Rey Jhon slammed the bathroom door shut. He was trying his best not to breathe in the awful smell that seemed to crawl deep into his system. The stink was so strong and it was getting into his nerves, it felt like it was punching his nose again and again. He pinched his nose while grabbing the most expensive alcohol from his bag and he sprayed it all over the bathroom. He would rather waste his alcohol than to smell that disgusting odor.

Good thing he wasn’t late for class today. While riding the tricycle earlier, he really thought he wouldn’t make it to his first class. If that happened, he was ready to buy a Barbie doll and put a curse on that rich brat. Even a stray dog wouldn’t be able to stand her attitude, he’s worse than the devil’s first lady.

After his class, he went straight to the bathroom. His head still boiled whenever he remembered the money Gabriella threw away like he was some beggar. That image wouldn’t leave his mind. That’s how the rich where they treated people like trash.

“Ugh, annoying!” he muttered as he angrily turned on the faucet. “I’ll curse you, you demon girl! I’ll buy a Barbie later and stab its face until you get pimples all over! Annoying!”

Water poured over his hands as he faced the mirror, trying to calm himself. Maybe that’s just how rich people were. After all, she was the daughter of a Don. What chance did he have? He was just an ordinary guy, reaching for things he could never afford.

But if it was only about brains, he could beat her anytime, he’s very sure about that. That was the only thing he could contribute to this world, his intelligence, nothing more and nothing less. He’d gladly shove it in Gabriella’s face that even if he was poor, he was smarter than her.

And prettier.

Yes. Gabriella was only fair-skinned and rich. If she didn’t have looks or money, she’d be nothing. She had nothing on him.

Just then, the bathroom door opened and a girl in a skirt walked in. His jaw dropped when he saw her staring back in shock. She stepped back awkwardly, glanced up at the sign, then looked back at him.

He swallowed hard. Was he in the wrong bathroom?

Another door opened behind him, and his sister came out. Her eyes widened even more than the other girls, but she quickly hid it and walked up to him.

“Kuya,” his sister said, holding his arm. “Didn’t I tell you to wait outside? Where’s the napkin I asked you to buy?”

Oh no. He really was in the girls’ bathroom. All thanks to Gabriella! Just another streak of bad luck brought by that girl.

The rest happened so fast. All he remembered was his sister, Y’da Mae, pulling him out of the girls’ bathroom, dragging him outside the building, and pinching his side.

Hands on her hips, she gave him a look. No one would believe he entered the wrong bathroom by mistake, but in his mind, it was all Gabriella’s fault. She was the reason for all the bad things happening to him.

“What kind of drama are you living in?” Y’da Mae asked, raising one eyebrow. “Be thankful I was there. If not, people would’ve thought you were a pervert.”

He didn’t bother answering. He really had no intention of going in there it just happened because his mind was too distracted.

“How much are you going to pay me?”

He blinked, meeting his sister’s eyes.

“Pay you?”

“I saved you from embarrassment earlier. Pay up! Nothing’s free now, kuya.”

He just scoffed and left her there, money-hungry as always.

~

Rey Jhon went back to his classroom after escaping the shame he thought he couldn’t avoid. Sometimes, his sister was useful after all, though most of the time, her only talent was scamming money out of him. He often found his wallet empty without even knowing how.

Y’da Mae was only two years younger than him. The moment she was born, his days as the baby of the family ended, just like that old commercial jingle:

“I was only two, then my sibling came.”

He really related to that song. But at least he was thankful their parents didn’t add any more kids after her.

Without thinking, he pulled out a chair to sit, but someone grabbed his arm.

“Do you wanna join us?” a girl classmate asked.

That’s when he remembered, it was Wednesday. She was wearing a short skirt that barely had enough cloth. He sometimes wondered why the school guard even allowed students like her inside when they couldn’t even respect themselves.

He sighed and looked away, holding back from raising an eyebrow. His classmates didn’t know he had “mermaid blood,” as he jokingly called it.

“Why? Where are you guys going?”

Before she could answer, Carlo slung an arm over his shoulder. Rey Jhon knew it was him because of the perfume he himself had given Carlo on his birthday.

“It’s my birthday today. Did you forget?” the girl said.

He couldn’t even remember the girl’s name, how much more her birthday?

He scratched his head, searching for an excuse. The girl had been courting him for almost three months now. Carlo would even tease him, saying he was lucky to have a girl chasing him. But honestly? He didn’t care. He was a girl at heart, and he wanted a guy.

