Chapter 1: The Beautiful Monster

"Hi Honey," wika ng isang pamilyar na tinig mula sa likuran niya.

Napakuno't siya ng noo habang kinukuha ang mga gagamitin niyang libro sa locker para sa susunod niyang klase.

"What do you want?" walang gana niyang tugon na hindi man lang ito pinag-kaabalahang sulyapan.

Eh, kahit nga anino nito ayaw niyang makita. One moment she feels excited and then one moment she lost her interest in things, but mostly in people. Ano pa kaya yung may ginawang kalokohan sa kanya? Kinalimutan na niyang nakilala ito.

It's been a week, since they broke up. She caught him making out with another girl. Sa totoo lang, pumunta lang naman siya sa condo nito para kunin ang blueprint na pinagawa niya dito, na may kinalaman sa thesis niya, kaso iba pala ang pinagkakaabalahan nito.

Although, it's not really surprising, dahil kung tutuusin marami talagang naghahabol na babae sa lalakeng ito. He is undeniably handsome and kind a popular in the academy.

Siguro nga hindi siya ganoon kaseryoso dito. That she was just bored, pero syempre ibang usapan kapag ang ego niya na ang sinagasaan, dahil kung puso lang ang pag-uusapan... it's never a big deal for her, because she never uses it anyway.

"I just want to talk to you Babe," mahinang sambit nito na animo'y hindi makabasag pinggan with matching maamong mukha. He's trying to use his charm that never worked on her ever since the day they entered in to a relationship. For her, it's just one of the games she would play whenever boredom strikes her. Being serious in a relationship is the last thing on her list. It's her way to keep herself safe from pain and disappointments, and it actually works. No one can cross her walls, and she has no plans to let anyone anyway.

Pagkasara niya ng locker ay ni hindi man lang niya ito nilingon at walang anu-ano'y iniwan na lang nakatunga sa kinatatayuan nito na nagbabakasakaling pagbigyan niya sa huling pagkakataon.

She's really not in the mood for a drama, especially sa mga taong para sa kanya ay wala ng halaga, pero sadyang makulit ito at habol ng habol na parang isang aso.

Ilang araw na din itong nagpupumilit na suyuin siya. Nandyan yung nagpapadala ito ng bulaklak sa mansion araw-araw. Nag-iiwan din ito ng mga mamahaling regalo sa upuan niya sa loob ng classroom pero lahat nang iyon ay walang epekto sa kanya.

"Babe wait! Please let me explain!" may pagsusumamong habol nito sa kanya. Bahagya pa nitong pinigilan ang kanyang braso.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya at walang kagana-ganang muli itong hinarap.

"Please... talk to me. Hanggang kailan mo ba ko dededmahin?" he sounded so desperate, looks like he would cry any moment.

Kung tutuusin maski nga ang tignan ito ay wala na din siyang balak gawin, ang kausapin pa kaya? "What for?" she asked in the coldest tone.

Humugot muna ito ng isang napakalalim na hininga bago muling nagsalita. "I know you hate me... but I just want to say-"

"Oh! You know that I hate you?" bulalas niyang puno ng sarkasmo dito na hindi na hinayaang pang matapos ang sasabihin nito, "Oh that's great! So how about you... stay away from me?" she said while looking at him full of disgust. Sabay talikod dito.

Jake Vs. Honey?

Ang akala ba nito'y martyr at uto-uto siya?

'Tsk, you don't know who you are dealing with Jerk!'

Wala yata yun sa vocabulary niya, baka nakakalimutan nito kung sino siya. She never loses in this kind of game. She can replace him anytime she wants, so, to mess up with her... is like throwing a diamond away in the ocean.

"Honey if I have to kneel... I'll do it. Just please give me another chance! I know I messed up big time but Babe, please... I love you! I know I broke your trust, but I'm really sorry," his voice begging, almost echoed in the hallway, "I really want you back. Please!" pagmamakaawa nito. He kneeled down on the floor, and his arms raised as a sign of defeat, "Babe, I'm begging you!" Everyone stopped as he won the attention of the crowd.

Parang gusto niyang matawa. Kailangan pa talaga nitong ipakita sa maraming tao ang pagiging desperado nito. Everybody knows her way when it comes to boys. No second chance, when it's over... it's over, as in ever.

Nag-uumpisa ng magbulungan ang kumpulan ng mga estudyante sa hallway dahil sa ginagawang eksena nito.

"OMG!! Jake is kneeling!"

"Kawawa naman siya..."

"Why is Honey so heartless? Grabe siya!"

"True. Lahat na lang ng mga nagiging boyfriend niya ay ganyang ang ending."

"Give him a chance... Oh poor Jake."

"Come on! He said he's sorry."

She could hear most of them sympathizing him. As usual, siya na naman ang masama, kaya para matapos na ang kadramahan ng lalakeng ito, she'll end it up fast and with no mercy.

They are four lockers away from each other, but it's enough for her to see how he looks so stupid, wearing his poor a*shole face, as if she didn't catch him cheating on her with her no.1 hater in the school. For sure trending na naman siya.

