Chapter 1

Adaline

"Sigurado ka na ba talaga rito, Ada? Hindi na ba talaga magbabago ang isip mo?" Regina asked me.

I came to a halt in my packing and faced Regina. I smiled as I patted her on the shoulder. "Stop worrying about me, Regina; I'll be fine," I told her, who was still against my decision to return to the Philippines.

Sumimangot siya bago umupo sa pang-isahang sofa na nasa loob ng aking kwarto at pinag-ekis niya ang kanyang mga kamay. "Kasi naman eh. Why do you have to go back to the Philippines at maghiganti sa walang kwentang lalaki na iyon? Okay ka naman na rito sa Canada. You have a wonderful job and men are going crazy over you. You've already moved on, or nakapagmove-on ka na nga ba talaga?"

Natawa ako sa kanyang sinabi.

"God! Regina, why ask a question you already know the answer to?" I said habang umiiling-iling, then went back on packing my belongings.

"I used to believe you when you claimed you're already over him, that you're done being madly in love with him, that you've finally moved on, but seeing you packing your belongings and heading back to the Philippines to exact your revenge has made me doubt it."

Bumuntong-hininga muna ako bago ko muling hinarap si Regina. I crossed my arms while staring at her intently. "I thought we already discussed this; you already agreed on this, didn't you? You even promised me that you'd support me on this, and now you're having second thoughts?" My voice was firm and serious, conveying to her that I did not like what she said.

Umiwas ng tingin si Regina then took a very deep breath. "I know I made a promise ngunit hindi mo naman ako masisisi. I am just worried about you, Ada. That man has caused you a lot of pain. I was there, I witnessed everything. I witnessed how you went into different bars, drowning yourself with liquors and cried every night while calling his name, asking him not to leave you. And now, babalik ka sa Pilipinas para maghiganti sa kanya at isasangkalan mo na naman ang sarili mo sa isang sitwasyon na walang kasiguraduhan. What if your plans won't work? What if you fall in love with him again? Paano kung imbes na siya ang saktan mo ay ikaw na naman ang masaktan?" Regina faced me this time, and reached for my hands, then gently squeezed it. "I can't bear to see you like that again, Ada. Ayoko na bumalik ka sa dati. I can't bear to see you in that state again, hurting." Her voice was pleading as so is her eyes. Namumuo na din ang mga luha sa kanyang mga mata.

Humugot ulit ako ng malalim na hininga saka ko dinaluhan si Regina, and this time, ako naman ang pumisil sa mga kamay niya while smiling at her, trying to tell her that I'm going to be fine at wala siyang dapat na ipag-alala.

Hindi ko naman siya masisisi. Malapit na malapit kaming dalawa sa isa't-isa kaya nga noong binalita ko sa kanya na hiniwalayan na ako ni Terrance ay walang pag-aalinlangan siyang umuwi ng Pilipinas upang damayan ako.

I knew Regina since college dahil magkapareho kami ng kurso na kinuha. We became very close hanggang sa halos hindi na kami mapaghiwalay. We just separated ways nang magtrabaho na siya sa Canada bilang isang editor sa isang sikat na publishing company.

Nandoon siya nung mga panahong akala ko ay mag-isa na lamang ako. Wala naman kasi akong mga magulang na mapagsasabihan ng nararamdaman ko dahil high school pa lamang ako ay naghiwalay na ang mga magulang ko. Tanging Lola ko lamang ang nagtaguyod sa akin and it was 8 years ago nang tuluyan na rin siyang pumanaw. Wala naman na akong balita tungkol sa mga magulang ko kaya't ipinagpapasalamat ko na nandoon si Regina para damayan ako. Siya rin ang nagsama sa akin sa Canada and helped me to get a job to start anew.

Regina was like a sister to me at ganoon rin siya sa akin kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit ganito nalang siya kung mag-alala, lalo na at alam niya kung gaano ako nasaktan noon dahil sa pag-iwan sa akin ni Terrance. She was also there when I tried to commit suicide.

Yes, nagtangka akong magpakamatay. Alam kong isa iyong katangahan ngunit noong mga panahong iyon ay tanging iyon na lamang ang naisip kong paraan upang makatakas sa sakit. Buti na lamang at dumating noon si Regina dahil kung hindi ay talagang tinuloy ko na ang tangka kong pagpapakamatay

I gave her a reassuring smile. "Kung may masasaktan man sa larong sisimulan ko, siguradong hindi ako iyon, Regina. It will be Terrance and that bitch, Brianna. Dahil sa larong ito, ako ang mananalo." Then my face turned into a fierce one. "I will get the revenge that I deserve; I will make Terrance pay for all the wrongs he has done to me; and I will make Brianna feel how painful it is when the only person you've ever loved is taken away from you; I will give them a taste of their own medicine."

I clenched my fist upon remembering their faces, the faces of the persons who broke me.

I will make them pay, big time.

---

I roamed my eyes around the bar, looking for that particular person, at ganoon na lamang ang pagngisi ko ng makita ko ang taong dahilan ng pag-uwi ko rito sa Pilipinas.

I fix my gaze on him. His physical appearance has not changed. And he's dressed in his usual attire whenever he visits places like this.

He's dressed in washed-out gray skinny-fit jeans, a black slim-fit striped T-shirt, a wool bomber jacket, and Felix pebble-grain derby shoes.

Mag-isa lamang siyang nakaupo sa bar counter habang sunod-sunod na umiinom ng alak.

Napangisi ako.

Good timing to start my plan.

Inayos ko muna ang aking kasuotan. I am wearing a see-through sheer mesh long sleeve for my top na pinaresan ko ng isang pencil cut na skirt na kulay pink. Kitang-kita ang kulay itim kong bra which made me sexier than I already am.

