HE DOESN'T DESERVE YOU

CHAPTER FIVE

Tori kept stealing glances at Taj, who was sitting across from her. As usual, they were at their favorite spot — under the big mango tree not far from his house.

He’d been quiet for a while now. Like, really deep in thought. Or more accurately, he’d been in a bad mood since yesterday. Tori noticed it when she passed by him at the fire station. But she didn’t make a big deal out of it. She assumed he was just tired from work.

Although… there hadn’t even been a fire yesterday.

But she couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“What’s with the silence, love?” Tori asked lightly.

“Is there something wrong?” she added.

Taj looked off into the distance before answering.

“Why, should there be a problem?” he shot back, voice cold. “You, maybe you have something you want to tell me. I’m all ears…” he added pointedly.

Tori was taken aback by his tone. She’d asked him normally, but the way he was acting, it was clear he was trying to say something.

“Excuse me?” she asked, keeping the irritation out of her voice.

Taj stood up from the thick mango root he was sitting on and threw the small stone in his hand far away.

“Nothing,” he said.

That was it. Tori’s patience snapped. Her eyes narrowed and she stood up too. She walked right up to him and stared straight into his eyes.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Spill it out. You started this.”

Taj looked at her up and down. That look. The exact kind of look Tori hated the most. Because that was the same look her dad’s wife and her half-sister Shantel gave her.

A look that felt like they were judging her down to her soul.

“Uh-uh,” Tori said, shaking her head as she slowly stepped back. “Please, don’t give me that kind of look,” she warned him.

“What look?” Taj asked, one eyebrow raised.

Instead of answering, Tori turned her back on him.

As much as possible she didn’t want to fuel his anger. It would only make things worse. But no matter how much she tried to hold back, her patience was being tested.

“Don’t turn your back on me, Tori.”

Tori turned around in disbelief. Her lips parted as she stared at him.

“Oh, really?” she said sarcastically. “It’s ‘Tori’ now, huh?”

She added as she threw both hands up.

“What, isn’t Tori your name? Or should I call you Victoria–”

That was the last straw. Tori snapped. She met his glare with one of her own.

“That’s it! That’s my cue,” she said, voice rising. “You know what, this — this whole thing is bullshit already! I wanna go home now.”

Tori grabbed her phone from the mango root with a huff.

“Really? You’re leaving without us fixing this?” Taj asked, disbelief and disappointment in his voice.

Tori faced him and gave him a bitter smile.

“Fix what? Because Taj, I don’t even know what you’re mad about. I have no idea. I don’t know what the problem is. Like, seriously, how are we supposed to fix something when I don’t even know what the problem is!”

She said it all in a rush, holding back the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Everett…”

Tori frowned at the name. She looked at him, confused.

“Evie? How do you know him?”

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Taj’s mouth.

“Don’t answer my question with another question, Tori,” he said through gritted teeth. “So, should I not know him?”

Tori stared at him, incredulous.

“You’re putting words in my mouth, Taj,” she said, shaking her head, disappointment thick in her voice.

“I didn’t say that. I was just asking you—”

“I was the one who asked you first, Tori!” Taj yelled, face turning red.

Tori’s eyes widened at the volume of his voice. She shook her head and stepped back slowly.

“You’re being impossible and so unreasonable—”

“Really? I’m the unreasonable one now?” Taj cut her off.

Another bitter smile crossed Tori’s lips.

“I’m going home. And don’t try to follow me or anything. I can go home on my own.”

The hurt was clear in her eyes as she turned and walked away quickly.

Taj’s fists clenched as he looked at Tori's back slowly drifting away from his sight. He grabbed his head and pulled at his hair.

“Ah!” he yelled, punching the mango tree. “Goddammit!”

---

BACK AT THE HERRERA ANCESTRAL HOUSE

The moment Tori got home, she walked in fast — only to stop when she saw her mother standing there, arms crossed, staring at her.

Tori exhaled. Then she started walking again.

“Stop right there, Victoria Herrera...”

Tori just rubbed the back of her neck, exhausted.

“Please, not now, Mom,” she said.

Marigold scoffed. She looked Tori up and down, then clicked her tongue. “Lover’s quarrel?” she asked mockingly.

Tori rolled her eyes and turned away again. She wasn’t in the mood to argue. Not now. She didn’t know her mom was coming. Uncle Ansen hadn’t mentioned it. But now she knew why he suddenly showed up in San Lorenzo.

“Stop this nonsense, Tori. I’m telling you—”

Tori stopped walking. She turned to face her mother seriously as Marigold stepped closer.

“Or what, Mommy?” Tori asked coldly, cutting her off.

“You know what I’m capable of, Tori,” Marigold said, face unreadable. “So I suggest you stop seeing that guy, Tori! And he’s not the kind of man who’s right for you!”

“And who do you think is right man for me, Mommy?” Tori asked, cheeks flushing with held-back anger. “Tell me! What’s wrong with Taj? He’s a good man and—”

“I don’t care if he’s a good man or a thug, Tori. My point is, he doesn’t deserve you—”

Tori laughed bitterly. “Really, Mom?” she said mockingly.

“And who does deserve me, then?” She asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Sid!” Marigold shouted. “Sid is who I want for you!”

“You want Sid for me, but I love Taj,” Tori said, tears starting to spill from the corners of her eyes.

“Love? And what do you know about love? How long have you even known that man—”

“I don’t care how long I’ve known Taj! All I know is I love him, and I can’t imagine living my life without him!”

“That’s foolishness, Victoria!”

Tori gave a bitter smile. “Really, Mom? Is it foolish to love? When you went after Dad even though you knew he had a family, was that foolishness too? Why is it okay when you do—”

Tori didn't finish her words when her mother’s hand flew and landed hard across Tori’s face. Her left cheek went numb from the slap. She could also hear her ear rang like a bell from the impact. Holding her cheek, she stared at her mother in disbelief, eyes brimming with tears, before quickly turning away.

“Victoria!” Marigold yelled angrily. “Victoria, get back here—”

“Enough, Marie!” Ansen shouted at his younger sister.

He’d been listening to their fight, and when he saw her hit Tori, he couldn’t take it anymore. “That’s enough!” he repeated.

Marigold turned on her older brother, furious.

“This is your fault, Ansen!” she blamed him.

Ansen gave her a hard look. “And how is this my fault?” he asked. “Who do you think she inherited that stubbornness from? And by the way, did that hit a nerve?

Do you see yourself in her? When you chased after Christopher even though you knew he had a family?!”

Marigold’s face flushed red with anger.

“Why are we talking about me now?” she snapped before storming off to sit on the sofa.

Ansen rolled his eyes. “Isn’t it true, though? But don’t worry. Your daughter’s boyfriend is single, so at least she’s not ruining anyone’s family. And besides, this will pass. Just give in a little so you two stop fighting.”

“No!” Marigold said firmly. “I’m taking Tori back to Manila, whether she likes it or not. I need to get her away from that man before it’s too late!”

Marigold's fists clenched. There was no way in hell she was letting her daughter end up with some ordinary firefighter. No way!