This was it. . . Revenge . . .

I slowly walked around her, the one who I've been trying to kill since I came out in this world. My footsteps began echoing in the empty room where she was lying on the bed.

Twirling the jaded dagger around my fingers, I stopped to look at my rival, the Wisteria's Czar. She can't move, the poison must have affected her bones and muscle tissues.

"Y- you're insane. . ."

I grinned playfully as I went near her and gathered her weak body in between my arms.

"Maybe I am," I paused and smiled at her.

I touched her face and traced her jawline using my finger.

"But so are you."

"I am not!" She countered, her eyes are throwing me looks as if she could kill me.

"You were the one who killed those innocent people just to stop me," I answered her softly.

Her face looked horrified, realizing the measures she had taken to get to me. She must've remembered my people whom she murdered because of her greed to put an end to this chaotic world.

Seeing her this helpless and on the verge of crying, I guess this was the happiest day of my life.

"You are just as insane as I am." 

From there, I could see regret in her face. She was breaking down as a lone tear escaped from her left eye.  

"I. . ." She took a deep breath.

"I thought loving you would make your hatred disappear, but. . ." 

"You are wrong."  I cut her off and gave her a cold stare she deserved.

"Love is nothing but lies." 

When tears began to stream down her face, my shrill laughter echoed of the thick walls of her room. I cupped her face and lean in closer.

"So when I said I love you, that was the biggest lie I ever told anyone." And I sunk the blade into her abdomen as I kissed her fully on the lips.

"Yawang ending naman 'yan Isla! Sa tubig na may asin ka ba bininyagan noong bata ka at napaka bitter mo?!" 

Nagulat na lang ako nang may tumamang makapal na libro sa pagmumukha ko. Napaingos ako sa sakit. 

"Kashmir!" Reklamo ko hawak-hawak ang ilong kong pakiramdam ko'y papango pa ng pina-bongga dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Alam kong single ka, Isla. No offense ha kasi wala naman ding magtatangka sayo pero-" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at inihagis pabalik sa kaniya ang libro na nasalo niya naman.

"No offense pa 'yan sa lagay na 'yan?" Nakasimangot kong irap sabay lakad papunta sa monitor ng PC ko.

"Tangina mo kasi!" Pagmumura niya pa.

She frustratingly took a throw pillow and covered her face. Sumulyap ako at nakita ko siyang pinanggigigilan ang unan. Kung hindi niya ito halos sirain ay ipaghahampas niya sa sofa kung saan siya nakaupo.

"I was always wondering how would writer's like you feel if they kill a character her reader's love the most," She murmured. 

Binuksan ko ang PC ko habang nakikinig sa kung ano mang paghihimutok niya.

"Are they smiling or laughing sipping a cup of coffee as they kill them? Are they sad and crying as well?" Her eyes suddenly turned into a flat line when our gazes met na ikinatawa ko. 

"Then there's you! You're just pure evil and a heartless bitch! Pwede mo ng palitan si Satanas!" Hinagis niya ang throw pillow sakin kaya inusog ko ang sarili ko gamit ang swivel chair para maiwasan ang muli niya na namang pagtangka sa buhay ko.

"It's not titled Happily Never After for nothing, Kashmir." Sa pagkakataong 'to ay ako naman ang inirapan niya.

"Santisima naman kasi Isla! Halos pinatay mo kalahati ng mga asawa ko sa kwento mo! Akala ko you'll at least save the main characters, pero hindi! Wala ka ng initira! Nakakagigil!" Ramdam na ramdam ko ang panggigigil niya kaya hindi ko maiwasang matawa sa reaksyon niya. 

Seeing her having mixed emotions only means I succeeded as a writer. I was able to express feelings within the set of words I wrote. I was able to take them in another world and forget their reality for a short period of time. That alone makes me proud of myself.

"Sabihin mo naman sa akin na may Book 2 'to Isla parang awa mo na!" Umiling-iling ako kaya nagdabog na naman ito. 

"Nakaka de-freeze ka naman, Isla! I swear kapag ako gumawa ng story ilalagay ko pangalan mo doon. Bibigyan kita ng magandang role at papatayin din kita sa pinakanakakahindik na pamamaraan! Mark my words!" Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at iiling-iling na nagbukas ng social media accounts ko. 

When I opened my Twitter account my notifications were reaching towers and they're going haywire. Laman nito puro mga thread kung saan pinag-uusapan ang ending ng story na ginawa ko. It's been two weeks ever since it was finished. 

I am a famous writer, alright. Lahat ng mga storyang natatapos ko ay mabilis na napu-publish since my career was supported by a Publishing Company who had taken interests of my works. I am their biggest asset  so they always prioritized me. 

Binuksan ko naman ang IREAD app kung saan ako nagsusulat at hindi na ako nagulat nang makitang libo-libo ang notifications ko.

As I scan, it was full of story votes, comments about their reactions, expressing their anger and sadness towards me. Hindi ko maiwasang mapailing matapos mabasang may iilang mambabasa ang minumura ako dahil sa naging ending ng storya.

