*this story is inspired by Barney Stinson of How I Met Your Mother.*

"You're the only one for me."

"I've never felt this way before."

"I'll call you."

"I love you."

They all laughed.

"So he really did say all those things to you?" tanong ko sa kanila. Sabay-sabay silang tumango.

"He's the best liar there is," sagot ni Kelly na pinakamalapit sa akin.

I am new to the group. Magkaka-dorm kami at ako ang pinaka-bagong occupant. Magkakaibigan silang apat since college. And now that they're all professionals, magkakasama pa rin sila sa dati nilang inuupahang bahay.

Naging magkaka-close sila because of this one guy.

His name is Red.

He dated all of them. Magkasabay nitong dinate si Natasha at Kelly. Naka-two night stands naman nito si Alice at si Maria ang naging pinakamatagal nitong girlfriend among the four of them. They lasted for a week.

"Basta maganda, pinapatos nya. He doesn't care kung may boyfriend o single, basta maganda at type nya," said Maria.

Nginitian ko silang apat. "Well... at least he thinks you're all pretty. He did date all of you."

Nagtawanan silang apat. "Yun na nga lang ang magandang nagawa nya eh."

"So where is he now? Does anyone of you have an idea?" I asked.

Alice shrugged. "He's probably out bedding another naïve girl on some cheap motel," sagot nito.

"I actually feel sorry for him. Malupit ang karma sa mga taong katulad nya," sabat naman ni Natasha.

"I hope he finds someone who'll break his heart like he did all hearts of those poor girls."

Tumango-tango na lang ako.

--

I was shopping for groceries one day when someone approached me.

"Ciao bella," came a sexy, raspy voice.

Akala ko Italyano. I looked up to see this guy... he has smoldering eyes, thin pinkish lips, pointy nose and angular face.

He's pretty tall. Halos hanggang balikat nya lang ako.

"Hello," I replied curtly. "Sorry, I don't speak Italian," dagdag ko pa.

He laughed. His laugh is kind of raspy. Ang sarap pakinggan. "I'll speak English then," he said. He smirked and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Red."

"He's charming. He's cute. He's funny. He's romantic... but he's also a big, fat liar. Always remember that Lianne. Whatever he does, don't fall for his charms."

"Psh. Relax guys, it's not like I'm gonna see him some time soon."

"He's everywhere. At sure kaming lalapitan ka nya. You're very pretty, in case you don't already know."

Nakatingin lang ako sa kamay nya, unsure if I am to take it or just turn around and leave. In my haste, I grabbed a watermelon from the fruit stall instead. Medyo mabigat kaya ayun, muntikan ko nang mabitawan.

Good thing he was there.

"Let me help you with that," he offered.

"No thanks," tanggi ko.

I grabbed the watermelon from his hands and put in on my cart. Saka ko ito itinulak palayo. I sensed him following though; his single strides equal two of mine.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Terry," mabilis kong sagot.

"No. You're not Terry. You're pretty."

I snickered. "Sorry. That won't work on me."

"Oh? Okay..."

Akala ko titigil na sya because he didn't follow me afterwards. When I get to the cashier, I wasn't asked to pay for anything.

Bayad na daw lahat.

"He'll do anything to get you. And once he has you, he'll dump you. That's how he always works."

"He sees girls as challenge. He sees us as rewards that he'd get after a few trials and errors."

"He's never in it for a long run."

"Who paid for all of it?" I asked the cashier.

"I did," came a voice behind me.

I grunted and turned around. There he was, standing too close to me.

"You really don't have to."

"You're welcome," he replied with a smile.

I rolled my eyes at him. "What's in it for you, Red?"

Nagkibit-balikat sya at kinuha ang mga pinamili ko. "Just a cup of coffee will do, Terry."

"Okay."

We went to Starbucks at the second floor of the mall. He did order and paid for everything. My only contribution was myself. He encouraged me to tell stories and just talk.

I must admit that he's pretty charming and he definitely knows his way around girls. It's just that, my mind is sending out this wary signal that I should just go home and forget him.

"Once he gets inside your pants, you'll be just another girl he used to know."

"I should probably be going," paalam ko sa kanya. Tumayo ako at ininom ang natitirang kape sa tasa ko. "Nice meeting you Red."

"Wait! I'll take you home."

Napataas ang kilay ko sa sinabi nya. "Excuse me?"

Realizing what he just said, he apologized and mended his sentence. "What I mean is, I'll give you a ride home."

"Wag na. Magta-taxi na lang ako."

"Oh come on! Mahal mag-taxi. Tapos baka mamaya rapist pa o holdaper yung masakyan mo. Come on. Let me take you home. And by that I mean—"

I held up my hands to interrupt him. "Okay. I get it."

He grinned at me thinking that he'd finally won.

We hopped into his car and then got out of the parking lot. That's when I remembered something. I am living with four girls he used to date and dump.

What will they think of me when they see me with him?

So I asked him to pull over to some random house a few blocks away from our dorm. I was intending to never see him again, knowing his reputation and all but he insisted on getting my number.

