CHAPTER 5

Just before the exact time na magkita kami, I already saw Red there in the hallway near the cafeteria, leaning against the wall na akala mo ba mga artistang napo-pose for ad campaigns. This time, his outfit is different. No hoodie and jeans. Naka suot siya ngayon ng isang malinis na puting polo, gray trousers, and even his shoes are suspiciously bright clean as if ni-wax pa niya 'yon bago siya makarating dito.

Nang makita niya ako, taas-baba niya akong tinignan at marahan na ngumiti. “Right on time.”

“Told you na seryoso ako tungkol dito,” sabi ko sa kanya, keeping my cool.

“Good.” Humakbang siya papalapit sa akin. “Ready for our first scene?”

Tumango ako bilang pag-a-agree.

Suddenly, he reached out—without warning—and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek, and I swear parang biglang humiwalay ang kaluluwa ko sa katawan ko dahil sa ginawa niya.

“Smile,” bulong niya. “Here comes your ex.”

Before ko pa ma-process ang nasabi niya, bigla na lang may pumulupot na braso sa beywang ko. Hinatak niya ako papalapit sa kanya. He leaned in, close enough for me to smell his cologne—dark, woodsy, dangerous. Fuck! Hindi ko naisip na ganto pala siya naghanda. Pati perfume nag-ready. A few students turned their heads, whispering.

And then I saw him—Jared. With his arm around some girl na super pamilyar ako.

That girl is the one na nakita ko na kasama niya sa restaurant. The one who helped him sa kanyang studies habang nasa Baguio. Ang babaeng ipinagpalit lang ako ni Jared dahil mas malapit at napapakinabangan niya.

I saw my ex's eyes widen as his eyes shifted towards our direction.

His smile faltered.

Victory.

He definitely saw us.

Red leaned in my ear, whispering, just loud enough para marinig ni Jared ang gusto niyang sabihin, "You look gorgeous, princess."

Thump!

I snapped out of my one-second trance. My heart tripped over itself. Muntikan ko na tuloy makalimutan na nag-a-acting lang kami.

Muntikan lang. Hindi ko sinabing ma-fo-fall ako. I would never.

I giggled—acting lang—and tapped his chest playfully. “Stop it, pinapakilig mo naman ako eh.”

Nalagpasan na kami ni Jared kasama ang babae niya pero iyong mga mata niya, puno ng confusion, pagdududa, at poot.

Habang eto namang si Red, despite seeing his cousin, he wouldn't even dare to look at him. As if he doesn't even exist right now. As if the only thing in his world right now is me.

And somehow, that was the biggest flex.

—

Class had just finished and we met again. This time, sa old garden na nasa likod ng school namin. Tahimik doon kaya magandang lugar para mag-usap ng mga plano.

“You didn’t tell me he’d be with someone else,” panimula niya.

"I didn't know either na makakasama niya ang babae na iyon,” I replied, dropping my bag on the bench. "I thought na alam mo kung meron siyang kasama o hindi."

Umiling siya. "I didn't know he would be with his new girl, but it didn't matter anyway." He shrugged. "I still won."

“We won. Don't forget this is my plan."

"He shrugged his shoulders once again."Don't care. I still won." Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan ang aking baba gamit ang dalawang kamay, tilting it up slightly just to meet his gaze. "I've gotten to date a beautiful woman like you."

Thump! That again.

Hinampas ko pa layo ang kamay niya. "Don't forget this is only fake."

"I know."

"And you’re enjoying this?”

He gave a rare full grin. “A little. That was fun.”

“Fun?” Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “You made it look too real.”

“That’s the point naman, 'di ba? You wanted to have revenge. You wanted it to be as quickly as possible and real. You said no rules.”

"You said that, not me." Napaupo ako sa bench na naroon. “Paalala ko lang uli sa'yo na peke 'to lahat.”

"Yeah, yeah. You said it twice already." He tilted his head. “But you sure you remember that?”

Napatigil ako sa kinauupuan ko. I don't think my face betrayed me pero iba ang pinapahiwatig ng puso ko.

“No worries,” dagdag niya at nag-lean sa puno na naroon. “Just saying. This only works if we both play the part well.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako. “Right.”

He suddenly checked his phone. “You want to cause a scene tomorrow?"

That piqued my interest. “Define ‘scene.’”

Ngumisi siya. “Library date. Hold hands. Whispered jokes. Let him see what he gave up.”

I paused. “You really sure are a devil, aren't you? Baka nakakalimutan mong pinsan mo ang sinisira natin dito.”

He tilted his head while giving me the most devilish smile I have seen. “Fake girlfriend who’s also my cousin’s ex? Best script I’ve ever acted in.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or run away. But what I know is damn, his devilish smile is so attractive.

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