Nararamdaman ko ang maiinit na titig na ibinibigay sa akin ng mga kalalakihan na naririto sa bar ngunit nasa iisang tao lang ang aking atensyon.

I gathered myself first, then wore a seductive smile on my lips as I walked elegantly yet seductively to the bar's counter.

Nang makarating na ako sa counter ay kaagad na umupo ako sa katabing stool na inuupuan ng aking dating asawa. Ilang dipa lamang ang layo ko sa kanya at medyo maliwanag rin sa kanyang kinauupuan kaya't kitang-kita ko ang mukha niya.

Still the same old Terrance na napakalinis sa mukha.

Noon pa man ay ayaw na niyang may bigote siya sa mukha. Muling akong napangisi. Talagang wala nga siyang pinagbago ni katiting.

Anim na taon na ang nakalipas magmula ng huli ko siyang makita ngunit pakiramdam ko ay kahapon lamang kami huling nagkita. Even his built didn't changed. He still has that athletic body.

"Sex on the beach." I told the bartender.

Kaagad namang tumalima ang bartender.

I studied Terrance from head to toe, then moved my gaze to his drink. I cocked my head slightly, and I said, "Aftershock." But Terrance only gave me a brief glance before quickly withdrawing his gaze and sipped at his drink.

I grinned again.

Mukhang hindi niya ako nakilala.

Sino nga ba namang mag-aakala na ako ang dating manang na si Adaline noon.

Napakalaki na ng pinagbago ko.

Before, I used to be bullied at the university kung saan kami pumapasok nila Regina at Terrance dahil sa klase ng pananamit ko at sa itsura ko.

Noon ay palaging mga loose polo shirts ang sinusuot ko, palda na hanggang talampakan ang haba o di kaya'y mga loose denim jeans. May suot-suot din akong eyeglasses noon dahil malabo ang mga mata ko. Inaamin ko naman na hindi talaga ako mahilig na mag-ayos ng sarili noon kaya palagi akong napapagtripan at palagi ring napapaaway si Regina dahil sa pagtatanggol sa akin.

Tumigil lang ang pambubully sa akin nang mag third-year college na ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ipinagpapasalamat ko na rin 'yun.

And now I'm nothing like the geeky Adaline I used to be. I now dress in attractive outfits all the time. I've also learned how to present myself well. I even switched up the color of my lipstick. It's gone from pink to a bright red. I've also started wearing contact lenses so that I don't need to wear glasses.

"Looks like you've got a big problem, Mister." Sinigurado kong may halong landi ang pagkakasabi ko ng mga salitang iyon saka ako sumimsim sa aking inumin na kabibigay lamang ng bartender.

Tila wala namang narinig si Terrance . Umorder lamang siya ulit ng isang baso pa ng aftershock saka tinungga iyon.

Hmm… Playing hard to get, huh?

I shifted my weight onto the stool and leaned closer to him, colliding our shoulders. I then tossed my hair and gathered it on my right shoulder to offer him a better view of my neck, but he wasn't looking at my neck at all; instead, he was looking at my face.

His brow furrowed, as if he was trying to remember something.

I smirked saka muli kong pinagalaw ang stool but this time, inilayo ko ito sa kanya. Hindi naman ganoon kalayo, sakto lamang upang hindi niya maaninag ang aking mukha.

Kahit naman marami na ang nagbago sa itsura ko ay may posibilidad pa rin na makilala niya ako.

It's not that I want to hide my identity. Magpapakilala din naman ako sa kanya, hindi lang sa ngayon. Kailangan ko munang isagawa ang una kong plano ngayong gabi bago ako magpakilala sa kanya.

Muli akong sumimsim sa aking inumin bago ako humarap sa kanya at bahagya kong ibinuka ang aking mga hita.

I grinned nang mapatingin siya sa mga hita ko ngunit agad niya ring binawi ang kanyang tingin at uminom ulit ng aftershock.

Mukhang may plano siyang magpakalasing ngayong gabi.

"Would you like to have some fun tonight?" I ask seductively, still facing him, my legs slightly parted.

He put down his drink and looked at me. His eyes were icy. "I'm not here for random sex with some sluts," he said, raising his ring finger. "I'm getting married, bitch, so back off," he said, knocking over the glass he was holding yet again.

I didn't show it, even though I was irritated by him calling me a slut and a bitch. I pretended as if I didn't care what he said. "You're just getting married, you're not yet married," I said seductively. "Besides, where is your soon-to-be wife? She should be here, especially since it appears that you're going through something, but she's not here. You're alone, Mister, and so am I. You've got a problem, and I'm good at solving problems."

Nakita ang pag-igtingan ng kanyang mga panga matapos marinig ang sinabi ko.

I smirked.

Looks like my plan is working.

"I don't have any problems." Giit niya ngunit binigyan ko lamang siya ng isang mapang-uyam na ngisi.

"Really? Then why are you drowning yourself with that kind of drink?" I asked, then pointed to the glass of aftershock. "Look, I am being nice here. You should consider yourself lucky, Mister. Look at the other guys around you, they were all looking at me as if they're going to eat me. You know why? Because I am damn hot." I widened my thighs even more, giving him a good glimpse of my womanhood.

Nakita ko ang paglunok niya at ang pag apoy ng pagnanasa sa kanyang mga mata.

"Do you see this little pussy, Mister?" I reached under my skirt and softly touched my femininity, which was hidden beneath my black panty. "This pussy of mine can solve all of your issues, and this pussy of mine can make that dick of yours hard and cum," I said as I withdrew my finger from my skirt. "I can get you to cum in ways you've never done before."

I thought my plan would take longer to work, so I decided to seduce him even more, but before I could say anything else, I already found myself sitting on his lap, his lips on mine.

I grinned as soon as his lips touched my neck.

First step of my plan? Done.