DID HE KNOW it all along? All this time, he knew that I'm only pretending? P-Paano? Kailan? I made sure that I won't be busted but how did he know it? He said that he's playing the game that I'm playing? So, he purposely didn't confront me when he knew it? But why?!

I was so dumbfounded to the point that I almost tripped myself with a waiter. I shrieked as I thought I would see myself on the floor being spilled by whatever the waiter's been holding. But I didn't feel a thing, I opened my eyes and I saw Troy's jaws tightening while he's glaring towards the waiter.

"S-Sorry po, 'di k-ko po talaga sinasadya, Ma'am and Sir." Anas ng takot na takot na waiter. If things are not like this? I would have blurted my annoyance to this young man, pero dahil masyado pa akong disoriented sa mga nangyari kanina lang, I only saw myself shook my head and told him that I'm okay.

"Just go back to work, I can handle her from here." Wika ni Troy sa malalim nitong tono nang tangkang punasan ako ng waiter dahil nabasa ang isang braso ko na natapunan.

Troy brought me near the comfort room because we were creating too many scenes already. People were taking pictures of us as well.

"I'll wait here, freshen up." Iyon lamang ang huli kong narinig kay Troy when he guided me to go inside of the washroom. I only nodded like a crazy woman because I could still feel my shock at what happened.

Tiningnan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. My hair was still tied up neatly and my light makeup was still there. But my light pink lipstick almost got faded because of my paleness. Masyadong halata sa mukha ko ang pagkaputla and I really indeed to freshen up.

My whole body has been shaken because of Bravo's appearance and how he broke my identity to Troy, but what really shook me the most was the thought of Troy knowing this all along. I felt like I was played really well. Kompiyansa akong 'di niya ako mahuhuli but clearly, it's the other way around.

Or was it just his way to get back to Bravo? Troy is clearly smart and knows how to take back the words he receives. Sinabi niya lang kaya 'yon para hindi mapakita kay Bravo na he got played really well too by me?

Napapikit ako habang tinitingala ko ang aking ulo. Napahawak rin ako sa aking sentido dahil napigtig iyon sa sakit.

Serena... ano ba naman itong pinasok mo? You've done this before... just like what Bravo said a while ago.

Pretending to be someone else was my past time in the US. That's my way of coping up with all the stress that I'm getting from my business and the modeling industry. Doon ko nakilala si Bravo. A typical bad boy with an evil mind in place.

Bravo Guidotti is an Italian investor who knows how to handle stocks. It's his forte, he loves math and as much as possible, he wants to avoid any business that needs his brain to work for. He only settled in investing and that's what he is good at.

Apart from it, he also loves to meddle in other people's lives. He loves to pretend to be beggar, commoner, and other roles that would give him a good disguise away from being rich.

That time, ang rason niya kaya niya ginagawa iyon ay para lang makita ang kalagayan ng mga nasa ibaba at mababa ang estado sa buhay. He wanted to see and feel the realness of this world but... he showed me more than that.

I'm all good to pretend so I can move freely in the downtown without being recognized by other people. The fame that I have was not really a joke and I don't want to be the center of the pinnacle all the time. Hence, pretending to be a normal school girl, a cosplayer, a lawyer looking, and I even tried to take a day job as a mascot. Crazy isn't it? Nakakapagod, yes. Pero iyon lang ang paraan ko para lang makaalis sa reyalidad ng totoong buhay ng isang Serena Fontanilla.

We met one night, I was almost got raped by some street assholes in downtown. Ginusto ko lang naman noon na makapaglakad lakad pero hindi ko inaakala na may mga makakasalubong akong mga hayok sa laman.

"Surely, you got some curves miss." One of them said while they are advancing towards me while I'm moving backward at the same time.

I wore a nurse get-up and clearly these asshats would turn their lustful beasts inside them. Well, ano pa bang bago? These men like them don't know how to respect women, sa inaakto lang nilang ito, for sure they don't know the concept of being respectful.

I know how to protect myself. I'm just waiting for the right moment to attack but Bravo entered the scene... looked like a beggar while holding some garbage bag on his shoulders.

He helped me that night and we became friends. Well, most likely, more than that. Hindi ko alam kung ano nakita ko sa kanya noon pero I find him mysterious. He's jolly and naughty. The bad boy vibes were really there and I couldn't stop myself from falling for him.

