VANITY

[SO I ran away from Yue again.]

And Sol was satisfied with her new apartment.

It was a two-story house but each floor was only the size of a standard studio-type condominium unit– just like the one she had when she was still living in a big city in the South.

Goodbye, South life. I'm now a North girl.

To be precise, she was now living in a small town in the North called Clementine.

It was close to Hyacinth High School (HHS)– the school she transferred to. HHS was a public school and a far cry from the private academy she used to attend, but she didn't care about that. A girl from a family like hers would still live comfortably even without proper education.

[Not that I'm dumb.]

Anyway, the first floor of her new apartment didn't have a divider. In the living room, there was a flat-screen TV on the wall and a medium-sized sofa set. You'd find the kitchen just a few meters away from it. There was a sink, a standard refrigerator, and a table for two in the small dining hall. The door to the bathroom was next to the sink.

[That's the first floor.]

The staircase had only a few steps, and the second floor had only her bedroom.

[Yep, the whole floor is my room.]

She had a queen-size bed, a study table where her Mac laptop was placed, and a closet. But most importantly– a connecting bathroom. She immediately checked it out.

The side-by-side tub and shower look perfect despite the small place. Her bathroom also had a side-by-side sink and toilet. It was so cramped compared to her spacious bathroom in her previous condominium unit. But this one would do.

[I spent a fortune on the renovation but it's worth it.]

Each unit in that apartment complex had the same layout. Unfortunately, it didn't come with a tub. Thankfully, the landlord allowed her to renovate her unit. And it cost a fortune.

[Whatever. As long as I get my tub, I don't care about how much I have spent.]

And money would never be an issue in their household anyway.

After checking the bathroom, she went back to the first floor to greet Mon– the landlord.

The old man was accompanied by two of the construction workers that he personally recommended to her. To be honest, she knew that hiring professionals would be better. But she didn't have the time to personally supervise the renovation so she let the landlord manage it.

She just sent money for the materials needed for the construction.

"Sol, did you see your bathroom?" Mon asked her casually as if they're friends. This man had been talking down to her just because she was a minor. "It looks pretty, right?"

Sol faked a polite smile. She was a new girl in the neighborhood and she didn't want to cause trouble there, especially when she just moved in. "Yes, Mr. Mon. I liked it."

The first time she met Mon, she called him by his first name which shocked him.

In the Philippines, one couldn't just simply call a person older than you by their first name unless they tell you to do so. The elders were particularly strict about it. Well, to be honest, it should be basic.

But then again, she didn't grow up in a normal environment.

She didn't have any intention to stick out like a sore thumb so in the end, she decided to use honorifics to the people around her.

"Here's your bonus for a job well done," Sol said before handing Mon a thick envelope. "I'll let you divide the money among your workers, Mang Mon."

"Alright, Sol," Mon said with a wide smile on her face while pocketing the envelope. "Thank you."

She just smiled politely at the old man. Then, she turned to the two young men behind Mon. Those bastards were looking at her with lewd eyes while smirking at each other.

They were obviously lusting after her and they weren't trying to hide it.

The f*ckers' eyes lingered on her chest area. It just happened that she was wearing a V-neck shirt with a deep neckline. Her legs were also exposed because of her denim shorts. When the bastards noticed that she caught them looking at her inappropriately, they had the audacity to look away as if they were embarrassed.

"Miss, do you live here alone?" asked the dark-skinned guy wearing a red jersey and faded denim shorts. "Don't you live with your parents?"

[F*ck off.]

The first time she arrived at the apartment complex, she was accompanied by her nanny who pretended as her mother. Her nanny signed the contract for her because she was a minor.

Anyway…

Her nanny was a frustrated actress and she looked sophisticated enough to fulfill the role of a rich mother. All the helpers in their household were attractive because the head of their family was a disgusting pig who only hired conventionally good-looking people.

"Do you need help unpacking?" asked the fat guy wearing a yellowish shirt and jersey shorts. Then, he pointed at the unopened boxes in her living room with his pointed lips. "We can help you lift those boxes."

She maintained her polite smile while trying to keep her cool. "Thanks for the offer but I can manage," she said, then she pointed at the door. "You may leave now."

Thankfully, Mon urged the two perverts to leave.

While she was closing the door, the bastards dared to turn to her to give her one long lustful gaze.

She just slammed the door a little too hard as a response.

[If he saw the way those two idiots looked at me, he would have definitely gouged out their eyes.]

She froze when she realized what she just thought.

