Chapter 3: Deal

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RACKS!”

Everyone here applauded us while my other relatives were singing in a small cubicle. You can’t hear that because it’s soundproof.

“Happy birthday, my love,” Mama greeted and kissed me on the cheek. Papa did the same after they congratulated me. They both wore a matching black suit. They look like mafia bosses – like they’re attending a funeral.

They noticed that I was looking there so I looked away.

“Why? Is there something wrong with my outfit?” Mama asked me while looking at her outfit. She still had a shotglass in her hand as she looked at her clothes.

“Why are you wearing black? Am I dead already? It’s like you went to a funeral.” My comment.

Papa just laughed and wiped his sweaty forehead with his black handkerchief.

“You know, it’s called fashion, sweetie.”

“What fashion? Fashion show at my birthday party?” I asked, then I looked at them as if I couldn’t believe that they could do a fashion show at my own birthday party.

“Why not? We look great anyway.” Mama said while grinning. “Anyways, where do you want to go in college? Do you want to study in Brown University?”

“Brown University is expensive, love. You even threw this expensive party. You know our Rackhie doesn’t want to socialize.” Papa said softly to Mama then quickly kissed her on the lips.

Yuck, PDA.

“Because I told you don’t bother partying. There are still debut party. Don’t bother about it mama, I’ll die anyway so what’s the use?” I said and then sighed. “No matter where I study, it’s okay.”

“Fine. Just tell me if you change your mind. We can find you a better university in the U. S., okay?”

They left in front of me to go to the stage and give their speech in front. I finished my 18 roses a while ago, which is pointless because I danced with only men. I want a girl. Papa was there, so I didn’t do anything.

My friends are just talking on a white sofa. My party is red and white themed so they all wear red.

“This venue looks expensive. I bet your family is super rich, Rackhie. I’ve never been in a big party like this before, you’re so lucky.” Eva commented while looking around but she also looked back at my face to my clothes again. “Look at that dress, I didn’t even imagine you could wear one. I thought you’re still that lesbie girl I knew a year ago.” She said while pointing to my clothes.

I’m wearing a red, one shouldered dress with sparkling real diamonds. It’s partnered with my red stilettos and a simple but fierce makeup.

“It’s never too late to change, Eva,” I said in a monotone voice. All they care about is my money. They’re the students from the same school I attended in high school.

It's been a year since me and my high school friends ended our friendship because of what Wendy said to them. I don’t know what shit she said for them to completely ruin our friendship just like that. They accused me for something I didn’t even do.

Our family is rich. I never boasted that to anyone ‘cause I wanted them to accept me for who I am. Not because I’m rich or what.

But after that friendship ended, I started ignoring those poor students. I used to be friends and greet them every morning but not anymore. It’s too tiring.

“Hey, are you even listening? The emcee said it’s time for your gifts.” That’s Eva’s voice again with her plastic smile and look. “Just tell me if you don’t want gifts. You can give it to me,” she faked a smile on my face so I rolled my eyes at her. I want to slap her so bad.

I rolled my eyes again when she turned her back against me. Why did I even consider her as a friend? She’s not even true to me. I no longer care if she fakes everything. My friends used to leave me because of false information, so what about this still girl who already look like they’re only after my money?

Can she just act like she genuinely cares for me for a day? She looks dumb faking her expression.

“Hi, baby, so my gift for you is…” Mama hung up and smiled at me. “I’ll let you guess.”

My brows furrowed while looking at her. “A mansion? Yacht? A car? What?” I guess one after the other.

I heard a series of “woahs” from people because of what I said. Is that surprising? That’s what they give me as a present for almost everyone since I turned 16. It’s boring, not surprising.

“Rhei and Siona Mendiola, we are arresting you for extortion. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have a lawyer. If you can’t afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you.” A policeman suddenly appeared and said it directly, then his fellow policemen handcuffed my parents.

I looked at the person who spoke and then I looked back at my parents. “Extortion?” I asked but they just lowered their heads to me. “Ma? Pa? What extortion?”

“Call Giffer Mendoza, my love. He can help us. We can trust him.” Papa said before finally taking her out.

They hadn’t gone far when I immediately saw the media scattered at the gate of our house. The others were still following the police car even if it was just running. I just sighed.

“What did you just say? Can’t you do anything?” I asked Attorney Hernandez in disbelief as he sat at his desk here at the law firm. “That’s not possible. You are a lawyer, you can do whatever it takes.”

“That’s wrong, ma’am.” He answered. “You can’t even pay me. How can I help you?” He asked me while raising his eyebrows.

“I can pay you! I’ll use all of my credit cards to---”

“All your credit cards can’t be used.” He interrupted what I was going to say.

