Her Extraordinary Revenge

HER: First

INSIDE A SMALL ROOM, with a complete sala set—from the soft and convertible sofas, glass tables, air conditioner, a large flat screen television, a DVD set, a stereo, an e-games set, and another two rooms for a bathroom and a bedroom— was a group of four handsome guys who were laying down, sitting, and playing on each sofa.

"F*ck naman Saeji, b*bo mo naman boi!" Val angrily shouted while clicking his game controller like it was his life saver.

"B*bo nang kalaban Val, anong magagawa ko eh gwapo lang naman ako—oh sh*t! The f*ck! Anong problema ng b*bo'ng 'to? Bakit ako lagi ang tinitira. Crush ’ata ako nito Val eh!" Saeji retorted frustratedly clicking his controller.

Napamura na lang si Val, habang pilit na sinasalba ang base nilang malapit ng masira dahil sa kalaban. "Ah! Kingina ka talaga Saeji! Kaya ayaw kong kakampi kang b*bo ka eh, nababawasan ang star ko sa 'yong hayop ka!" inis na singhal ni Val kay Saeji at binato pa ng controller ng lumabas ang nagmumurang defeat sa malaking screen. "At tsaka isa pa, hindi ka crush nang kalaban boi, sad’yang alam lang nilang mahina ka, b*bo talaga!" dugtong pa ni Val na napatayo na mula sa pagkakasalampak sa sahig.

With an overrated gasp, Saeji looks at his angry friend with a hurt look, making Val more annoyed with him. "Pakyu boi, mamatay ka ng pangit ka!" inis na sabi na lang ni Val sabay bigay ng isang malutong na middle finger sa kaibigan.

Napahalakhak na lang si Saeji na napatayo na rin sa pagkakasalampak sa sahig at naghanap ng bakanteng sofa na mauupuan. "Tingnan mo, pangit ka pala Saeji pero bakit kaya nagustuhan ka nang bagong salta na 'yun?" asked Rosh who was sitting beside the sofa that Saeji choose.

"Huh, ibig sabihin lang kasi talaga no'n Rosh, ako talaga ang pinakagwapo sa ating lima," mayabang na sabi naman ni Saeji sabay abot ng isang supot ng chips na nakakalat sa glass table sa gitna ng mga sofa'ng kinauupuan nila. "Nasa’n pala si Dale? Nagugutom na ako eh, tsaka kalahating oras na lang ang meron bago matapos ang break. Kulang na sa'kin ’yun para ubusin ang pagkain ko," tanong niya pa sabay nguya.

"Baboy ka talaga. Ano kaya magiging reaksyon no’ng babae kapag nakita ang katakawan mo. Baka hindi lang ’yun maturn off sa 'yo, baka pandirihan ka na rin," naiiling sa singhal ni Val sa kaibigan.

"Wala akong pake, marami naman diyang naghahabol eh," kibit-balikat na sagot naman ni Saeji sa kaibigan.

Napailing na lang ang dalawa habang nagkatinginan.

"Pero seryoso Rosh, sa tingin mo ba may gusto talaga ’yung babae kay Saeji? Hindi ba acting lang din niya ’yung tungkol doon?" tanong ni Val sabay kuha na rin ng chips.

"Malay ko, basta ang alam ko lang medyo sadista ang babaeng iyon. Kung magiging girlfriend iyon ni Saeji paniguradong kawawa ang tropa natin," naiiling na sagot naman ni Rosh.

"Sinabi mo pa. Baka si Saeji pa mismo ang unang sumuko roon," naiiling ding segunda ni Val sa kaibigan.

Napailing na lang si Saeji sa mga pinagsasasabi ng mga kaibigan na kung pag-usapan siya ay parang wala siya sa harap ng mga ito at hindi niya naririnig.

"Paparating na daw ’yung pagkain."

Sabay-sabay na napatingin naman silang lahat—well not everyone, as one of them was busy on the side, sleeping—sa kararating lang na si Marius.

"Paparating pa lang? F*ck, gutom na ako eh. Bakit ba kasi biglang nagpalit ng set? Sinong nagpalit at ang arte-arte lang," nakabusangot na reklamo ni Saeji na pabagsak na napahiga ulit sa sofa.

"Kung talagang matapang ka, sabihin mo ’yan kay Key," Marius answered and took a seat on the sofa besides Saeji's.

Mabilis na napabangon naman si Saeji at napatingin sa kaibigan na nagtatanong, "Si Key ang nagpalit? Bakit naman? Bakit ngayon lang? Naman bro! Gutom na ako eh!" parang batang reklamo niya at napahiga ulit sa sofa.

