HER GAME

“Western Eagle University,” pabulong kong sinabi nang maramdaman ko ang tagumpay na papalapit sa akin.

It’s good to be back! It’s good being here again!

Makalipas ang maraming taon ay nariritong muli ako kung saan nagsimula ang laro. Same ambiance. Same place. Same buildings. Walang nagbago, gaya pa rin ito ng dati. But I guess there’s one thing that changed—people. Some were now mature and getting older. And some were now popular in the business industry and succeeded in their lives.

Napangisi ako.

Sa wakas, makikita ko nang muli ang mga taong may mahalagang parte kung bakit ako nagbabalik.

“Are you ready, Sean?” Marl asked.

Napabaling ako sa driver’s seat kung saan siya naroroon. Napakunot din ang noo ko dahil sa tanong niyang iyon.

Handa na ba talaga ako?

Yes, of course!

Spending five years staying in the States was already enough. I had struggled a lot and worked my ass for this. Halos limang taon silang namuhay nang payapa sa kabila ng atraso nila sa akin. Ngayon, oras ko naman para maningil.

“What do you think?” Napailing ako at muling tinanaw ang tatlong salitang nakaukit sa tuktok ng pader.

The five-story building of Agila, the old and primary structure of Western Eagle University, was towering over us. And as seen at the entrance, the mimicking ancient Spanish architecture’s grand staircase screamed its power and authority.

Ang ladrilyong pader na halos nilulumot na ay nagpapahiwatig kung gaano na ito katagal na naitayo. Marami ring malalaking bilog na poste ang nakapalibot sa gusali na para bang magigiting na sundalo, lalaban sa mga magtatangkang papasok.

“Handa na ako,” may diin kong pahayag. “Handa na ako para muli silang harapin, Marl. Sapat na 'yong maraming taon na pinalipas ko.”  

Marl sighed. “If that’s what you want. I will trust you, Sean. But in case you need my help, don’t hesitate to call me.”

“If I will need you.”

I glanced at him in the rear-view mirror and saw Marl nodding his head. He has nothing else could do but agree with me. Saksi rin kasi siya sa mga paghihirap na pinagdaanan ko para maabot kung anong mayroon man na ako ngayon. And like what he always told me... he would do anything for me. Anything. Kahit buhay pa raw niya ang magiging kapalit niyon.

Pailing-iling na bumaba ng kotse si Marl at umikot para pagbuksan ako ng pintuan sa backseat. And in a couple of seconds, bumungad sa akin ang isang mala-Adonis na lalaki.

Wearing his white tuxedo, inalalayan niya akong makababa nang maayos. Well, Marl looked smart and gentle. He smiled at me as he grabbed my hand and held it in his arms. Kung ibang babae sana ako baka matagal nang nahulog ang damdamin ko sa lalaking ito.

“Thank you.” I smiled and tiptoed to reach his cheek for a peck.

   

A slight grin etched on Marl’s thin lips. It seemed he liked what I did. “It’s my pleasure, Sean. Good luck.”

   

I nodded.

Saka ko hinarap ang engrandeng hagdanan at tumingala para tanawin ang bilog na buwan. Tila isang kamangha-manghang obra iyon sa tuktok ng gusali. Nagbigay misteryo dahil sa liwanag na hatid. Like there were a lot of untold stories that hiding so many years ago and yet, ready to be discovered. Mas na-excite tuloy ako sa aking gagawin. It felt like I belonged in those stories. 

  

Nakakasilaw na flash galing sa mga camera ang sumalubong sa akin nang marating ko ang entrada ng function hall.

When I went inside, the spotlight was already on me as if knew that I was coming. Everyone gasped and halted. Maraming bulung-bulungan din akong narinig habang rumarampa ako sa extravagant red carpet. Mga matang nakatutok, animo’y nagtataka kung anong nangyayari. Or maybe they thought I was a Hollywood actress they weren’t expected to see. 

 

Mas tumaas tuloy ang baon kong kompiyansa para sa sarili. Dinaragdagan pa ng maingay at mabilis na beat ng party rock song na itinutugtog ng isang live band sa stage.

“Is that Engineer Sean Lee?” A playful baritone asked somewhere.

“I think so...”

“B-but what is she doing here?”

“We don’t know. But damn, bros! She’s so hot and freaking gorgeous!”

Another man hissed his disappointment. “We’re lucky if she’s still single, David.”

They laughed playfully. 

   

I rolled my eyes.

Those perverts were getting on my nerves, but I needed to stay calm. Yes, I lived in the States—a free country—for years! However, I wasn’t here because of them.

So, I let it pass.