There is no way you can say no to this guy. He'll really do anything to get you to say yes.

So I gave him my number. And he started calling me non-stop. When he wasn't calling, he was sending me text messages. He even stalked my Facebook account!

Talk about determined!

Naging madalas din ang pagkikita namin and eventually... nahalata nila. They goaded me into admitting that he was pursuing me. And when I said yes, instead of getting angry, they were ecstatic.

"Now's our chance to take revenge!"

"OMG Lianne! You're heaven sent!"

"You are his karma!"

I was half into trying to get to know Red more and see if he can change. Half of me wanted to take revenge for my new friends.

I was torn.

But there was one incident that made me decide. It's when I saw him one day, talking to some girl. I mean, I know that he gets flirty with girls other than me. And I don't have concrete feelings for him yet. It's just that, if I would have a guy pursue me, I would want him to pursue just ME.

Not involving all the girls he could get in between.

So I agreed to the plan.

I set out to make him want me... pretend I want him too but not quite enough... keep him interested. And revenge is sweet and all but this one... this one, I was kind of expecting, kind of wants to dodge the bullet but nevertheless, I faced it head on.

In the process of making him fall for me... I gradually, kind of, slightly fell for him too... just a tinge.

But I didn't show enough. I didn't say enough to give them or him the idea that I am indeed falling in love with a ruthless heartbreaker.

I've strung him along all the while pretending to be executing their big plan.

And at the end of the day, parang ako rin yung nadedehado.

Ako yung naiipit sa gitna. It was hard. Really hard. I'd have to pretend that I don't like him when in fact I do and don't when I really do all at the same time!

I mean, give me a break. It was very confusing.

Magulo sa utak. Magulo rin sa puso.

But ultimately, the inevitable will come when I have to choose one side and hurt the other. And it all came too quickly and not as I planned it.

My friends found out that I am into him. They plotted against me. They set me up with a guy while acting like they don't know of my true feelings for Red.

It was Red's birthday and it was also the day that I promised I'd give him my answer.

This other guy came into the picture and grabbed me for a kiss in front of Red. I couldn't push him away. I mean, he was huge! I finally got away when he finally let me go.

Then it was too late.

"It's all planned Red."

"She never really loved you."

"Kind of slow of you to not notice. I mean, three months? Do you think she would have strung you along while dodging all your big questions if she's really into you?"

"Face it Red. She's karma at its best. Personified!"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Hindi ako nakatanggi sa mga parating nila. After all, half of it was true. I kind of strung him along. I kind of made him think that I am serious about us. Sabi kase nila, kapag na-sense daw ni Red na malapit na syang sagutin ng babae ay lalo syang magpupursigi.

Then when they are finally together, saka naman niya ito iiwan.

For him, it was all just a game. For the girls, it's an investment for a long-time relationship.

But why did he put up with me for three months? Was I really a challenge na hindi nya susukuan hangga't hindi niya naipapanalo?

Or was it something else entirely?

I remembered when the cab I was riding home got a flat tire. I was so scared kase medyo liblib yung lugar. And it was just me and the driver. I mean, hindi naman siguro ganun si manong pero dahil na rin sa paranoia ko, ganun yung naisip ko.

I called Red at wala pang ten minutes ay nandun na sya, sinusundo ako.

There's also this one time, gabing-gabi na and I was craving for some ice cream. I asked Natasha to accompany me at the nearest store kase halos madaling-araw na at wala ng masyadong tao sa labas. Sabi nya, si Red na lang daw ang pabilhin ko.

So I asked him to meet me in front of my house, na actually ay random house na pinaghatiran nya sa 'kin dati.

I went with the girls. Nagtago sila sa kanto malapit doon. He finally came a few minutes later. He was wearing this jacket over a shirt. And he also has this scarf around his neck. His nose was red and he sneezed a few times.

Turns out he has a cold.

Iniabot nya lang sa 'kin yung ice cream at saka sya nagpaalam para umuwi at matulog.

I interrupted the sleep of a sick man that night. I felt so guilty but they stopped me from apologizing.

"He deserves it," that's what they always say. Na lahat ng ginagawa kong masama sa kanya... he deserves all that.

Red's shoulders slumped and then he threw the roses he was holding at me. Lumabas sya ng restaurant kung saan sana ay magkikita kami.

Saka nya lang nalaman lahat. That we were plotting out ways to seek revenge from him. That I am the object of that plan.

That I am executing the plan for three months...

Pero may isa syang hindi nalaman nung gabing yun. That all the feelings I have for him is true. He didn't know that. He didn't give me the chance to show him that.

He just left without saying goodbye.

My friends got their revenge.

I didn't get anything.

Hindi ko alam kung nagbago na si Red after that. Siguro ilang araw lang, naka-move on na sya. Typical Red, right?

But I guess I'll never know.

He'll just be a part of my past. The one that I am not very proud of having.

And I'll forever be etched in his memory... as the challenge he failed to win.