Carrying the limited-edition Chanel bag, I walked up the long hallway of the first floor of the College of Arts and Design to the locker room. I am confidently beautiful with a sass with my flowy top tucked into my high-waist front-button denim skirt. My three-inch Dior heels clanked elegantly as they moved down the corridor. My dark, round-brimmed sunglasses hid half of my face, and I just casually flipped my strawberry-colored hair as I averted my blockmates' prying eyes. I was so certain that they were already aware of Giro and I's abrupt breakup.

Due to his position as vice president of the Supreme Student Council, Giro is well-known in our campus. He might not be a part of the well-known University Elites, of which my cousin Heaven Jeon is a member, but he has a reputation for being a gentleman, intelligent, charming, and composed. He truly is my ideal boyfriend. So I won't let that Rosenda Ramirez with a questionable pedigree to take him away from me!

And speaking of pedigree! My mind immediately went to the nerdy guy with a serious issue about paper tissues! I hope our paths don't cross because that one truly stressed me out. Am I aware that all he did was use those tissues and those trees as a pretext to catch my attention? Like duh in italic! Hindi ko pa rin ipagpapalit si Giro ko sa kanya no. Over my dead, beautiful, and flawless body! Save that!

Nang makarating sa locker ko ay maingat ko itong binuksan para hindi masira ang newly- manicured nails ko. Nagpafoot spa at pedicure na rin ako kahapon kasama sina Ricci at Peewee para prepared ako sa panibagong pakikibaka patungo sa wagas na pag- ibig. Alam ko namang effortless ang beauty ko pero kailangan pa ring maging standout talaga ang kagandahan ko para pagsisihan agad ni Giro ang pang-iiwan sa akin. Then, he himself would come to me begging to his knees. Magpapakipot ako kaunti tapos kami na ulit. I staed up all night thinking of this perfect plan. Am I so brilliant?

Nang maisara ang pintuan ng locker ko ay bahagya kong iniangat ang suot na sunglasses at agad na tumikwas ang isa kong kilay ng makita ang paparating na dakilang kontrabida ng love story namin ni Giro. Hayan at parating na ang pilit nagpapa- main character na si Rosenda Ramirez!

"What are you doing here?" Mataray na tanong ko rito. Halata namang natakot ito dahil huminto dahan- dahan itong tumabi na tila'y iniiwasan talaga ako. Gosh! Ito pa ang may ganang umiwas e siya na nga 'tong mangaagaw ng boyfriend!

Naiinis na inialis ko ang suot na salamin at nilapitan ko ang mangaagaw na babae pero agad din akong napaatras at gulat na nasapo ang mga labi ng palad ko ng iharap niya ang oily na mukha sa akin. Okay, that could be an exaggeration but I can describe her the way I want because she's a homewrecker! Well, almost! Kung hindi siya pumasok sa eksena ay sure akong kami naman talaga ni Giro ang magkakatuluyan!

Her face showed a history of acne and her skin doesn't stand out unlike mine. I got my flawless skin from my Korean mom who chose to bail out of our lives when I was only ten years old. Growing up, I was always showered with compliments having a pretty face. That's why it's really a shock how Giro had replaced me with a woman with the likes of Rosenda who obviously has no time to even go to the salon to have a proper hair treatment looking at her stiff straight hair!

"Oreo!"

When I looked up, I almost jumped for joy when I saw Giro calling me. Hinahanap niya ba ako? Makikipagbati na siya sa akin? Naglakad siya palapit at excited ko siyang sinalubong. Ngunit agad akong napahinto ng lampasan ako nito. Nang lingunin ko ito ay akbay na nito si Rosenda, like he was comforting him and my chest twist in pain.

"What did you do to Rose, Oreo?" Although it was said calmly, there was a trace of anger in his eyes. Agad akong nainis, hindi kay Giro pero sa bago nitong girlfriend na para bang aping- api habang nakayakap sa kanya! At ano daw? Rose? How can he give her a nickname from a beautiful flower? A, maybe because like a rose, Rosenda is cunning. If she's not, how would she steal Giro from me? With that face?!

