I Don't Want to Fall in Love</3

Chappie 3: Princess Turns to Pauper.

Now Playing: Fences-Paramore

June 19, Saturday, 10 am, Manila, Philipines

We stepped out of NAIA and as soon as I got out of the V.I.P exits glass door I was ready to get back inside. “Mon mince alors, c'est sans doute l'enfer! (My gosh… this is definitely HELL!)” I whined as I removed my cardigan.

“Mai, stop talking in French, wala ka sa France for God’s sake!” Dad reprimanded me as he got inside the car.
“Then maybe you should just send me there instead.” I told him as I sat beside him.
“Napag-usapan na natin to Mai, besides you're already here. Malapit ka pa sa Mamu mo.”
“Yeah right, how can a four hour drive be malapit? Can't you just make me stay somewhere NEARER to Mamu?! Like living with her instead?”
“Like I said Mai, napag-usapan na natin to, everything’s already set for you and nothing's going to change, and maybe if you didn’t sabotage your Tita Abi’s flight here I would have changed my mind.” I rolled my eyes as I sunk in my seat.

Yep, nadito na nga kami sa Pilipinas and its freaking hot! I mean its 10 am, shouldn’t it be cooler? And yep, ABItch was supposed to travel with us, but syempre I did something and she’s stuck in Japan courtesy of me.

So right now nasa Manila kami and were gong to Mamu’s in Novaliches and kaya ko sinabing 4 hour drive ang layo ko kay Mamu kasi, I’m staying in San Pablo and it's in freaking LAGUNA! Miles away from Manila! Anyway Mamu is Mama’s mom, mamu tawag ko sa kanya since yun yung gusto niya si Papi naman, 3 years ng patay. Sa father’s side ko naman Lola and Lolo talaga yung tawag ko sa kanila and sa Korea sila nagsstay ngayon since yung isang kapatid ni Papa dun nakatira.

Music ends here

 
“Oh My! I missed you sweetie!” Mamu hugged me.
“I missed you too! I’m so glad you're staying here!”
“You mean here with you?” Nanlaki yung mata ko sa sinabi niya, my hopes getting higher than th highest tower.
“Don’t get your hopes up Mai, were still saying in Laguna.” Alice told me as she greeted Mamu.
“It wont be that bad. Besides you always said you wanted to be INDEPENDENT!” Jasper teased as he greeted Mamu too. I gave them a sarcastic smile as I went to greet my other relatives.

Kasama ko sina Jasper and Alice sa Laguna, but I’ll be staying in a different house. Well, not really a house more of an apartment and their going to pose as my neighbor and part yun ng parusa ko, I have to do everything on my own, sina Alice naman they'll just make sure na okay lang ako.

They’ll be posing as a married couple and yes its kind of funny since obvious naman na gusto nilang isat-isa but Jasper's too proud to admit it and just ask Alice for a date and proud siya kase minsan or more like lagi siyang natatalo siya ni Alice sa maraming bagay. Jasper's also gonna be a gym teacher in my school.

And speaking of school, sa private school ako papasok. Thank god! Sa St. Margaret School. Its an elite catholic school in Laguna and syempre elite nga and I’m just an ordinary girl, I’m supposed to be from the province and kaya ako nakapasok dun is because kasali ako sa scholarship program nila.

Only the principal knows who I really am, para naman daw maiwasan yung special treatment, and also I’m posing as Mai de los Reyes. Nung una ayoko since I don’t want other people to call me Mai, bakit? Hindi naman kasi kami close no. Pero syempre may reason si dad kung bakit. So I bargained with him, in exchange of the name, he bought me a new camera.

 
By 3 pm sakay na naman kami and this time papunta na kaming Laguna. I sat at the back seat sulking.

“Stop sulking Mai, wala namang masyadong nabago sayo ehh.” Dad told me.
“Tsk! Why do I have to change the way I look and bakit mo pinaiwan yung mga gamit ko kina Mamu! Anung isusuot ko sa Laguna anung gagamitin ko dun!” I whined as I crossed my arms.
“Napaliwanag ko na sayo diba. Makikilala ka ng mga tao dito kung hindi ka namin inayusan and yung mga gamit mo puro designer things, you're posing as someone who isn’t rich anung iisipin ng ibang tao kapag nakita nila mga gamit mo?” Dad shook his head.

Yes lahat ng gamit ko iniwan kina Mamu, pati yung Ipad ko, Ipod Touch, ung N8, Torch, laptop and even my new camera, nagpabili pa ko hindi ko rin naman pala magagamit. Buti na lang naitago ko yung Iphone4 ko. In place of my gadgets binigyan ako ni dad ng 5130ng cellphone and my computer shops naman daw malapit sa apartment, yun na lang daw gamitin ko!