Kibit-balikat lang ang isinagot ni Marius sa kaibigan bago humablot ng isang supot ng chips. Pero dahil bukas at bawas na ang nakuha ay ibinalik niya ulit iyon sa lamesa.

"Nga pala Dale, nakausap mo ba ulit ’yung babae?" tanong ni Val sa kararating lang na si Marius.

Napahinto naman ang lalaki sa sanang pag-abot ng panibagong chips sa lamesa. And as if he remembered something funny, natawang napailing si Marius, kaya napatingin sa kanya ang lahat. Even the asleep Kirth on the side suddenly woke up from his sleeping posture and looked at him curiously.

Shaking his head amusedly, Marius leaned his back on the sofa as he answered his friends. "I did meet her and talk to her. And man, she's really unique and out of the ordinary."

Remembering his conversation with the girl, he couldn't help but laugh lightly as he really found the girl interesting and amusing.

"What did you two talk about, Dale?" Kirth suddenly asked, making everyone look in his direction.

They were all shocked and flabbergasted as they stared at Kirth with wide eyes. Although Kirth didn't look curious, the fact that he asked means he’s really interested in something.

And that's a first. Kilala nila si Kirth bilang isang klase ng tao na walang pakealam sa mundo. Hindi magkukusa at hindi rin makikisali ng basta-basta. Not unless alam niya na may mapapala siya o kaya naman ay interesado talaga siya sa usapan.

"Well, I just asked her about what she liked about Saeji," nakangiting sagot na lang ni Marius sa mga kaibigan. And seeing that Kirth was still looking at him, he added, "And she also asked me in return, is it really a big deal to like Saeji first? She also asked if it hurt our ego knowing that she liked Saeji first, which is why we couldn't move on from it. And lastly, which was the most amusing part, she said we shouldn't get jealous as she would rate our handsomeness and appeal by making us her crush in order, the former being the least while the latter is the best," Marius said and then laughed at the end.

Samantalang nakangangang napatingin lang naman sa kanya sina Saeji, Rosh, at Val. While Kirth, who was curious a while ago, closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

"F*ck, that woman is sure as crazy as hell!" Val exclaimed after calming from the shock.

"She's really unique. Hindi ko akalaing may dahilan siya kung bakit nagustuhan niya si Saeji. Pero mas 'di ko inakala na ’yun pala ang dahilan," naiiling at nakangiting komento rin ni Rosh.

"What the f*ck?! So, she rated me the least from you?! T*ngina! Bulag ba 'yun? Bakit panghuli lang ako?" Saeji angrily complained.

Tinawanan lang naman siya ng mga kaibigan na sa wakas ay nakaramdam ng pagkagaan sa loob nang malaman na nila ang dahilan.

"INSAN LUNES, kita na lang tayo bukas. Marami ka pang ikukwento sa akin," paalaam ni Hanelle kay Faye habang patalikod na naglalakad.

"Bye Hanelle! See ya' tomorrow!" paalam din naman ni Faye.

Si Hanelle ang huli sa mga kaibigan na umalis, kung hindi sinundo ay may sariling sasakyan naman ang iba. Samantalang naiwan naman sina Faye at ang mga pinsan kasama si Fraytz dahil hinihintay pa nila ang sundo ni Faye, which is her father.

"You guys can go ahead. It's really fine with me. Parating na rin naman daw si Dad," baling ni Faye sa natitirang mga pinsan at kaibigan.

Uwian na kasi, the first day of school has ended and they are waiting for her dad to pick her up. Sakay kasi ng kotse ni Kaevyn si Kaeley samantalang pupunta ngayon sa kanila si Fraytz at sasabay tutal ay magkapit-bahay lang naman sila. Sa ibang village kasi ang bahay na nabili ng mga magulang ni Faye, kaya hiwalay pa rin siya sa mga pinsan.

"Sure ka, Insan? Makapaghihintay pa naman kami," nakangiting tanong sa kanya ni Kaeley.

Naiiling na nginitian na lang niya ang mga ito. In the end, they still left her alone on the thought that Faye's dad was already nearby. Pero ang totoo niyan ay hindi pa niya natetext ang Dad niya na sunduin siya dahil mayroon pa siyang dapat gawin.

Nang makitang tuluyan na ngang nakaalis ng campus, ang kotse ng pinsan ay nakangiting bumalik siya papasok nang school grounds at naglakad-lakad. She might look like she was just leisurely roaming around the school, but the truth is that she was really walking near to a certain place she was familiar with.