"What?" I threw at him, annoyed but most of all hurt that he's speaking at me like I was the most disgusting person on earth.

"She's shaking, Oreo!" Madiing sabi nito sa akin at hinigpitan pa lalo ang pagkakayakap sa babae. Halos manlambot ang mga tuhod ko sa nasasaksihan. But still, I would never accept defeat from a woman who's not even half as pretty as me!

I smirked as my eyebrow perked up, "Baka naman na- threaten lang siya sa kagandahan ko—"

"Oreo!" 'Di makapaniwalang saway sa akin ni Giro sa naniningkit na mga mata.

"Wala akong ginagawang masama! Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo, Giro."

"Kahit na, Oreo." Giro was trying to be patient. He heaved a deep breath and looked at me in dismay, "Kailan mo ba maaalis 'yang ganyang ugali mo? You don't have to tell the world how beautiful you are, Oreonina."

"Because I'm really beautiful! "I stated matter- of- factly.

"And you continue to flaunt about it without giving a damn if you offend others or not!!" He hurled and I felt like a cat just got my tongue.

"Tama na, Giro. W- Wala naman siyang ginawa e. T-Tsaka, m- maganda naman talaga siya." Rosenda muttered shakily making me snort.

"See, aminado din siya kasi nakikita niya naman ang ebidensya!" I pressed but Giro's expression became more upset.

"Enough, Oreo." Giro hissed in contained anger, "Please, huwag mo na lang hayaang tuluyan kong itapon ang mga pinagsamahan natin dahil sa ugali mo. I'm trying to consider making friendship with you again pero sa ginagawa mo, I'm afraid I might just dump the idea."

I bitterly smirked as sob choke my parched throat, "Like the way you dumped me?"

"I didn't do that, Oreo. Our break up was a mutual agreement." Frustrated na sabi nito.

Mabilis kong sinupil ang luhang bumabalong sa mga mata ko at humakbang palapit rito, "Binabawi ko na nga 'di ba? Akala ko hindi ka seryoso noong pinag- usapan natin 'yon."

"Dahil hindi ka naman talaga naging seryoso kahit kailan." He muttered in frustration, bitterness somewhat tugging the side of his lips. He was hurting; I know that he still loves me.

"Hindi nagseryoso?" Mapait akong natawa, "Anong tawag mo sa pagiging clingy ko, Giro?" I was glad that my voice didn't break. Hindi ako kailanman iiyak sa harapan ng Rosenda na ito.

"You just do that every time you feel na naaagawan ka, Oreo. Hindi ako gamit. Hindi ako uri ng bagay na kini- claim mo lang kapag nararamdaman mong nawawala na sa'yo. At hindi mo laging pwedeng ipanakot ang pakikipaghiwalay sa akin sa tuwing hindi ka nananalo sa mga arguments natin."

"How could you say that?!" I rustled incredulously. Ako nga itong isang tawag niya lang ay dumarating na agad tapos sasabihin niya sa akin iyon? Siya itong napakaraming bilin na pinipilit ko namang gawin lahat para lang i-please siya. Kahit pa yata sabihin niyang tumalon ako sa pool na puno ng palaka gagawin ko para sa kanya. Yeah, I may act brat at times but I always make sure that I'm not doing the things he hated except of course to my brattiness with the girls who obviously flirt with him. And oh, hindi ko din pinayagang baguhin niya ang paraan ng pananamit ko. Pero halos lahat ginawa ko naman para sa kanya a! Ganoon na lang ba siya kadesperadong pasakitan ako para tigilan na siya? Tears began to pool my eyes but I won't let them trickle down my face. Over my dead beautiful and flawless body!

"Saka na tayo mag- usap, Oreo." He dismissed me.

