ANDY’s POV

"TAKE the clothes that you hang outside, it looks like it's going to rain soon," my mother ordered me. I just sighed and left what I was doing.

"Yes, mom," I replied. I got up from the pallet and went out of my small room.

Oh, yes! By the way, I'm Andy Diliman, 18 years of age! I’m currently a graduating senior student. Oh what’s interesting about me, hmm… well nothing more.

Anyway, I’ve already started getting my clothes that I hang outside for it to dry easier because of the blazing sun. I heaved a sigh, why am I doing this? It’s because our maid left for a day off, so I'm the one working for this now… well I’m just clowning myself. We are just part of the low-income society, so we have to persevere for our daily needs every day. We’re just living in a small village where the houses are close to each other and are pretty crowded. But anyways, enough of this. I need to get the clothes faster, the sky is getting darker.

While I was busy picking up the clothes, I briefly stopped when I heard footsteps and voices outside our already brittle wall.

"Hurry up! Chase him!"

"It's the right time and he's alone!"

"That's enough for chatter! Just follow him!"

My forehead frowned at the yelling, so I got curious and I couldn’t help myself but peek through the hole in our wall. But to my surprise, someone suddenly jumped from outside into our yard.

"W-who are you ?!" I shouted in shock, I can’t see his face that much because he is wearing a hoody. But then, he briefly turned his attention to me when I spoke.

"Shit!" That's all he said and ran again ... but he brings something with him. It was my…

"Hey, shit! Give my panty back, bastard!" I shouted, but he never looked at me again. That bastard! Even though that panty just cost a dollar, it's hard to work now for money!

I'll really charge him for it when I see him! To my irritation, I just sighed and continued what I was doing. It's impossible for me to charge him for that, our country is big. But that's a pity, that’s a dollar. But... I saw a little portion of his face earlier. He's handsome... But he's rude! Big turn-off!

After I picked up the clothes, I entered the house. Mom immediately asked me about the commotion.

"Oh, Andy? What’s with the noises outside? Who are you talking to?" she asked me when I entered the living room. I immediately frowned at the recollection.

"Ah, nothing, Mom! They're just drunks around the corner!" Mom just shook her head at what I said.

"Oh alright. And go ahead if you have something to do. I'll just fold those clothes," Mom said.

"All right, I'll just go to Nica’s house," I said.

"All right, just be careful, okay?" my mom replied. I just nodded and left the house to go to my friend's house.

Unlike me who is poor, Nica who is my childhood friend is living a rich life. Her parents are businessmen. But with all their wealth, they are not like those other rich people that judge those who are below them. I can freely visit their house whenever I want.

Minutes passed, I am already in front of their gate, I immediately texted my friend that I am already outside. In a few moments, their gate opened and there she is, my best friend. She was all smile not until she saw what I’m wearing. She gaped at me from head to toe as if her eyes could not accept what she saw.

"Andy? Seriously? That's all you're wearing? We're going to the mall not to school for P.E!" she asked me as she circling around me as if inspecting my whole being. I looked at myself and I can’t see anything wrong. What's with it?

"Why? There's nothing wrong with what I'm wearing?" I said. Well, I'm wearing a white plain t-shirt, jogging pants, and sandals. Nica just shook her head and pulled me into their house.

"Oh? I thought we’re going now?" I asked.

"There's no way we're going to the mall, with you just wearing our P.E attire! Hey, Andy! You're already over eighteen and you're still NBSB! So, come and let me lend you my clothes! No buts!" she said to me after she saw my reaction which is going to refuse. NBSB? No Boyfriend Since Birth, right?

This friend of mine loves fashion and anything related to luxury clothes, while I only buy my clothes at thrift stores.

I just followed her, oh rather she’s not letting go of my hand so she’s dragging me. Though, I am really grateful that Nica became my friend. You see, it's cliché to listen to but I'm always being bullied at school because of my state— being poor.

I am also just a scholar student at Lee Academy, a private and famous school here in the country. And it also belongs to Nica's uncle. Given that, I didn’t use Nica to enter the Academy. I’m lucky to be gifted with knowledge.

And in a few moments, we’re already inside Nica's room, on the second floor of their house. I have been here many times, Nica is the only one in their house right now, with the maids.

Nica immediately went to her closet and look for something to wear for me, there. And just moments late, she lifted a beige above the knee dress and peach-colored doll shoes.

"Tadaaah! It's yours now, Andy, don't worry I didn’t wear that yet!" she said. She immediately pulled me and hand over the dress to me.

"You haven't worn it yet? Then why would you give it to me? I’m fine with the old ones, Nica, can—" she stopped me, "Sshh, like I said, no buts! So you go into my bathroom and get dressed, move!" I just sighed and went into her own bathroom.

WE are here now inside the mall, we’re going to buy school supplies because the first day of school is already tomorrow. And wondering why we bought it just now? Well, for Nica, she could have just bought it earlier than me, but she said we’re going to buy it together. As for me, I still need to work on my own to buy something, I don't want to be a burden to my Mom.

Nica dragged me to the National Book Store, a home of various school supplies. As we enter, the air-condition is much colder here. Nica told me to look for what I’m going to buy, and she’s gonna do the same thing too. I agreed and we parted ways as she’s gone to the pen isle. While I’m going for notebook’s isle. We agreed to meet at the counter.

While I’m choosing different styles of book, I frowned because of the prices. Too expensive. But I can’t go to school without these, so I gotta pick one. And when I was done picking, my attention was caught to the commotion outside, some girls are shouting. So I looked at the glass wall to see what they’re up to. And what I saw are five men riding the escalator down. Then my eyes glued to one of them, because...

That... That guy... Is the one who stole my panty!