How To Tame A Demon

Chapter 24

24 : Meet

"ARAYYY!" My hand instinctively reached for my throbbing backside, hit squarely by my mom's hanger.

"Hoy! Gumising ka na nga at kanina pa kita tinatawag sa baba! Nandito na yung hatid-sundo mo," her relentless scolding filled the room. Her words blurred in my groggy state, heavy with sleep.

Slowly, I leaned back against the headboard and stretched. I took a moment before deciding to get out of bed. Before heading out, I made a quick stop at the bathroom for my morning routine.

After a while, I finished showering and freshening up, then grabbed my bag and left my room.

Pagbaba ko, I was stunned by what I saw.

"Oh, ayan na pala ang aking prinsesa—ay! Hindi ko na pala prinsesa, may bago na kasing nagmamay-ari sa kanya," mom teased, but my focus wasn't on her. It was on the person sitting beside her on the sofa.

Pansin kong natuwa siya sa aking reaksyon at nakangising sumandal sa sandalan ng kanyang inuupuang sofa.

"Morning," he greeted me with a confident smile. I couldn't respond immediately, my emotions a jumble inside me.

"G-good morning... Travis..." I looked away, avoiding his gaze. What is he doing here? This early? Why?

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at nagtungo sa kusina upang uminom ng tubig. I opened the fridge and grabbed a pitcher of cold water, quickly pouring a glass and drinking it down.

As I swallowed, I pondered.

Ano na namang ginagawa niya rito? Sobrang aga pa. Hindi naman porket sinabi ni kuya na siya ang magbabantay sa akin ay pati sa bahay, nandito siya?

Just as I finished drinking, someone appeared behind me. Si Kuya Kurt.

"Morning, bunso!" he greeted cheerfully. I smiled and hugged him, "good morning, kuya!"

"Hmm, bango mo ngayon ah. Aga mo namang maligo! Ang alam ko, wala raw kayong pasok ngayon."

Walang pasok?

"Walang pasok? Pa'no mo po nalaman?" I asked, confused. He nodded towards the living room, pointing out the person responsible for the information.

I was about to speak when another presence interrupted.

"Why are you wearing your uniform? We don't have any classes today. Didn't your fake friends told you?" Travis butted in, calling my friends fake. I glared at him.

Sinong fake friends? Sina Andrei at April? Baka siya kamo. Mang-iiwan ng wala manlang dahilan.

"Hindi ko sila fake friends. Atsaka saan mo naman nakuha 'yang fake news mo? Ako ang president ng section natin kaya ako ang unang dapat makaalam sa ating dalawa. Lahat nalang talaga ng mga pinagsasabi mo, puro kasinungali--"

"Wow, this jumbo hotdog looks delicious. You should try it." He cut me off, shoving a large hotdog into my mouth. It must've been what my mom cooked for breakfast.

My eyes widened in shock as I pulled the hotdog out, catching a glimpse of him swallowing hard before he quickly masked it with a casual expression.

"Fuck."

Hindi naman nakaligtas sa pandinig ko ang sinabi niya kaya mas nanlaki ang mata ko. I smacked his muscular chest, flustered.

"Ang manyak mo talaga!" I shouted, hitting him repeatedly, but he just laughed it off, taking my hits as if they were nothing.

"Sa harapan ko pa talaga naglandian." We froze, turning to see Kuya Kurt shaking his head while biting into his bread. My face burned with embarrassment.