WELL DESERVED

IVY REIGN CARSON'S POINT OF VIEW

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As I strolling around the Azaleavale, hindi pa rin nawawala sa aking isip about my announcement that I made earlier. There's still part of me na tama ba ang decision ko? A heavy feeling at parang nais ko 'yon bawiin or delete the post. But I shooked my head, my wellness is more important than fame. Mas lalo pa akong lalakas kapag babalik na ako sa e-sport league namin with a peaceful mind. Thankfully, my team, my supporters, and my manager understands me and my decision.

As the time strikes at 4:30 in the afternoon, all parts of Azaleavale covers by the rays of sunlight. It was a perfect definition of golden hour. Mga kabataan ay naglalaro doon at dito. Laughters fills the town. Some are eating street foods with their friends, some are biking, some are jamming songs. While me, nag-iisa at wala pang masyadong na kilala. Unlike sa social medias, kulang nalang sasabog na ang phone ko.

Nang lumapit ako sa mga street food vendors, biglang kumakalam ang aking sikmura. I remember eating those street foods somewhere. Ang problema, nakalimutan ko na mga pangalan nito. There's this one food that caught my attention.

"Hi kuya, magkano po ba 'tong," I paused. "Fried zigzags? Right, fried zigzags!" sabay turo ko nito. I smiled at him politely. I can feel that the foods are seducing me, the smell, the look, and everything!

Hindi sumasagot si kuya. Mga ilang minuto, huminto siya sa pag-i-ihaw ng barbeque at tumingin sa akin. Maya-maya pa ay abot tainga na ang kaniyang ngiti, tila siya ang nanalo sa grand lotto. Pansin ko rin maraming tao ang tumatawa sa aking likuran. People are also whispering to each other like strong winds.

Ano bang mali sa mga sinabi ko?

Tinaas ko ang aking kanang kilay and crossed my arms. "Excuse me po, how much for these fried zigzags? Kanina pa po ako nagtatanong sa'yo kuya. I'm willing to pay naman," I said in an annoyed tone.

He didn't reply. May lumapit sa akin, a pleasant fragrance filled the empty spaces near me. A smooth but cool voice whispered in my ears. 

"Miss, it's fried isaw. Not fried zigzags. Zigzags ka diyan," lumingon ako sa kaniya. He winked at me habang kinakain ang bagong luto na egg waffles, I mean kwek-kwek. His flirting skills sucks.

He's wearing a black plain shirt, a yellow bucket hat, and the same denim pants. It looks simple pero nangingibabaw ang kaniyang confidence.

Gosh I kept saying fried zigzags all the damn time! Fried Isaw pala 'yon?! I finally remember it. Congratulations Ivy, pinahiya mo na naman ulit sarili mo.

I tried not to feel embarrassed, I took a deep breath and confront him with all my might. "Ikaw 'yon diba kanina?" I replied sarcastically.

"Yes ako 'yon miss. Ang bagong lipat mong kapitbahay," he quickly replied as he keep munching the food that he bought.

"For your information lang ha, hindi kita asawa. Stop flirting with me!" naiinis kong sabi sa kaniya.

He then stopped eating as he heard what I said. His expression changed like the speed of light. Nag-side view siya at bumuntong-hininga.

Feelingero, akala mo naman ikakagwapo niya 'yon.

"May sinabi ba akong asawa kita ha? 'Yong kapitbahay lang nagsabi non. Huwag kang mag-assume hoy!" lumapit ang kaniyang dalawang kilay, senyales na naiinis siya.

"I'm just going with the flow sa mga sinabi nila kanina," he then chuckled.

Aba, aba iba ka ha!

I'm like a dormant volcano, akala mo extinct, pero handang sumabog kahit anong oras. Iyon ang nararamdaman ko, I tried to control my temper but I can't. As he keep eating the food, he starts to gulp the remaining sauce. Pinatumba ko 'yon mula sa kaniyang kaliwang kamay at nahulog nang tuluyan. He was shocked, akala niya katapusan na ng mundo.

"At para saan na naman 'yon!" he screamed like a grizzly bear.

He keeps talking behind my back but I didn't listen. Nakuha na rin ang atensyon ng mga tao doon. I walked toward the street food vendor and my face turned serious.

I buckled up and strengthen my confidence this time. "Kuya! Tatlo nga pong fried isaw!" I quickly grab the food and smashed the 100 pesos bill on the top of his cart.

Tinapik ko ang balikat ng nagtitinda, he's speechless. "Pasensya kana doon kanina kuya ha? Nakalimutan ko kasi, akala ko fried zigzags. Keep the change, you deserve it for your hardwork," tumakbo ako kaagad, hawak-hawak ang pagkain. Sinusundan pa rin ako ng lalaki.

"Hoy miss! Sinayang mo ang kwek-kwek na binili ko! Hindi mo lang ba babayaran 'yong pagkain ko?!"

