CHAPTER 005 - Precilla

Ten years ago... Back when she was fourteen years old.

"Rome!"

Rome almost choked when her friend Jiggy suddenly tapped her on the back. She was sitting at the back of their classroom, on the grass, having lunch.

"What the hell, Jigs!" she snapped, glaring at her friend as she bent down to pick up the hotdog that had fallen onto the grass because of the sudden tap. She looked dismayed—it was the last bite she'd been saving, taking small bites earlier just so she could enjoy it after finishing her rice. If only she had known it would fall, she would have eaten it all earlier. She turned to Jiggy and glared.

Jiggy just grinned and plopped down beside her.

She eyed her friend, who was now practically lying on the grass. Jiggy was what you'd call a handsome tomboy—yes, she had looks. She was fair-skinned—courtesy of her American father—tall, with long limbs and a sharp nose. Her corn-colored hair was cut short in a barber’s style, making her look even more masculine.

They had been classmates since last year, but they only became close after she transitioned into being “one of the boys.”

Yes. She transitioned into a lesbian. And she did it because she fell in love with a girl. She used to be... well, pretty normal. Wore girly clothes in bright colors like yellow and fuchsia pink. Dabbled in makeup at thirteen and styled her long, wavy hair. She used to have crushes on boys back in grade school—used to write them love letters and all. Until... she met the girl who turned her world upside down.

She started acting and dressing like a boy, wearing her dad’s oversized T-shirts.

After meeting the girl she fell for, she began to change—physically, emotionally, and mentally. And her family did not like that.

"Why are you even here?" Jiggy asked, snapping her back to the present. She picked up the fallen hotdog and tossed it far away. "Precilla’s at the court with her classmates watching a practice game. Let’s go."

She put her lunchbox down on the grass and picked up her tumbler. She drank some water before answering.

"I'm giving her up."

"Giving her up?! You’ve been crushing on her since last year! You’ve been wooing her for almost two years and now you’re just going to give up?"

She only shrugged and didn’t respond.

Precilla Costa was the girl who changed her—the one who made her heart race. Precilla was in her fourth year and part of the top ten graduating students. She was also the school’s regular representative for dance sports competitions and the leader of the cheerleading squad, earning her the title of “high school sweetheart.”

She first saw Precilla practicing a dance in the school gymnasium when she was a freshman—and since then, she could never get her out of her head. Because of Precilla, she realized that she had the soul of a man trapped in a woman’s body. From that day forward, she changed. To show her feelings, she sent daily love letters, flowers, and snacks—the typical courtship gestures. Eventually, Precilla noticed her and accepted her as a friend.

At first, Precilla thought she was just joking about being gay. So, to prove she was serious—and that she truly liked her—she got a crew cut. Her mom fainted, and her dad was furious.

Since then, she kept her hair that way. But two years after transitioning, she decided to stop pursuing Precilla.

She took a deep breath, packed up her lunchbox, and stood up. She didn’t even bother brushing off the dry grass stuck to her skirt.

"Well, Connie said Precilla’s dating a rich suitor."

Jiggy frowned and stood up, too.

"A rich suitor? Who?"

She shrugged nonchalantly.

"How should I know? You’re asking like you know everyone in this town. Connie just said so."

Connie was her older sister and a classmate of Precilla’s. Though her sister didn’t support her same-sex crush, she still made sure to update her on Precilla. Eventually, due to her constant letter-sending via Connie, the two girls had become good friends.

Jiggy tapped her on the arm.

"Why give up now, when you two are getting closer? Precilla’s had plenty of suitors before and you never gave up. Why now?"

She let out a sigh and began walking back to their classroom.

"Because Connie said Precilla really likes that guy, too. She said he’s super handsome and rich. What chance do I have? Besides... they say if you really love someone, you should support whatever makes them happy."

She pouted and kicked a small rock along the path.

"That guy better not hurt my Precilla. Because if I find out he made her cry, I swear I’ll go after him."

***

"PRECILLA, why are your eyes red?!"

Rome sat up abruptly from the rattan hammock when she heard her sister Connie’s loud voice.

She was at the side of their house where the hammock hung between two aratilis trees, deep in thought about how to show her parents the results of her final exams. She had nearly failed. Just one more point and she would’ve flunked. Still, she couldn’t bear to show them her scores—they’d be horrified. They wouldn’t accept that kind of grade. Her dad might even hit her.

But she pushed those thoughts aside for now.

She got down from the hammock and quickly walked to the front of their house. She hid behind a wall and peeked through the front door. There, she saw Precilla hugging Connie on the doorstep.

Her heart fluttered at the sight. She didn’t even know why. Precilla was probably the most beautiful person she had ever seen.

Those almond eyes that could sweep you off your feet, those luscious red lips that made her think of heaven. Her long, straight, shoulder-length hair swayed with her every move, and her skin, which turned slightly red under the sun, was simply enchanting.

Precilla was the epitome of beauty. And Rome just wanted her.

If only she were a guy...

"He... he broke up with me," Precilla said through tears a moment later.

"He broke up with you? Who?" Connie asked, gently rubbing her friend’s back.

"Caligh Carson Montemayor," Precilla answered with a sniffle.

Rome frowned.

Caligh Carson Montemayor?

She clenched her fists.

She knew that guy! He was on the same basketball team as their cousin Dudz, the only son of their Aunt Maritess! She hadn’t met him yet, but Dudz talked about him often. She never even imagined he was the one courting Precilla!

"Tsk. I told you not to get involved with that guy. He didn’t seem serious about relationships. You never listen to your friends!"

Rome focused on them again when she heard what her sister said. Precilla continued to cry in Connie’s arms.

"Come on, let’s go inside. Looks like you’ve already wasted too many tears on that guy."

When the two girls entered the house, Rome quickly left her hiding spot and moved to the front, where she could hear and see clearly.

"I can’t believe you actually dated that guy. When did it even start?" Connie asked, now sitting on the sofa with Precilla.

"Two weeks ago..." Precilla sniffled.

"What? And he already broke up with you?"

"He’s going to the States to take his master’s degree, and he said a long-distance relationship wouldn’t work—"

"Tell me the truth, Precilla," Connie said, holding her friend by the shoulder. "Did he break up with you because he already got what he wanted?"

Precilla shook her head and wiped away tears.

"Nothing ever happened between us. But... I think he already has someone else. He probably just used the move as an excuse to break up." She sniffled again.

"He was probably bored with me, because I couldn’t give him what he wanted."

"Oh my," Connie said, touching her forehead in frustration.

"What were you expecting? That guy’s my cousin’s teammate, and I’ve heard he’s a notorious playboy. Girls literally fight over him at the court! How could you fall for someone like that?"

"Because I thought he was the sweetest," Precilla cried, which made Connie roll her eyes.

"And he wasn’t just anyone, Connie. He’s the only grandson of Mrs. Althea Montemayor, the owner of Montemayor International Colleges. He’s every woman’s dream—"

"Every dumb woman's dream, you mean?" said Connie with a scowl, which made Precilla frown.

"Why do I get the feeling that you're not even mad at him despite what he did to you?"

"Because..." Precilla bowed her head and began to sob again.

"Because I still love him. You know that even before he courted me, I already liked him so much. From the moment I first saw him, back when we watched their practice game at the plaza, I was instantly drawn to him. Call me stupid if you want, but... I just fell in love, Connie."

She sobbed again, making Rome clench his fists.

How dare he hurt my Precilla?!

Before she could think clearly, she rushed toward the mountain bike leaning against the aratilis tree. Moments later, she had already left their compound, pedaling furiously toward the devil.