All along I watch you watch her
Like she's the only girl you've ever seen
How is it you never noticed
That you were slowly killing me

- I hate you I love you

⚛-⚛-⚛-⚛-⚛-⚛

Third Person

"Wow!"

"Ang sweet naman! Ano meaning niyan??"

"So anong pauso yan? Nag away ba sila or is he courting her again or whut?"

"I know right! Like ew? Promise hindi ko talaga sila bet."

"Omg! Ang gwapo niya!!"

"Ts. Yeah right. Yes he was but that Celine bitch? Nah."

Just like a royal queen, Lianna walked through the hallway nang mahagip niya ang usap usapan ng ilang babae at mapansin ang kumpulan ng mga tao at the field just a few steps from her.

Dala ng kuryosidad, nagsimula siyang maglakad papunta roon at nang mapansin siya ng mga estudyante ay agad silang gumawa ng daan para sa queen bee ng paaralang ito na dapat nga naman talagang igalang. Kung kanina ay puro ingay ang maririnig, ngayon ay natikom ang kanilang mga bibig nang makita ang natural poker slash maldita face ng pinakamaganda at pinakamayamang babae sa eskwelahan- hindi lamang sa eskwelahan, even internationally.

And after a short grand entrance ay narating niya na ang center of attention. Ang lalaking palihim niyang minamahal ng sobra at ang babaeng matagal na niyang kinasusuklaman ay magkasamang nakatayo. Celine's holding a teddy bear, a boquet of red and pink roses and a box of imported chocolates.

Ang mga ingay kanina ay napalitan ngayon ng nakakabinging katahimikan. Parang pagsusugal ng buhay ang pagsasalita kaya naman ay walang nagbabalak na magbukas ng bibig. Everyone's waiting for the three of them to speak. Actually they're just waiting for Lianna and Kendric to talk since they don't care that much towards Celine. She's just a nobody.

But even the two of them refused to open their mouths. Kendric has his hands in his pockets as he look back to Lianna. While the girl is just standing carefree. Hands on the sides, a pokered look with a glimpse of a bitchy personality and the calm outside but roaring anger deeply inside her. It seemed like dark aura's surrounding her whole body.

And slowly, she walked towards the two but now, her stares directly at Celine. Isang hudyat na nagpapaalalang siya si Lianna Xanders, ang queen bee, ang soon to be fiancee ni Kendric Milan.

Nang tumigil si Lianna sa harap ng dalawa ay diretso parin ang tingin niya sa babae. Celine looked down in horror and held her boquet tightly. Finally, Lianna spoke.

"It's too early to have sweets." Naiiritang sabi nito kay Celine. "Don't spoil yourself too much. Daring things never last for so long."

Celine wished Lianna just stayed shut. Mas gugustuhin niya pang mabigyan ng mga nanghuhusgang tingin at pasimpleng pagpaparinig galing sa ibang tao kaysa direktang maaway ni Lianna.

Suddenly, Celine felt Kendric's soft and warm hand intertwining hers.

"Isn't this what you want? Ito na, kasama ko na si Celine. What's with the sudden change?" Pagsingit ni Kendric. Lianna swiftly turned to him, still with a straight face. She wasn't on the mood to give that sarcastic smile.

"Nothing. I just want to." She shrugged. Parang pinapakita niya lang sa lalaki at sa lahat ng tao na puwede siyang gumawa ng kung ano anong eksena kahit na walang magandang rason.

That's what others will think. But deep inside her, she knows that there was a different reason kung bakit bigla bigla nalang niyang inaaway ang dalawa samantalang kahapon palang ay tinutulak niya si Kendric papunta kay Celine. And it is because she was hurt, for about a million times already. And now, it was happening again. Her stabbed, quiet heart.

"What kind of answer is that?" May pagkairita nang maririnig sa boses ni Kendric.

"An honest answer." Sagot ni Lianna.

Humigpit ang hawak ni Kendric kay Celine at liningon ito. "Let's go. We're just wasting our time here."

Hinila ni Kendric ang nakayukong si Celine at sabay na umalis pero bago pa man sila makalayo ng tuluyan ay nilingon niya ulit si Lianna.