Or so I thought...

He knew me as Serena Fontanilla at hindi naman niya tinago sa'kin kung sino talaga siya sa loob ng mga alta. Both of us love this pretension scheme but I didn't expect na aabot iyon sa sukdulan.

Nalaman ko ang totoong rason of him disguising. Sa pagpapanggap na ginagawa nito'y ginagawa niya rin iyong paraan upang makapangloko ng iba... naroon ang magpanggap na may gusto sa isang babae hanggang sa makuha niya ang gusto nito at halos umabot na iyon sa ilegal na gawain.

Hindi nito alam na alam ko ang ilegal niyang mga aktibidades pero hindi ko na piniling komprontahin siya ukol roon. The lesser he knows that I'm already aware of it, the better.

I wanted to accept his flaws at that time because if you really love someone, you'll try your best to understand and try to divert them away from the path that might cause their destruction.

I tried changing him for the better. At napatunayan kong hindi iyon epektibo. Totoo nga ang sinasabi ng ilan. Accepting your love's flaws was already enough to make them change for themselves. You don't need to push that person to leave their habits.

"Perché hai portato qui questa donna? È solo una comune, per l'amor di Dio!" Why did you bring this woman here? She is just a commoner for god's sake!

"Mama, I like her..."

"My god, son! Stop this and break her heart. If her existence reached your Papa's you know that she will put her in her right place!"

"No! He won't!"

"Do you really think your Papa can't do it? She is disgusting! To think she came from a normal family, I will never accept this too! Those lowly woman doesn't even deserve the hostility that I showed. I almost puke by doing that!"

Napahawak ako no'n sa aking dibdib dahil sa masasakit na salita mula sa Mama ni Bravo. He decided na ipakilala ako sa kanyang pinakamamahal na ina. Ako naman si tanga, naniwala na magugustuhan ako. I thought she really liked me because of her warm welcome, pero nitong narinig ko ang usapan nila, mas masahol pa sa demonyo ang pag-uugali ng ginang. I couldn't believe na may ganitong klase pa pala ng tao. Na minamata ang mga normal na tao.

"C'mon, Mama. She's only my fuck buddy, nothing else. I just want you to know her because soon... you'll be proud of me."

Tumigil ang mundo ko sa sinabing iyon ni Bravo.

"Proud of you? Like how, son?"

"Mama, you taught me well remember? Use the people that I could get benefits from. You would laugh at me as to how low that woman she could get."

Fuck Buddy? How low of a woman I could get? We didn't even do that thing! Dahil unang-una, I really don't want to. Hindi ko hinahayaang umabot kami sa puntong iyon. I don't know why dahil may nararamdaman naman ako sa kanya but I just can't do it. Maybe because na-t-timing-an na sobrang busy ako at wala ako sa mood na makipag-sex sa kanya?

Pero anong karapatan niyang sabihin iyon sa nanay niya?!

My tears were dripping rapidly on my face. I controlled my emotion because I don't know why pero wala akong lakas na loob na umalis nalang. Siguro may parte sa'kin na kumpirmahin iyon kay Bravo.

"Are you okay, Hija?" Tanong sa'kin ng kanyang nanay when I'm not even moving my food. Lutang ang aking pag-iisip dahil sa 'di malamang dahilan.

"I-I'm okay, Madame." Magalang kong tugon... kahit 'di niya deserve.

"Then eat, I heard from my son that you are not usually eating because of your work? You only eat preservatives and it's not good. That's actually disgusting."

"Mama, pancit canton is also delicious. You should try it, right Babe?" Wika ni Bravo habang hawak hawak ang isa kong kamay.

I smirked inwardly, I may be hurt because I got played really well but I'm not a martyr either.

"I-I'll eat now," tugon ko pero imbes na gamitin ang mga kurbyertos, may naisip akong gawin.

"Actually, Madamme, I was just stunned like how good your foods are. I just can't pick right away." Anas ko while acting as if I'm really hungry.

"Yeah, I see. Go ahead—"

"I'll dig now," anunsyo ko then I took chicken using my hands and bit it. I also used my own fork to get carbonara and took some pastries using my hands and put it all on my plates.

