Hot Stuff

Chapter 2

"What a surprise? But you still have school tomorrow, right?" Hannah inquired when she saw me.

"It seems you are not happy seeing me here?" raising her a brow before sipping on my black coffee.

"Of course not sis!" then her eyes dropped to my cup. "Black coffee? Are you depressed?"

"Where's Brix?" not answering her. I looked at my wrist watch, it's almost eight in the evening. "And you, why just now?"

"Ohh please.. you are just a year older than me. And you even not living here!? I just came home late and yet you acted like as if I went home morning?" she pouted while crossing her arms.

"Hey Hannah, I didn't live alone. I live with my boardmates, it is more like I live in a dorm something like that."

"Even so! Duh!" rolling her eyes. "And now you are acquiring soon your new condo unit!"

I sighed, yeah my two siblings are studying college just here in Antipolo also. I am the only one who happened pursued my studies in Manila.

"Hannah! What is it again? It's not always your sister's visiting us then you are acting like that. And that condo unit is a graduation present from your Aunt Claire." my Mom scolded her. Probably she heard my sisters undying sentiments about my semi indeprendent living.

"Hannah, stop whining okay? It's a graduation present from Aunt Claire. And when you reached that peak, you can ask them both.. Mom and Aunt Claire for your own unit." explaining to her.

"I know, I know! But I will just graduate next year and not now!" she whined.

I shook my head at her answer. Hannah could actually ask for whatever she wanted from our my parents, once she finished school. It was a rules for everyone, my Mom and Aunt Claire's rules.. I remembered when everyone hit eighteenth and we all got our cars as a presents. And a unit of our taste, once we finished college.

"Hello there sisters!" Brix greetings. "Mom, I got late coz of some activities at school." he kissed Mom on the cheek.

"It's okay. Grab your dinner coz we already done, me and your sisters." she said and then faced me. "Are you going to stay for tonight?"

"Yes Mom! I will be here till tomorrow morning." I sat up from the couch and left them there.

I brought my black coffee with mine. Once I feeling stressed this was somewhat helping me to relax, my comfort drinks.. black coffee without sugar or cream.. that's all.

While lying in my bed, Aldrich's suddenly crossed my mind. I had been chasing him for three years now but he never looked my way the way I looked at him. When we were in second year I used to send him love letters even snail mails were outdated. I even confessed my feelings for him through that letters, but he was still oblivious of my feelings. When we were in third year, he's got his girl and I really mourned because of that, my friends joined me on mourning my dying feelings for him. Then I planned to destroy his relationship with that girl and boom! I did. I threatened the girl, I even bullied the poor girl.

And the worse happened, Aldrich knew about what I did to his girl, when the girls's friends told him about what I did. Why for the first of my life.. he talked to me.. he finally noticed me. But just to only destroying my hope, as he told me that I had no chance on him. I cried a lot that day, it felt like he hurt me physically. It truly felt like he crushed my broken heart that day.

But everything changed this year, when he helped me with those girls. Those girls were mad and wanted to get even and Aldrich acted like my knight in shining armour. After that incident, he drastically changed by asking me about my day. Why my heart fluttered, my hopes up! But it crumpled to my feet when he refused me on our ball. And I heard from his friends that Aldrich did not like spoiled brat girl and mostly a bully.

I had been tried to change for him, for him to like me back. And I tried also to being nice. So far, this march those shrimp girls were the victims of my sweetness. Just because it's only second day of March and the Graduation day is very soon..

"Were you considering Nhessa's plan?" Sam asked. I had to fetch her from her house.

"I don't know.. I love Aldrich, I can do everything for him.. but I'm not sure about this one, I was actually getting nervous." I honestly said.

"You know what, Gladys. If you already made your decision.. think about it again, but if you're not sure.. just forget it. Seriously, you have a lot of choices of yours and he might not the right one for you." as she glanced at me.

I pursed my lips. No! I know Aldrich is my destiny, he was destined to be with me.. it's just that he did not know it yet. But I would make sure he will fall for me before the Graduation Day.

"Aldrich wait!" calling him when I spotted my beloved Aldrich.

I saw him stopped from walking and looked at my way. I think the moment his gaze landed on my direction that's when my heart started palpitating. Aldrich effect!

I took a deep sigh before smiling walking to him. "Uhm.. I-I just want to give this to you!" and handed to him the bag of Antipolo delicacies. It's a bag of rice cakes, mangoes and nuts.

He took the bag. I sighed in relief, glad that he did accept it.

"Thanks Gladys." he smiled.

Shit! My love Aldrich was really a breathtaking sight! This was not the first time he accepted my present for him or my kindness and more of.. this was not the first time he smiled back at me. But dammit! He really is handsome! And my heart is beating fast for him!

"I'll go ahead! Thank you for this." he said before he faced his friends.

I saw how his friends teased him but he just shook his head while smiling before he handed to them the bag. I pouted, I do hope he will taste even one of them.

I went to my classroom and started listening to my professor, I actually just saw him passing by.

"Believe me Gladys! After doing this plan you will have a chance with Aldrich!" Nhessa assuring me about her plans.

I nodded, I had to do this. He left me no choice. I only have two weeks here and yet my plans on getting Aldrich had no any progress at all. Just two weeks and goodbye Aldrich!

"What if.. he ended up disliking me? Or worse he curses me to hell?" I said feeling nervous.