"Putangina mo daw, Isla!" Bumunghalit ng tawa si Kashmir kaya napangiwi ako. 

"I couldn't agree more, bwiset kasi na ending 'yan!" 

When I opened my Facebook feed it was full of my random readers who were expressing their joy after receiving the physical book. I was also bombarded with messages of appreciation, and their cries for another sequel. Even my group pages are full of inquiries about the price of the book.

I was happy. Para akong dinuduyan sa alapaap. There's nothing more satisfying than being a writer with your works having the right attention it deserves.

Sa rami ng friends at followers ko ay hindi na ako nag-abala pang basahin ang mga messages na natanggap ko dahil sumasakit na rin ang mata ko. Halos buong araw akong nakatutok sa phone ko, at ngayon sa PC. 

My phone suddenly tinged and when I saw who messaged me, my smile faded. It was my good for nothing brother, a gambler. Sinasabi niyang may sakit na naman si mama at kinakailangan ng pera pambili ng gamot. I rolled my eyes. For all I know he will never buy our mother's medicines, tinataya niya lang ito sa sugal.

I had enough of him and my mother who abandoned me when I was young. Noong nakilala ako at sumikat saka pa siya nagpakilalang nanay ko. 

Pathetic people.

Parent's aren't their children's responsibility to begin with. What I was trying to say is, they should at least have their children live their own life without being a burden to them. It was natural to take care of them if they're getting old, but not to the point they would cling into them all their lives. 

In my case, that great mother of mine did not even spend a penny for me. Kahit alaga at kalinga ng ina ay hindi ko natanggap mula sa kaniya. All she cared about was herself. And I couldn't thank her more when she abandoned me and a nun had taken to shelter me in the church. Kung hindi ay hindi ko alam kung anong buhay ko ngayon.

I might just become like my younger brother, a gambler, at aadik-adik. Maybe if she didn't left me, I wouldn't be a writer but a hostess or a bar dancer who sells her dignity just to have money. 

"Hey, Isla. Check this out!" I turned off the PC and went over to my bed. 

Nakita ko siyang nakadapa at nakakunot ang noo niya habang kinakalikot ang phone niya. Maya-maya ay bigla itong nagtititili kaya nagkasalubong lalo ang kilay ko. 

"Omg! Omg!" She began giggling and thrashing on the bed like a retarded person that she was. 

"Kasama daw sa book signing event si SunognaHilaw?!" Tumili na naman ito. I grimaced. 

Tanginang penname yan SunognaHilaw halatang pinag-isipan.

"Who's that?" 

"Fantasy writer din! He is also famous! But unlike you, he just finished his book titled Happy Ever After!" Umismid ako. 

"Gaya-gaya naman." 

Happily Never After to Happy Ever After? What a COINCIDENCE.

"Mabuti pa siya. He gave justice to his characters! E, ikaw, bhe? Hindi nakakatuwa pagpatay mo sa mga characters mo! In your past life maybe you're a coldhearted murderer!" 

"What's the big deal about him?" I asked out of curiosity. I opened my IREAD app and started searching for his username. 

He had around 800K followers and mine was 1.2M followers. I stalked his profile and I saw he had 6 finished works, all under the genre of fantasy, and five of them are published under the rival of the publishing company that published my works. 

"What's the big deal? Dzuh! It's very rare to find a good male writer!" 

"So?" 

Fine, I sounded bitter. I just hate the idea that readers flock to male writer's out there just because they're what they call rare. I scoffed and combed my hair using my fingers. I bet he isn't even that talented. 

"Anong so? Alam mo bang kahit kailan hindi pa siya nagpapakita? He was so private and mysterious! And sa book signing event na a-attendan mo bukas ay nandoon din siya!" Bigla na naman itong umirit kaya naiirita akong tumayo sa kama ko. 

I exited the IREAD app on my phone and turned off the lights. Narinig ko naman nagreklamo si Kashmir pero hindi ko siya pinansin. I own this condo unit kaya wala siyang say kung magpapatay na ako ng ilaw para matulog. I have a long day tomorrow. 

*♛♚♛༊*·˚

𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐔𝐊𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐍 ay nagising ako ng maaga. I already took a bath and blowered my hair to dry it. Nag-aalanganin pa nga ako kung maliligo ako o hindi dahil umuulan pero alangan naman pumunta ako sa event na walang ligo.

I put on my clothes and decided to wear a simple black dress that hugs my body perfectly. I sit on my vanity mirror and started to apply small amount of make up on my face.

Abala ako sa pag-aayos ng kilay ko nang makita ko sa salamin na nasa harap ko si Kashmir na kakabihis lang din. I look back to take a look at her clothes, and I frowned. 

Sa book signing event ba 'to pupunta or sa bar?

"Change your clothes, Kashmir!" 

"Ayoko!" 

"Isa!" 

"Dalawa!" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil sinabayan niya pa talaga ako magbilang. 

"Tatlo! Apat! Lima! Marunong din ako magbilang, Isla." She said sweety. 