The shock on her face was really priceless na tipong gusto ko pang picture-an dahil grabe ang gulat sa mukha ng ginang.

"B-Babe, no one w-will get those foods away from you." Wika ni Bravo nang makitang halos sabay sabay kong pinapasak lahat sa bunganga ko.

"I'm sorry, I was just so... hungry." Tugon ko habang may laman pa ang bibig.

The disgust on his Mom's face was really horrifying. Hindi nito inaaakala na ganito ako kumain sa hapag nila. Bakit? Does she really think that I'll let it pass? Tingin ba niya, I'll try so hard to get her favor?

No! Masakit ang mga sinabi nilang dalawa at ramdam ko pa rin iyon. I was insulted once again. Akala ko matatapos na ang mga ganitong drama ng buhay ko nang dahil sa estado pero hindi pa pala. I got bullied when I got transferred to the US. I was a victim of racism. People are bullying because of my skin and race. Lahat nang 'yon ay tiniis ko hanggang sa maka-graduate ako. Kahit gaano kayaman ang mga Fontanilla, wala ni isa ang kumaibigan sa'kin. I only found being friends with Maria na kasabayan kong nag-junior high pero noong magka-college ay napilitan itong bumalik ng Pinas upang doon magtapos.

"Why did you do that? You did not respect her, Serena!" Galit na wika sa'kin ni Bravo nang ihatid niya ako sa hotel na dapat ay tutuluyan namin pero mas gusto ng ina nito na sa mansyon nila matulog ang binata. Syempre ang ginang, nagdahilan para hindi ako roon makitulog.

"I did Bravo. I did." Wika ko nang buksan ko ang pintuan ng hotel room.

I only found myself being pinned to the wall. Nagulat ako roon dahil halata sa lakas ng binata ang galit dahil sa ginawa ko sa kanilang hapag kanina. He's strangling my neck and his eyes are fearsome.

"You know how I treasure my Mom and you will treat her that way? You crossed the line." Malalim ang boses nito at tila hindi ako palalagpasin sa nagawa kahit pa ang magkaawa ako.

This is his other side. He's savage whenever he's not pleased. Ako ang nagiging subject nitong saktan pero ito na yata ang pinakamalala. Before he's only slapping me real hard but now... he's suffocating me to death.

I held his arm holding my neck. I tried pulling it away but his chunk of muscles was strong enough to make him feel that I'm pushing him.

I did what I had to do. I jabbed his arm's upper limb to make some pressure on his joints. Nagawa kong makawala while I'm trying to get my breathing back.

"You piece of a bitch!" He angrily said then he pulled my hair using his other arm.

Napairit ako sakit ng sabunot nito lalo pa nang kanya niya akong kaladkarin. Binalya niya ako sa kama then he punched my stomach.

Pakiramdam ko'y tumigil ang mundo ko sa sakit na iyon. The pain manifested on my face. My mouth formed an O shape because of the sudden attack.

"I'll teach you where you truly belong."

Sinampal naman niya ako ng ilang ulit and tried to rape me this time. I'm screaming at the top of my lungs but his other hand covered my mouth.

His kisses were now on my chest and I really felt myself being cold because of what's happening. Nagpumiglas ako ng nagpumiglas at nang may maabot ako sa kung saan, I immediately smashed it on his head.

He groaned in pain and I used that chance to pushed with all my strength. Nahulog ito sa kabilang parte ng kama and I used that chance upang makaalis sa kwartong iyon.

Ngunit bago pa ako makatakbo ng tuluyan ay nahablot niyang muli ang aking buhok. "Where do you think you are going?"

I felt my adrenaline went back. This time, I won't let him hurt me anymore. I used both hands to hold his arm that's holding my hair. Yumuko ako while I'm pulling his arms in front. I gave my all strengths and that causes him to backflip and fell on the floor.

It was clear on his face the shock from what I did. But I didn't stop there. I'm still holding his twisted arm. I held that tightly and twisted it more, I put my foot on his neck this time.

Ito naman ngayon ang nahihirapang makahinga dahil sa ginagawa ko.

"Do you really think I will let you hurt me that much? Clearly, you still didn't know me, Bravo. And wait, what? Us? Fuck buddies? I didn't even let you lick me all the way there and you call that fucking?"