"I'll do whatever you want, please! Give me a chance to win your heart back."

Umugong ang mas lalong malakas na bulungan. Napapalatak siya, napapaisip tuloy siya kung Engineering ba talaga ang course nito? Sana pala nag-shift na lang ito sa Theater course dahil mas mahusay pa itong mag-drama kaysa sa gumanap na Romeo sa play noong nakaraan event.

Pinagsiklot niya ang kanyang mga braso at dahan-dahang lumakad papalapit dito. She gave him the bitchiest smirk he deserves.

"You know what? I didn't know you had so much potential. You're a good actor and a stupid jerk at the same time..." walang-awang sabi niya, "...to think na maiisahan mo ko? You might want to have a reality check. Who said you won my heart?" She cocked one eyebrow, "I'm sorry, Babe..." she made sure to empasize that very word with a sweet sarcasm. "... our game is over, and you lost."

She's not the no. 1 most popular girl in the school for nothing.

Some feel sorry for him, and some say he deserves it. It maybe looks like she's the bad girl for those who don't know the story. But the hell she cares about what others think. That guy is a player, but she is Honey Veraniel.

'Did he really think that he would win?'

You don't mess up with a woman that has a stone heart. They usually call her the Campus Queen slash the Beautiful Monster, because behind her so pretty face lies a heartless Queen.

Who actually is she?

People in the Campus really get excited whenever they hear her name. She's the young future heiress of the Veraniel's Extravagant Wealth because of the tremendous number of their businesses and properties. It made them one of the most powerful business empires around the country, and aside from that, she's talented. She plays piano like a pro, and the blessing doesn't end there. She's born with divine beauty. Snow white porcelain skin, seductive sharp brown eyes, perfectly-define nose, slightly full lips, elegantly long shiny wavy hair, and a body that every woman would dream of.

Her mother is a mestiza who came from a family with Western gene, while her father was more of an Asian line. She models for big brands of clothes, perfumes, jewelry, and a lot. Her beauty is truly irresistible. But behind her seem-to-be-perfect life lays one painful truth that she always hides whenever she's out there. She has this big, strong, cold wall to keep herself safe from her enemies because she knows she has plenty.

Going back to this guy in front of her... is Jake happened to be her ex-trash-boyfriend, one of the Tennis Club Hottie from Engineering Department, but now he means nothing to her.

¤¤¤¤¤¤

"HEY Dave! Nandyan ka lang pala kanina pa kita hinahanap." Inakbayan siya nito at bahagya pang napakamot sa ulo.Hindi niya agad ito nilingon, bagkus ay nakatutok siya sa nangyayaring eksena sa hallway. Although, it's not his first time to see a lover's quarrel in public, but he finds the scene quite amusing to watch.

With alluring leading lady, no wonder the guy goes nuts about her, but the lady has no plan of showing mercy to her lover. She's maybe dazzlingly pretty, but obviously she's not someone to mess up.

'Cute but really scary.' He can sense the power and manipulative ability in her aura, like she is someone prominent in the Academy who can do anything she wants, and no one would dare stands on her way. 

"Hey Sed," kaswal niyang bati dito na bahagyang nginitian at tapikin ang balikat nito.

"Hi Kuya Dave!" masigla ding singit na bati ng nakababatang kapatid nito.

Mabilis niya itong tinanguan at nginitian sabay bahagyang hinaplos ang ulo nito. She really looks cute and adorable, like someone you can keep in a pocket.

"Hi Jam." Parang nakababatang kapatid na din kasi niya kung ituring ito, since, kapatid ito ng bestfriend niyang si Sedrick. "I was caught in a drama," paliwanag niya sabay balik ng paningin sa eksena.

"Ang alin Kuya?" takang tanong nito na bahagya pang tumingkayad at pinilit makiusyoso sa kumpol ng mga estudyante.

Tinuro niya ang nangyayaring eksena na agad naman nilingon din ng bestfriend niya na abala sanang may kinukuha sa locker nito. Napataas naman ang dalawa nitong kilay at muling ibinalik ang atensyon sa kinukuhang gamit, "Ah si Honey." Napangiwi ito.

"Well... as expected break na sila," wika ng kapatid nito at nagkibit-balikat lang din.

"You know them?" sabay na napataas ang kilay niyang tanong dito. Something inside him makes him want to know more about those people. Weird, but he can't control his curiosity.

Ngumiti naman ng makahulugan ang bestfriend niya. "She's the Julia Arts Academy's no. 1 most popular girl or should I say the Campus Queen and 80 percent of the male population here are her admirers. Even most of women here are idolizing her," nangingiwing kwento nito sa kanya habang patuloy pa rin sa paghahagilap ng gamit sa locker nito.

Napatango-tango naman siya sa sinabi nito. Well, it's not impossible because she has everything it takes to be the "It" girl, but girls like her are the usual spoiled brat, very vain, stubborn, and super demanding type.

"I know you might be thinking that she's a spoiled brat." Nabasa yata ni Jam ang nasa isip niya na bahagya pang pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata sabay nakakalokong napahagikgik.

