Arrogance versus Sarcasm

Chapter 1

Cariffia Filker

Shit just got real.

"But mom! You can't do this to me! Nooo!" I whined as mom had that irritated look on her face. I mean, who'd blame her? I'm like a bitch when I don't get what I want. Like now.

She sighed, "Honey, your grandmother is dying and she needs us there."

"My point exactly. If she's dying, why would she send us there? There's no point really. I mean, you can't take me away from this life! I'm perfectly fine staying on my own if you guys could go there," I scoffed.

My mom's a half-Filipino and her mom decided to stay in the Philippines. I got more annoyed when she used that language, "Anak, this is for the best. I love my mom and she would like to meet you. Understand me, Riffi."

I rolled my eyes for the nth time, "That's what I've been trying to do! Dad, put some sense into here. Please!"

But instead of saying anything, he just shrugged and smiled at my mom. She smiled back and then boom, the two were now in la la land. It was kind of creepy though when both of them turned to face me and wore a Cheshire grin. Dad then stated, "We're going as a family and it's final."

My eyes widened like saucers. I'd give up anything just to stay here! I'll even sacrifice my Mac laptop, iPad, iPod, Kindle, Wii, and iPhone! This is so not happening!

#

Contrary to my protest, it happened. Damn. And we're in Manila now, wherever the hell that is. It was a good thing that I bid adieu to my friends from there. I miss them now. Oh Brittany, Cassidy, Mackenzie...

"Honey, be on your best behavior, alright?" Mom put her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at me to make her look intimidating.

I boasted, "Ofcourse! This is Cariffia Filker we're talking about." I put my shades on my upper head and folded the sleeves of my blue green polka dotted button-up tee. I'm glad I wore jean shorts because damn, it's hot in here.

My dad snickered as if it was a good thing to be proud of and my mom just shook her head, giving up.

Then a loud shout came from the left side, "Mrs. Rena Filker! Mrs. Filker! Here! Here! Ay naku po, aray ko. Ay! Mrs. Filker!" Oh geez, what a woman.

Mom and dad went up to her side and gave her heartwarming smiles. "Thanks for fetching us, uh...?" Great, mom.

"Medina po. Cousin niyo po ako. Our mothers are sisters! Hahahaha!" that weird woman replied. Her accent's just...ugh.

Mom saw that I was grimacing so she grabbed my arm and practically dragged me in front of Aunt Medina who needs meds. Get me? You don't? Well you suck. "Medina, this is my daughter, Riffi. And this is my husband, Dustin," she said gesturing to me and dad.

"Nice to meet you, sir Dustin and Riffi." Ugh. That creepy smile again.

I corrected, "It's Cariffia to you, Aunt Meds." If she didn't get the pun, she's overly screwed.

Apparently mom pinched me at the side which kinda hurt a lot and that's saying something. And that creepy woman didn't even get my pun! For real! How ridiculous!

Then she led us to a car which is okay for me. It's a Nissan but I don't know what unit. I'm not fond of cars, you see. Then to my greatest astonishment, we stopped by a mansion which you know, I will live in while staying here. It's not as big as my house but it's okay. As I stepped out of the car, a girl my age came out of the house and greeted us. She looks Chinese to me. If not, she's half.

She was wearing dark blue skinny jeans and a white t-shirt that says, 'I'm swag' Seriously though?

She went up to my mom and kissed her cheek, "Hi tita! I'm Alyssa Cheng, Medina's daughter. I'm glad you can stay here in Manila. Kapag may tanong po kayo, just approach me." And then my dad, "Hi tito! You can speak Tagalog, right? I'm Alyssa Cheng! It's okay if you can't, most of the people in this house can speak English."

Lastly, she came up to me and grinned, "Hi! You must be Cariffia! I've heard a lot about you from grandmother. I'm Alyssa Cheng, your cousin." As if I didn't catch that, dweeb. I offered a fake smile, "Hi. Hopefully you heard good things though." And then she chuckled as if I was trying to be funny which I'm not. I rolled my eyes and then when I was introduced to my new buddy (my bedroom), I immediately said that I was jet lagging and I needed the sleep. When I felt the squishy bed below me, I felt satisfied and slowly drifted off to sleep.

#

I woke up to an alarm that certainly did not belong to me. I opened one eye and saw that it was mom's duck alarm that woke me up. Ugh. I decided to shake my drowsiness and took a shower since mom said that here in the Philippines, they bathe in the mornings rather than in the evenings.

When I got off the shower, I surrounded my body with a robe that I had prepared and walked to my luggage. I really have to set them later. Oh well. I chose a green skinny jeans and a blue V-neck that came down at my hips. For the shoes, I decided on black strapped heeled sandals.

Bacon-scented air invaded my nostrils and I was immediately attracted to the smell. And voíla! I'm in the dining room. Alyssa handed me a plate with a sunny side-up egg and four pieces of bacon. "We're going to hit it off, Aly," I winked.

She laughed, "That's good, cause I already like you, Fia."

I raised an eyebrow at her, "Seriously? I came up with a cool nickname and all you can do is call me Fia? Oh geez, Aly, you're better than that."

"Nah. I want to be the only one who calls you that, hun." It was then that I noticed her wearing regular jeans and a yellow polo shirt. Her hair was tied into a bun and she was wearing black Converse. "Let's get ready for school. And I should really teach you Tagalog."

I finished my breakfast and when I saw mom and dad come down, I kissed them both on the cheek and greeted them. "Fia, come on! Let's go!" Alyssa called out. I smiled at my parents and went to Alyssa.

The driver was waiting for us and so Aly grabbed my arm and drag me to her car.

We were laughing by the end of the ride because of her jokes. Then, when we were in front of the gate, Aly grinned, "Welcome to Greinheim Academy! It's the only one in the Philippines." And when we stepped out of the car, people were sizing me up. Like I care. Stare all you want at this beauty.

"I'm glad we're in the same class, Fia. Let's go! Let's go!" Her enthusiasm surprises me at times but I don't hate it. She walked up the hallways and went to the Dean's office with me to get my sched.

After that, we went to our classroom and the teacher in front (a middle-aged woman) welcomed me with a smile. "Hi, you must be new. I'm Miss Gina Maningat. Please introduce yourself." Don't mind if I do.

I went up to the front and said, "I'm Cariffia Filker from Michigan. 16 years young and Alyssa Cheng is my cousin. I don't speak much of Tagalog but I don't mind if you guys teach me." And that, my friends, is how Cariffia Filker introduces herself. Miss Gina smiled at me and stated, "We would love to teach you, for now, please sit next to that guy in the last row. It was a pleasure knowing you, Cariffia."

I nodded politely and made my way towards the back. As I sat, I noticed the guy sitting on my left as he glared at the teacher. Then he changed the subject of his glaring to me, "Anong tinitingin tingin mo diyan? Ayaw ko ng stalker nuh." I only understood the stalker part and I'm sure he was pertaining to me.

"Excuse me? Who says I'm a stalker? You're not even worth stalking," I retaliated. Then I realized that his eyes were green with specks of blue and gold.

"Yeah right. Not stalker daw, e kung makatingin, akala mo pagkain ako."

I grimaced and my face was in a form of distaste. Towards him. "Who are you anyway?"

This caused the guy to snort, "Says the girl who doesn't even look down at my book to know my name. Trying not to look like a stalker, eh? Ahh, bahala na. I'm Arroahn (arowan) Heeves. Half-Brit." This guy sure talks a lot.

"You're sarcastic, you know that?"

"You're arrogant, you know that?" he mocked.