Seriously, there's no point on persuading her. Binalik ko na lang ang tingin ko sa salamin at naglagay ng liptint para magkaroon naman ng kulay ang labi ko. I wasn't anemic pero sa palagay ko magiging anemic na ako dahil bukod sa kulang ako sa tulog, palagi ako puyat kakasulat, at hindi pa ako nakakakain sa tamang oras. 

Actually, nagpa-practise ako magpakamatay.

When we're both done fixing ourselves, lumabas na kami ng condo unit. Outside, the son of the CEO of the Publishing Company that supports me is patiently waiting for us with his car. 

"You look, stunning Claudette." Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong huwag mainis dahil sa pagtawag niya sa akin sa ikalawang pangalan ko. 

I kept my face firm and forced a smile when I was already in front of him, "Thanks for the compliment, Dean." He just nod at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto sa shotgun seat. 

I look back only to see Kashmir grinning. Halos mapunit na ang labi niya kakangisi at halatang nang-aasar ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa salamin na nasa harap lang ng sasakyan kung saan kitang-kita ko siyang nakaupo sa likuran. 

 I rested my head in the car windows as I watched the raindrops falling from the sky. It was raining heavily. I had no idea the weather for today would be this stormy. Akala ko ambon-ambon lang. Pranksterist ng panahon. 

My phone beeped. Napalingon ako kay Kashmir nang mag message siya sa akin. Tingnan mo 'to ang lapit-lapit tas mag me-message para. 

May ambagan daw para sa pag print ng research papers.

Nakalimutan kong estudyante nga pala ako. I sigh. Nagtipa na lang ako ng reply sa kaniya. 

Tapos na ako magbayad.

Tapos na rin ako pero wala na akong pera pang-ambag sa pagkain ng panel T.T

Hindi ko nga alam na may ambagan pa e. Kung puwede lang sana i-ambag ganda ko. Pwede naman siguro na 'yon?

Sabihin mo kina Tricia na pulvoron ipakain tapos 'wag bigyan ng tubig para mabulunan at hindi na magtanong.

Out of a sudden, I heard Kashmir cracking up. Pigil na pigil siya sa pagtawa pero rinig na rinig pa rin ang paghalakhak nya. She probably took my joke seriously. 

Pero maiba tayo, I think Dean really likes you.

Napairap ako sa kawalan. Ayan na naman siya, marites talaga 'to ng taon. Hindi natatahimik sa mga bagay na napapansin. Mag t-type pa sana ako ng reply kay Kashmir nang biglang magsalita si Dean.

"Ang lakas ng kulog, Claudette. Turn off your phone at baka matamaan ka ng kidlat." I couldn't help but to stare at him in disbelief. He believes that?!

"Come on Dean, we're in a car. Your car have rubber tires, it's a great insulator that could protect us from lightning." 

"But-" 

Hindi ko na lang pinansin pa ang reklamo niya't kinalikot na naman ang phone ko. I received another message from Kashmir. 

Kaya ayaw kong makipagtalo sa matatalino, nakakatakot. 

At least losing an argument with someone smart is better than losing to stupid people. 

Hindi ko na ni-replyan ang chat ni Kashmir at nag scroll na lang sa newsfeed ng Facebook ko. My readers are posting pictures of them in the venue of the event. Nakalinya na ang mga ito sa mesa kung saan nakalagay ang pangalan ko't mga gabundok ng libro na gawa ko. 

Some of them even went live while waiting for me and it warms my heart. They were so excited, and so am I. It's been two years after I attended the last national book signing event. 

I tilt my head when my feed was suddenly filled with the writer named SunognaHilaw. Hindi ko alam na may mga fans and supporters din pala akong kilala siya at iniidolo siya.

Umismid ako. I want my fans all for myself. Selfish na kung selfish. Gusto ko ako lang at wala ng iba.

You should really turn off your phone by now, Dean looks worried. 

A messaged pop up in my phone but I didn't payed attention to it. Scroll lang ako ng scroll at hindi ko pinansin ang malakas na tunog ng kulog at kidlat. It wasn't scaring me the slightest. 

I scrolled more and I saw a picture of him with mask on. It was a stolen shot but his pair of eyes caught my attention. It was mesmeri-

"Claudette!" 

Dean's voice roared. Mabilis kong nabitawan ang phone ko't namilog ang mata ko sa gulat nang may makita ang kulay lila na ilaw na papalapit sa gawi ko. I paled and I was not able to move or even flinch. 

It happened for a mere second when lighting struck my body. 

I felt numb. I felt hollow. I felt nothing. 

Is this the feeling of dying?

I smiled and closed my eyes as  I felt the burning sensation and my body convulsed with pain. Everything suddenly became blurry. For a moment, the sound of the raindrops, the honking of vehicles and loud warning of the lighting and thunder began to fade away along with my consciousness. 

It is I, Isla Claudette Escarra, and it looks like I died a virgin with a stupid reason. 

G O L U C K Y  C H A R M