A Weird Woman

"Oh, we just finished the shooting. I am quite hungry, so I decided to get a meal at this mall. That is when I saw you sitting here."

"Why are you looking for me, though?"

Aurora's cheeks puffed out. Despite the mask, Rafael could already guess she was pouting.

"Do you know it's not polite? I already told you my name; the least you can do is tell me yours."

"I am Rafael. Why are you so interested in me anyway? Don't tell me it's love at first sight," Rafael said with a chuckle, teasing her.

Aurora's cheeks turned a shade redder. 

Now that she thought of it, she also wondered why she took the initiative to get close to Rafael. But then she quickly realized why. 

"I rarely meet someone who doesn't know anything about me. You know, I miss having a friend who's just a friend, not someone wanting something from me."

"And you think I could be your friend?" Rafael asked while adding in his mind, 'Beauty or not, this woman has screws loose. 

Who approaches a stranger and asks something like that? 

What if I am a predator? And to ask me to become her friend, do we even have something in common? 

For God's sake, three years is quite a far gap. I am sure we have no similar topics of interest.'

If Reina were here, she would laugh at Rafael. 

What is he talking about? In his last school, he was even called "an old soul." He always acted far more mature than his real age.

Sometimes, she felt too childish compared to him.

"Can't you? I don't ask much, just sometimes meet with me and have some small talk?" Aurora replied.

From the words alone, it seemed like she was asking for a date. But Rafael could tell she didn't mean it that way, 'Just how lonely is she to be this desperate?'

"Sure, I don't mind as long as it doesn't disrupt my life. I owe you one anyway."

"Owe me one?" Aurora tilted her head, confused about what he meant, but then understood.

"Don't worry about it. It was a pure accident, and I know you meant well."

"Let's just not talk about it anymore. So you live in this city?" Rafael asked. 

He just wanted to change the topic and not talk about it anymore. Every time he remembered, he would feel very embarrassed.

"No, I just came because of the shoot, but now I will probably visit occasionally to meet you. 

If you don't mind, can I have your number?" Aurora asked.

'What a very aggressive woman. Is she really a famous actress?' Rafael wondered. In his mind, he thought Aurora was just some C-grade actress.

But he didn't want to debate, not like he really cared how popular Aurora was. He took out his phone and showed the number to Aurora.

She then sent him a message, "That is my number; please don't give it to anyone else."

"Don't worry about it. Why would I do that? If you are really popular like you say, it will just become more of a problem for me."

"I am curious, though. What do you do in your free time? 

Since you don't know me, have you never watched TV? Or movies?"

Rafael shook his head. All his time was spent on the computer and studying. 

He tried to look for side income gigs he could do to earn his own money and lessen his sister's burden. He chose computers so his sister wouldn't need to know.

Last time he tried to take a job, Reina got angry as she felt like a failure for not being able to help her own little brother. 

No matter what, in her eyes, Rafael was still at an age to enjoy life, not to worry about the bills.

But Rafael disagreed about this. If anything, in reality, he felt school was a waste of time. It would be better to work quickly, save money, and build up experience and skills.

"I am not. Should I look up your name? You say you don't want people to recognize you because of your status, but now I think you just want me to know more about you."

"NO! I mean, you can look. Who am I to forbid you from doing that? But I just hope you won't change how you act with me."

"Don't worry. Even if you turn out to be a princess of this country, I will not care at all." Rafael replied in a joking tone.

But Aurora took it differently, "You promise?" she asked with a hopeful look in her eyes.

"Sure," Rafael replied.

"What are you doing in the mall anyway?"

"I am looking for some shoes and a watch. You know, in the school I am entering, some people want me to care about how I look to avoid getting bullied."

"Bullied, how?"

"You don't know bullying? Aren't you in college now? I don't believe your school doesn't have any bullying."

"Well… I am taught privately, so I never know. My schedule is so busy that I can't go to school normally."

Seeing her sad gaze, Rafael teased her, "So you are rich. Aren't you afraid I will ask you to buy me something?"

"I don't really mind. As long as you become my friend." Aurora replied.

'The hell… how naive could someone be? There should be a limit! 

Isn't it illegal to let a woman like her go by herself?' Rafael thought in his mind.

"You say you wanted a true friend, then stop giving money to them. A real friend won't ask like that."

"But I really don't mind. It doesn't affect me, and if that makes them happy, why not?" Aurora asked back.

Rafael face palmed himself, "Let me clarify it with you. That is why you couldn't have a real friend. 

It's just hard for other people to look through all those statuses and wealth and see the real you.

Maybe it doesn't mean much to you, but for me or someone else, that could mean a lot."