Taming Mr. Arrogant

Chapter Five

Tina's POV

What the hell? Did he just walk away from me without apologizing? Stupid bastard. I almost fell because he was like a wall when we bumped into each other. Good thing I steadied myself before any harm or injury would come. His chest was so hard.

What?

Yeah.

But it was true.

It wouldn't be my fault if ever I did harm myself. It would be that man's fault.

What a heartless, arrogant bastard!

I didn't even get the chance to teach him a lesson because he just walked away from me. Not even saying he was sorry. No manners.

Is that what his parents taught him and what he learned from school?

I don't believe so.

"Soon. If ever we bumped into each other again, I am going to teach you a lesson. I am going to make you define respect. Respect to women. And I'm going to show what self- discipline and kindness is. I don't care who you are. You have to learn, beast."

I said to no one in particular. I didn't care. I was just so angry right that moment. No, angry was an understatement. I was furious. I would not let men treat me like a trash or a useless toy. I would stand for myself.

Who does he think he is?

From the looks of him, he looked like a billionaire, dressed in a fine black two- piece Armani suit. He looked filthy rich, handsome and ho-

What the-

Did I just think of him like that? No. No. No. I didn't even know him. He was my enemy for Christ's sake.

My God, what am I thinking?

I repeatedly slapped my own face. Slamming my fist on my mouth. Seriously? H- O- T.

Oh my God. I was overreacting and I knew it. That word had varied definitions.

But you were referring to that man's HOT body.

I'm not.

You're denying it.

I'm not.

Yes, you are.

I'm not.

You are.

Ugh. Fine. He's HOT. Happy now?

I hated this. I hated gorgeous, hot men.

Maybe it's time for you to have a boyfriend.

That voice in my head again.

"No. I didn't even get a job." I fired back. "So shut up!"

Am I really crazy? Oh my God. I'm talking to myself. I should stop this. I should stop thinking out loud. I slapped my cheeks, left and right repeatedly to snap out of my crazy state.

I have eaten, right?

Yes, you have. You're just really crazy.

Whatever.

I just ignored that voice in my head. It was annoying me. I was not crazy. I was just stressed and disappointed to all the things that happened this day. The fight with Mama, not getting a job, embarrassed on the sidewalk, and bumping into some arrogant bastard.

Bad luck.

I looked at my watch and it read 4:58 pm. I have to go back to my apartment before it would get dark.

I didn't even bother to hail a cab in going home. I just walked. I enjoy watching the city lights as I passed by Time Square. There were many people, probably gone from work and going home.

I arrived at the apartment building almost half an hour later. I walked into the lobby and greeted Maia. Getting into the elevator, I rode to the top floor.

'Ding'

I was walking along the hallway towards my apartment when I heard a door being closed. I whined. It was the door across mine. I didn't even get the chance to see who it was or know who was my neighbor, a male or female. I couldn't help but be curious to who was living in there.

This day was really a bad luck.

I walked into my apartment, dropped my bag on the couch in the living room and headed towards the kitchen to prepare dinner. I decided to just go with some spaghetti.

While I was busy cooking, my phone suddenly rang. I picked it up and slid my finger to the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Tin. How are you?" My face instantly lit up at the sound of Khloe's happy voice. I missed her.

"Khlow, I'm fine. I thought you already forgot about me." I joked.

She laughed. "Not going to happen. So, what are you doing right now?" She asked.

"Just preparing dinner."

"Really? You cook?"

"Yeah."

"What are you cooking?"

"I'm making spaghetti."

"C- Can I come over?" She hesitantly asked.

I almost laughed at her. "Of course you can."

"YES!" She shouted over the phone, sounding so happy.

What was with her? It was no big deal when she would come over to my apartment.

"I'll be there in 15." She told me then ended the call.

I frowned. I wondered why was she so happy. Was it because I made spaghetti?

Nevertheless, I continued cooking my spaghetti and prepared orange juice drink.

Minutes later, after I prepared dinner, the doorbell rang. I headed towards the door and opened it just to reveal a smirking Khloe Evans then she attacked me with a bone- crashing hug.

"C-can't breathe."

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry. It's just that I missed you." She apologized as she released me.

"It's okay. I missed you too." I said as I pinched her cheeks.

"Ow." She whined. "I hate you."

"I love you too. Come on. Let's have dinner." I dragged her into my kitchen.

"Wow. It looks yummy." She said as she looked at my cheesy red Filipino- style spaghetti.

We took our seats across each other. Khloe was about to touch her fork when I slapped her hand.

"What?"

"Let's pray first." I scolded her.

She just smiled sheepishly at me and I began praying.

"Let's eat." I announced.

Khloe smiled and we began eating.

"Hhmhmm... This is so delicious." She complimented.

"Thanks." I smiled at her.

"You have to teach me how to make this." She said as she took a mouthful.

"I'll teach you soon. And oh, don't talk when your mouth is full." I scolded her.

She laughed after she took a gulp of her orange juice.

"So, do you know who lives across the hall?" She suddenly asked.

"No. Why do you ask?"

"Because you are neighbors and you are supposed to know him."

"Him? How do you know it's a guy? Do you know him?" I asked curiously. I drank my orange juice.

