Love in the Time of Vanity Fair

Chapter 2: Metropolitan

According to Sigmund Freud, the complexity of human personality is determined by three components: the id, the ego, and the superego. I have always prided myself with a well-developed superego, having the capacity to reign in the primal desires imposed by my id. Primal desires like the urge to smack the person in front of me. 

If anything would best describe him, it's persistent, because ever since he arrived at the university parking lot looking as smug as ever, he just never stopped pestering me.

...

"That papi is such a cutie. I wonder who he is waiting for," giggled a student.

I just shook my head and dragged Kathleen to the parking lot when I saw the arrogant smirk of Ian Marcus Zobel. Ever since Switzerland, the thoughts of him have vexed me. I kept on getting irritated at the mere thought of him, and his haughty countenance did not help his case at all. There was an air of confidence that surrounded him. Perhaps, it was to be expected given his status. But that was not something that I expected to deal with outside of the conference. 

"Mr. Zobel, fancy seeing you here," I started as we reached him. My car was parked a couple of lots away from his and it was inevitable.

"Fancy indeed. I see you got the package I sent you," he said while gesturing to the bouquet I was holding and causing Kathleen to squeal.

"Mars, hindi mo naman sinasabing may date ka pala eh!" she exclaimed a little too loud and a little too enthusiastically for my liking.

"Oh my gosh, he's here for Doc Isa?!"

"He and Doc Isa kinda look bagay naman together eh!"

"That's because I don't," I deadpanned Kathleen without breaking the eye contact with Zobel. "Thanks for the flowers but I do hope this is the last time," I told him.

He merely raised an eyebrow as his lips were drawn into a smirk. "We'll see Doc. We'll see" he said and I walked away from him.

I settled inside my car with Kathleen on the shotgun seat, and she started pestering me about that obnoxious guy. 

"So ano nga? Is there anything going on between you two? That man was pogi ha!" Kathleen babbled out. I just shook my head and ignored her the entire time. It didn't stop her from asking questions. By the time we reached her house, I was ready to forcibly push her out of the car before I hear another word from her and strangle her.

Huffing, I drove home. The rain was already pouring as I took the turn to the block that led to my house. I almost cursed myself when I realized that I had forgotten my umbrella and had no choice but to run under the rain. Mentally berating myself, I sprinted towards the gates and opened them before dashing back to the car, shivering as the air conditioner blew the cold breeze towards me. I parked hurriedly before climbing down. I entered the house sopping and cursing the hell out of the day... and Ian Marcus Zobel.

I jumped under the shower, more than relieved to be out of the wet clothes. I took the time to gather my thoughts. I shouldn't be this affected by the mere presence of the man. I had no reason to be flustered.

Flustered. Why was I flustered? 

I shook the thought away and stepped out of the water as my fingertips wrinkled. I wore the comfiest oversized shirt I had and paired it with my blue plaid pyjamas before going to the kitchen where I saw my mom. She was sitting on the stool by the counter, grinning like a madman. She waggled her eyebrows when she saw me approaching. 

"What is going on?" I asked, slightly confused. Bakit ba kasi ang weird ng araw na to?

"Anak, hindi mo naman sinasabi na may boyfriend ka na. Don't worry, your dad and I won't stand nanaman on the way of your happiness," she teased and winked.