“Janine, He almost forgot my birthday too, and now you expect him to remember yours?” Carlo teased.

Ah Janine. That was her name.

He hadn’t forgotten Carlo’s birthday, of course. It wasn’t until later, but he already had a gift ready. He could forget his own sister’s birthday but never Carlo’s.

“So, it’s your birthday today, Jan?” he said, still scratching his head, his hand sliding down to his neck. “Happy birthday.”

“I don’t need your greetings, Jhon,” Janine snapped, brushing Carlo’s arm off her shoulder.

What? She was making drama now? Carlo hardly came close to him, and when he did, she had to butt in?

“I just need your love. Is it really that hard for you to love me?” she continued.

The whole class started teasing loudly. Only then did he notice how many classmates were already inside, along with their instructor, who also happened to be Janine’s sister. Now he didn’t even know how to escape this conversation.

It’s not hard to love you, Janine. It’s just that I’m looking for hotdogs, not buns, he thought.

“You’re not gay, right? I’m not wasting my time on a gay guy, am I?”

He swallowed hard, again and again. He just wanted to shut his eyes and wish everyone would disappear when he opened them. Did she already notice he was gay?

Suddenly, his phone rang. It felt like cold water was poured on him. The sound echoed even louder in the silence of the classroom. Everyone turned to look at him.

He quickly grabbed it from his pocket, desperate to thank whoever was calling. But it was just a number, no name saved.

Still, it saved him from the hot seat. Good God!

“Good morning, Rey Jhon.”

He didn’t need to guess. The voice belonged to Don Franco. His nervousness doubled.

What does this Don want now? he thought.

Without a word, he left the classroom. Finally, a way to escape Janine’s drama. The very thought of her being his girlfriend gave him goosebumps. He still wasn’t into “buns.”

“Did you get my text?” Don Franco asked.

“Text, sir?” He pulled the phone away from his ear to check, but no message was there.

“Maybe you didn’t receive it. I’ll resend it. It’s Gabriella’s phone number and her schedule. I’ll also send you her adviser’s name.”

A slow smile spread across Rey Jhon’s face. Luck was finally on his side.

This was his chance!

A sweet smile spread across Rey Jhon’s lips after the call ended. How could he not smile? It felt like fate was finally on his side, and victory was already within his hands. He could see it shining brightly, almost close enough to grab. If he were alone right now, he wouldn’t just be smiling, he’d be laughing out loud. It is the time that he will sing the song “Ako ang Nagwagi!”

This was his chance to get back at Gabriella for what she did earlier, she is gonna pay for it. She didn’t just crush his pride; she stepped on his very dignity. He knew he was poor and she was rich, but that didn’t give her the right to treat him like trash. Dignity was all he had left, and she had the guts to step on it.

He never thought karma would strike so fast, letting him hold the final laugh. And it was the Don himself who gave him the way to fight back against his spoiled daughter. He was the winner after all.

His smile grew wider when the Don’s text arrived. Karma worked fast, maybe all the goddesses of the universe were on his side. Even the angels’ hands were clapping on his victory.

He read the message. Gabriella’s number was there, followed by her classroom. He didn’t waste time and strutted straight toward her classroom like a beauty queen on a runway. The only thing missing was a crown, but soon, he planned to snatch Gabriella’s crown for himself.

His phone buzzed again. This time, it was Gabriella’s schedule. He couldn’t believe his luck and their schedules didn’t even conflict. Another smile curved his lips. He is the real winner!

The final laugh was his. He could already imagine Gabriella’s angry face when she found out, her eyes narrowing as fire spewed from her mouth. He smiled sweetly to himself. Luck was definitely on his side. Very lucky!

On the way, he spotted Janine waving at him. He didn’t wave back. She might drag him into her birthday again and make him the clown of the night. No thanks.

The only person he ever wanted to be close to in class was Carlo. No other guy was more handsome. His other classmates? Some looked like horses, others like sea monsters who didn’t even bathe in the ocean. It wasn’t that he was insulting them, he was just describing them. That’s different.

As Rey Jhon approached the wrought-iron gates of the high school, the midday sun glinted off the pavement, mirroring the sharp focus in his eyes. Just as he hoped, the bell rang, signaling the start of the break, and there she was. Gabriella emerged from the crowd, surrounded by her usual trio of followers.

She moved with a practiced, infuriating grace, each step calculated as if she were sashaying down a high-fashion runway, her hips swaying with a rhythmic confidence that was, admittedly, far more dramatic than anything Rey Jhon could muster. The air around her seemed to thicken with her presence, a stark reminder of the social chasm between them. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, this was the opening he had been waiting for. It was time to settle the score.