"N-no. It was just a guess. I mean- Wait, are you interested of who's living in that penthouse across yours?"

I choked on my drink. I coughed hysterically. Khloe apologized and she helped me calm myself by rubbing my back until my breathing was back to normal.

"What? Of course not. I don't care who he or she is." I lied. The truth was I was curious about who was living in there and it was killing me.

"Are you sure?" She asked, wiggling her perfectly plucked eyebrows.

"Huh? Ah. Y-yeah." Damn. Stop stuttering.

Khloe smirked. "Really?"

"Yeah." Lie again.

"What if he's a man with almost the same age as you?"

I raised one eyebrow. "Then?"

"Then you'll get attracted to him and so he will to you. Get close to each other, then he'll ask you on a date. And finally, you'll become a great cute couple." She said dreamily.

I just stared at her weirdly then, "Hahahahahahaha...." I laughed so hard, clutching my stomach that formed in my eyes.

At the corner of my eye, I saw Khloe staring weirdly at me. Her face showed that she was really confused to what was something funny.

"That was so funny." I told her as I wiped the fake tears in my eyes.

"A date? Couple?" I laughed again.

"Yeah." She continued to stare at me. Her eyes sought for answers.

After my laughter had died, I turned serious. "No, Khlow. I don't think there'll be a man who'll ask me for a date. I mean, look at me. I'm not those skinny tall models whom men get attracted easily. I'm ugly, plain, boring Filipina. That's why I'm NBSB." I said.

"Don't underestimate yourself. You're beautiful and kind. You are better than those skinny tall models. And what is it again NB-?"

"NBSB. No Boyfriend Since Birth." I answered.

"No way."

"Yes way."

"Look at you. You have a great body and not to forget, you also have a great attitude. You're definitely a girlfriend material." She told me sincerely. She paused for a while. "And not to mention, you're even a wife material." She said smirking.

"I don't know if I'll even get married. I'll probably grow old all by myself."

"That's why you need a man in your life."

"I have no time for that matter, Khlow." I paused. "And no man will like me."

"Believe it or not. You're beautiful and you'll have a boyfriend... Soon." She told me seriously.

Why was she so serious about this boyfriend thing? I didn't have time for that. Love, Romance. They were just in books and fairy tales.

You don't believe it now because you have never been in love.

I didn't argue with my conscience because I agreed. How was I supposed to know what love is and that it really exists? She was right. I had never been in love. Back in high school years, those were just stupid crushes.

But I was afraid to be in love. I was afraid that the man I love would just leave me. I was afraid to be fooled and I didn't want to be hurt.

***

After dinner, we decided to watch a movie. We prepared popcorn and crackers. Khloe and I picked Divergent, my ultimate favorite movie also Khloe's. I just loved Theo and Shay, so much. I wished I would get the chance to meet them someday.

We were in the middle of watching the movie when I asked something I shouldn't have.

"Khlow, what it is like to be in love?"

Khloe turned to me, the surprise was visible on her face.

"When you're in love, you'll be like in seventh heaven. You'll on cloud nine. You're happy. You feel mixed emotions. You're happy to be with him or when he's with you. You'll get sad when he's not on your side. You feel deep affection towards him. When you're in love, the man makes you feel giddy inside. Your heart beats faster every time he's near to you. He drives you crazy. He makes you smile or laugh. You get nervous around him. And when he's with someone else, you get jealous."

I listened intently at all she said. "What is it like to be jealous?"

"When you're jealous, it feels like you want to strangle or kill someone. It feels like your heart is being squeezed. It sucks. It is an unhappy or angry feeling caused by the belief that someone you love such as your husband likes or is liked by someone else."

"Oh." That's was all I could say.

"Why do you ask?"

"I don't know." I really don't know why I asked about those kind of things. Strange.

"Don't be afraid to be in love, Tin." Khloe told me.

"Have you been in love?" I asked.

"I am in love." She smiled widely.

Does 'it' really makes people happy? I wondered.

'"Yes." Huh?

"Love makes people happy."

"How do you know I'm thinking about it?"

"No, I don't. You're thinking out loud."

"I said it out loud?"

"Yeah."

"Oh God. I should stop that habit."

Khloe laughed.

"Does it hurt?" I asked.

"What hurts?"

"To be in love."

"What kind of question is that?"

"It's a logic."

"Okay. Love hurts. I don't how to explain this, but what I mean is that... It is like you don't want to let go of the one you love. It only hurts when the feeling is only one- sided."

"It's scary." I told her.

Khloe laughed again at me.

"What?" I asked her.

"You're so funny."

***

After the movie had ended, Khloe thought it was time for her to go home.

"I gotta go. It's getting late."

"I'll walk you out." I offered as I stood up.

"Okay." We walked out of my apartment and headed towards the elevator.

"Thank you for this night, Tin." Khloe hugged me.

"You're welcome." I hugged her back.

"I really should go now." We broke apart.

"Okay. Bye. Take care."

"Bye, Tin. Thank you again and you take care too." I smiled.

With that she walked into the elevator and waved at each other. When the door closed, I headed back to my apartment.

Khloe just made this day better and thanks to her.

I fell asleep on that night, dreaming.

Dreaming of the man who I bumped into at the park.