Hindi naman siya nabigo at ’di katagalan ay narating niya rin ang pamilyar na kwarto'ng iyon. Smiling to herself, she walked happily towards the big room and curiously looked at it. From the closed windows to the closed door, everything was hiding what was inside, making her more curious to know.

So after hesitating for a few seconds, she stood in front of the door, held her hand up and knocked on the door. Pero mukhang napansin na rin ng tao sa loob ang pinaggagagawa niya kaya bago pa man niya makatok ang pinto ay bumukas iyon revealing the guy she was looking for.

Although she expected him to be the one who would open the door for her, and the person who remained in the room, she was still genuinely surprised when he actually opened the door for her.

"Oh, it's you," she mumbles after the surprise.

Umayos sa pagkakatayo ay nginitian niya ang lalaking nasa harapan. Already expecting to meet him, Faye still couldn't help the burst in her heart. Her emotions were bursting for the guy in front of her.

Maaaring ilang taon ang ibinalik ng panahon noong muli siyang makabalik sa katawan, pero dahil ilang buwan lang ang nakalilipas nang huling narinig at nakita niya ang lalaki ng malapitan at harapan, ay hindi naman talaga niya agad maiaalis ang lahat ng nararamdaman para rito, kahit pa nga kinamumuhian niya ng sobra ang lalaki.

Hindi man niya gustong balikan ang lahat, but Kirth's the only guy she ever loved. He was her first love, her first crush, her first in everything. And that includes the first guy who broke her heart. And will also be the last.

Kirth is the guy she loved even until her last breath. Even before she died, she wished the guy to came and save her, tell her that he really didn't betray her, that he loves her and only her. That he's innocent about everything and even though it will be too late, she would still believe him.

Because that is how much she loves him.

"What's your name, handsome?" she asked, smiling when Kirth didn't speak and just stared at her.

With her question, she could see the guy's lips twitch a bit before raising a brow. "Handsome?" he blankly repeated in a question, making her laugh.

Faye was really getting proud of herself. She's really doing a good job with her acting skills and the suppressing of her emotions. "Yeah, handsome. Aren't you one?" she answered playfully, even tilting her head on the side while staring at him intently.

Imbes na sagutin siya ay napaiwas lang ng tingin si Kirth habang bahagyang binuksan ng mas malaki ang awang sa pintuan. "What do you need, Miss?" he asked coldly.

Pouting her lips, Faye harrumphed as she crossed her arms towards the guy. Akala niya ay medyo nagbago na ang pakikitungo nang lalaki sa kanya kumpara noon, pero nagkamali ata siya. It was just a blink in her eyes.

Gaya pa rin nang dati ang lalaki, cold, emotionless, and ruthless inside and out.

"What I need? I need you to tell me your name. It was just easy since I already got the names of your other handsome friends, and only yours is not included, so I won't leave here unless you say yours," Faye said, grinning stubbornly.

"Then stay there, don't care," he retorted, icily stepping back so he could close the door.

"Hold up!" Faye reflexively holds the door to stop it from closing. "Hep hep, wait up okay. Geez, so cold-blooded," she exclaimed after preventing the door from closing.

Her lips twitching from irritation, she looked up at the cold guy with great effort, suppressing her anger and irritation. This was also a test about her anger management.

"So ungentlemanly. I just want to know your name so I can finalize my ranking of you and your friends' handsomeness and appeal. I was planning to make you the first, but with this ungentlemanly manner and coldness of yours, maybe Marius should be my last target to have a crush on." Then she trailed off, grinning widely as she looked up at Kirth. "Well, Dale's type is the kind of guy I like. So maybe if we click, then I could also make him my boyfriend. What do you think? You won't dislike me for being your friend, right?" she playfully said, looking at the guy suggestively.

Hindi naman siya sinagot ng lalaki at sa halip ay pinagtaasan lang siya nito ng kilay na para bang hinahamon pa siya na gawin ang sinabi niya. Kulang na lang ay sabihan siya nito ng, 'Go on, like I care, miss.'

Palihim na nagtagis ang bagang na napayuko si Faye, habang inaayos ang pagkakatayo, hawak pa rin ang pinto, dahil baka bigla na lang siyang pagsarhan ng lalaki.

"Do it, miss, I don't care. I am just quite concerned about what you said regarding your fair judgement."

Mabilis na napaangat si Faye ng tingin sa lalaki nang marinig ang kanina pa niyang hinihintay na sagot nito. Well, hindi naman talaga ang sagot na iyon ang inaasahan niya, pero at least nagkaroon ng return of words ang lalaki sa sinabi niya. Hindi nga lang niya magawang sikmurain ang nagmumurang 'confidence' sa pagkakasabi niyon ni Kirth.