Halata sa mukha nito at natanto na narinig ko ang naging usapan nila ng nanay niya.

Tinanggal ko ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya at pagkakatapak ko sa kanyang leeg. The relief manifested on his face but I stepped on his tummy and this time... harder.

"We may be good at pretending to be someone else, Bravo, but bear this in your mind," I said then I held his face with my hands and looked at him with murderous eyes.

"Don't think that all women will always be played by you and will let you hurt them like what you are doing to me and to other girls you got played with. I have their support to sue you and one wrong move, Bravo. I'll make sure that all of the investments you took part in would know your illegal activities. Now, I'm pretty sure that you don't want that to happen right?"

Bakas sa mukha nito ang pagkagulat sa mga nalalaman ko tungkol sa mga katarantaduhan niya.

"I'll let you go but the next time that we'll see each other and you do this to me again, see to it that I'll be your greatest downfall. And a Fontanilla is always true with their threats. Remember that."

Umalis ako sa ibabaw niya at sinimulang maglakad while getting my purse na naglalaman ng mga importanteng gamit ko. I put some sneakers on and grabbed a black cap.

Tiningnan ko muli ang binatang nakasandal ngayon sa gilid ng kama at masama ang tingin sa'kin.

I tsked and said, "Your Mom will be proud of you because you get to use me? You should have told her who I really am, she might be so proud earlier than now. What a shame."

"I heard that Serena and Troy are here. Can't you believe it?" Rinig ko sa isang babae na biglang pumasok sa banyo. I was in one of the cubicles when I heard her.

"Who wouldn't know that, girl. I saw them entering the restaurant together. Tingin mo sila na?" Tugon at tanong ng kasama ng naunang babae.

"Well, who wouldn't think about that? The famous model businesswoman and one of the most sought bachelors in the Philippines are dining here. They must be on a date."

"Ano ka ba?! He was just near this washroom, 'di mo ba siya nakita?"

"What? Really?! Oh my god, we have to fix our makeup. Pero bakit siya nandiyan?"

"I don't know, sana alam ko. Maybe sneaking around?" Then both of them giggled. "Hindi naman siguro, this is public."

"Both of them look perfect together, don't you think?"

"Who? Troy and Serena? Not sure, girl."

"What? Why naman?"

"Well, Troy's a playboy. He fucks women and I'm also dreaming to be one of them. My god, girl. If naririnig mo lang ang mga chika ng mga babaeng naikama niya, he really indeed has a huge member and really good in bed."

"Oh my, shocks! Is that real? A man with good looks and talent in bed, oh girl, Serena must be so lucky to have him."

"I know right! Ang swerte niya but at the same time bumaba ang tingin ko sa kanya."

Napaangat ako ng tingin nang marinig ko iyon at natigilan sa pag-aayos ng aking sarili.

"Ang OA naman no'n, girl. Why naman?"

"Well, Serena has it all... beauty, body, part of a wealthy family of our country, but she is one of his women? I don't know, I thought she's different. Iyon pala gano'n din siya sa ibang babaeng nagnanais kay Troy. Sino ba namang hindi, right?"

"Ay agree, super right ka diyan. Troy has a reputation to hurt women or use them to his advantage and I wouldn't believe that she fell on his trap... if... totoong they are being together, huh."

I clenched my fist as I'm seething in anger. Muling nanumbalik ang mga masasamang salitang narinig ko na noon. Like how these people step on my womanhood and putting all those men in a pedestal na animo'y kasalanan pa ng isang babae kung sakaling makipaglapit sila sa ginugusto nilang lalaki.

I pushed the cubicle's door with force and I heard both of them screamed in shock. Mas lalo silang nagulat nang ako'y kanilang makita. The shock on their faces would pass as if they were caught in the act. Especially that both of them are talking behind my back.

I calmly walked towards them, I saw they flinched when I started to move.

Tss, these women were just brave if the subject of their topic was nowhere around. Pero kapag naroon, akala mo kung sino mga inosenteng akala mo'y 'di nagsalita ng masama sa kapwa.

And I'm so sick of these people and their trash mindset.

