Stranger's Hug

ANGELLE's POV

"YOU LIED to me! You fucking lied to me, Cris! I thought you're the one who can change me. But why are you doing this to me? Am I not enough? Tell me!"

I COULDN'T help but wipe my tears as they streamed down my face. That's why I dislike watching romantic movies with excessive drama. When it comes to certain scenarios, my tears are shallow. I also struggle to understand men - whether they're being dramatic or it's reality, they are good at first.

"Stop what you just watched, Angelle, and fix yourselves because we're here," Mama said, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

"Yes." I replied.

I turned off my cellphone and looked outside. The car came to a halt in front of a house that I recognized as my Aunt's, who is Papa's younger sister. We are moving here today. I am against moving here, but what other options do we have?

When Papa and Mama came down from th car, my siblings joined them. As I was combing my hair with my hand, I heard three knocks on the car window, which made me stop. I looked up and saw my cousin smiling and waving at me.

I smiled back and gestured for her to wait for me.

I fixed myself before stepping out of the car. "Couzie!" my cousin screamed, hugging and kissing me on the cheek.

She acts as if we haven't seen each other in years, but we were together last month at Kathniel's mall show.

I would like you to meet my cousin, Jovelyn Bliss Gallardo. She happens to be one of my closest cousins on my father's side. In the past, we used to team up and engage in some silly and mischievous endeavors. I vividly recall when she took me along to meet her ex-boyfriend, an event that ended in us receiving a thrashing from her mother upon our return home.

She let go of our hug and turned to face me. "We're going to be neighbors, Cousin!" she exclaimed, but it was odd because instead of looking at me, she was staring at my back.

I grinned and looked back. And there I saw a tall-looking guy at Ate Jove. They looked at each other as if they were the only people here.

I turned to Ate Jovelyn and smiled foolishly.

"Your boyfriend?" I asked.

He stared at me aggressively before nodding with enthusiasm. I no longer wonder, will she look if it's not her boyfriend?

Ate Jove pulled me closer to her and she even plans to introduce me to her new boyfriend. In fairness, he has a good appearance, unlike her previous boyfriends. Just kidding! Hehe.

Ate Jove introduced me to her boyfriend, “Yam meet my cousin Angelle,"

"Hey there, Angelle! Just wanted to let you know that Jovelyn's boyfriend's name is Andre." He said, smiling and reaching out his hand for a handshake.

I shook his hand and smiled. After that he faced Ate Jove.

"Prof and our other friends invited me to go to Happy Mall tomorrow. Would you like to come?" Andre asked Ate Jove.

Prof means Professor right? The professor invited them to the mall, indicating a close relationship. Wow!

"Yes! It would be great. Can I bring my cousin?" she said with a friendly tone, expressing enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of spending time with her friends and boyfriend.

"Yes you can bring her, we'll get together with the Hype beasts." He answered.

Hype beast? Beast = Monster?

"Excuse me?" I interrupted them with my curiosity. “Get together with Hype Beast. What is it?” I asked. They looked at me in surprise.

I just want to confirm if the hype beast I'm thinking of is the one currently trending on social media. These men wear form-fitting clothes and are often criticized for being jejemon.

"You don’t know about the Hype Beast? They're trending on Facebook right now," answered Jove.

They always appear in my newsfeed since they became famous after being bashed. That's why I recognize the word Hype Beast.

"I actually know them because I saw some post about them,” I smiled.

“You'll meet a lot of hype beasts there, couz. Most of them are handsome." She answered excitedly.

I can't believe this girl. What does she think of me, a handsome hunter? She's really crazy.

"I don't know anything about fashion, so what am I going to do there? I'm not a hype beast," I snorted in response.

"Hehe, you'll just come with me and we'll go for a shopping," she said.

Hearing the word "shopping" always puts a smile on my face. I love shopping, but my mom thinks it's expensive.

"Is it okay if you take me with you guys?" I asked so they wouldn't notice I was excited about shopping.

"Sure, they'll be happy when they find out we have new chicks with us- ouch!" Andre didn't finish what he was going to say when Ate Jove hit him lightly in the stomach. "Why did you hit me?" He asked in surprise while holding his stomach.

"You say a lot. Let's go and we will help them to unpack their things.”

He smiled at her and walked with her into Jove's house. I shook my head at the two.

When we entered, Daddy greeted me with a hug. "I missed my beautiful niece!" he said as he patted my head. I smiled.

"Oh noy, let's go and move it so you can see the house and start cleaning it." Mommy said. She went out first and we followed her.

The house we buy four houses away from Ate Jove’s house. It's so close that it's not tiring to go far to say hello. When we went inside, Mama smiled because the house was tiled and beautiful. It doesn't look old because the owner probably renovated it and really paid attention to it before selling it.