"Ngayon na tayo mag- usap!" Pumadyak ako sa sobrang frustration.

"Not now, Oreo, please. Not in front my girlfriend." Madiing pakiusap nio at sapat na iyon para matahimik ako. Protective nitong inakbayan si Rosenda at iginiya ito paalis. They walked past me and that's when I felt my strength waiver.

I moved toward the locker row, trembling, and leaned my back against it. Where else could I have gotten the fortitude to watch the two of them leave? And when I caught him kissing the top of her head, I nearly dropped to my knees. Sa akin niya dapat ginagawa iyon. Sa akin lang siya dapat sweet. Ako lang dapat ang girlfriend niya. nang maramdaman ko ang pagtulo ng aking mga luha ay agad kong isinuot ang sunglasses ko.

Kailangang maganda ka pa rin kahit nasasaktan ka na, Oreonina. 'Yan lang ang matinding panlaban mo.

Tumunog ang cellphone ko. Ilang minuto pa iyong tumunog bago ako nagkalakas na kapain iyon sa loob ng bag ko at sagutin ng hindi tinitingnan ang caller ID.

"Oreo! Ano na namang sinabi mo kay Shey huh?!" Umalingawngaw ang aburidong tinig ng pinsan kong si Heaven sa kabilang linya. Pero sa halip na sagutin ang tanong nito kung anong sinabi ko sa nililigawang ballerina ay umatungal ako ng iyak.

"Heaven! Si Giro!" I cried loudly.

"Bakit?" Tila naalerto namang tanong nito, "Anong nangyari sa kanya? Napuno na ba sa kaartehan mo? Hiniwalayan ka na?"

"Ginayuma niya si Giro, Heaven! Ginayuma niya ang boyfriend ko!"

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Ginayuma niya si Giro, Heaven!" Umiiyak pa ring sumbong ko sa pinsan kong si Heaven na sinundo ako agad kanina sa college namin para dalhin sa quarter nila sa Sports and Humanities Building.

"Anong gayuma ba 'yang pinagsasabi mo, Oreo? Baka napagod na lang talaga 'yang boyfriend mo sa limang sako mong kaartehan?" Gagad sa akin ng magaling kong pinsan at sa inis ay ibinato ko rito ang pinamunas na tissue paper.

"What the hell, Oreo!" Inis na anito at nandidiring pinagpag ang tissue sa kandungan. I heard his friends laughed at him except for Tennessee Almonte and Cloud Navarro who were busily reading books. Nandoon din sina Lourd Ashton, Kalidasa dela Cuesta, at Ceyx Iadanza na boyfriend ng ka- sorority ko na si Selene Astraea Madrid. Ang Ace ng Volleyball team na si Kross Yuna Ibarra at ang kakambal ni Kalidasa dela Cuesta na si Rumi ang wala roon. I was surrounded by 6 handsome rich men but how would I care in a moment like this? Si Giro ang mahal ko kaya parang siya na lang ang gwapo para sa akin!

"I swear, Heaven! Ginayuma talaga ng Rosenda Rosales na iyon ang Giro ko! Sa tingin mo ba kakayanin niyang ipagpalit ang kagandahan ko kung walang black magic na nangyari?" I insisted.

"Manang- mana talaga 'tong pinsan mo sa'yo, Langit," Kalidasa dela Cuesta chuckled, "gandang- ganda sa sarili!"

"Tigilan mo nga 'yang saltik mo, Oreo." Yamot na saway sa akin ng pinsan ko, "Kung ayaw na sa'yo ng lalaki hayaan mo na." Seryoso pang dugtong nito saka ako inabutan ng paborito kong bottled drink. I am close to Heaven's family and he is my closest cousin whose only older than me by one year. We grew up together and his parents basically raised me as my dad was always away with his business trips. Naalala ko ngang sinapak niya sa mukha si Giro noong high school kami sa pagaakalang hinalikan ako nito e hinihipan lang naman nito noon ang mata ko kasi nga napuwing.

