TAMING MR. POPULAR

Episode six: So it's you!

Leo's POV

Damnit!
I didn't imagine traffic will be this bad. I bump my horn harder than I suppose to.
Tapping my hands at the wheel steering.

  I promise my dad I would make it to the dinner; of course not after the blast quarrel we had few hours ago.

We are in the 21 century!

Who in the name of God enforces and decides to make this sort of life time decision for someone against his will in the name of ' it's for the best crap?' My father.

Out of his own selfish, spiteful reason chose this time of all times to sell me out for his profit. God! He's hurting.

He had always wanted to settle down, to have a family.
  A happy family as that of his parents coz he admired their connection so much that he wished to share that same connection with someone.

But all that ended the moment he got a phone call. Disbelief... He doesn't want to believe it, until he saw it with his own eyes.

In the hospital at the emergency ward, lied his mother on a stretcher beyond recognizetion.

  Right that moment,
He stopped living. His heart stopped beating coz he stopped loving. He wanted no woman to reach the spot reserved for his mother.

He built an impeneratable defense wall against women. He stopped dating since 17, he gave no promises.

Urgh
The traffic alittle loosen.

Welcome to puerta  verte . A signboard read.

Hump! He scoffed.
A small town, not compared to Manila in large but it looks green and it feels something was calling out to him. He just couldn't pinpoint it.

With the aid of his GSP tracker,
He got to the end of his destination. He didn't spare it much look but could tell it wasn't as big and luxurious as his home.

"Sorry I'm late.........."

I could see the surprise and glittery of relieve in my father's eyes.
"........ This my son..." The pride in his voice when he said that. I almost changed my mind but no. I knew my dad to be also a very manipulative type, he could convince the devil himself that he was a saint.

The host whose name I got to know doesn't seem happy with the whole situation. Well who is? I caught him clenching his hands in a fist, why? Anyways it's not like I care.
  Mrs Susan who I suppose the hostess and my supposed mother was totally flushed by my appearance. Well I'm use to it.

And then! To my suppose wife.
God! I need no one to tell me I will be tied to a nerdy girl.

I can imagine myself giving her tutorial on what to do in the midst of sex.

Wait! Who was talking about sex right now anyway? He shook his head discarding the idea.

"Is something wrong?
     Are you okay?"

I felt a shiver down my spine. It was like hear voice caress me, what an angelic voice.

   This feeling startled me.
I have a feeling this girl will be the dawning of my downfall

I gave alittle nod.

__ ___ ___  fast forward ___ ___ ___

"Hello"

"Heyyah Leo-lee?"

He heard a familiar voice from the other end on the phone. His face broke in a broad grin.

"Shayoh! What's up?!"

"Men! I've been screwing bitches since red mid -
Ayy... You're coming to basketball club party coming up next week after the match probably coming up Thursday?

  And yeah,
You are going to come watch my game."

I signed.
Rubbing my free hand against my temple.
"Hell no men.
I signed out from basketball for good. Can't go back, no offense. " I said alittle bit strangled.

" Non taken.
But you are sure gonna come hit the club with me and I'm not taking no for an answer. " Said the voice with affirmation.

I heaved. Rolling my eyes.
" Fine. You win. "

I heard him chuckled from the other end.

"Alright men.
I got to go. But you're coming with me to a very nice classic bar. You gonna like it -

"Ayy... Someone's beginning to sound like mom." I teased.

"Kiss my ass dude.
You better come or miss all the fun. Who knows,
You could find love or ...
  End up seeing heyyah Leo-lee. "

The line quickly ended.
Leo didn't miss the rumbling laughter before the call ended.

Damn!
He never forget that day, in the middle of junior school, a Russian accent girl had a big crush on him from another school.
He remembered how she tried to gain his attention but then he had a big crush on a most popular girl in school.

There was an inter - sport held in their school.
He was on blue sea monster team of basketball. The match was quite tough, he won the first goal. From the crowds going wild, he heard a cheer voice and peek to look.
  The Russian accent girl dress looking so ridiculous with all the paint yelling at the top of her voice:
"Go! Go! Go!
Leonard the rock king.
  Heyyah Leo-lee! Heyyah Leo-lee!!"

I remembered looking away in embarrassment.
Our school won.
At the end of the match, even before my family could come embrace me, I felt myself engulfed by someone in a hug.

"I'm so proud of you Leo.
You did well." Surprise I nodded.
She held my jersey with both hands, looking directly into my eyes and before I knew it.

What I dreaded in my life happened. She kissed me.

She fucken stole a kiss and ran away.
She stole my first kiss.
Kiss that I have long preserve for the love of my life.
My gaze briefly collides with the girl of my dreams. I was planning on asking to be my date that very day.

I was furious.
I refuse to see or accept any of the Russian accent girl apology till I never heard from her.

And the guy who called earlier - Tim, never stop teasing me for a second unless he was furious which he rarely do. He was always a bubbly happy guy. But people gets mislead by his appearance, taking him for a dangerous bad boy which he is except for the dangerous part which he isn't. I know his predict garments, life sometimes has a way to be a cheat. No one choose whichever situation they finds themselves, it just happens to be.

A message prop in.

Urgh!
Tim never back down."
I better go run a quick shower, I thought.