The Popular Jerk and I

CHAPTER 3: Unexpected Meeting

Matt's POV:

"Aunt Tesa," I yelled as I entered the house. Aunt Tesa is our head housemaid and was also my nanny. She's been with us since I was 3. Our house has 5 other housemaids. My house is a mansion but I've lived there for years with hardly any parental guidance. My mom was too busy with her business world, while my dad died when I was 5, so my mom worked her butt off to save the company that dad founded.

That's why mom is not at home all the time. She just visits me once a month. My family owns the biggest construction company in the world. That's why mom is always flying in every corner of the world.

"Matthew!" Aunt Tesa exclaimed with her Spanish accent. Aunt Tesa has been more like a mother to me than my own biological mom. "How was your first day?"

"It was really good," I replied with a grin. "I have a new pet again."

"You know, Matt, you should stop that pet-girlfriend thing you're doing," Aunt Tesa adviced. "No es bueno."

"But I always do this, Aunt Tesa. And I like it," I persisted.

"Me gusta," I reaffirmed in my fake Spanish accent.

Aunt Tesa sighed and asked, "So, who's the poor girl this time?"

"She's Senior like me. She's in my English class," I said while heading to the kitchen. "She'll be coming over here tonight."

"You invited her to come here?" Aunt Tesa asked in surprise as she followed my tracks.

"Yup. She'll be eating dinner with us." I grinned.

"Buenas noticias! You never invite your girlfriends here," she beamed in joy.

"Pet-girlfriends," I corrected.

"Girlfriends," she insisted. I rolled my eyes and she asked out of curiosity, "Why did you invite her?"

I flashed her a smile and tapped my hand on her shoulder saying, "It's for a change, Aunt Tesa."

She just stared at me like I grew another head, then raised an eyebrow.

"You're weird," she responded.

"I'm hot," I joked. She shook her head in disdain then walked to the fridge to grab some ingredients.

I rolled up my sleeves and chirped, "Well, let's start chopping!"

"Cecilia!" Aunt Tesa called her niece who is also one of our housemaids.

"Sí, tía," Cecilia answered as she scurried to the kitchen.

"Call the others and we'll start making dinner," Aunt Tesa ordered.

"Sí," Cecilia replied then scooted her way out to look for the other maids.

Lily's POV:

"Where are you going?" a familiar voice said while I was about to open the door.

"Mom," I exclaimed as I turned around and found her standing behind me. "I thought you were still out."

"I just got here to come pick you up," she said, all excited.

"What's going on? Where are you taking me?" I asked abruptly.

"Duh, don't you remember? It's my freakin' birthday!" Mom replied in a sarcastic way.

"No, it's not," I replied bluntly as  I rolled my eyes.

Mom rolled her eyes as well. "I'm totally kidding! But you do need to go somewhere with me." Mom looked at my clothes and said, "Perfect! You're already dressed. Let's go!"

"Mom!" I exclaimed grabbing her arm before she could get out the door. "Where are we going?"

She spun around and looked at me. "I told you we're going somewhere."

"And where is that somewhere exactly?"

"To a party."

"A party?!"

"Yes, a party."

"Mom! I can't party on weekdays. It's school night!"

"Oh, screw that! Who says you can't party on a school night?"

"You've got to be kidding me! Mom, you go to that party alone. I have somewhere else to go."

"Wait, where are you going?"

"To-- uhhm..."

"You're dating?!"

"No! Mom, I'm just going to a study partner."

"Is that study partner hot?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Wha- hot? Mom, who says he's a boy?"

"Who says he couldn't be a boy?"

"Whatever, mom." I sighed, rolling my eyes.

"So he is a boy. But unfortunately, you're coming with me."

"But--"

"No ifs, buts, and I will not take no as an answer. Let's go," mom said while opening the door, dragging me along with her. She clicked her remote car key to unlock her BMW and the head lights blinked while it beeped.

Oh, crap. I'm dead. I couldn't tell mom I'm a slave to the most popular guy at school. She would flip! She always believe that girls rule. And that jerk will kill me if I will not go to his house tonight! What am I gonna do?  And who's party are we going to anyway? I'm not dressed for a party!

Yay, life. Ugh.

"Now what's yo' name?" mom sang along horrendously with the song being playing on the radio as we drove off. "My name is Helen. I'm so very fly oh my it's a little bit scary. Boys wanna marry..."

