Tales in the Jar

HELL-BENT

ー❝❞ Hell-bent
Davian and Vanica

My forehead knotted drastically as I saw Davian Fuego gawking at me. His face has a huge grin plastered on it while his chin is resting on the back of his hand. It was then when my phone suddenly vibrated. It has one message coming from that deliquent. I raised my eyebrow, I took a glance on him before pressing the message out of curiosity.

W-what the hell?

I felt how my cheeks have been struck by red tints. He sent me dozens of his own photos doing various cute poses. I bet he saw this shit in a corner of social media.

The corner of his lips arose as he wink at me.

❝ Fuck off,❞
I mouthed.

But It even made him simper.

Davian is a transfer student from Canada. I heard his family is really well-off so no wonder transferring school even though he only has few months to graduate from Senior high school is extremely possible.

I have no clue what idiocy has come to his mind but he just suddenly started bothering me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang hindi siya nauubusan ng lakas ng loob at hindi natitinag kahit hindi ko naman siya binibigyang pansin.

Every weekend I’ve been working as a part-timer in a nearby bakery. It’s just few blocks away from our school. This work helps me to pay for our monthly and daily bills.

❝ 2 cinnamon bread please. ❞

Awtomatikong nagpantig agad ang mga tainga ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses niya ngunit isang pilit na ngiti ang ibinigay ko rito, mabilis ko ring ibinalot ang tinapay na gusto niya.

❝ That would be 90 pesos, Sir. ❞

May bahid ng gigil ang bawat pantig ko na para namang gustong-gusto pa niya dahil lumawak lamang ang ngising nakapaskil sa labi nito.

❝ So when will you be finally free hmm? ❞

Pinukol ko siya ng matalim na tingin at mabilis na kinuha sa kamay nito ang isang libong iniaabot niya.

❝ Would you like to have a receipt, Sir? ❞
Sarkastikong sambit ko.

❝ No thanks. You’re not wearing it today? ❞

Umarko ang kilay ko dahil sa tinuran niya.

❝ Pardon? ❞

❝ Ah your bracelet. The one with a hummingbird pendant. ❞

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at mabilis na sinulyapan ang kanang pulsuhan ko. I’m not really wearing it today. It happens everytime my head is preoccupied. It is a bracelet gifted by my mother. It’s a shock that he even noticed it.

❝ Ah yeah. I forgot to wear it. ❞

Nakangiti pa rin nitong kinuha ang paperbag na naka patong sa ibabaw ng counter.

Isa o dalawang beses kung pumunta siya sa bakery. T’wing tanghali o bago magsara.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not interested with him. It’s just that I’m becoming used it gradually.

❝ Thank you. I’ll try to come again before the bakery closes. Have a good day. ❞

I dazed at him when he smiled but I didn’t bother to answer. Until the chimes that are dangling above the glass door resonate as he walked through it.

❝ Gwapo talaga ng customer na ‘yon. Kilala mo? ❞
Natatawang pang-aasar ni Athena mula sa tabi ko.

❝ Classmate, ❞
Simpleng sagot ko.