We let them see the whole house. My cousin and her boyfriend and I went upstairs to see the rooms and to choose my room. The house is 2 storey, but it has 4 rooms and 1 toilet and bath. It also has a wide terrace that I liked. Since I like to be alone and meditate, that's a perfect place for me. I chose the room near the side of the gate so that once someone is there, I can see them right away. For safety purposes. Because I'm an overthinker.

We started to get my things and organize. My cousins have also helped with the arrangements to make it easier for me to finish.

After 2 hours Ate Jove and I finished fixing my room. I don't have a lot of things. My room is not girly since my hobby is books and watching anime.

"Thank you for helping me, couz." I said with a smile while sitting on my bed.

It's tiring but it's so worth it because my things are well organized.

"You're welcome!" she response with the smile. "By the way, I'll go first, because Andre wants to see me downstairs." I nodded which she immediately understood and left my room.

I looked at the bedside table and the picture on it caught my attention. "She really put it without my permission huh," I shook my head. I stood up and went down to help Mama and Papa.

•~•~•~•~•

It was twelve o'clock when Papa and Mama finished arranging things in the new house. Our new residence is not big, but it's okay. "Is the store still open?" Papa asked while sitting on the sofa.

"Why, Papa?" I ask.

Don't tell me that he will buy cigarettes again?

"Let's buy some snacks and coke so we can eat," replied Papa.

'Well, I like what Papa said. It's nice to eat when you've just finished fixing things. "Give me the money, Pa. I'll just go out and look for an open store." I said and stood up. Papa grabbed his wallet and handed me the money. I left the house and looked for a store where I could buy snacks.

When I turned around, I immediately saw a 24 hour store. I quickly go there and bought what Papa ordered.

"Angelle," when I received the change, someone called me so I looked at the side of the store where I heard the caller's voice.

Even though it was dark, I still noticed a few men hanging out and sitting on a long piece of wood that was meant to be used as a chair. Which of them called me? I just ignored it and maybe I just binged. And when I was about to leave, I saw one of them stand up and come to me so I could see his face in the light. Oh, its Andre!

"Oh, it's late at night and you're still out? Does Ate Jovelyn know?" I ask at Andre.

"Hehe, don't tell her. I'm bored at home so I'll just hang out here." I nodded. "Oh, yes. I'll introduce you to my friends." He said while pulling me as if we were close.

I can't say no anymore because he's pulling me already. When we got to his so-called friends, I noticed their clothes. Are these the hype beasts he claims?

"Par, it's Angelle by the way. She's the one I'm telling you. Jovelyn's cousin." Andre said, I smiled at his friends and they smiled back.

Suddenly, a man stood up and wiped his palm on the cloth, then handed me his hand.

"Hello, John by the way. The most handsome here." I laughed a little at him and accepted his waiting palm, only this John not wearing a shirt

"It's nice meeting you, John."

I withdrew my hand. And faced the others who introduced themselves. I got to know them quickly and they were fun to talk to... but when I remembered that Papa had given me an order and I'm still here.

I was about to say goodbye to them when suddenly someone hugged me from behind. And I even felt that he put his chin on my shoulder. For reasons, it felt like a strange electricity suddenly flowed through my body, causing me to be unable to move immediately.

"Link!" Andre's friends shouted, but the man hugging me didn't seem to pay attention.

"I told you that you would come to me on your own." He whispered.

Because of his horrible whisper, I was brought back to the present and I violently removed his hand wrapped around my body and faced him then slapped him.

PAK!

"Pervert!" I screamed.

"What the hell! Who are you?" he asked in shock.

"You ask me who I am? All of a sudden you're hugging me without my permission!" I shouted.

My entire body trembled with shock and fear. Who wouldn't be scared if a stranger suddenly hugged them? What if this person is actually a thief and is holding a knife pointed at my side?

Andre's friends stood up and approached the man who suddenly hugged me.

"Link, why did you hug Angelle?" asked Paps Justine. I already know their names.

"I-I thought she was Gipsy." The man named Link stammered. Suddenly his friends laughed.

"He's far from Gipsy." John said while laughing.

"Next time, look first before you hug someone." I said annoyed.

So this Link guy looked at me. "Sorry if I hugged you, Miss." He said sincerely.

Because my pride was high and I didn't like the way he hugged me, I didn't accept his apology.

"You think with a simple apology, everything will go away? You didn't take think carefully." I said then walked out.

Even before I could turn around, he let out a scream that made my blood boil even more.

"You're not pretty, you just look like a fuck girl!"

I pretended not to hear it and continued walking home. fuck girl? Duh, he doesn't know how nice girl I am. If I see him again, I will kick his treasure so he knows who the fuck human is.

