good girls, bad habits [Maloi × Female Reader]

chapter 16

Nanghihina ang tuhod ko dahil sa tingin niya, parang kailangan ko humingi agad ng paumanhin. Ano bang nangyayari sakin? Ano bang problema ko?

Before I can do that, however, I escape through the door that led up here and run down the stairs, skipping as many steps as possible without tumbling down. I can hear Maloi's heavy footsteps behind me, no doubt wanting vengeance for my actions.

I doubt anyone has ever left her high and dry like that.

Once I reach the bottom of the stairwell, I push through the door and enter a buzzing hallway. The bell must have rung because the hallway is full of students. For once, I'm glad there are so many people; I can hide from Maloi. I step into the crowd and try to maneuver myself through all the bodies, ducking my head so Maloi can't see me through them.

I can faintly hear the door to the roof opening as Maloi also enters the hallway. Looking up, I try to find anything I can hide behind so she won't see me, and that's when I spot Maki. He is looking directly at me with a raised eyebrow and his head tilted, obviously wondering why it seems like I am hiding from someone. That's because I am.

Alam kong hindi ko siya kilala, pero naging mabait siya sa akin dati, at kailangan ko ng kahit sino na mabait sa akin para maitago ako mula kay Maloi. Bukod pa doon, may mga tanong din ako sa kanya. Paano niya nakilala ang pamilya ko?

"Maki!" I call out quietly to the guy, not wanting Maloi to hear my voice. He waves me over to his spot against the wall, and as soon as I squeeze through the crowd, he grabs my wrist to bring myself to him finally out of the mass number of people; I heave a sigh of relief. "Thank God," I mumble under my breath, clutching his bicep so I can stop almost hyperventilating.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" The guy asks with concern, his eyebrows furrowed once again and his lips pulled into a pout. I give him a reassuring smile before taking a small step away.

"Sorry, I hate crowds... or people in general.' Maki gives off a hearty laugh, looking down at me with admiration. Sino ba 'tong lalaki na to?

"Don't worry about it. Buti nga nakita kita. Baka pwede tayong mag-usap?" I raise my eyebrow and tilt my head now. Does he want to talk?

"Tungkol saan?"

"I know you heard me before you walked off with your friend. I thought you maybe wanted to talk about that?" Maki asks it as a question, but I know he knows that I am dying to talk about it. I nod my head, gathering my thoughts.

"Now isn't the time, though," I tell him, referring to the tyrant of students around us.

"Of course. Meet me at my place after school?" He wants me to go to his house? Hindi ko nga siya kilala. "Or your place? If mas okay sayo yun." I nod my head; it does.

"Bigay ko nalang sayo number ko. Can you text me your address?" Once again, I nod, grabbing his phone from him and putting my number in. I look at my contact name and widen my eyes at what I see.

CutieY/N

"Ah, ayos nice name..." I mumble, not realizing how to respond to that.

Maki's eyes widened, and he quickly took his phone back.

"S-sorry... I just think na maganda kal." A blush rises to my cheeks, and I must look down so he doesn't see. No one's ever called me that before. Then someone clears their throat, and I feel my whole mood drop.

Maloi.

"There you are," Maloi says, attempting to mimic a cheery voice. "I lost you in the crowd." Maki looks at me hesitantly, obviously remembering that I looked like I was hiding from someone before. I can't have him worry about anything.