In fairness, he thought she could apply as a Victoria’s Secret model. He quickly shook his head. No, he was still the better one on the runway compared to this spoiled brat.

When Gabriella swept past him, Rey Jhon fell into step behind the procession. The hallway seemed to part for her, the air crackling with the weight of her self-importance. Behind her, her trio of minions marched in a formation so tight it bordered on the absurd, their movements eerie in their synchronization.

Every time Gabriella tossed her hair, three hands mirrored the gesture; every time she adjusted her bag, three shoulders shifted in unison. It was a masterclass in sycophancy that made Rey Jhon’s stomach churn. Watching them copy her every swaying step was like watching a glitchy dance routine performed by well-dressed parrots. He couldn't help but scoff internally at the sheer lack of original thought, it was pathetic, really, how they lived in her shadow, desperate to catch even a stray spark of her reflected glory.

If no one was watching, he would’ve joined in, swaying his hips and finger-combing his imaginary long hair. But this wasn’t the time. He didn’t want to be school gossip or make it to the campus newspaper headlines.

He quickened his steps until he reached her. Placing an arm around her shoulder, he leaned in. Gabriella’s eyes widened, and she quickly shoved him away.

“What the hell!” she yelled, stepping back. Even angry, her face remained pretty. Not a single frown ruined her looks.

What the hell, what the hell! What the hell your face! He mocked her inside his head.

“Who the hell are you?” she snapped, veins showing in her neck.

Her three minions instantly circled him, like he was about to hurt their leader.

If he really wanted to hurt her, he would’ve done it earlier.

Who the hell am I? he thought. This girl must love hell so much. He fought the urge to roll his eyes.

“First, I am your boyfriend, then you ask who I am?” He smirked, biting his lower lip a little. “Am I a joke to you?”

One of her minions gasped, covering her mouth and staring at Gabriella in shock. Rey Jhon chuckled inside. They probably thought he was Gabriella’s boyfriend. Disgusting. Even if Don paid him a million, he would never agree to be her boyfriend.

Gabriella stood frozen, her voice momentarily stolen by the sheer audacity of his claim. Her face was a canvas of shifting emotions; her brow furrowed as she processed the absurdity of his words, her porcelain skin flushing a deep, mottled red. Her eyes, usually sharp and calculating, narrowed into slits that burned with a volatile mixture of bewilderment and mounting, incandescent rage.

Rey Jhon watched her with clinical precision, his stomach muscles aching from the heroic effort required to keep his face a mask of romantic concern. Inside, he was howling. He noted the way her left eyelid twitched, a tell-tale sign of her crumbling composure and felt a surge of cynical triumph. She was like a high-maintenance engine finally redlining, and he was the one with his foot on the gas.

Determined to twist the knife, he leaned in closer, deliberately invading the sacred perimeter of her personal space until the air between them felt heavy and electric. The cloying, expensive scent of her floral perfume, something like crushed lilies and cold jasmine, rose up in a suffocating cloud, cutting through the dusty, sweat-tinged atmosphere of the school hallway. It was the smell of old money and unearned privilege, and he inhaled it with a mocking relish. As his arm draped over her shoulder once more, he could feel the rigid tension in her frame, a silent, vibrating frequency of fury that only fueled his resolve to play this role to its most ridiculous end.

For sure, this perfume costs a fortune. Hope all, he whispered under his breath.

“Let’s go. You told me last night you wanted to eat popcorn,” he said, then kissed her forehead.

Pray for my soul, he thought.

~

THEY hadn’t even gone far when Gabriella suddenly turned fierce. She landed a punch on him. Rey Jhon bit his lip, holding her hand tightly so she couldn’t hit his face again. He had wasted enough beauty products on his face, he wasn’t about to let her ruin it.

“What’s your problem? Are you the guy in our house earlier?” she asked, struggling to break free.

They ended up behind the gym, not too far from where he had first seen her. He was glad her minions didn’t follow, they must have believed he was really her boyfriend.

He let go of her hand with a scoff. If it had been Carlo’s hand, he would never have let go. But Gabriella’s? No way.

“Yes, it was me,” he proudly said.

Gabriella raised an eyebrow, as if she had the right to act all high and mighty when she was the one who wronged him.

“Then what do you want from me? Was the money I gave you too small? You want more?” She opened her wallet and pulled out some cash. “You can just ask it directly. You don’t need to make a scene in front of my friends. But please, stay away from me!”

