Game On

“The whole event was covered by the media, but what caught the people’s attention was the cover page, it’s a photograph of the famous belle of the entertainment industry, Sierra Valeria, with the shipping magnate, Jackson Alegra, as if, they are having a great time,”

“Stop it, I’m fucking annoyed right now,” I snapped, tossing the magazine onto the table. My fingers tightened into fists as I stared at the damn cover page—Sierra and Jackson, looking like the perfect power couple.

“Oh, babe, alam mong wala kang magagawa diyan. It’s already out,” Kadita teased, scrolling through her phone. “Pati social media, puro kayo.”

“Not us, him and my sister,” I corrected, voice sharp. “At hindi na si Sierra ‘to.”

Kadita smirked. “Exactly. Ikaw na ‘yan ngayon.”

I exhaled, forcing myself to stay calm. Pero paano? Sa loob-loob ko, gusto kong punitin ang lahat ng magazine sa paligid ko. It was ridiculous how people ate up the illusion so easily—how they believed that Sierra was still here.

“How does it feel?” tanong niya, resting her chin on her palm, watching me like I was the most entertaining thing in the world.

“How does what feel?”

“To be Sierra.”

Napatingin ako sa salamin sa harap ko. The same wavy hair, the same striking features, the same aura—pero hindi ako ‘to. This isn’t me.

“It feels like hell,” I admitted.

Kadita chuckled. “Well, babe, wala ka nang atrasan. And if you want revenge on Jackson? You have to own it.”

My jaw clenched. Alam ko ‘yun. Alam kong hindi puwedeng kalahati lang ang effort ko rito. If I wanted to make him pay, I had to play the game right.

“I will,” I said, my voice cold and certain. “I’ll make him regret ever meeting Sierra Valeria.”

Kadita grinned. “That’s my girl.”

And with that, the game officially began.

For two days, wala akong ginawa kundi linisin ang schedule ko at pag-aralan ang lahat ng alam ni Sierra. Gabi-gabi akong nagbabasa ng old interviews niya, watching every clip, memorizing the way she talked, the way she moved—pati mannerisms niya, tiniyak kong makuha ko.

Pero puta, ang hirap.

Sierra was the complete opposite of me. She was loud, fearless, always in the spotlight. I, on the other hand, loved my solitude. Mas gusto kong magpinta, magsulat, at mag-aral ng bagong wika kaysa makipag-plastikan sa mga tao. I hated socializing. Pero ngayon? Wala akong choice.

Damn it, Sierra.

I practiced her laugh in front of the mirror. Minsan, naiirita na ‘ko sa sarili ko. I watched her old runway walks, copying every single step—at kung may mali, inuulit ko. I learned how to carry myself like her, how to exude confidence even when I was internally screaming.

Nakakapagod. Nakakabaliw. Pero hindi ako titigil.

Dahil kung gusto kong makaganti kay Jackson Knight Alegre, I had to be perfect.

Two days later, handa na ‘ko.

Suot ko ang black silk dress na may daring slit, paired with Sierra’s signature red lipstick. My long hair was curled perfectly, cascading down my back. Sa bawat hakbang ko, I made sure I carried the same energy she did—fierce, untouchable, untamed.

Pagdating ko sa exclusive gala kung nasaan si Jackson, I felt the weight of the eyes on me.

Whispers. Gasps. Stares.

“She looks just like—”

“No way… is that Sierra?”

I smirked. Good.

Pero ang mas gusto kong reaksyon? Sa lalaking dahilan kung bakit ako nandito.

And the moment our eyes met from across the room, nakita ko ang bahagyang pag-aalinlangan sa mukha ni Jackson.

He looked at me like he was seeing a ghost.

Perfect.

I took a slow sip of my champagne, raised my brow, then turned away like he was nothing but an afterthought.

Time to play. And this time, I make the rules.

Lahat ng detalye, pinaghandaan ko. Every move, every word, every calculated step—lahat dapat perpekto. Ang una kong plano? Pagselosin si Jackson Knight Alegre.