And to top it all of minakeover nila ko. Only this makeover made me panget! They removed my extensions kaya yung long hair ko naging hanggang sa balikat ko na lang and they dyed it black again! Aargh and hindi lang yun ang worst they replaced my contacts with glasses! I look like a freaking nerd now! And I look a tad different. But sabe ni Dad okay na daw yun coz none of the people here would recognize me since sigurado naman daw sila na wala pang nakakakita sakin sa personal and it will never cross their mind that I’m actually… well, me.

“Come on Mai, smile. You look better without makeup anyway. Bagay din sayo yung buhok mo and you look adorable with glasses.” Alice said trying to cheer me up. I just frowned and wished this was going to end soon.

8 pm, San Pablo City, Laguna

When we reached San Pablo sa Coco Palace Hotel muna kami dumiretso since dun magsstay sina Dad. Unang umalis sina Japser and Alice para hindi mahalatang magkakilala kami, tapos we left the luxury car and used a beat up L300 papunta sa apartment, nagpalit din si dad ng casual clothes.

“Oh my God!” I whispered as I walked around outside the apartment. I looked up at the 2 floor building, dito ba talaga ko titira? Its small and dingy! I mean seriously! Wala pa sa kalhati ng bahay ni lola yung buong compound, panu pa kaya yung pinakakwarto ko? Oh My God, I cant stay here!

I whipped my phone out and dialed Mamu’s number.
“Mai?”
“Mamu! Save me!”
“What? Anung nagyari sayo? Asan ka?”
“Nadito na ko sa Laguna, Mamu, ang liit-liit ng titirhan ko dito!” I whined she sighed.
“Nakapasok ka na ba sa loob?” she asked me.
“Hindi pa po, kausap pa ni Dad yung landlady ehh.”
“Oh, panu mo nalamang maliit?”
“Coz I can tell!! Mamu, ayoko dito!! Help me!”
“Sorry sweetie, but I already tried, wala akong magagawa sa Dad mo, basta magpakabait ka na lang, I’m sure you’ll be back to your old life in no time.”
“Sana.”
“I’m sorry sweetie, but I have to go. Call me."  So ayun, I pressed end and went inside.

Sa 2nd floor yung kwarto, 3 yung rooms dun and as of now 2 pa lang daw kaming tenants dun, but the bad news is hati kami sa banyo!!! I cant believe this! Nasa may likod yung banyo, and yes maliit siya. Pero I can tell it's safe naman since may maliit lang na bintana and nasa taas siya. But I mean seriously! I have to share with someone!

Pagkatapos naming icheck yung banyo nagpunta na kami sa kwarto ko and maliit nga siya! As soon as pumasok ka sa loob andun na yung salas, may sala set naman tas maliit na tv, a few steps in may divider naman ayun na yung kusina which consists of a small fridge and sink tas dining room na may maliit lang na table. Kung gusto ko daw magluto sa baba yung pinaka main kusina ng mga tenants tapos dun na sa may likod ng tv yung kwarto ko and its just a bit bigger than the whole sala. Ang liit talaga!

“Nadito na lahat ng gamit mo, naipaayos ko na kanina, wala ka ng dapat alalahanin, etong allowance mo for this month and spend it wisely.” He gave me an envelope and syempre binuksan ko and counted it quickly 3 thousand pesos.

“Ito lang?”
“Sobra pa yan. Baon mo, mga pambili mo ng necessities. Yun lang naman pag gagamitan mo niyan. Hindi mo na kailangang problemahin yung rent. I already paid for it.”

So ayun mabubuhay ako ng isang buwan with 3 thousand pesos! I mean really?! Panu ko magshoshopping? Panung pangkain ko?! Aargh! By 9 pm umalis na si Dad and I’m left alone in this dingy apartment room. I cant stay in the hotel since start na nga ng punishment ko and may mga businessmen siyang kakausapin.

I opened my closet and iba na nga mga damit ko, jeans, shorts, skirts, tshirts, shirts, tees may konting dress din pero its all unlabled, yung iba lang but its either Penshoppe, Bench or Human. I sighed, tiningnan ko din yung shoe rack may 2 slippers, isang rubber shoes, 1 doll shoes and 1 sandals. I sighed and kicked the stupid closet.

Stupid punishment! I laid down my bed and kicked the air. Oh yeah! I almost forgot I went out of my room and took the big bag I brought, I opened it up and nadun yung mga gamit na napilit ko si Dad na dalhin, it isn’t much just some hair accessories and yung mga paraphernalia ko and syempre yung art kit ko. I took the big box out and dun sa loob ng zipper, I took out my Iphone and $10, 000.

I can survive!!!!