"S-Serena..." Wika ng isa sa kanila nang tumapat na ako sa isang sink. Tatlo ang sink ng washroom. Pumwesto ako sa gitna nila dahil iyon ang okupado ngunit nakakasiguro akong pinagsisisihan nila ngayon na 'di sila nagtabi ng sink.

"Y-You were just there, kanina pa?" Kabadong wika naman ng isa.

Mabilis kong pinasadahan ang mga kasuotan nila. Ang isa ay mukhang matino naman manamit, unlike dito sa isa nagsimulang insultuhin ako sa kanyang opinyon ay akala mo kung sinong malinis sa'ming dalawa. If that's her way to dress up, I don't mind at all. Clearly, without insulting her, siya nga iyong isa sa mga babaeng nagnanais ngang maikama ni Troy.

"Yes, enough to hear everything." I coldly replied while I'm still washing my hands.

Naramdaman ko ang kanilang pag-atras dahil panigurado'y guilty talaga sila at nahuli sa mga pinagsasasabi nilang masama tungkol sa'kin.

"U-Uhm, w-we were j-just—"

"Insulting me?" I interfered and asked the woman on my right, siya iyong may pagka-liberated manamit.

Parehas silang napayuko lalo na noong pinatay ko ang faucet.

"W-We're sorry—"

"Y-yeah, we're sorry with the words we said, we didn't m-mean it."

"I could have accepted your apology, but what? You didn't mean it?" I said while I'm drying my hands with a tissue.

Parehas silang napatahimik. Napailing na lamang ako. I don't want to be a bitch today dahil may problema pa akong dapat kaharapin sa labas.

"Don't be sorry, that's your opinion towards me... however, kung tingin ninyo bumaba ang tingin niyo sa'kin just because I'm with Troy, paano nalang ang sarili ninyo? Ganoon lang kababa ang tingin n'yo sa sarili na kaya niyong makatikim ng isang gabi sa kanya? That's the reason why men look down on us instead of their equal. Some women fight for our rights but here you both, trying to invalidate their efforts."

Iniwan ko na sila roong nakatunganga lang sa mga sinabi ko.

But before that, I uttered these words, "Women's value doesn't reflect behind any men's shadow. We have our own light, it's up to us how we are going to shine better."

The moment I touched the doorknob, muling nanumbalik ang atensyon ko sa sariling problema. Sa mga ganitong panahon, ito yung mga oras na sana ay wala kaming family dinner na ganito. Pero pinagpapasalamat ko rin na may ganito kaming lakad ngayon dahil kahit papaano'y maiiwasan ko ang confrontation with him. I know for sure that I would only chickened-out.

"You sure took your time," kung siguro'y magugulatin ako baka nasapak ko ang nanggulat sa'kin but since I instantly knew that voice, I only felt all the nervousness in me heightened.

I don't know how would I act in front of him. Should I act as if my disguised was not busted? And most importantly, am I going to be Serena Fontanilla or Serena Angeles?

Damn, I'm totally confused about what to do!

"G-Girl thing," I only replied and I swear, I saw that faint smile on his lips when I stuttered. I don't know anymore what's on his mind right now. He doesn't show any madness dahil sa niloloko ko siya all this time.

Hindi kaya totoo ang sinabi nitong alam na talaga nito sa simula palang na nagpapanggap lang ako? Pero papaano? Kailan at bakit? Why he didn't say something about it? Or talagang plano niyang paglaruan din ako?

Ngayon, 'di ko na tuloy alam ang mararamdaman. Magagalit ba ako dahil pinaglalaruan niya lang ba ako pati ang mga nangyari sa'ming dalawa o parte talaga iyon ng plano n'ya?

"Princess, finally! Narito na kayong dalawa."

"Oh god, I thought something happened to you, dear."

Reaksyon nina Mom and Dad pagkapasok namin sa isang pribadong kwarto. Both of them are elegantly wearing something that would show how powerful a Fontanilla is.

"I just needed to go in the washroom, Mom, Dad. Troy waited for me. I'm sorry, I only read your texts after that." Anang ko sa kanila na parang wala akong iniindang sariling problema.

"I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Fontanilla. We don't mean to be late."

"Nako Hijo, that's totally fine. What's important is narito na kayo."

