

He looked at me. He was maybe a foot taller than me and he was wearing a light gray jogging pants, white shirt, Gucci slides, and there was a headphones on his neck.

“Can I ask? What’s the most efficient way to get around Manila?”

“Grab,” he said.

“What’s that?”

“Like Uber? Or Lyft?” he replied.

“Oh. How about Taxi?” I asked because if it’s like Uber or Lyft, then I’d still need an account. And I didn’t have an account. I didn’t even have a number here yet. I should get a local sim card as soon as possible—oh, and inform Dad that I was still alive… if he was interested.

“Not the best choice,” he said. “At least for me.”

“Why?” I asked.

Before answering, he looked at me that made me feel conscious because of how he was looking. “Sometimes, they charge way too much,” he replied. “But it’s up to you.”

I pouted. I didn’t have much money… I mean, I had the money my mom left for me, but I was saving that for school. My college fund was used for my sister when she was diagnosed with cancer. I agreed to that and no one forced me to give it up. Even if I hated what she did to me, I am still happy that she’s alive. The only difference was that I didn’t want to be her sister anymore.

“It’s not like I have a choice,” I mumbled to myself and then looked at the guy. “Thank you for answering my question,” I told him with a smile because so far, the first person I talked to here in Manila was nice. So far, good experience!

Dragging the cart containing my luggage with me, I was about to go outside but I heard someone calling Miss from behind me. Normally, I would just ignore that, but I felt like the nice stranger was calling me.

“Zondra,” I said when I turned around and saw that I was right and it was him who was calling me.

“Zondra,” he replied.

“Do you have anything to say?” I asked.

“I actually have someone picking me up—”

“Oh, no,” I said. I mean, I was not stupid! I would never voluntarily go inside a stranger’s car. I watched too many crime documentaries to commit that mistake!

“What?” he asked, his forehead creased.

“I’m sorry if you got the wrong idea, mister—I wasn’t asking you for a ride.”

His forehead was still creased. “I… wasn’t offering you a ride?”

My lips parted. “Oh.”

Shucks! That was embarrassing!

“I’m sorry then,” I said, trying to salvage what was left of my dignity. I tried to look like I wasn’t embarrassed to death, but with the way he was looking at me, it almost seemed like he was enjoying my discomfort!

“It’s fine,” he replied. He showed me his phone. “Anyway. Since I have someone to pick me up, you can use my Grab account to book a ride.”

I looked at him and it was my turn to look confused. “What?”

“I mean, only if you want to,” he said, his hand on the back of his neck. “It’s still up to you.”

“If I use your account, you’d know where I live.”

“I’m… not really interested in where you live?”

“Ouch,” I said.

He laughed. “Do you want me to be interested?” he asked and my eyes widened a bit. He’s a flirt, this one. But I chose to ignore what he said. I was still trying to move on from my break-up. I didn’t want to entertain the idea of dating anytime soon.

Boys… gosh, the headache and heartache they give you!

“Is the fare difference like really massive?” I asked because I was really trying to save money. I was told that Manila’s not like US where parttime jobs pay nice money. And I didn’t want to ask my parents for allowance. At this point, I felt like I’d rather starve to death than to ask them for money.

“Kinda.”

I sighed. “Fine,” I said and then he handed me the phone and let me input the name of the place. After that, he booked the ride for me… but the payment’s connected to his credit card. “Oh, gosh. How do I pay?” I asked him because I didn’t have cash with me! My money’s still in dollars. I still needed to have them converted to peso.

“No, it’s fine,” he said. “Is it your first time here?”

“Yes.”

“Consider this as your warm welcome to the Philippines,” he said, casually shrugging. The fare’s like ten bucks! It’s still a lot of money!

“I’ll pay you,” I insisted because I didn’t like the thought of owing money to someone.

“No, it’s fine,” he said.

“No, I wanna pay.”

“It’s only five hundred.”

“Still.”

“Fine,” he said. “Where’s the money?” he added.

I pouted. “Do you accept dollars?”

“Do you plan on paying dollars in the taxi?” he asked.

“Kinda,” I replied and then he ran his fingers through his hair like he was exasperated with me. But it’s already 1AM! The money conversion stall was already closed.

“Bank transfer,” he said.

“Okay,” I replied. “What’s your details?”

“I’ll just send it via email,” he said. He handed me his phone but even before I could type in my email, there was a message from the driver saying that he was already in the pinned location. He saw it. “Your ride’s here,” he told me and then looked around and pointed at the silver car. “That’s it.”