"Stop thinking about him," she scolded herself. It was stupid of her to think about Yue when she moved to that place to get away from him. "Focus, Sol Fontana."

She shook her head while headed to the second floor.

When she arrived at her bedroom, she took off her shirt and shorts. Now standing only in her underwear, she stopped in front of the full-length mirror to admire herself.

She was just about to turn seventeen years old but her body was quite developed already. By that, she meant her breasts were bigger than girls her age. Aside from her impressive chest area, her long and creamy legs also garner unwanted attention from men. But it wasn't just her body. Ever since she was a child, she had always known that she was conventionally attractive.

[This face and this body are both a blessing and a curse to me.]

But of course, she was taught to use her beauty to her advantage.

[Oh, well.]

After admiring herself in the mirror, she finally chose her outfit for tonight: a plain white crop shirt and high-waist jeans. For her footwear, she chose a pair of white slip-on sneakers.

Then, she faced the mirror again while tying her long and luscious two-toned hair into a high ponytail.

She had brunette hair but when she got bored a few months ago, she asked her stylist to create a gradient with her hair color. So now, the top of her hair was dark while the ends had the shade of rose gold.

She pulled it off because of her pretty face.

Duh.

Speaking of her doll-like face, she didn't have to retouch. She looked fresh even with just light makeup. That is thanks to her clear skin and naturally rosy cheeks.

She smirked while acknowledging her narcissism.

Before she fell in love with her own reflection, she squatted down to open the last drawer of her bedside table.

There was a vault in there and the password was Yue's birthday.

Unfortunately, she remembered it more than her own.

Anyway, the vault was filled with stacks of cash.

She grabbed a bundle and tossed it on the bed before closing the drawer to hide the vault again. Then, she stood up and grabbed the round rattan sling bag on top of the bedside table. Then, she put the money inside the bag.

"It's time for shopping," Sol said to herself. "Now, let's see if we can also buy a local boy while we're at it."

***

[PERFECT.]

Sol smiled while looking at her vanity which was now complete with her skincare products and make-up collection.

Sadly, she didn't find a boy her type when she went shopping yesterday.

It was a mistake on her part to go to a high-end mall in the South– the very place that she grew up in. Meaning, the boys around that area were the type of boys that she was used to and tired of.

[Next time, I'll visit the biggest shopping mall here in North.]

Anyway, she already brought everything she needed for school.

And now, she was tired and sleepy again.

[School will begin next week and I'm already bored.]

She lied down on her bed and turned the huge flat-screen TV on. She was looking for the remote control when her phone on the night table vibrated. Instead of a name, only a cloud emoji appeared on the screen.

[Cloud.]

Cloud was Yue's best friend. Ah, it would be more appropriate to say that he was the psycho's right-hand man. But to her, Cloud was…

[A handsome pet.]

It was rare for Cloud to call. Still, she didn't bother to pick it up. After the call ended, she grabbed her phone and checked the date.

[June 2.]

"Ah, right," she said, then she got up. "It's my birthday tomorrow."

She got off the bed, squatted down in front of the bedside table, opened the vault, and took out a new bundle of cash because she already spent the one she had yesterday.

After standing up, she checked the digital clock on the bedside table.

It was already 11PM.

Sol smiled to herself. "What should I eat on my birthday eve?"

***

SOL ended up in a 24/7 fast-food chain.

Although it was already very late, the restaurant was still full. She had been standing in line for almost half an hour now. Thankfully, she didn't get bored since there was a very interesting scene unfolding right before her eyes.

The 'scene' in question was happening in the senior citizen line next to her.

But she didn't really care about that.

[That cashier boy is handsome.]

The guy was also tall and had an athletic built. He managed to pull off the purple and white uniform that he was wearing. That color combination wasn't exactly easy to pull off. Plus, the cashier boy was easily the best-looking "North Boy" she had seen ever since she became a "North Girl."

He was on the same level as Yue and Cloud when it came to physical looks.

But compared to the boys around her in the past, the Cashier Boy was refreshing. After all, he looked gentle and his smile was warm. He seemed to be the "pure" type.

"Sir, your payment doesn't suffice," Cashier Boy said politely to the old man, then he said the exact amount that the old man had to pay.

[Ah, this is really refreshing.]

The old man looked confused and embarrassed. "D-Did you already use my senior citizen discount, young man?"

Cashier Boy smiled sympathetically at the old man. "Yes, sir. The total bill is already discounted."

The old man looked disheartened by that. Then, he looked down at the food on his tray. It has four fried chicken with rice, three regular fries, and three chocolate sundaes. "Then, can I return some of my order…?"