Natatatawa na lang siyang napatingin dito para kasi itong isang batang paslit dahil sa bob cut hairstyle na lalong nakadagdag sa pagka-cute nito, isama mo pa ang mga bahagyang may kalusugang mamula-mula nitong pisngi.

Ayon sa pagkakakilala niya dito, isa itong matalinong bata. She had received plenty awards in different aspects and he heard she's taking up Information Technology since she's really a techy person.

Magkaibang-magkaiba ang personalidad ng dalawang magkapatid, dahil sa arts and culinary naman nag-eexcel si Sedrick.

"Kahit may pagka-snob siya hindi parin mapigilan ng mga tao ang humanga sa kanya, para kasing perfect lahat sa kanya, dahil bukod sa super maganda at super mayaman siya ay very talented din. Sa katunayan nga marami ng offer sa kanya sa showbiz, kaso modeling lang ang tinatanggap niya and one thing I like about her is when she plays the piano." Bahagya pa nitong pinagsaklob ang palad at kumutitap ang mga mata. "Super galing niya kuya... nakaka-inlove lang promise," she said with her dreamy eyes as it sparkle while staring at nothingness.

He chuckled when he saw her reaction. She sounded like a fangirl.

"Jam! Stop that. You look corny," singit ni Sedrick sa usapan na bahagyang nasimangutan ang kapatid.

Napanguso na lamang ito sa ginawang pagsaway ng kuya nito at pasimpleng umismid, "Hmmp!" muli namang bumalik sa kanya ang atensyon nito na muling bumalik ang interes sa usapan, "But you know what kuya? Some says she's lonely, kaya daw madalas malulungkot ang lagi niyang tinutugtog pero who knows? She looks like she has it all, kaya ayan maraming nagkakandarapa sa kanya," patuloy ulit nitong kwento ng dedmahin ang kapatid.

"Actually she's nice, nakasama ko na siya before sa music class medyo mahirap basahin ang ugali niya. Most of the time kasi mag-isa lang siya o kaya naman kasama niya yung piling kaibigan niya, but you know what? You will see how passionate she is on what her doing, kaya tingin ko ok naman siya. Yes, she will not talk to you but if you try, she is very casual and formal... pero makikita mo na hindi siya maarte, hindi tulad nung ibang elite girls sa campus," dagdag ni Sedrick sa kwento nito.

Some of it does make sense, especially the piano part, because her mom is a well-known pianist who already made a name in that field.

"Actually sa tuwing tutugtog nga siya eh... naaalala ko ang mommy mo," naka ngiti nitong sabi sa kanya.

"Really... you look like you are a part of that 80 percent who admire her," biro niyang komento dito na agad naman nakapagpamaang dito.

"What? At paano mo naman nasabi yun?" bigla itong pumamewang at napangiwe.

"You really know a lot about her," aniya habang pinipilit huwag matawa.

"Naku si Kuya? Good luck!" natatawang sabi ni Jam, na parang kalokohan ang ideyang magkakagusto ang kuya niya sa isang babaeng katulad nito.

He has known Sedrick since elementary, noong tumira sila ng mommy niya sa ibang bansa nakilala niya ito, dahil doon din kasi ito nag-aral hanggang middle school kasama ang tunay nitong ina na nagtatrabaho bilang Head Nurse sa isang hospital, kung saan nagpagamot ang papa niya noong nabubuhay pa ito. 

Sa totoo lang tama naman ang sinabi ni Jam, simpleng tao lang ito. Masunuring anak, masipag sa pag-aaral, mabait na kapatid at isa pa matinong klase ng lalake. He came from a loving family kahit pa nga anak ito sa unang kasintahan ng papa nito, ay buong puso pa rin itong tinanggap ng mommy ni Jam at tinuring na parang tunay na anak.

He is so mature when dealing with the situation, handsome, talented din pagdating sa arts and culinary, para sa kanya ito yung ideal type of a perfect guy.

"That's all I know, and for your information, everybody in the Academy knows that basic info about her. Some stalks her because she's more popular than you think. She's like a celebrity here and besides, I'm more into simple things parang hindi mo naman ako kilala," natatawang sabi nito habang napapailing-iling.

"Kaya nga, at isa pa inlove yan sa mga cheesecakes and cupcakes niya kaya malabong magkalove life hahaha!" dagdag na pambubuska ni Jam sa kuya nito.

"Haha funny!" He make face at her. "Malelate kana bata!" sermong paalala nito sa kapatid.

"Ayyy shocks! Oo nga pala! Bye na nga muna mga Kuya!" Bahagya pa itong yumakap sa kanya. "Nice to see you again Kuya Dave! Libre mo kong lunch pag may time ha?!" Ngumisi ito kasabay ng pagkaway.

"Sure. See you!" He waved back and gave her a smile. "I wish a have a baby sister too," nangingiting sabi niya habang sinasara ang kanyang locker. Nag-iisang anak kasi siya at dahil maagang nawala ang papa niya, they never got the chance to give him a sibling.

"Haha! Take Jam! I'm sure you will return her after a week." Ngumisi naman ito sa kanya.

"Tsk... grabe ka kay Jam," naiiling nalang niyang anas dito.