"Chickening out Gladys?" Quel grinned at me.

"Over my beautiful and gorgeous body!" I flipped my hair.

"So are you up for this challenge?" Sam.

"Of course, I do. This is our last year in college, just two weeks or so and I won't probably seeing him again.. my beloved Aldrich." I said putting my chin on my hands looking at them. In a problematic way.

We are here now in our apartment and planning my great way to him.. tonight.

"Adith bring here the plan!!" Nhessa clapped her hands.

"Chill sissy. Are we in a rush??" it was Chu.

We ignored Chu, as we all focused on the paper that we called "plan" that Adith's scattered on the table.

"So here's the plan.." I listened to them carefully.

They are my sisters from different mothers who got into this bright idea. The mastermind! A one hell of a bloody plan.

"All right we did our part. Now master Nhessa explain to them the other details for 'Operation: Make Aldrich Fall For Gladys'." Quel grinned.

"All right! Just follow what Adith and Quel have said and you can get into his apartment without a hassle. It was in completed details." Nhessa nodded.

"What if she was mistaken to a thief who broke to his house?" Sam said in her problematic tone.

"With that looks? Really a thief? Anyway she will go there alone by herself, you know.. we are all just a back up and a look out." Chu answered her.

"Are you sure he lives alone in that apartment? Any room mates?" I swallowed hard.

"He's alone in his place. And if so.. boys never do sleepover like us girls." Adith seriously replied.

"Here's your babydoll to make him more crazy about you!" Quel passed me this nightie.

I saw this skimpy and red lacy nightie that looked like would leave nothing to your imagination.

"I thought Gladys will going to strip?" Chu creased her forehead.

"As if she will go down naked from the car?! My gosh Chu!!" Nhessa rolled her eyes.

"Actually, if I am going to wear this thing I was no different from being naked!!" I blurted out.

"Well, that's life. According to Adith, if you are not going to get naked nothing will work about this plan!!" Quel in her evil grinned.

"Hey! I did not say that!" Adith protested.

"Yes, you did!!" we said in unison.

Not exactly but it seemed she was pertaining about that thing when she was explaining to me on what to do once I get into Aldrich's apartment. When I protested about getting naked and such? That nothing will work in this plan if I was not going to get naked.

"Fine, whatever!" rolling her eyes.

"Gladys Marie Catamisan? What now? Aren't you going to drink that? Stop glaring the drinks! Yes, it may help you but it is really about your peformance, dear!" Chu laughed tremendously while playing the lemon in her hand.

"Hey Chu, stop pressuring her! Or Gladys might backing out!" it was Quel.

"How about forget about this Gladys, coz I don't feel any good-"

They cut her off. Well, she's the only one who did not approve about it, but not to the extent that she's not supporting me. And I understand her, Sam is a very soft woman, a very tender loving care woman in everything, why it was not doubt that she could not live without her parents.

"Okay, I can do this!" I said before gulping my tequila. Crossed fingers that this drink could somehow help me with this one.

After emptying the bottle of tequila they all pushed me to the bathroom so I could now prepare for tonight, so it was twelve midnight. Even from body wash, shampoo and mouth wash it were all with Nhessa's personal touch.

"You really so sexy, Gladys." Sam smiled.

My mouth twisted, I just came out from the shower with only this little thing on me. I almost not hiding anything with this nightie of course I would look sexy. This was a backless or halter, with a small strap and low cut from the neck. It was thin also and too short.

"Aldrich is one hell of lucky bastard! Even so if we are going to sell you on the Underground, a million will surely going to bid." Quel tsk. "-Ouch! What's wrong with you?" Quel asked Adith when she smacked her head.

"You were talking like as if you were in a syndicate! It's our own friend, Gladys we are talking about! Of course she has that damn gorgeous body! Why it's still a puzzle to me why Aldrich ignoring our friend?" as she tapping her chin looking at me quizzically.

I sighed. "Thank you for everything girls, I really need this! Hooh!" I breathed in and out.

"What friends are for?" Chu beamed a smile.

"Just make sure, you won't forget everything we've told you. And everything will fall into place who knows he will fall for you after this!? And you both will have a happily ever after!" Nhessa said in a cheerful tone.

I gulped I was not hoping for a miracle that he would like me in return after this. I would be happy tonight giving my myself to him without a regret I know. I loved him that much that I couldn't ask for more.

"Finish that so we can start.." Chu.

"Gladys perhaps needs coffee? So the alcohol will subside from her system?" Sam suggested nervously.

"No! That's the purpose of that drinks?!" Quel said abruptly.

"Drink all of that, then we'll proceed to our next plan!" Nhessa.

"I can do this! Don't worry about me Sam!" I smiled at her, assuring my friend that I could do this.

She looked worried while looking at me but she managed a smile. "For your happily ever after! I'll cheer for you! So go Gladys! Go, go go Gladys!"

"We'll wait you there to the convenience store that we passed by. We couldn't wait for you here, or the guards mistaken us for roving." Adith eyes looked outside the car. "That store is just near here, are you familiar with it?" I nodded.

"Wish you luck, Gladys!" Sam kissed me on my cheek.

"Good luck Gladys!!" they said in unison before I left the car.

Once I stepped out the car, the strong cold wind wrapped around my body. I ran to his house immediately after entering the gate.