As far as she knew, that wasn't possible.

The Cashier Boy looked heartbroken when he shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir. We can't do that when the order has already been punched in."

[Yep, I knew it.]

"Then, can you serve me first?" the middle-aged woman behind the old man said impatiently. "You're taking too much serving an old man who doesn't even have enough money to eat here." The woman had the audacity to tap the old man's shoulder. "Next time, don't come here if you don't have enough budget."

The old man's whole face turned red from embarrassment.

[This is why I hate some middle-class people. They look down on the "lower class" to feel superior.]

"Ma'am, may I know if you're a person with a disability or a senior citizen?" Cashier Boy asked, his refreshing smile gone. "I hate to ask but I have to since this lane is reserved for the senior citizens and the PWD."

[He looks hot when he's pissed.]

"I'm neither," the middle-aged woman snarled. "Does it matter?"

"Yes, ma'am. As I said, this lane is reserved for the senior citizens and the PWD," the Cashier Boy repeated himself. He was still not smiling, but his voice remained polite. "If you're neither, I'm sorry but I need to leave this lane and go to the regular one."

It was the middle-aged woman's turn to look embarrassed.

Especially when the other customers around them began to give the rude woman snide remarks.

She'd love to watch the drama more but it was already her turn to order.

She got herself a double cheeseburger with large fries. Then, she added a bucket of chicken, a box of nuggets, and three more large fries.

"Please give my additional order to the old man," she said to the female cashier that served her, then she subtly pointed at the old man in the senior citizen lane.

The female cashier smiled and nodded. "Okay, Ma'am."

"Thank you," she said, then she left.

If Yue and Cloud had seen her, they would have laughed at her for acting nice.

When she was out of the fast-food restaurant, she turned around to give the Cashier Boy one last glance.

Much to her surprise, she saw the rude middle-aged woman making a scene with her male companion now. The two seemed to be yelling at the poor Cashier Boy. The manager of the restaurant is also involved now.

Sol sighed while shaking her head at the pathetic scene. By that, she meant the ugly couple that doesn't seem to have good manners. [You can buy happiness but not class.]

***

[SINCE when did convenience stores become this strict?]

Sol was pissed because the convenience store that she went to a while ago didn't sell her beer because she's a minor.

If she was in her "area," no one would dare to chase her out.

[I want my cheeseburger with beer!]

Out of frustration, she kicked a pebble on the road.

"Ouch."

When she turned around, she was shocked when she realized that her "victim" was the cute Cashier Boy from earlier!

[He looks even better in his casual clothes.]

She also noticed that now that the Cashier Boy was in his casual clothes, they looked like a couple because of their matching outfits.

She was wearing an oversized red sweatshirt, black leggings, and white sneakers. While the Cashier Boy was wearing a red long-sleeved shirt, black slim pants, and dirty white sneakers. Her sling bag was small compared to the backpack that the Cashier Boys was carrying.

[He's more handsome up-close.]

And in fairness, he smelled nice.

"Sorry," she said after shamelessly checking him out. "Does it hurt?"

"Not really," the Cashier Boy said. "I was just surprised."

She just smiled, then she began to walk away. That was until she realized that she can use him. So she turned around and smiled sweetly at him. "Hey, can I ask a favor?"

Calling him 'hey' was rude especially since he looked older than her.

But it was a part of her tactic to charm him.

The Cashier Boy seemed surprised. But in the end, he smiled and nodded. And gosh, his complete set of teeth was probably as white as his pure soul. This boy was the type of guy that every parent wished for their daughter to marry. "How can I help you?"

She walked towards him while pulling out a bill from her wallet. Then, she stood in front of him and looked up at him. She had to because he was at least a foot taller than her. "They won't sell beer to a minor and they even chased me out," she said with a pout. "Please buy me three bottles of beer."

Maybe receiving a strange request from a minor was hard to accept because he looked hesitant and apologetic. "Uhm…"

"It's my birthday today," she said, then she gave him puppy dog eyes. "Please help me. Just think of this as your birthday gift to me."

Her puppy dog eyes always worked on Yue and Cloud– and those two were hard to please.

[That means Cashier Boy won't be able to resist my charm.]

"Uhm, I'll try," the Cashier Boy asked, then he took her money with him. "Is that all you need?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yes. Just three bottles of beer."

The Cashier Boy nodded, then he made his way to the convenience store.

Sol smirked while watching him. [Yep, I am irresistible.]

***

Hi! Please consider adding DYSFUNCTIONAL to your library. Thank you~