Speechless outside but already screaming inside her mind, she just stared at the guy like he said a joke. Clenching her teeth, she let out an exasperated sigh as she started to get serious, although she knew the matter wasn't serious at all.

"You see mister, just give me your name, yeah? To be fair then, I'll accept one request from you in return of your very precious name. Fair now?" she negotiated, looking very serious.

Binitawan naman ni Kirth ang pagkakahawak nito sa pinto at pinagkrusan ng braso si Faye. He was thinking about Faye's deal, though he didn't look like he was actually thinking, but he suddenly smirked.

"If you'll speak in straight Tagalog, then I will consider it," he said, while smirking at her.

Nakagat na lang ni Faye ang ibabang labi ng marinig ang request ni Kirth. Maaaring walang kaalam-alam ang lalaki at baka napansin lang nito ang hilig niya sa pag-english kahit nasa Pinas, pero hindi pa rin niya maiwasang isipin na baka may alam talaga ito noon pa man na hindi siya magaling managalog.

Yes, she could understand and speak Tagalog, but there were still some words she couldn't pronounce correctly without sounding funny and awkward. Well, noon yun. And she was supposed to be like that. Kung nasa dati pa siyang sarili. But since the soul that resides in her body now is better than before, hindi na siya basta-basta mauuto ng lalaki.

"Y-you see . . . I'm not good with my Tagalog k-kasi . . . You'll just laugh at me," nahihiya at nauutal kunnong sabi ni Faye at napaiwas pa ng tingin kay Kirth.

"Yeah? Then suit yourself. Just ask someone my name then," mabilis na saad naman ni Kirth at aamba pang sasarhan siya ng pinto.

"Saglit!" mabilis na sigaw naman ni Faye at muling napahawak sa pinto.

Nakanguso ay hindi siya makatingin kay Kirth na nakatingin at mukhang naghihintay sa kanya.

Kung hindi lang talaga niya plano ang magpapansin ng sobra kay Kirth ay kesyong gagawin niya ang bagay na eto. Kasehodang ipipilit niya rito ang sarili kung pwede naman talaga niyang itanong sa pinsan ang pangalan ng lalaki. At alam na rin naman talaga niya kung tutuusin ang pangalan ng lalaki, pati pa nga ang middle name ng lalaki, pero dahil talaga sa pesteng plano niya ay wala siyang magawa.

"S-shou–I mean, simula na ba n-ngayon?" she asked looking away, embarrassed for stuttering and blushing.

With her good acting, plus her additional funny Tagalog accent, she's sure that the effect would be the same. Hinihiling lang ni Faye na h'wag lang talagang tamaan ng lintik ang lalaki at biglang tupakin, pahirapan pa siya lalo.

"Up to you," mabilis namang sagot ni Kirth na nakatingin lang kay Faye.

Dahil sa hindi nakatingin si Faye kay Kirth, ay hindi niya napansin ang kaunting pag-angat ng labi ni Kirth na may amusement sa mga matang nakatingin sa kanya. Buntonghininga ay binitawan niya ang pagkakahawak sa pinto at matapang na hinarap ang mga mata ng nakayuko sa kanyang si Kirth.

"If I do it for the whole day tomorrow, you'll give me your treasured name, yeah?" Faye spit the words in between her teeth.

"I will think about it," walang kemeng sagot naman ni Kirth.

"Why y—" Nanlalaki ang mga matang mabilis na itinikom ni Faye ang bibig, at nagpaulan na lang ng mura sa isip. "You have to promise me," pagdidiin ni Faye, dahil dangal niya ang kapalit ng gagawin.

"Fine, whatever miss," kibit-balikat na sagot naman ni Kirth at ambang isadara na naman ang pinto.

"Hep!" sigaw ni Faye at mabilis na pinigilan ulit ang pagsara ng pinto. "I said promise me! Said the word!" seryosong utos niya pa.

Halos makita naman ni Faye na mapairap sa isip ang lalaki dahil sa kakulitan niya. And that made her grin widely.

"Yeah yeah, promise. Whatever. Happy?"

"Very!" she happily said and retracted the hands on the door.

Doon malakas na naisara na rin sa wakas ni Kirth ang pinto. Imbes na pigilan ay mabilis na lang na isinigaw ni Faye ang pangalan. "It's Lunez Faye! That's my name! You remember it!"

And with that, Faye turned her back happily as she planned to go back. But as soon as she turned her back, the happy smile turned into a vicious smirk as a cold glint flashed in Faye's dark brown eyes.

Yes, remember that name. Because that name will make sure to change your life, just like how you have changed mine.

to be continued...