It should’ve been easy. Gamitin ko lang ang tamang lalaki, pakita kong may nagkakagusto sa akin, at siguradong magkakainteres siya. Men like him? They crave control. Ayaw nilang may ibang humahawak sa laruan nila.

Pero malamang, hindi laruan si Sierra.

At lalong hindi ako.

Nang dumating ako sa gala, ramdam ko agad ang paggalaw ng mga mata sa paligid. Hindi na ako nagulat. After all, they thought I was Sierra. The same face, the same elegance—pero ang hindi nila alam, hindi na siya buhay.

At ang dahilan? Nasa kabilang bahagi ng ballroom, nag-eenjoy na parang walang nangyari.

Jackson Knight Alegre. The man who took everything from me.

The bastard who destroyed my sister.

I clenched my fists, inhaling sharply bago tinagilid ang ulo ko kay Zandro Montaire.

“Ready?” bulong niya sa tenga ko, his hand casually resting on my lower back. “Mukhang ready kang manggulo, Savannah.”

I smirked, placing a hand on his chest. “Let’s give them a show.”

Pagtingin ko kay Jackson, he was standing near the bar, swirling his whiskey like he had all the time in the world. He looked bored. Unbothered.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero lalo akong nainis. Wala man lang siyang reaction?

I tossed my hair over my shoulder and let out a soft, flirtatious laugh—one that echoed through the venue. Napansin kong may ilang photographers na kinuhanan kami ng picture ni Zandro. Good.

Pero si Jackson? Hindi man lang ako tinignan.

I tightened my grip on my clutch bag, forcing myself to stay composed.

“Babe,” Kadita suddenly appeared beside me, her voice low. “Palpak ‘to.”

I refused to believe that. Kaya, ginawa ko ang mas matindi—tumingala ako kay Zandro, placing my hand on his cheek. “Can I kiss you?”

He blinked in surprise, then chuckled. “Damn. I like this version of you.”

He leaned in, just enough para magmukhang intimate sa mata ng mga tao. I closed my eyes—

Pero bago pa magdikit ang labi namin, may dumaan sa tabi ko.

A gust of wind, heavy footsteps, the strong scent of whiskey and expensive cologne—Jackson.

Pero hindi niya ako pinansin. Hindi niya ako pinansin.

Parang wala lang akong ginawa.

I slowly turned my head, at doon ko siya nakita—walking past me, his phone in one hand, his posture relaxed. Tuloy-tuloy lang siya sa paglakad, like my existence was nothing but a fleeting shadow.

Putangina.

“Savannah—”

I stormed out of the hall, my heels clicking against the marble floor.

Kadita and Zandro called after me, pero hindi ako tumigil. Dumiretso ako sa balcony, hinayaan ang lamig ng hangin na sumampal sa mukha ko.

I gripped the railing, my knuckles turning white. Bakit ganito? Bakit parang wala lang sa kanya?

He should have looked at me. He should have reacted. He should have suffered.

Hindi ko namalayang may lumapit sa likod ko.

“You look like her,” a deep, calm voice spoke behind me.

Nanigas ang katawan ko.

Dahan-dahan akong humarap, at nakita ko siya—Jackson, standing there with his hands in his pockets, staring at me with those piercing, unreadable eyes.

My breath hitched.

This was it.

“I thought you weren’t coming tonight,” he muttered, taking a slow step closer.

My heartbeat pounded in my ears. Hindi niya ako kilala.

He still thinks I’m her.

I forced a smirk, my mind racing. “You sound disappointed.”

His jaw ticked, but he didn’t answer.

I tilted my head, pretending to be amused. Let’s play this game.

“Surprised to see me?” I teased, watching his expression carefully.

His lips twitched—almost like he wanted to smile. “Not really. I knew you couldn’t resist a grand entrance.”

I clenched my teeth. Tangina mo, Jackson.

He lifted a brow. “No witty comeback?”

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. “You seem too relaxed. Don’t you think it’s weird seeing me here?”

He stared at me, his gaze sharp and assessing.

Then, he smirked.

“Not really,” he murmured. “You always did love the attention, Sierra.”

Fucking hell.

He still thought I was my sister.

And that was exactly what I needed.

Game on, Jackson.