•~•~•~•~•~•

Early in the morning, Ate Jove came to me and I shared with her what had happened that night. I had trouble sleeping because of what a man had said to me - it was the first time in my life I had ever been called a derogatory term.

"That Andre is such a jerk. If he hadn't dragged you there, none of it would have happened. That guy is an animal and he'll hear from me later!" Ate Jove said, clearly irritated.

It's a good thing that Papa went to work and Mama went to mommy's house so it's okay for Ate Jove and I to talk about what happened last night.

"Let it go couz, Andre is not at fault here." I said then took a sip of my milk.

"But Link shouldn't have told you that anyway. Does she know you enough to say those?" I laughed at Ate Jove reaction. Very angry.

"Yah~ calm down, couz. I can get revenge on that man." I said.

"Oh, I don't know!" He then pulled me upright.

"Oh, where are we going?" I wondered.

"Just strolling, I'm feeling bad about what you said." He said with difficulty.

When we went strolling, we passed by at the computer shop and decided to open time. but, we haven't even sat on a chair yet I saw the one that would ruin my day, I looked at Ate Jove whose neck turned into a giraffe, I was about to approach her to pull her out of the computer shop but —

"Babe!" Ate Jove looked at the man who called her. And I just closed my eyes.

Ate Jove was about to smile when she saw her boyfriend, but she saw next to him the person we were just talking about. She took great strides to get closer to it.

"Link! We need to talk!" Ate Jove said authoritatively raising the man's eyebrows.

It's not that I find this man handsome, but his face is so perfect. He's not handsome and he's not ugly, he's just perfect. Even though he is just playing at a computer shop, he is wearing stylish clothing that really suits his body. Ahhhh! What the fudge I am talking about?

"For what? Is it about last night?" Link asked looking at me. I looked away.

I also noticed the people at the computer shop looking at us. They were disturbed when Ate Jove called Link.

"Don't stay here, let's kick it outside!" Andre joked. Ate Jove just gave him a deathly look which is why he quiet.

Ate Jove pulled me out and I saw that Jove also pulled Andre, who in turn pulled Link. Is it a pull portion?

When we were in a private place, Ate Jove started talking about what happened last night.

"It was just an accident," Link said.

"Are you on drugs? Accident? Did you just bump into my cousin and say it was an accident?" Ate Jove asked, being philosophical.

"I thought it was Gipsy that Paps was talking to, so I hugged her. I didn't mean to do that, but your cousin suddenly slapped me and even had a walk-out," I raised an eyebrow.

Is he blaming me for what happened?

"Excuse me? Do you think it's acceptable for me?" I interjected, my voice filled with disbelief. Link looked at me.

I couldn't read his eyes because they were blank as he looked at me. And his face clearly showed his disapproval of the conversation that was happening.

"It's not like you've ever experienced hugging your boyfriend," he remarked.

"For your information, Mr hugger. Never have I ever hugged my boyfriend. Aside from the fact that I am a woman and need to maintain a certain distance from men... I also value my own safety," I said firmly.

I knew I was also at fault for slapping him suddenly, but hello. I am a woman, I am different from the girls they know because my parents have never allowed me to engage in physical intimacy with my boyfriends.

"As if you were still a virgin." He said in a low voice but it was enough for us to hear.

I was stunned by what it said. And out of the blue, Supremo's dark power flared up again! Fueled by my anger, I quickly approached him and kicked him where it hurts, causing him to groan in pain. His mouth was too sharp!

"That's payback for what you've done to me, you pervert!" I said, then turned my back on them and walked away.

As I walked away, a small sense of victory lingered on my lips. Because I had gotten back at him, it was audacious of him to say that I still felt like a virgin.

I stopped at a store and bought some soft drinks. Whenever I remember what happened last night and earlier, I get really annoyed. It hasn't even been a week yet, and I've already encountered rude people here. Now I understand why Papa was having second thoughts about moving here because of the kind of people we might encounter.

"Angelle," I abruptly turned around when I heard someone call my name.

I saw Paps Justine, but he was accompanied by other men, like Link, who were also dressed up as if they were about to go somewhere. Some of them were wearing off-white jackets and t-shirts.

I approached them with a sweet smile on my face.

"I apologize for what Link did last night. He really thought you were his girlfriend," Paps said as he came closer.

I knew that he thought I was his girlfriend, but I was just really annoyed with Link because of his rudeness, especially when he called me a fuck girl.

"It's okay, it seems like being crazy runs in his blood. Anyway, we already met earlier. Can you please check if he has learned his lesson?" I said with a smile, waving at them before walking away.

Upon arriving home, I immediately opened my laptop and started searching for

new release anime. Just as my cellphone started ringing, indicating a new text message, I picked it up and quickly read the message.

From: 091226***** (10:15 am)

You will regret what you did.

After reading the message, only one person came to mind.