"Oh God, not again." I rolled my eyes and buried my face in the palm of my hands.

"...Mad cause I'm cuter than the girl that's with ya..." mom continued singing, and trust me, she sounds horrible! No offense, dear mother.

"Oh please, mom, stop!" I pleaded while covering my ears. I looked at mom who was grinning and singing like crazy. This is mom's favorite song and every time I'm inside her car, she always play this song over and over again.

"...All eyes on me when I walk in. No question but this girl's a ten..." mom sang louder now. "...Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful, don't hate me cause I'm beautiful. My walk, my talk..."

"Mom, please turn it off!" I exclaimed. She still continued on singing and she loves it when I get annoyed.

"What?" She laughed as she turned the volume down.

"Thank you," I said sarcastically.

You see, mom and I have a sister-mother-like relationship. She's also my best friend apart from Jenny. She's the exact opposite of me, but I still love her.

Mom chuckled and said, "How could you not love that song? It's awesome!"

"You've been playing that song for almost a month now and you're still not over it. How could I love it when I couldn't even hear the voice of the singer because your singing is way more louder? And your voice is really bad mom." I said in a very sarcastic tone.

"Ouch! You're hurting me, cupcake." She fraudulently pouted like a child. "You know, when someone tells you that you can't sing, that means they're insecure because I'm too damn good."

"Oh my gosh." I face-palmed.

"Cupcake, I think I should get a recording deal," mom piped while turning the steering wheel to the left.

"Yeah, right," I replied tediously and we both laughed.

"So," I said changing the topic, "Who's party are we going to?"

"Family party," mom replied and her smile faded into a frown.

"Family party?" I repeated just to be sure if I heard it right.

"Yes, a family party," mom reiterated expressing the word family. "You're meeting the old folks."

"I'm meeting the grannies?" I asked in shock. I've only met my grandparents once when I was seven. And I remember how rich and classy they were especially my grandmother. She was really strict about my hairstyle and the clothes I wore. And right now, my hair is in a messy bun and I just wore casual clothes! Uh-oh. I could just imagine the horror in her face when she sees me.

"Yes, we're meeting them right now since they're in town," mom replied then her phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered.

Her face suddenly turned into a frown like she just got disappointed from what the person on the other line said.

"I knew this would happen," mom said to the other line. "Tell them, we're fine and we don't need their sorry coming from their secretary! Have a good night, whatever your name is." Then mom ended the call. Now she's pissed.

"What's wrong?" I asked in a worried manner.

"Unfortunately, your old folks are not in town. They cancelled their flight to come here because of a very important business matter. How cliché," mom replied as she quoted the word 'very' with here fingers.

"Oh," I replied in dismay. I'm not disappointed that my grandparents weren't able to come here. I just feel bad for mom because she expected them to come just like they said, but they didn't.

My grandparents are really rich since they own the biggest hotels in the country. On the other hand, my mom and I didn't choose to live the lush life. My mother was the rebel in her family. She was the eldest, and she didn't want to run their family business, so she ran away and eloped with my dad. My mom has a younger brother, Uncle Harry, who is 4 years younger than her and is the next heir.

My phone vibrated, interrupting my thoughts. I saw that I got a text message from an unknown number.

You're dead. -M.A.

Oh, right! I totally forgot about that jerk! M.A. obviously means Matt Austin. I looked at the time on my phone and it's already 7:45 P.M.!

"I think we should look for another restaurant to eat," mom said while looking at the restaurants outside her window. "Look, an Italian Restaurant. Wanna eat Italian food, cupcake?"

"Mom?" I said while closing the text message from Matt Austin.

"Yeah?" Mom replied while turning the steering wheel to the right.

"I know a very good place where we can eat delicious dinner," I said smirking.

Matt's POV:

"Is she coming?" Aunt Tesa asked as she gives me a glass of water.

"She should be," I responded dully, then drank half the glass of water she just handed me. "She's 45 minutes late."

"Don't worry, hijo. She will come. Maybe something happened," Aunt Tesa comforted.

"Something like she doesn't want to come?" I replied bluntly.

"She will come," Aunt Tesa reassured.

As if on cue, our gate buzzer rang.

Aunt Tesa and I scurried to the CCTV Room near the living area where the monitors of our CCTV cameras were placed.