I cried even more remembering that memory of Giro and I. We have so many memories together that it's hard to let go and I won't let go of those just because of that monster Rosenda who he thought was kind and modest! I was so deep in thought I didn't realize that I was crushing the bottle in my grasp.

"'Yang pintura sa mga kuko mo, masisira." Heaven lazily reminded me and I immediately thew away the bottle I was clutching.

"Oh, my poor babies." Hinipan ko ang mga kuko ko at narinig ko ang pagpalatak ni Heaven at ang pagtawang muli ng mga kaibigan nito.

"Malala na 'yan, dude! Patawas mo na 'yang pinsan mo kay Mang Kepweng." Natatawang komento ni Lourd Ashton na crush ko ng slight.

"What is tawas, Heaven?" Sumigihok- sigok na tanong ko sa pinsan.

"Damn you, L!" Heaven cursed at his friend, "You'd just given me a tough job, hayup ka!"

Tumawa lamang si L at binaliwala ang pagsusungit ng pinsan. They must be really close.

"Heaven, ano nga?" Pangungulit ko sa pinsan na muling pumalatak sa inis.

"Ten, a little help here, dude." Paghingi nito ng saklolo sa isa sa pinakamatalinong kaibigan.

"People from the province engage in it when they think that something supernatural occurred that science cannot account for." Patamad na paliwanag ni Tenesse Almonte na hindi man lang iniaangat ang tingin mula sa librong binabasa. It really caught my interest. Excited na humarap ako tahimik na kaibigan ng pinsan ko habang bumabangon ang pag-asa sa dibdib.

"You mean supernatural like gayuma?" Tanong ko. Saglit nitong iniangat ang mga mata upang tumingin sa akin. His bored deep set of eyes caught me.

"Yeah." He replied plainly and dropped his eyes to the book again. Aligagang humarap ako kay Lourd Ashton.

"And where will I find this—" I trail off as I tried to slide the weird name on my tongue, "—uhm, Mang Kepweng you're talking about?"

"Sa movies lang may ganun, Oreo." Tila aburido ng sagot ni Heaven.

"Uy, hindi a." Kalidasa countered, "Kapareho nga siya ng college ni Rumi e. Sa College of Science din siya, Botany daw ang kinukuha." Sabi pa nito na tila aliw na aliw sa ekspresyon ng mukha ko. Crush ba 'ko nito? Mukha namang nabasa nito ang iniisip ko dahil nag- isang linya ang kilay nito, "Hindi kita crush, huh? Loyal yata ako sa dyosa ko!" Pagbibida pa nito.

Lihim akong napaismid. 'Di ikaw na ang loyal! Pero loyal din naman si Giro ko e, nagayuma lang talaga siya.

"So, if I go and ask that Mang Kepweng to tawas me, can he help me make a way to remove the potion's effect to Giro?" I asked, my eyes gleaming in anticipation.

"Oo naman!" Kalidasa replied surely, "magaling yata sa dahon- dahon si Mang Kepweng, di ba, dark Lourd?" Paghingi pa nito ng assurance sa kaibigan. I heard Heaven tsked but decided to dismiss it.

"Hell yeah!" Lourd affirmed, "madalas n'on kausapin ang mga puno at halaman kaya malamang makokontrol niya ang pwersa ng kalikasan!"

Ceyz Iandanza snickered, "That's just crazy—" he stopped in midsentence as Kalidasa and Lourd looked at him, "—amazing!" He supplied enthusiastically.

Pati ang boyfriend ni Selene sumang-ayon na. For sure, legit ang information na 'to. Gosh! I'm so excited to meet this Mang Kepweng! Siya ang gagawin kong daan para balikan na ako ni Giro ko.

Just wait for me, Giro. Ililigtas kita mula sa kuko ng witch na Rosenda na 'yan!