You Belong With Me

Three.

"Are you serious?", Anicia burst out in laughter while Jeorella suppressed hers.

"I am, Anicia."

"Oh my, Portia... that's just so bad!", Jeorella said.

I'm having lunch with my best friends at the Venice Grand Canal Mall right now. Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili at naikwento ko ang tungkol kay Chandler. And as expected, the Merrell weirded them, too. We all hate bad outfits!

"But jokes aside, I pity him. Leading Montano Group is hard especially for him. Bakit ba kasi hindi nalang niya ibigay kay Seth? Or Iñigo? Or his uncles?"

"Seth told me it was stated in the will, Jeorella. They have no choice but to follow."

"Is this Chandler gwapo?"

I rolled my eyes at Anicia.

"What's the use of a pretty face if he wears a Merrell in the office?", I snapped.

Hindi ako pinalaking matapobre at maarte. But ever since I have loved fashion and learned about it, I dreaded it whenever I see people dress inappropriately. I mean, fashion is diverse. You can pair a yellow top on a purple jeans, I wouldn't care, but Chandler's case is different. He needs a makeover!

"But why does it have to be you? Seth can take care of his cousin," Jeorella interrupted my thoughts.

I shrugged.

"I want to, J. And I think Seth is not paying attention to his cousin's pleas."

Jeorella nodded while Anicia kept asking me about her looks. I ignored her and enjoyed my pasta.

My phone beeped beside me and I glanced at it. It was an unregistered number. I opened the text and thought maybe its Chandler.

From: 0975*******
Hi! Nasa mall na ako. Nandito ako sa may malaking bridge tas parang binabaha yung baba! Umulan ba kagabi?

Oh my gosh! He is that... ignorant? Ugh!

I rolled my eyes and texted him my location. We're shopping today, as part of my plan in helping him. I badly want to get rid of his shoes kaya nagdesisyon ako na unahin ang shopping! I also hired an english tutor for him since I don't have time to teach him phonetics and proper usage of verbs!

After 10 minutes or so, I saw a tall man, in a red shirt, brown pants... and... his damn Merrell! If somebody beheads him, I'm pretty sure I'll still know its him because of his favorite shoes!

"Ang laki ng mall na 'to, men! Nahirapan ako hanapin tong restaurant," bungad niya pagkarating sa table namin.

I rolled my eyes and asked him to sit down. When he did, I caught Jeorella and Anicia staring at him. I cleared my throat and the two faced me, confusion in their eyes. What are they confused about?

"Ehem ehem."

Napalingon ako kay Chandler. He actually said those words! Okay, Portia, he will eventually learn how to act and speak properly!

"Take your time lang. Kumain na naman ako sa bahay. Sige lang. Chika-chika muna kayo diyan!", he said with a grin.

"No. We're leaving."

I wiped my mouth using my own hanky and stood up. Chandler immediately did the same. Dinungaw ko ang dalawa na nagbubulungan.

"Mr. Montano, I'll meet you outside."

Tumango siya at nag-salute pa sa dalawa kong kaibigan na nakatunganga na naman sa kanya bago lumabas.

"Oh my gosh, stop staring at him!", mariin kong saway sa dalawa.