"Oh hi,  Tesa," greeted Jed, a Mexican guy who monitors our CCTV, when Aunt Tesa entered the room. And obviously, Jed has a crush on her. He's the same age as hers too.

"Oh, Sir Matt," he greeted acknowledging my presence, then stood up from his chair when he saw me entering the room.

"I want to see the camera placed at the gate please," I demanded. Then Jed did as what he was told. He clicked a button on his keyboard and on the big screen, the image of our CCTV camera at our gate flashed. I looked at the screen and saw a white BMW outside our gate. Standing beside it is a brunette girl staring at our CCTV camera anxiously waiting for us to answer the buzzer.

"I told you she'll come," Aunt Tesa said smiling at me.

"Are you expecting her, sir?" Jed asked.

"Yeah. Tell the guard to let her in," I ordered.

"Yes, sir," Jed replied. Then he picked up the telephone and called the guard house in front to open the gate. "Open the gate. They're visitors."

"Thanks, Jed," I said.

"Anytime, sir," Jed replied.

I went out the CCTV Room with Aunt Tesa.

"I'll head to the kitchen and prepare the table," Aunt Tesa said.

I gave her a nod and headed to the front door.

Okay, she's here. Any seconds now, she'll be knocking on the door. Act cool, Matt.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

She's here.

I slowly turned the door knob and... wait, why am I the one opening the door? She'll think that I've been waiting for her.

You were waiting for her, dummy, said the voice in my head.

I know, I know but I don't want her to think that I've been expecting her to come.

Then I saw Cecilia came out from the living and I called her. "Psst! Cecilia!" I called her in a whisper trying not to be heard by Lily on the other side of the door. Cecilia looked at me weirdly and she walked towards me, "Is there a problem, sir?"

"Shhh," I hissed. "I'll go to the living and you open this door."

"Why me? You're already holding the door knob," Cecilia replied outspokenly.

Knock! Knock!

"God, Cecilia! Are you gonna open the door for me of not?" I muttered in irritation.

Cecilia jump in surprise and said, "Sí, sí. I will, sir!"

I ran to the living and sat on the couch. I picked up the newspaper on the table and started reading it like a boss. That's right, like a boss.

I heard footsteps coming towards the living and I knew that she was coming. I still covered my face with the newspaper acting like I'm reading it.

"Sir, your visitors are here," Cecilia notified.

I folded the newspaper and placed it back on the table. I flashed a smile at Lily who's standing meters away from me.

Hold on, who is that woman standing next to her?

"Hi, Matt," Lily greeted and gave me a smug smile.

"H-hi, Lily," I replied as I walk towards them, confused.

The beautiful blonde woman smiled brightly at me and extended her hand saying, "Hi, I'm Helen Christova. Lily's mom."

I was surprised by her words. Why would Lily bring her mom along?

I also extended my hand and we shook hands. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Christova."

"Oh please, call me Helen," Mrs. Christova requested.

"Let's go to the dinning area, shall we?" I said escorting them out the living and shot a glare at Lily but she just smirked at me. How could Lily bring her mom to my  house without even informing me? I feel so embarrassed now. I should've cooked more delicious food.

We were walking towards the dinning area then Aunt Tesa went out from the dinning and gave us a smile. Suddenly her smile faded and was replaced by an astounded look upon her face. I heard footsteps of heels walking slowly from behind. Aunt Tesa looked at me again and flashed me a worried smile.

What's wrong?

The footsteps from behind halted.

"Matthew Xander Austin," said a very familiar voice from behind.

Lily, Helen, and I turned around to see the person who called my full name. And there was only one person I know who calls me by my full name.

"Mom," I exclaimed when I saw a beautiful brunette lady standing in front of me.

"Surprised?" Mom said with a cheeky smile.

"Sofia?" Helen interrupted staring at my mom like she's sending her daggers.

"Helen?" Mom exclaimed, obviously shock in the presence of Lily's mother.

"What are the odds," Helen said. "We finally met after all these years."

"Indeed," mom replied. "You look old."

Helen's face expression changed. She was offended by what just mom said.

"You look older," Helen said in defense.

"You two know each other?" I interrupted, breaking the tension between them.

"Yes," both answered in unison.

"We're enemies," mom stated with arms crossed over her chest.