I raised my brow. “And why?” I still crossed arms.

“Your family is in debt, Ms. Mendiola. All your money is transferred to the government. You’re now penniless. How can I assure you will pay me?” He asked me back.

My eyes widened. “What? You mean, no house, even shopping?!”

He slowly nodded, “Yes. All the money you’re using belongs to the Villarez family. They claim all your cars, credit cards, houses and even the other properties.”

“What? How--- I mean, what can I do? We didn’t even steal that! I know my parents and they can never do something like that.” I don’t know what to say. I can’t even think if what I’m saying is right because I don’t even know… if I should trust my parents with things like that.

“We can’t do anything without your parents- their money, for now,” he answered and sighed. “For now, excuse me, Miss Mendiola.” He left.

I sighed in disbelief. What now?

I can’t help but overthink. I am nothing without my money. I’ve been insulted a lot now because they don’t have money and now I don’t have any either. It’s annoying.

I took my phone out of my pocket to call some of my friends and ask for help. I need to cover my face and lower my pride, otherwise I won’t be able to sleep later.

Eva answered my call first. I have been calling her a lot because she always left me on ring until this.

“What now?” She asked with a hoarse voice. She obviously knows the reason why I called her. “I have no money so stop calling me.” I even heard her sigh on the other line.

“I’m not asking for money. I have money.” I answered with the same tone. “I just want to ask if I can sleep in your place for tonight ‘cause I’m still finding how I can fix this shit---”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you. My parents will kill me. So please stop calling me and fix things yourself.” She said and hung up.

What the hell? That bitch.

What else can I expect from that girl? She’s just a sucker for our family because they are trying to squeeze their small business into my daddy’s company. Tch. I swear I won’t let even one step of her feet walk in our house when I fix this fucking thing.

I was going to call my other friends, but I remembered that they and Eva are both suckers and only after money, so I stopped. Instead, I just thought of another way and who I could live with tonight.

“Call Giffer Mendoza, my love. He can help us. We can trust him.”

Right!

My face slightly lightened. I smiled but my smile faded that fast when I remembered I don’t know who the hell is that Giffer Mendoza. I don’t even know his number.

What am I supposed to do? I’m homeless.

“Your name is Rackhie, right? The daughter of Rhei Mendiola?” The woman asked when she saw me walking in a grocery store today.

I’m here now to use my remaining money to buy food.

A reporter…

“I’m not. Excuse me.” I awkwardly smiled at her and tried to hide my face. But he moved so quickly, I just turned my back on him and he was right in front of me.

“Can I ask a few questions regarding the---”

“I told you, I’m not the one you’re talking about. So please get the hell out of my sight.”

He didn’t budge and even took out his phone to record our conversation. I’m getting annoyed with him because people are starting to look at us.

I went to the cashier to pay for my purchases. I didn’t go to another section to buy things to clean my body and face because there were too many people there and maybe someone would recognize me so I didn’t go any further.

“Ma’am just a question,” he almost pleaded.

I didn’t look at him and just waited for the woman to finish checking the items I bought. When she gave me the bills, I paid them immediately so I could leave there.

He still chased me so I immediately ran out and looked for a taxi and got in there.

When I got inside I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked in the rear view mirror to see if they followed me but it didn’t seem like it. I don’t see anyone following us.

“Just drop me off at the nearest park,” I said while looking out the window. It was closed so I opened it to breathe fresh air.

I hadn’t been doing what I was doing for a long time when my cellphone suddenly vibrated from my handbag so I took it to see why it was vibrating. It’s from my Instagram message request.

@ameergraye: where did you go guck I almost got lost

@ameergraye: fuck*

Seen.

I raised my eyebrows. Who is that?

I was just going to ignore him but my cell phone rang again so I closed my eyes tightly. How did he know my secret account?

@ameergraye: are you going to reply or what

@rxckhie: who are you fuck ( you too)

Seen.

Typing…

Because it took him so long to reply, I thought of checking his profile to find out who he is. We don’t have mutuals. Who is this? He also has no profile and posts.

@ameergraye

Ameer Graye Mendoza

0 posts 762k followers 102 following

Proverbs 3:5-6

Follows you

What? Is it an artist? His profile is verified! It’s because he doesn’t have a post so I can’t see his face. I can’t tell if he’s familiar.

My notification rang again.

@ameergraye: hey

@ameergraye: why haven’t you followed me back yet?

@rxckhie: because I don’t want to. I don’t even know who the hell you are, prick! You thick face!

@ameergraye: where are you? I was here at your house but you said to leave.

I thought it was his last message until he added something again.

Btw, I also have a thick nose, you might want to try it

@rxckhie: sorry, I don’t just meet people I don’t know. I don’t care if your nose is thick, so please do not message me again. Thank you.