"You forgot that one thing that even someone like you can never control, Lianna."

Napataas ang kilay ni Lianna at nagtanong.

"And what is that?"

'What would that be?' Tanong nito sa kanyang sarili at nasagot iyon ng magsalita si Kendric.

"Me." He smirked as he answered.

Hindi nakapagsalita si Lianna sa sagot na iyon ni Kendric. Para bang hinahamon siya nito, but yes he also had his point. Nanatili lang siya sa kanyang pwesto at di na umimik pa.

'Of course, how could I forget? It's you. Just by the way you chose to stand beside her and not beside me is already a sign of that painful truth.'

With that, Kendric and Celine walked out of the place, leaving the awed crowd behind, leaving Lianna behind.

Pero hindi papayag si Lianna na ganun ganun nalang iyon. Hinayaan na niyang makalayo ang dalawa at sa paningin ng ibang tao ay siya ang talo ngayon, but not to her. If you want to do something, there's gotta be a way. And what she wants to do for now was to make Kendric take back those words he said.

Sa ngayon ay nagsialisan na ang mga nakapaligid sa kanilang mga estudyante kanina at naiwan na lamang siyang mag isa. Hindi niya napigilang magtaas ng kilay. She then took her phone out and contacted someone.

[Yes? Lianna dear?]

"Good morning tita Kerstine."

[Why did you call? Do you need anything?]

Humugot siya ng lakas bago magsalita at inayos ang kanyang boses.

"Yes, tita. I was wondering about my quality time with Kendric, lately kasi we've been really busy from school. And now we've got nothing to do yet, paano po kaya kung gamitin naming dalawa iyon? I mean, what if we spend some time together, will it be a bad idea?"

Agad na nakarinig ng mahinang tawa si Lianna mula sa kabilang linya na para bang sumasang ayon ito sa kanyang sinabi.

[No! That's not bad, it will be great! What's your plan then?]

"Um.. What if an outing po?"

[Hmm. I think I like that. How about Kendric? Did he know about it already?]

"Well.." Ngumisi si Lianna sa tanong na iyon.

No, he don't. Definitely not.

Liningon niya ang direksiyon kung saan naglakad si Kendric palayo mula sakanya kani-kanina lang. She then answered carefully to her soon to be mother in law.

"I..... Want to surprise him, tita."

Kendric

Nandito ako ngayon sa tambayan naming magkakaibigan at hindi ko muna kasama si Celine kasi kailangan niya rin ng oras para sa mga kaibigan niya

Napag usapan na naming dalawa yun. Para walang nasasakal, kailangan naming maging balance. At lagi rin kaming gumagawa ng paraan para sa lahat ng bagay kagaya nalang noong nag away kami kahapon. Kaya pinaghandaan ko talaga yung kanina, hindi ko nga ineexpect na maraming makakakita sa amin eh, dapat ako lang tiyaka siya kaso hindi ko alam kung paanong ang dami nang taong nakapalibot bigla.

"Gago tol! Tangina mo paano mo nakuha yan?" Sigaw ni Zack kay Wayne. Hinagis kasi ni Wayne sa amin yung phone niya at may picture siya ng isang sexy na babae.

"Oohh punyeta." Vino cussed. "Ang sexy oh! Grabe!"

"Siraulo Wayne! Nascreenshot mo lang yan noh?"

Binato agad ni wayne si Zack ng tetra pack ng choco chug. "Gago hindi! Kagabi lang yan habang nasa bar ako, tapos yun. Kami na."

Pasipol sipol na tinitigan ni Zack yung picture. "Sa tingin mo Vino? Hanggang kailan sila magtatagal?"

"Hmm, one month?"

"Sira masyadong matagal yun! Ano lang sakin, two weeks." Sinipa ako ni Zack. "Ikaw pre?"

"Ewan. One week."

"Eh ikaw Hyen?"

Liningon namin ang nakapikit na si Hyen. Siya yung kaibigan naming magugunaw na yung mundo, tulog pa rin. Nasa dreamland parin.