She shoved the money into his hand without even counting it. Like money meant nothing to her.

Did she really think he could be bought? Did she think he was that cheap? Maybe Don was right, he should really teach this girl a lesson. Even if he was gay, he could still put her in her place. He wasn’t going to just stay quiet.

He grabbed her hand again, though he hated touching it. Gabriella’s eyes widened.

“Let me go!” she shouted. “How much do you want? If you don’t release me now, I’ll tell Daddy. He’ll make sure you’re not my driver anymore!”

“Stupid!” he snapped, then bit his lip. “Do you really think I’d agree to be your driver? You’re crazy.”

“What? I’m not crazy!”

“Oh yeah? Then what do I call you? Delusional?” He rolled his eyes, thankful she was too busy struggling to notice.

“I’m not delusional!”

“For your information, Ms. Gabriella,” he said, letting go of one of her hands, “I’m not your driver. I’m your babysitter. So, I need to know everything you do. Do you understand?”

“Babysitter your ass!” she shouted, kicking him right in the thigh.

You little demon! I think you just cracked my eggs! he screamed in his head.

Rey Jhon went back to the gate when he remembered that he still needed to bring Gabriella home, even if he really didn’t want to. But since that was her father’s order after he sent him Gabriella’s information, he had no choice but to sigh and drag his feet back to the university. Carrying his bag and his almost-broken shoes, he asked himself again why he even entered this kind of work?

Why? How many times would he keep asking himself? He sighed again, a heavy, rattling sound that seemed to mock his own exhaustion as he stared at the rusted bars of the gate.

The evening air felt thick and stagnant, carrying the faint, metallic scent of the fence and the distant hum of the city beginning its night cycle. Even if he found the answer, his life wouldn’t change; he was still the same Rey Jhon, trapped in a loop of obligation. His fingers curled tightly around the straps of his bag, his knuckles whitening as a fresh wave of irritation pulsed through him. Every step back toward the university felt like wading through wet cement, his body protesting the very task his bank account demanded he complete.

He offered a stiff, involuntary nod at the security guard, whose silhouette was framed by the flickering yellow light of the guardhouse. The man kept glancing at the wall clock, the rhythmic ticking echoing in the sudden quiet of the campus entrance. When the guard saw him, he cracked a small, knowing smile and asked why he had returned so soon. Rey Jhon felt his face heat up, a prickle of embarrassment stinging his neck. He didn’t even know why he was truly back, at least not in a way he was willing to admit to a stranger.

“I forgot something,” Rey Jhon answered.

“What did you forget?” the guard asked again.

The question hung in the air, heavier than the humid night. Rey Jhon felt his pulse quicken, a sharp drumbeat against his ribs that matched the erratic flickering of the yellow bulb above.

He scrambled for a plausible lie, his mind racing through a list of forgotten items, a book, a charger, his dignity but his tongue felt like lead. The lingering annoyance of having to return for Gabriella bubbled just beneath the surface, mixing with a cold prickle of anxiety. He stood there, trapped in the harsh, uneven light, acutely aware of the guard's persistent, curious gaze.

The man didn't look away; instead, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes tracking every nervous twitch of Rey Jhon's jaw as if he could peel back the skin and see the truth beneath. The scrutiny made Rey Jhon feel exposed, stripped of his usual composure and reduced to a suspicious figure in the dark. Finally, he forced his lips into a stiff, unconvincing smile that reached nowhere near his eyes.

Not what but who, he whispered to himself. He didn’t know their guard was this nosy.

If the Don hadn’t promised him a big salary, he would never agree to this kind of setup, to be a babysitter of that spoiled girl. Babysitter! With his good looks? He wasted so many beauty products just to end up being called a babysitter.

And no matter what, he would never accept being Gabriella’s babysitter. She already hurt him when she threw money at his face, and to make it worse, she even kicked his “golden egg.” Did she really think he was some kind of rapist? With his beauty? Please. If he had abs, maybe people would call him that, but with just his fair skin and looks? Never! Even if he were straight, he still knew how to choose and he would never choose someone like Gabriella who looked like she swallowed a whole box of white chalk.

After answering the guard, he went straight to the high school building. A lot of girls still tried to get his attention, but he just couldn’t care less. Same way he couldn’t find his “heart” as a man.

He quietly entered the small gate since the high school guard wasn’t around. The place was almost empty, only the sound of a small radio filled the silence.

