I'm trapped

"Can't you see what time it is? Stupid!"

"Hi, pumpkin!" and my eyes widened. I hurriedly turned off my phone.

I feel so annoyed, "What the heck, where did he get my number!"

Because of that stupid mistake, my calvary has already begun. I couldn't even sleep again, wondering where Patrick got my number. Even my classmates don't have my digits. This isn't good.

If I can only turn back time.

End of flashback.

I just couldn't stop my tears from falling, remembering how pathetic our start had been.

"Alex! Alex...Hey!" She waved her hands and always had this happy face whenever she saw me.

That is Miyah "Michaela Beatrice Lorejo" my bestfriend. I'm not anti-social anymore, I also have friends, and most of all, I don't look like a gangster anymore, thanks to Miyah.

Breathlessly, Miyah approached me, "Hey! I've been calling you several times." She was still chasing her breath.

"Are you crazy? We are inside the Mall and not in the supermarket," and we both chuckled.

She offered me a milk tea from our favorite store. We have too much in common, except for one reason: she's taken, and I'm still single, waiting in vain.

She was taken a month ago. But she still did not want to introduce her man because he wanted us to meet in person, and I respect her privacy.

The two of us are like that; we don't ask questions about things we don't want to share. She just met her boyfriend on a dating app. Miyah is prettier than me.

She also has a lot of suitors, but none of them win her heart, not until she meets her Mr. Right. And I don't have questions about that. I'm happy whenever she's happy.

The apple of her eye is still in London and will return to the Philippines for good on our graduation. That would be two months from now.

Miya is a happy-go-lucky girl. She is easy to be with. I met her when we were in our first year of college. She was in the same class as me with the same schedule, of course.

It's tough for me to find friends since I'm from Cebu and I only study here in Manila. She was from Makati, and she helped me out all the time. Manila is too big for someone like me. And I'm very thankful for her.

"Hey! You're daydreaming again." she always caught me thinking about something. "Who are you thinking again this time?" she said with raised eyebrows.

"Is it Mr. Changer again?" she rolled her eyes again. "Move on, bestie! It's already five years, and who knows, he is already married this time." she even showed me the date today.

"The past should remain in the past, do you understand?" she said with a warning.

Mr.Changer, she doesn't know the name, only our story. I didn't drop a name since then. I keep it a secret to myself, dying and hurting every day for letting him go.

"What? No!" I knew she wouldn't buy my excuses, so I changed the topic. "Come on. You're going to change your hair color, aren't you? I'm also going to fix mine," I said as I avoided her question.

Miyah keeps reminding me about forgetting the past; she's "palaban" but a crybaby. I can still remember how miserable she was when we were in our second year.

She keeps on crying over her ugly ex, who made her broken. It took months before she finally moved on. I really like Miyah because she's always a female version of my knight in shining armor who always defends me in so many ways.

Fast Forward.

We were currently getting our hair done when I remember those days again...

Flashback.

I did not attend class the day after that call. I went to the Parlor first thing in the morning to fix my hair and even change it into black. I also got my eyebrows done, my nails polished, and all. To make it short, I desperately wanted to be beautiful.

You are not even pretty at all.

That Facebook post made me angrier right now.

You're about to fall from my trap!

I was planning on taking revenge. If he finds me attractive and finally wins his heart, I will definitely make him pay for all the trouble he made to me.

Annoying!

I was looking for a perfect-fit uniform. That's what I'm going to wear.

I am planning to make you fall, Alex! You're going to pay for everything!

I'm walking silently in the hallway. Everyone is staring at me. I know because I look pretty today.

Fast forward.

I'm fixing my things right after the class ended—time for our community service.

I was on my way out when Alex showed up, "You were absent yesterday. We will end at 6 pm today." he growled.

I was surprised, and I knew he could work without me. "What? You didn't work yesterday? I can extend—"

"You're still not pretty!" Smirk.

I was frozen while clenching my fists.

And that made my day worse again.

I ran and followed him. My eyes were narrowing; I wanted to chop him with a knife, and I wanted to punch him. I could do nothing but bow down and keep the anger to myself because I felt embarrassed.

I really hate you!

I was just following behind him when he suddenly stopped.

Bogs! A loud bang.

I banged my head on his back.

He stopped walking, "And oh," he said while turning his back on me. "If you are planning to seduce me, it's not effective," he laughed slowly. "You're not even pretty. Even if you got a whiter complexion, you are still ugly!" he teased me.

I was shocked by his words, "Excuse me, Mr. Feeling Handsome-"

"Correction, Mr. Handsome!" I wasn't able to finish what I was supposed to say. I rolled my eyes. He has all these guts and charisma that always upsets me.

"Grr! Whatever!" And I walked out. I was furious as I lifted the garbage to put it in the MRF.

You thought you were too handsome with your looks? Feeling handsome! Pervert! Annoying! Disgusting! Die, you moron!

I kicked the bottle that I saw and hit the dog that had just been sleeping.

Rawrr...

Jesus! Not now, Dogie. I'm not in the mood.

Aww! Aww!

I dropped the trash can and ran, chased by a disturbed dog. Alex was just behind me, so I hid behind him. Luckily, he held a stick and used it to send the dog away. I felt relieved as I saw the dog running away.

"Enjoying me? I don't let strangers touch me that way, especially if that stranger is as ugly as you!" he said with disgust, only to find out I was hugging him because of so much fear.

"Sorry! Mr. Feeling Handsome!" I rolled my eyes again while he was fixing his uniform.

"Correction, Handsome!" he said with authority.

Whatever!

To escape from his annoying looks, I continued cleaning. I rested for a while when he threw a water bottle at me. "Drink! You look even uglier." I did not answer; instead, I rolled my eyes and drank the water. It is tough to argue with someone like him.

After all these years, I am now in front of someone who is more bully than me. He walked past me and threw the towel.

"Really?" I answered angrily.

"Wipe your face! You're sweating, and it disgusts me so much!" he said with disgust.

I rolled my eyes again. I wiped the sweat on my face and threw the towel into the trash bin.

I am trapped in my own game!

After all the efforts to make myself beautiful, he's still not done to make my day miserable.

End of flashback.

....to be continued.