"24 hours." Nagtawanan kami sa sinabi niya, ibang klase talaga tong bwisit na toh.

"Pero mga tol, gusto niyong sumama mamayang gabi? Pupuntahan ko ulit siya tiyaka maraming chics dun."

Agad na um-oo yung dalawa.

"I'll just drink." Hyen agreed at pumikit ulit. Saka sabay sabay na tumahimik yung tatlo at tinitigan ako.

"What?" Tumaas ang dalawa kong kilay. Nagtinginan ulit silang tatlo at napailing iling.

"Tsk tsk tsk. Wala 'to brad, wala nang interest sa mga ganyan yan." Ani Zack.

They all shook their head like they're disappointed in me.

"Lover boy amputa. Hahahaha!" Sabi naman ni Vino.

Ano na namang ginawa ko??

"Masyado ka daw loyal." Tipid na sabi ni Hyen.

Ah.. Yun pala yun?

Liningon ko yung tatlo saka ko minura.

"Tarantado kayo."

Tinawanan lang nila ako. Taena si Hyen lang ata talaga maayos na kausap dito.

"Woooo tinamaan kasi pare. Yan tuloy nakakulong ka na!" Sigaw ni Vino.

"Gago masaya ako! Hindi ako nakakulong! Magbar kayo buong buhay niyo wala akong pakialam, hindi ako pupunta!" Tanginang 'to pinapangunahan pa ako! Batukan ko sila eh.

"Pare totoo naman! Oh sige na nga, ikaw na seryoso." Sigaw ni Wayne sakin.

"Ako talaga. Seryoso ako at ako rin ang pinakamaswerte. Tandaan niyo yun mga gago kayo!"

Ramdam ko kung gaano ako kakumpleto dahil sakanya. Pag kasama ko si Celine, I could not think of anything else to wish for cause it felt like 'everything' was already in my arms. It felt like dala niya lahat ng gusto ko, ng kailangan ko. I am really grateful for having her and God knows that. Kaya hindi ako magpapatinag sa kung sino man ang magbabalak na magpatumba sa amin. Not even fate, not even my own parents, not even Lianna. I won't go easy on her just because she's the richest or the prettiest girl on earth.

Hyen suddenly tapped my arm kaya napalingon ako sakanya ng wala sa oras. Diretso lamang ang tingin niya sa malayo na parang may tinititigan at tinuro niya iyon, sabay sabay naming sinundan kung saan siya nakatingin.

It's Celine.

She's running towards our direction.

"Ohh speaking of the princess~" Zack spoke with a playful tone which made me smile while staring at her.

But everything changed as soon as she reached my place.

"Celine!" Nagsalute si Vino kay Celine and she just gave him a smile. Parang pilit na ngiti, saka niya ako tiningnan ulit, I was looking down on her because I'm taller.

"Kendric!" Nagmamadali niyang tawag. "Kendric si Lianna!"

Nawala lahat ang ngiti namin, even Hyen stood up at handa nang makinig, lahat kami nakapalibot na sa kanya.

Shit!

Mabilis, masyadong mabilis ang pag galaw niya. I knew what I did to her earlier was a very wrong move, it almost seemed to be a sin. Nang nabitawan ko na ang mga salitang iyon, nang sagutin ko siya, nang maglakad kami palayo mula sa kanya, doon palang alam ko nang gaganti siya. But I did not expect for it to be this fast.

"Lianna? What did she do again?" Hinawakan ko ang dalawa niyang kamay. Handa akong makinig sa dala ni Celine na balita. Pero hindi ako nakagalaw sa sunod niyang sinabi.

"And it wasn't only her. There was also your... Y-your mother..."

My mom? Si mom?

Natahimik kaming lahat.

"How?" I asked but she just looked down the ground and spoke.

"Lianna ordered me not to tell you anything else. Sabi niya, kung gusto mo raw malaman ang lahat, kailangan mo siyang puntahan."

She's at it again. She's playing with me again.

"Where is she?" Hyen asked calmly.

"N-nasa... private room niya."

Napasinghap ako.