@ameergraye: you don’t know me? I’m famous.

@rxckhie: can you find my care please

@ameergraye: why are you replying if you are not talking to someone you don’t know?

I didn’t reply to him anymore. I just waited for us to get to the park because they said we were almost there when I asked the driver earlier.

When we arrived, I first fixed my hoodie and face mask, then I paid and finally got out of the car. I still looked around because someone might recognize me. The car had just left when the rain started. I’m really unlucky.

And since I didn’t have an umbrella, I ran to a store to take shelter but in the middle of running I slipped because of the wetness that I hadn’t seen before. On the floor.

I really thought I was going to fall.

“Are you okay?”

My eyes widened when I saw the face of the man behind me. He held my clothes from behind so I didn’t fall completely. Fortunately, my clothes were strong so they didn’t come loose.

“F-Fuck,” my reaction was mixed. Shocked, amazed, nervous, happy, then scared. Shocked then amazed because he was able to lift me with just one hand, nervous because he might let go of me then happy because he hasn’t let go of me yet.

I was like a toy that was set up when he set me up. He was still holding my hoodie from behind.

He is holding me in his right hand while his left hand is holding a black umbrella. I can also feel the coldness of his hand because it touched the back of my neck earlier.

“Thank you.” I said and smiled. I was about to leave but I couldn’t go away because he was still holding my hoodie. He didn’t want to let go. I just faced him and looked at him, “C-Could you please take your hand away please? I’m leaving.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. My eyebrows also raised spontaneously. Why? Is he challenging a fight? I will not back down from him.

“I don’t want to.” He was still looking at me when he said that.

I was about to speak when I noticed his familiar face. I think I’ve seen him before but I can’t remember where.

“Have we met?” I will ask.

“No.” He answered. “So you’re here. I’ve been looking for you for a while now.” He said and then he let me go. I felt my whole body get cold when his face came closer to me. He seemed to feel that too, so a smile appeared on his face.

Even though he was looking at the floor, I could feel his smile.

“Are you nervous?”

“I-I feel like I know you,” I said almost in a whisper. He is really familiar to me. That’s his face. I just can’t say where I saw him. I’m just sure that I’ve seen or met him more than twice somewhere. I don’t really remember a bit. Where is that? Hey. “Besides, why should I be nervous? Who are you?” I added more but it was still a whisper.

Maybe his brain is laughing at me. But I don’t like him! But he’s handsome! And he is very white.

“Just now I saw a rich woman who is more trippy in speaking Tagalog than speaking English,” when he said that he looked me in the eye. “You do not know me. But I, I know you well.”

“Huh?”

“My name is Ameer Graye Mendoza.” He said while still looking into my eyes. The smile on his face was gone. Now that has been replaced by a wide smile.

Are his eyes shining or am I just squinting?

“I-I don’t know you,” I said and tried to remove his hand from my hoodie even though my hand was still wet from the rain.

“Just a while ago we talked and now you don’t remember me.” Now his smiling lips quickly disappeared. “I’m famous, you really don’t know me? Why not? It’s disappointing,”

He also avoided looking at me but he continued to advise me.

“I seriously have no idea who the hell you are.”

“Have you heard about Giffer Mendoza?”

I remained silent but suddenly my brain processed everything he said. Am I so floaty that I don’t remember that he was the one I chatted with earlier?!

And wait, they even have the same last name when Giffer! I’m sure it’s his relative.

“He’s not there,” he said without expression.

My eyes widened. “Huh?”

How is that? There is no one to help us. What can I do? He is our only remaining hope for now.

“Do you know Giffer? Maybe you can take me to their house---I’ll pay you any amount. Just take me to their house.”

“No matter how much?”

I looked at him when he asked me that. He was also looking at me even though his face was expressionless. So I immediately looked away. I got more and more nervous. I don’t have much money with me right now because I bought groceries.

“No matter how much.” I say it again.

“Alright, deal.” He said then walked to somewhere. Maybe in his car.

I was about to follow him when he suddenly returned.

“You’re not going to take what you bought?” he asked while pointing to the ones I bought earlier. Those are scattered on the floor.

I didn’t even notice or feel that before.

“Just wait,” I said awkwardly smiling at him. I don’t know, I’m nervous for no reason.

I took the contents of the plastic ones because most of them had holes. I just put the small chips in the pocket of my hoodie and then I lifted the hem of the hoodie to put the leftovers scattered on the floor which was a bit wet.

He left me so I got wet with the rain. He brought the umbrella with him. He didn’t even bring an extra umbrella if he was really looking for me earlier.

I just ran to catch up with him because he was a bit far away.

When he stopped, he was in front of his black car. That sports car! Nice!