 

Roaming this place, I saw some female socialites looked insecure as I reached the center—becoming the apple of their eyes. I hated these attentions, but I loved the way they look envious as they rolled their eyes in irritation! Parang gusto ko nang araw-arawin ang pagbisita sa unibersidad kung ganito ang bubungad sa akin.

 

“Is that... A-Akemi?” Dean, in her royal blue evening gown, asked nervously.

  

Uncomfortably, Rose, wearing the most glittering dress, turned to her. “W-what is she doing here? I-is she even invited?”

Sigurado ako na ang mga dating kaibigan ko nga iyon. Kahit bihisan man sila ng mamahalin, umaalingasaw pa rin sa mga hitsura ang pagiging plastic nila. Nangingibabaw pa rin ang dugong traydor sa mga mukha nilang dalawa.

So pathetic.    

Inakala ko buong buhay ko na kapag kabutihan ang itatanim sa kapuwa mo, iyon din ang babalik sa iyo. But I was wrong! Naging mabait ako sa kanilang lahat. Walang tinapakan. But look at these bitches, they vulgarly glaring at me with disgust as if I was a murderer.

Despite that, I managed to stay powerful so I let my sweet smile on my lips as I continued. Ilang hakbang pa, natanaw ko na ang lamesa ng tatlong iyon.  

I stopped.

Now, I am too near to all of you, guys! Too near para maisagawa ko na ang mga plano ko.

I smirked as these thoughts played inside my head.

Napatingin silang tatlo sa akin. Pare-pareho silang nagitla at hindi makapaniwala. 

  

“I-ikaw...” halos wala sa sariling sambit ni Ryu.

Sigurado ako na siya nga iyon. Aside from my information, memorized ko pa rin hanggang ngayon ang kurba, liko, at bawat detalye ng mukha niya. Kahit na physically, ang dami niyang ipinagbago.

He became manlier and matured because of his black beard and developed muscles concealed by his black tuxedo. Those towering height and unusually long black tresses made him look like a god of ancient Greece.

That hooded set of brown eyes, still look authoritative, ruthless, and bold. Siya lang ang kilala kong nagmamay-ari ng ganoong klase ng mga mata. Iyong tipong isang titig niya lang, luluhod ka na. O hindi naman kaya’y dadapa ka agad dahil sa takot.

Pero wala nang epekto iyon sa akin ngayon. Nagagawa ko na ngang makipagtitigan sa kanya at manghamon na hindi ko magawa noon.

Nahanap ni Ryu ang mga mata ko na may paninimbang na titig. Tila naghihintay siya sa susunod kong gagawin. Tatakbo ba ako at mahigpit siyang yayakapin? Iyon ba ang nasa isip niya?

Well, he was wrong!

Oo, maaari ngang gawin ko iyon, pero kasunod naman niyon ay ang pagtarak ko ng kutsilyo sa likod niya.

“T-this is not true. T-this isn’t freaking happening.” Si El Sandra, sa maarte at nakaririndi niyang boses.

Pairap ko siyang binalingan. Bukod-tangi nga ang ganda niya sa lahat. Aminado ako roon. Pero sa tingin ko, walang nagbago pa rin sa kanya o sa ugali man. Nararamdaman kong ganoon pa rin siya gaya ng dati. In her see-through green mermaid dress, I was pretty sure that my dearest cousin wanted to stand out.

Pity you, El Sandra. That won’t happen as long as we're standing in both spaces.

Those fires of desperation burned on El Sandra’s blazing; deep-set brown eyes were evident. Her sultry red lips trembled for uttering words. Her perfectly shaped brows shot up in shock and irritation.

I saw how her illusion melted like a piece of ice in the desert because of my intense comeback.

I shook my head in disbelief and turned to the man beside El Sandra, who looked like a detective—Ren in his black tuxedo, red ribbon on his collar, and thick eyeglasses. Gaya ng mga kasama sa lamesa, nanlalaki rin ang mga mata niya.

However, it seemed like it wasn’t a shock!

A surprise, maybe.

The glimpse of joy in his hooded gray eyes told it all. May bigla tuloy akong naalala nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin. It was the same intensity that night. Maaaring si Ren kaya iyon? Iyon ba ang naging papel niya sa laro?

Hindi ako magugulat kung si Ren nga iyon. He is so madly in love with El Sandra. Bago bumagsak ang mga talukap ko, naaninag ko si El Sandra sa tagpong iyon! Kaya hindi nga imposibleng may punto nga ang naiisip ko.

“I’m back!” I uttered playfully.

Mas humakbang pa ako papalapit sa lamesa ng tatlo. Bahagyang napasinghap sila at napaatras na parang mga dagang nakakita ng isang pusang gutom at handa silang sakmalin.

I’m back!

Yes, I’m back!

I’m back for my revenge.

So better be wise enough to play because this is much more exciting than her game.