Babysitting the Senyorita

Rey Jhon covered his mouth with his hand every time a tricycle passed by. The dust flew around like snow and landed on his school uniform creating an abstract design. He thought, maybe tomorrow or the next day, new pimples would appear on his face. Two pairs were not enough, his pimples wanted to have a whole barangay. Complete and nonstop.

It was already past nine in the morning when he reached their university. His money was not enough, so he just walked several kilometers to get there. What a pity!

He felt like he had been robbed when he left their house. His siblings took all the money he had left. Even the coin that slipped from his pocket, they grabbed it. He just kept quiet because at least the money would go to their breakfast.

The only thing left with him now was the check. He still didn’t know what to do with it. Should he return it to Don Franco or will he use it? Just the thought of always being around that young lady made his pink blood boil. His blood burned and bubbled continuously. He couldn’t erase from memory everything that girl had done to him.

She was rich already, yet she still took his hard-earned money.

“Hey, Jhon!”

He saw his classmate crossing the street and waving at him with a big smile.

“Did you bring what I asked you to do? I need to pass it now, or my grade will be cut big time,” his classmate said when he got closer.

He was talking about the narrative report. Yesterday, his classmate had asked him to write it because he missed the deadline. Rey Jhon agreed to do it, not just because of the payment but also because he liked looking at his classmate’s abs.

His classmates often ran to him whenever they were in a rush. It was like he had unlimited time to do their schoolwork. But when it came to money, he never knew how to say no.

His classmate put an arm around his shoulder, and once again, Rey Jhon felt weak inside. The perfume from his classmate’s body made him dizzy.

“Of course, I didn’t forget. You know I’m payment first,” he laughed, pulling out a flash drive. “Your file is saved there, Harold. Same filename.”

“Very good!” Harold gave him a thumbs up before leaving.

That was his life, people got what they wanted from him and then left. He stared at Harold’s back until the crowd of students swallowed him from his sight.

He was about to walk forward when his phone rang. It was just a number, no name. But he still answered it anyway.

“Hello? Good morning.”

“Good morning, Rey Jhon. It’s me, Don Franco. When will you start?”

~

Rey Jhon watched Gabriella as she walked out the big doors of the mansion. Every step looked like a model walking on the runway, showing off new clothes. Her skin was so white like Snow White. She looked even more radiant when she stood in the brown doorway.

She didn’t even smile when the maid handed her bag, which made Rey Jhon raise his eyebrow. No doubt about it she acted like a true rich girl.

Spoiled brat, he thought, forcing himself not to smirk.

How was he supposed to deal with her? This was the same girl who used to be the girlfriend of his crush. He wasn’t even sure if they had really broken up. She had even attended his crush’s birthday party. Maybe the two were still together. He can’t erase the jealousy in his heart.

When Gabriella walked past him, he instinctively bowed his head. He didn’t know why. This wasn’t Korea, after all. She didn’t seem to notice him at first, but then she stopped, turned around, and looked back.

Her raised eyebrow asked the question for her. What was he doing here? Even himself didn’t know why he was here.

Maybe he just really needed the money.

That’s all. That’s the reason.

“Who are you? Are you my new driver?” she asked, scanning him from head to toe before looking back at his face.

Wow. Me? A driver?

His hands itched to pull her rebonded hair. If only this weren’t her territory, he would have done it already. His own hair was probably even nicer than hers, natural and unbothered.

He caught her rolling her eyes before she went inside the car. But she glanced back at him again.

“I don’t like you,” she said coldly, tossing a folded paper at him. “You may leave now. I’ll just tell Daddy. This will be your first and last day. Thank you for your service.”

His jaw dropped. She said it like it was nothing, it feels like dismissing someone was part of her daily routine. After all, he was right that this girl in front of him had a nasty attitude. No wonder why they broke up. His crush deserved better.

He bent down and picked up the paper. It was money. She had thrown money at him. What a bitch! He didn’t bother counting. His steps grew heavy as he followed the car toward the gate.

“Hey!” he shouted, hitting the car window where the witch sat. “I don’t need your money!”

The window slowly rolled down, and Gabriella glared at him. His jaw clenched harder seeing her calm face, as if nothing had happened.

“Did I give you too little?” she smirked. “How much do you really need? I don’t have time for this.”

“I told you! I don’t need your money!”

She just stared at him without emotion. No reaction at all. She should be the one ashamed! She was the one looking down on him and mistaking him for a driver.

“I guess,” she said, finally looking away. “Daddy must have given you a bigger amount. Do whatever you want with it.”

He stood frozen, mouth open, as the window closed again. Her words felt like sharp needles. For her, money was nothing, something to throw away.

That’s what happens when you have too much.

He stepped back as the car drove past him. When the sound faded, he looked down at the money in his hand.

Should he be thankful she mistook him for a driver? Or should he feel insulted because that’s all she thought he was?