But still nothing beats my white Porsche.

He is driving. He’s also always looking in the rear view mirror so I’m a bit out of sorts. I decided to just use my cellphone and listen to songs on Spotify. I’m also cold but I don’t want to complain. I’m used to it.

We had come quite far when he spoke.

“Your family is scattered around the news,” he said.

I just nodded – still not looking at him.

“Hey,” he said so suddenly that I was surprised. He was the one I wanted to look at but a towel met my face. “Wipe it off, you might die here and I would be forced to pay for your expenses.” He said that the air conditioner was closed.

I just took it and wiped the part of my body that was wet.

“Thank you,” I said with a smile.

Even though the wet ones on my body had dried a little, I was still cold so I just put them on my shoulders and turned them into a jacket.

“Is it still far?” I asked after a few minutes. I also looked outside to see if I was familiar with where we were going.

“We are close.”

He is right. After a few minutes we stopped at a big house. I know that house! I can’t be wrong.

“T-This is Giffer’s house?” I will ask.

He turned to me and raised an eyebrow at me, “Would I take you here if not?” He asked sarcastically.

I looked at the house again to make sure. “Maybe…” I looked back at him. “Are you fooling me?” I asked him. I started to get nervous.

Maybe later what happened to me last year will happen again.

He looked at me sarcastically, “If you know I’m fooling on you, why did you come right away? You’re fine earlier and now that we’re here you’ll complain?”

“I know the owner of this house, you can’t fool me.”

He raised his eyebrows again, “You know? Who?”

I wondered if I should really say that or not. He might also know Wendy and they might even know that I followed him before.

“I just know who it is.” I just answered. “How can I be sure that this is really his house? I will believe it if you have evidence.” I’ll add more.

“Giffer Mendoza is already dead. He passed away.” He said no life.

That’s when I said, “What?!” I asked in shock. “Then why did you bring me here?!”

“Because you said I should bring you here.” He answered me sarcastically.

“Are you stupid?!” I’m rude.

“Giffer Mendoza is dead but I’m alive, as you can see. Obviously,”

“You have nothing to do with him!”

“I do have a thing to do with him. Especially, to you and your family. I’m his son. Again, in case you forgot, my name is Ameer Graye Mendoza. We own this house so I have something else to do with you.” He said. “If I don’t owe my father, I will never do this bullshit with you.”

“Before you were being kind, but now you’re just bullshitting.” I whispered.

“What? Are you going in or not?” he asked me.

“Going in,” I answered. “You have to help us. I don’t know why my parents mentioned your father, but I hope you will help us fix everything.” I said as I went inside.

I went in first because he had closed the gate outside.

Suddenly something came to my mind when I was right at the door of their house. I couldn’t open the door knob so I faced him first.

He was about to open the door when I started talking again.

“Do you have someone here with you?” I asked curiously.

“No one.” He answered quickly while still opening the door.

“How many rooms do you have?”

“Four.”

“I’ll just sleep here!” I shouted.

He stopped at the door opening to look at me. “Not allowed.”

“Pleaseee! I’ll pay, eh,”

“I don’t believe you anymore. You didn’t even pay earlier. You said no matter how much.”

“You didn’t say how much,” I fired back.

“Why? Can you pay?” He raised an eyebrow. I can clearly see his thick eyebrows now. His right eyebrow still has a scar that is down.

I looked at him awkwardly. “Of course!” I said annoyed. “If not now, in the next few days. As long as I pay.”

“Lol,” he whispered but I heard.

“I can hear you!” I shouted angrily. Crazy? I’m really annoyed. He’s annoying! Is it his hobby to annoy? Or is he trying my patience? I’m just going to slap it.

The door finally opened. The scattered things appeared to me. My shoe almost got caught on the pillow that was scattered on the floor.

“Hey fuck! So dirty!” I exclaimed. “I don’t want anymore. I can’t sleep here anymore! Don’t you know how to clean?” I looked around the whole house. There were even spider webs in the corners so I was even more turned off. What the hell!

“I know how to.” His expression was still blank.

“Why don’t you try to clean your house?”

“Shut up if you still want me to help you.”

Come on, is he threatening me? Why? This is a different kind of man.

“I do not want. I’m leaving. Besides, just invite me again after you clean your house.” I said at once out.

“You won’t be able to sleep peacefully tonight,” he said seriously.

“I will look for a shelter. Just not a dirty room.” I finally got out the door but he was still inside.

He didn’t even say, ‘Wait, I’ll go clean first,’ or, ‘I’m sorry, I forgot to clean the house.’ Either way, nothing!

“Whatever,” he said then slammed the door shut.

Why! I’m sure I won’t get along with this creature.