"Okay fine. I'll go there." Liningon ko ulit si Celine at hinimas ang buhok niya. "Did she do anything to you?"

Mas lalong tinago ni Celine ang kanyang mukha at iyon ang mas
nagpakaba sa akin.

"Take care of her." I told them before walking away. Hindi na ako nakapag paalam pa kay Celine dahil kailangan ko nang puntahan si Lianna, before she do much more things. Bago pa siya tuluyang mabaliw at sirain ang buong buhay ko.

"Putangina!"

Nang makarating ako sa elevator ay pinindot ko agad ang seventh floor button. Kung nasaan ang private room niya. Ang private room ko ay nasa sixth floor.

I got out and there she was, standing beside the window habang naka crossed arms. Alam kong narinig niya ang paghakbang ko at sinasadya niyang hindi lumingon.

Hindi rin ako nagsalita at tumigil sa paglalakad. Finally after a few minutes, she turned to my direction at sumandal siya sa dingding with that poker look.

Mukhang hindi talaga siya magpapatalo sa pananahimik. Kaya wala na akong nagawa kundi magsalita nalang.

"What did you do?" I almost wanted to spit fire on her.

"What do you think?"

"Ang hilig mo talagang mandamay ano? Sinama mo na nga si mom, sinama mo pa si Celine."

She suddenly formed a small smile with her lips.

"Damay na si Celine sa lahat ng bagay. Starting from the day she chose to remain beside you. So there's nothing new with that. Kung sa lahat ng paghihirap mo ay nandoon siya, natural nalang iyon. Oh and your mom? I did not drag her into this, she came along all by herself." She spoke and emphasized the last phrase.

Nandilim ang paningin ko. Talagang sinusubukan niya ako. Inuunti unti niya ang pasensya ko at ang tiyaga na mayroon si Celine. Sinasagad niya talaga kami. Para siyang nakikipagpustahan, kung magiging matatag kami ni Celine hanggang dulo at sila na mismo ang sumuko sa pagpapahirap sa amin, o kung wala na kaming magagawa at uuwi nalang sa mapait na break up.

"Stop being a heartless monster. For the nth time I'm begging you, set me free."

I'm fucking angry but if all I had to do is to beg with tears just for you to let me go, then I will. Please let me go.

"No." She quickly answered.

I know Lianna does not love me for being me. Dahil kung mahal niya ako, hindi niya ako papahirapan ng ganito. Kung alam niya ang totoong ibig sabihin ng pagmamahal, maiintindihan niya na hindi lahat ng bagay maipipilit.

Napahinga ako ng malalim. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at binuksan ito ulit. I looked at her straight in the eyes, in her cold, eyes.

"Tell me then, what did you do? Ano na naman ang ginawa mo?!" I could feel my jaw clenching.

Because of my shout, her evil smile disappeared at napalitan ito ng nakakatakot na titig. Pero hindi ako magpapatinag, I need to stop showing how weak I was in front of her, I need to stop letting her feel that she always win.

Kailangan kong maging matapang.

"Fine." She answered. "I. Will. explain. Everything. To you. Very, very, carefully. So listen attentively . And keep your pretty mouth shut."

Lumakas ang bawat pintig ng puso ko to the point na parang sasabog na ito. Lianna's a devil everytime she smirk. But once she covers her whole face with seriousness, once her eyes became cold yet fiercer, once her tone make you shiver from fear, she wasn't a devil anymore.

She's already hell.

"Kendric, your mother and I talked about it. You... I mean we, are gonna spend a three month vacation in Paris."

My hands turned into a fist. Gusto niya akong ilayo kay Celine.

"Do you want for Celine to come too?"

I was taken aback by that question. What does she mean?

"Too bad, Kendric. She can't be with us. Do you know why?" Nanatili akong tahimik. "Kendric do you know why?"

"Why?"

Umirap siya. "Cause she will be too busy. Feeding her whole family."

Kumabog ang puso ko dahil sa kaba. I stared at her in horror. The next thing I know I was already walking towards her, nearly running too.

"What the hell have you done?!"

My mind went blank.

Mali. Mali ang ginawa ko.

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