FREYA'S POV

"Aling Belen! I want to buy your jolly champorado. Add more milk, okay? Hehe!"

I know she's controlling the amount of milk she's giving but it's not enjoyable if there's not enough milk in it! With her sneering look, I bet she's thinking I'm a thick-face to salivate for extra milk. Is it a sin to ask for too much?

"You know it's delicious for a champorado of yours to have more milk in it. Hehehe!"

"That flattering words of yours. You're so sly! Is that how you managed to seduce Nikolas?"

Wait. Is she blaming me for what happened to that drunkard?! He's detained, as of now. Is that my fault?

"Aling Belen! He drugged me! He made me drink his gin and put a freaking date-rape drug there. He tried to rape me inside my house! How could you think of me alluring old men here in our neighborhood? Am I too pretty to captivate them?" I can't help to raise my voice while talking about my side. It's frustrating to think that she's a woman, and she's siding with that pervert drunkard. This is victim-blaming. Ugh.

"R-Really?! He drugged you?! That damn Nikolas! He's a pervert!" Look at this two-faced bitch.

She lean her face on me, "Good to know your boyfriend saved you that night. Hehe.."

"B-Boyfriend..? Who... Do I have a boyfriend, Aling Belen?! Who the heck is my boyfriend?"

"Huh? He's not your boyfriend? That tall, handsome guy who bought porridge here last time?"

What the heck. I was thinking it's the same taste as her dish, I looked like a fool daydreaming it's his own cooking. I thought he was concerned with me to the point of making me a meal. Guess what? He just bought it! What a shame. I'm kind of disappointed. Pshh...

"Jesus Christ! If you've seen that guy, he was exhausted from running that night! He even asked me where your house at! He's drenched in sweat! But he still smelled great, huh? That's your boyfriend! He wouldn't be like that if he's not."

My heart flutters so bad because of her frenetic news. Is it true..? Did he really come here in a hurry just to rescue me? How did he know I was in that frightening situation?

"I-I'll court him, Aling Belen! I'll court that guy!"

"Don't you want to be hard to get? Why are you the one pursuing him? He's the guy, not you."

I was discouraged by her discerning look. This two-faced bitch doesn't even give me support. What if I don't pay for what I bought for her? Shall I pack my things after running with my unpaid champorado?

Returning back to my home, I quickly savor the dish but I couldn't finish it. I've lost my appetite. Maybe because of waiting for his call or text. Just who am I to him, right? I'm a nobody to him.

No television to watch, no internet to surf, no social media accounts for leisure time. This is how boring my life is on my day off. I prefer working in the flower shop, at least I could meet people there.

Since I left home, I cut off all my connections to them. I don't care about the will and testaments, I don't care about the money my parents left me with. They are all blood-sucking monsters with their greed. I'm here to prove to them I can stand on my own feet, that I can work to sustain myself.

Tsk, why did I take this family picture with me? Even the resentment resurfaced in my heart.

Days passed by and there were still no calls from him. I know, I know. I have his contact number on my spiderweb-like screen on phone but I'm in a dilemma whether to ring his number or not. What if he told me I'm disturbing his personal time?

"Freya, Hija!" as I heard her gentle call from the back of the shop, I quickly went there to accompany her. "Yes, Ma'am Louise?" I asked.

"Could you please deliver this Edelweiss to Lourdes University?"

"To Dean Gomes of OLLU?" I verify. I mean, he's the only one asking for a specific flower from our shop.

"Yes, please. Don't worry about the counter, Hija. I'll manage it while you're away."

There's a shortcut from here to the university so even if I took the fare Miss Louise offered, I'd still want to walk and sweat it out instead of sitting all day at the counter.

"Hey! Freya!" Hehe! The guard of the main building knows me. I can't help but giggle as he handed me a visitor's pass.

"Hello, Mang Felimon!"

"You'll arrange flowers again?"

"Hmm! You know what, I think it's his personal favorite. Don't tell them I say it, okay? Shh!"

"Hahaha! Okay, okay! I'll manage not to snitch you, hehe!"

Despite the fact that I hadn't yet turned to his office, I quickly noticed him in the hallway and shouted, "Dean Gomes!"

"Haha! Freya, my dear!" A quick tight hug is what I received as a greeting from him. Hehe! Sweet!

"Has the Edelweiss withered in the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, Dean?"

"You'll arrange it for me again, right?"

"Of course! I'm an expert there, Dean! Just say I'm an expert in flower arrangement and I'll tell Ma'am Louise to give you a discount." I nod to tease him and sat down in front of the statue to remove this withered Edelweiss from last week.

I don't get it. If Ma'am Louise gets the Edelweiss from a supplier, he's the first in line to get a bouquet or two. This type of flower is so expensive and easy to wither. I don't get the logic behind it.

"Hahaha! Indeed, my dear. I can vouch for you for that! Anyway, after you arrange those, come straight to my office. Eat something before you go, okay?"

"No! It's alright, Dean! I still have work at the flower shop—"

"I already told Louise, okay? Don't worry about it." My face secretly twisted from what I heard from him. Oh, god. I'm so sorry Ma'am Louise... It will be a long conversation, I guess. Heh.