"Isang maginoong lalaki talaga ang aking anak, hindi ba kumpadre?" Wika ni Don Alfonso kapagkuwa'y tumawa ng malakas habang tinatapik ang anak na si Troy habang ito'y paupo sa tabi niya.

The table that we have is rounded. Katabi ko si Mom on the right while Troy is on my left. Sa left side ni Troy nakaupo ang ama nito habang nasa right side ni Mom si Dad.

"Indeed, kumpadre. I did that once to my wife and I almost got bored dahil ang tagal niyang naroon." Anang ni Dad na umani ng palo kay Mom dahil sa pagkapahiya.

"Ano ka ba naman, darling. Pati ba naman 'yan? Nakakahiya kay Don Alfonso."

"C'mon kumare, nothing has changed? Well, I guess ganoon talaga kayo. That's something that we can totally understand." Anang ni Don Alfonso habang hawak nito ang isang wine glass at nakipagtawanan kina Mom and Dad.

"Ikaw talaga Don, hindi na nabago ang tingin mo sa'kin. This is me, that's why my Love accepted who am I." Tugon ni Mom.

"All flaws, kumpadre. Lahat sanay na sanay na." Segunda ni Dad na siyang nagpatawa muli sa tatlo.

Troy and I were just listening to them while smiling when the topic has changed and we became their object.

"Kumusta naman ba ang unica hija ko, Hijo. Hindi ka ba binibigyan ng sakit sa ulo?" tanong ni Dad to him.

"Your daughter has been... good, Tito."

"Nako, d'yan ako magagalit sa'yo. I don't believe you."

"D-Dad!" pinamulahan ako sa sinabi ni Daddy. Anong gusto niyang palabasin? Na I've been a bad girl?

"Nako, baby. We just knew you better than him." Mom said then winked at me.

Napailing iling nalang ako at napainom bigla ng tubig.

"Well, I admit... she really was a pain in the ass but she's an efficient secretary."

Doon ko nabuga ang iniinom ko.

"Baby, are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Mom nang masamid ako sa pag-inom ng tubig.

"I-I'm o-okay, Mom," I assured her then I looked at him.

So, he really knew it all along? He really did play me well?

"That's good, Hijo. I know my daughter can't stay pretending as she was not raised to deceive people like that and I can really see how smart you are." Napalunok naman ako sa sinabing iyon ni Dad. "Kaya nga when you called me that night at sinabi mong nilayasan ka ng anak ko ay 'di na ako nagulat pa."

Napabaling ang ulo ko kay Dad. "D-Dad? What do you mean? He called you when?"

Si Dad naman ang napakunot noo sa'kin. "He called me when you took a leave for a week. Alam mong 'di mo kami matataguan na pamilya mo kaya maganda ang naging plano niyang sa'min magtanong para mahanap ka kaagad."

That was the time I left him when we got a heated confrontation about Yvonne.

"I'm here because she's here. My girlfriend is with me."

Bigla kong naalala na sabi nito nang mapag-isa kami sa babayin ng dagat at si Serena Fontanilla ang kausap nito.

So, he gave me a hint already. Pero bakit wala siyang sinabi sa'kin? Ba't 'di niya ako kinompronta. We even had a heated argument when I went back and made a scene about resigning. Iyon pala, sinasakyan na rin nito ang pagpapanggap ko?

Sa anong dahilan?

Sa lalim ng iniisip ko'y biglang nagbukas ang pintuan ng VIP room at pinasok roon ang isang lalaking hindi ko inaasahan na darating.

"Rolando Martinez, welcome! Join us. Akala ko'y bibiguin mo ako sa pagpapaunlak ko." Wika ni Troy na nagpatigalgal sa'ming lahat.

Wala sa'min ang nakakaalam na may isa pa pala kaming panauhin. At bakas iyon sa mukha nina Mom, Dad, Don Alfonso and even... Rolando?

Napatingin ako kay Troy. His smile was fake, he's not really happy seeing this man here.

I clenched my fist when the dots have been connecting already. My questions have been answered.

Why I didn't see this coming? Why did I fall with Troy's antics?!

I was played. We were all got played by the notorious Troy Davis Monteverde. All of these... were all planned. I am the bait. I am the fucking bait and his shield to execute everything. What the fucking hell!