If it weren't for Gabriella, Rey Jhon wouldn’t have set foot in the high school department even if you paid him a fortune. It felt alien, like a relic of a past life he’d actively tried to forget. He had zero reason to be here, no friends, no business, and certainly no desire to rub elbows with the younger crowd. Yet, here he was, his footsteps echoing too loudly in the hallway, an unwanted ghost wandering through a space that felt entirely beneath his current station. Every step was a testament to the bitter irony of his new arrangement, a constant, nagging reminder that his freedom had been traded for a high-maintenance assignment.

When he reached her classroom, it was already locked. No students, no teacher. The padlock proved no one was inside. He sighed and started to step back.

“Promise, you’ll like this.”

His ears twitched when he heard a familiar voice. Slowly, he walked closer to where the sound came from, his heart pounding like drums. He wished he had heard wrong.

But the nearer he got, the louder his heartbeat grew. It felt like he was inside a disco bar with the bass beating in his chest. His breathing became hard.

“Oh, Carlo.”

His eyes widened, his entire body locking into a sudden, jarring stillness as if his joints had been fused by a lightning strike. He knew that voice, the sharp, unmistakable cadence of Gabriella but it was distorted now, stripped of its usual haughty edge. His breath hitched, snagging painfully in a throat that had gone bone-dry in an instant. The sound cut through the heavy silence with a nauseating clarity, a visceral moaning of Carlo’s name that made his stomach churn.

A sharp, electric shock of irritation surged through him, followed closely by a disbelief so heavy it felt like a physical weight tightening across his chest, crushing the air from his lungs as the reality of what was happening behind that classroom wall finally, brutally settled in.

Damn it! Were they really that desperate, doing it behind a classroom? His scalp tingled in irritation.

His steps grew heavier. He already guessed that it was Gabriella and Carlo at the back of the classroom. He thought their story was over, but clearly, he was wrong. Carlo’s tears earlier were wasted because here was the continuation. If only he were the writer of Carlo’s love story, he would never let Gabriella be the ending. But sadly, he wasn’t the writer.

Still, if it were up to him, he’d make sure Gabriella got her own ending, far away from Carlo.

“Hey!” he shouted, cutting through the fire that burned between Gabriella and his crush.

Even though the place was dark, he was sure Gabriella’s porcelain face turned bright red, like floor wax they used as a project in high school.

He saw her pull away from Carlo and even fix her uniform like nothing happened. He thought she’d run from embarrassment, but no. What shocked him more was Carlo’s reaction, a hard punch landed on his face.

“Idiot!” Carlo yelled, grabbing his collar and slamming him against the wall. Another punch was ready, but when the light from a nearby post hit Rey Jhon’s face, Carlo froze. His fist stopped midair.

“I know I’m an idiot,” Rey Jhon said bitterly, “but at least I’m not like you! A pervert!”

I’m only a pervert when you’re my wallpaper, his mind whispered.

“None of your business!” Carlo shouted. “You shouldn’t interfere!”

“None of my business?” Rey Jhon scoffed, wiping his lip that felt bloody. “Gab is my girlfriend. Even if you’re my friend, I won’t—”

Carlo’s fist grabbed his collar again, slamming him back to the wall. His head shook from another punch.

I don’t want a hotdog, Rey Jhon muttered inside. This wasn’t the Carlo he knew. He never thought Carlo would actually hit him just because of Gabriella.

Lucky girl, he cursed. Gabriella was really lucky.

“Girlfriend? Are you imagining things? She is my girl!” Carlo shouted.

“You’re crazy, man!” Rey Jhon’s hand flew on its own, punching Carlo’s handsome face. He forgot Carlo was his crush. His fist buzzed with electricity when it landed.

He thought he’d regret it, but no. Carlo deserved it. Maybe everyone thought they could handle him just because he was rich and handsome, but now Rey Jhon saw it, Carlo’s attitude wasn’t for everyone.

He was about to throw another punch when Gabriella held his arm. She stayed quiet, lips sealed.

Rey Jhon glared at her, seeing sadness in her eyes.

“This?” he mocked, pulling his hand away.

He wanted to slap himself. Why did he get dragged into this? Why did he let Carlo hit him and even punch him back?

Gabriella let go, but Rey Jhon quickly grabbed her arm. Even in the dark, he saw the way she looked at his hand holding hers.

“You’re fine being called just a girlfriend? What are you, a girl picked up from the street? Know your worth, Gabriella!” He clutched his own hair in frustration. “And letting him kiss you in this dark corner? Even if he’s my friend, if he doesn’t know how to respect you, I won’t hesitate to take you away from him!”