I thanked him and then began to drag my luggage with me. When I stopped in front of the car, I saw on the window’s reflection that he was standing behind me.

“Do you need something?” I asked, but instead, he just shrugged. The driver was kind enough to help me place my luggage inside the trunk of the car. I would’ve brought more of my things but the baggage fee was outrageous. I felt like I had to leave half my life back in Nashville.

“I guess… thank you,” I said.

“No problem,” he replied.

“My email’s zondrahernaez@icloud.com,” I said, hoping that he’d remember to send me the details of his account because I really wanted to pay him.

He nodded again and then talked to the driver before he said bye to me and then closed the door of the car.

---

The first week was tiring. I had to stay in a hotel for two nights because the past tenants didn’t clean the unit. I had to pay someone to clean it because I really couldn’t! I felt like the whole unit needed to be scrubbed down. Maybe they’re still pissed because they’ve been staying here for three years and then I just kinda told them two months ago that they needed to move out because I’d be staying here.

I didn’t want this, too… but what could I do? I just really couldn’t stay back home any more. I felt like I was suffocating everywhere I looked.

“Done with cleaning the unit,” I said as I wrote in my agenda notebook. I’d been doing this since I was little. I had these lists—the weekly goals, the monthly goals, the yearly goals, and the lifetime goals. Harper said that I was just setting myself up for disappointment by doing this. But I told her that I liked knowing that I have goals to achieve—it helps me get up in the morning knowing that I have things to do.

God, I missed Harper… why did she have to betray me? I always thought blood was thicker than water… but I guess I was wrong.

No. I shouldn’t be thinking about her. She made her choice to choose a guy over me. I shouldn’t feel guilty for the choices that she made. As far as I was concerned, having cancer isn’t a license to be an asshole.

“Oh, my gosh. Thank you,” I said to the registrar when I was told that the enrollment was already done. I googled the best schools in Manila and so far, the first option was SCA, but the enrollment was already done. I also tried Brent, but the enrollment was done, too. But thankfully, St. Bridget’s still open for enrollment!

After listing down all the things I needed to pass, I went to the mall to buy grocery for myself. This was easy for me since I basically ran the house back in Nashville. My dad’s always busy working and my mom was always with Harper in the hospital. I was always in charged with doing everything in the house. I could do this. I could live alone.

“Done with the condo… Done with enrollment… I still need to buy couch… but where do I get the money?” I asked myself as I stared at my almost bare unit because the old tenants took all the things with them. In their defense—it’s their thing.

As I was strategizing about how I could manage to look for a job while studying, my phone vibrated. I saw my dad calling. I hesitated to answer because to be honest, it really hurt me when he said nothing when my mom told me to stop being selfish and to just let Harper be happy.

“What?” I asked as I answered the call. It was a FaceTime call, but I chose to turn off the camera because I didn’t want him to see me.

“How are you?” he asked.

“Fine.”

“Good…” he replied. “Do you need anything?”

“No.”

“Do you need money?”

“No.”

There was silence on both our ends. Maybe I should’ve just let the call end. But I wasn’t that cruel—he’s still my dad. He, at the very least, still deserved to know that I was still alive and not dead in a ditch somewhere.

“You know you can always come home, right?”

“This is my home now,” I quickly replied.

“Zondra—”

“Do you have anything more to say? Because I’m busy.”

He was silent for a few seconds. “Just… be safe,” he said. “And Harper—” he added, but I quickly ended the call before he could finish saying what he wanted to say.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself not to cry. They didn’t deserve my tears. And I didn’t deserve their betrayal.

While I was trying to figure out how I’d survive here in Manila, my phone vibrated again. I ignored it because I thought it was my Dad. I just continued making plan a, plan b, plan c, and so on. I just needed to make it work. I didn’t want to go home. This is my home now. Sure, I didn’t know anyone here, but I could make friends. I would make friends.

After deciding on just taking few units so that I could work, too, I grabbed my phone. My forehead creased when I saw an email from a certain Dominic Miller.

domiller@gmail.com

Sorry it took me long to email you. Are you still alive? Anyway, if you still wanna pay, my bank info is attached.

My eyes widened upon realization that it’s the airport guy. Oh… so that’s his name! I felt so stupid because I didn’t even ask his name! He didn’t volunteer it, anyway. When I thought of him, I just refer to him as airport dude.

But his name’s Dominic Miller… sounds gwapo. 

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