FREYA'S POV

Why? Why..? Why did I do that?! Did I really confess? Why did I scream like that?! Were there many passers by watching us? Is he laughing at me? Is he thinking even about me?

It's because.. he's good-looking. Tall, the broadness of his back and shoulder, his dominant stance the moment he entered the flowershop. The slow motion.. it's freaking true! It happened to me real time. I thought those feelings were just because of reading too much mangas. I'm suddenly regretting how I confessed.

But I don't regret about confessing my feelings to him.

"Ma'am Louise, my work here is done!"

"Sure, Hija! Be careful on the streets, ha? Bye!"

I happily wave back at her after I clean my workplace. It's tiring, but I enjoy working here.

I am a florist at Madam Louise's shop since I dropped out of college. Occasionally, the pay gets delayed because of her bills, sometimes it's advance. Even though the pay-out is inconsistent, I still managed to rent out a place in a slum area near this shop. That's what I can afford, as of now.

"Miss, are you available right now? You wanna go to a motel near here? With me? Or you want to have many guys with you?"

Ugh, I rolled my eyes to defy him. It’s always like this whenever I come home from work. Do I look like someone who's capable of tempting them? I'm just standing here, scratching my earlobe while waiting for a jeepney.

"How much, girl? I could pay you for how much you want--"

"Fifty thousand?" let's just ride his bullcrap.

"Fifty thousand?! Sure! Hop in!"

I bend down to pick up a big stone near me. Leaning in his car, "Give me fifty thousand and I'll slap it in your face. Are you a bastard?! Do I look like a slut?! Do you want me to smash your cheap car's windshield with this stone?! You arrogant son of a bitch?!"

"Fuck you, too!"

Wow! Did he really cuss at me?! Whoo. They really are testing my patience. Good thing I did not blow this stone on his face. I have nothing to give him for the medical expenses. Hehe, good work gal!

Our squatter area has been upgrading— what I mean is, the people within this area. They drink gins with squeezed pure calamansi juice as their substitute for lemon to cleanse the taste of the alcohol until morning sun comes out, gossipers are everywhere, children are continuously playing since their parents have been outside with them with their business.

"Preyang! Come here! Have a shot first before you go home!"

Here they come. Mang Nikolas, my widowed neighbor who drown himself in alcohol after his wife died because of cancer. I don't know the whole story but I pity him. He's drinking alcohol every night, no fail in that.

"Sorry, Mang Nikolas! I have a work tomorrow morning--"

"Don't you want that? You can sleep peacefully if you drink this! I bet you're tired from work."

He gently tap my eye bags just to support his claim. But I haven't had my dinner yet. Will I get sick if I chose to drink his offer?

"What now, Freya? You must want a deep sleep after a long day. Here, it would help you."

I took his shot glass full of gin. It smells horrible. It's okay, it's okay. It's just a shot. It won't hurt your liver if you took one— UGH! DISGUSTING! Does it really taste like this?! Does every alcoholic beverages taste like this?! Horrible!

"Wow, you really took a shot! Hahaha! Look at her, look at her! She's already red! Go home now!"

"I won't take one again, Mang Nikolas! Even if you give me money!"

"Hahaha! Sure, sure! I will not force you again!"

Walking toward my apartment, I don't know if this is just my hallucination but.. my vision.. is blurring. Am I already drunk with just a shot of gin? Why am I born without high alcohol tolerance?!

"Uhh.." I can't shoot the key on my doorknob with this blurry vision and shaking hands! I'm getting anxious. Why am I like this? Is it because it's my first time drinking alcoholic beverage?

As soon as I open the door, I immediately close it and hurriedly went inside to get a glass of water. It's like the water I'm gulping is coming straight from heaven. Why is my hands trembling like this? I did tremble when I confess to him but the situation now is a lot different from what happened a while ago.

"Who to call.. oh, god.."

I'm getting anxious as I don't know who to call for an emergency. I only have Ma'am Louise's contact on my phone. I have nobody to lean on! My body's too weak to stand up, sitting on the floor would lessen the strength usage. It's terrifying me now. Am I allergic to alcohol or something? But I'll show any skin symptoms if that’s the case.

It's already one in the morning and I'm lying on the cold pavement. I couldn't move an inch, any movement would make my heart beat so fast that I'm conserving even my breath. Is this the end for me? After confession, death is the next milestone?

My phone rings. Having a dilemma of conserving my motion or to accept the phone call, I did the latter even though my movement is limited. I hope.. I hope it's not a scam.

"He-Hello..?"

(Yeah. You confessed to me in front of the flowershop. You're a florist there, right..?)

I know it's unnecessary but, I couldn't help to laugh very indisposed even if its inappropriate in this kind of situation. I'm glad I answered his call. I still have the guts to flirt while on verge of death. He's my priority now. Hehe..

(Are you there? You're Freya, if I'm not mistaken.)

"He-Help me, Norton.. please.."

You're my last resort right now. I'll grab this moment just to stay alive. "Ack!" My heart! I feel like I'm having a heart attack! It’s getting numb right now!

(Hello?! Freya! Hey! Do you hear me?!)

I typed my address— "Look! Here is the product of your new drug, Congressman! It took only an less than an hour to paralyze her!"

Paralyzed?! Mang Nikolas?! Why are they surrounding me?! Who are they?! I'm lying on the floor yet they're just laughing at me!

Two man in tux carried me to my bed. I really couldn't move now! What did Man Nikolas give me?! Is this some sort of drug?!

"Heh! It's really working, huh? Nikolas, why don't you try her? She's gorgeous and young. We can just toss her out if you're already done."

"Can I really, Congressman?! My eyes are fixed on her since her day of moving in to our neighborhood. Haha! Jackpot, isn't it?!"

Norton.. please. You're my only hope. Help me..

Shit! He's starting to undress me! No, no, no! What the?! Just let me die if I see myself getting this treatment from someone I barely know! It's my fault I trusted him..

"HEY?! YOU FUCKING SON OF A BITCH?!"

"N-Norton..?"

He looked at me for a second, but all I see is rage from his eyes. He drifted his fiery glance to Mang Nikolas, kicking him with all his might. The slow motion.. it's wrong timing! Why am I simping now?!

"You dare touch her, huh?! Try again,you sick bastard! I'll cut your fucking balls off! Get the fuck out of here!!"

"Who are you—"

"I'm her boyfriend. Fuck off!" WHAT?!