He was so annoying! Luckily, I found an electric bike for rent. Nag-iisa nalang ito so I grab the opportunity. I scan it immediately with my phone and ride on it.

"Miss bumalik ka rito! Hindi pa ako tapos!" he screamed.

Nang lumayo na ako sa kaniya, lumingon ako at nag-wave goodbye sa kaniya, making him more exasperating.

After half an hour, nakarating na ako sa City of Azalea. The atmosphere become even more cozy and I can feel the warmth. I heard there's a famous lake in here so I decided to visit it. I went to the convenience store first to grab some drink. Nang nakalabas na ako, ay may nakasalubong akong grupo ng mga babae at nagtatawanan sila. Binangga nila ang balikat ko.

"Ugh, excuse me?! Watch where you're going!" she said in a sassy tone and scanned me from head to toe.

Eh sila nga 'yong unang nagbangga sa akin! Damn spoiled brats.

"You nerd! You almost ruin her limited-edition Gucci chiffon ruffle dress!" sabi ng kaniyang isang kasama, habang pinagpagpag ang damit ng babae na nasa gitna. Probably their leader, she's looking familiar too. The third girl na kasama nila are throwing icy glare on me. Akala mo naman kung sino.

Ruin? I haven't even opened my drink! Wala ngang natapunan eh!

They keep on ranting in front of me. I finally open my drink, consuming its content. I didn't listen, because I'm unbothered. I also yawned, kasi amboboring ng mga sinasabi nila.

They have the highest maintenance looks: from their freshly dyed hair, acrylic nails, full-face makeup, expensive attires, shoes, and pieces of jewelry. Parang nasa isang pelikula sila. They have nice bodies too, living a high-status life.

"If you don't apologize, you need to pay for my dress!" naiinis na sabi ng babae na nasa gitna at namamaktol pa. "Oh right you can't, because you can't even afford this outfit!"

Isip bata. I earned 1.5 million-plus of money every month!

Mga tao ay nagtitinginan na sa amin, pero kaunti lang. Some never pays attention.

I gulped the juice and wiped my mouth in a badass way. "At bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon?"

"Eh kayo nga unang nakabangga sa akin! Tsaka, makain ko ba 'yan kung babayaran ko?" I replied without hesitation and chortle.

"And how about I'll take your necklace instead?" lumapit ang lider nila at hablutin na ang kuwintas ko. But suddenly, a blazing fire appears through my necklace and hurts her hand. Napangiwi siya sa sakit nito, causing a first degree burn. Ang mga kasama niya ay nagulat, kasama na ako doon. Kaagad namang inalalayan siya.

"Ang angas mong babae ka ah! Don't you know in front of you ay si HerMajesty?! She has 2 Million followers sa fb at lahat ng social medias niya. A lot, at wala ka non nerd!"

Nagulat ako sa mga sinabi ng babae. I stared at her harder. She's HerMajesty, my greatest and worst enemy. Her true face is finally revealed, but no one recognizes her well in public just because of her makeup style, it's completely different! Not the same features kapag nag-s-stream siya, from e-girl-like eyeliners, changed to full-face girly glam. Thanks to my transformation too, she never knows that the girl she's ranting and bullying the whole darn time is Ivy, InvincibleFlaire07. I played smooth at hindi nagpahalata.

The short-haired and long-haired girls were about to attack me, but I kicked and punched them immediately, kagaya sa mga strategies na ginagawa ko tuwing naglalaro. Lahat sila ay napatumba ko, maliban lang kay HerMajesty dahil nakapokus lamang siya sa kaniyang kamay. As their consciousness were temporarily loss, lumapit ako sa kanila.

"I am sorry, pero ang kilala ko lang ay sina InvincibleFlaire07, mga mababait, at underrated gamers na deserve ng recognition! At alam ko na mas magagaling pa sila kaysa sa'yo!" ang sabi ko sabay turo kay HerMajesty. Kinuha ko ang hose na binitawan ng may-ari sa gilid. Tamang-tama may tubig pa ito at hindi kinuha sa main valve. Binuhusan ko sila ng tubig, I laugh as their makeup erased right away. Hindi na nga mabait sa kapwa, ampepeke pa!

"And excuse me lang ha, I may look like a nerd pero may pangalan ako! It's Iv-" I shudder my head and realize that my main goal is to hide my identity. Then a random name popped up in my mind. "I mean, it's Ember!" bumewang ako at ang boses ko ay parang nasa gyera.

As my job's done dealing with them, I ride my bike again and wave goodbye at them sneeringly, with a huge fake smile on my face. They are all clenched because of furious.

Well deserved.

Nang lumayo na ako, a lot of questions were scattered in my mind.

If only the people and her fans know HerMajesty's true character in real life, will they still support her? Will they still adore and still obsess with her?

She's Invincible: Quests For Truth by ScarletVidia