The Ugly Duckling (PUBLISHED UNDER PSICOM)

Epilogue

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It wasn't love at first sight when I first met Maria Celestine. 

I wasn't instantly drawn to her. I didn't find her interesting. I never put a thought to our first encounter. In fact, I can remember how much I pretended to be a cruel and arrogant jerk. The second time though, that's when I started to get pissed.

Ever since my sister, Isla, died. I've done all that I can to stay away from damsels in complete distress. I didn't want to be around with someone and be constantly reminded of my past.

I thought that morning thief-incident with her would be the last time and then I started meeting her again-for the third, fourth, and until it reached the fifth. That was when I became more than pissed. I was annoyed at her. I was annoyed at fate for playing with me, dangling someone weak and fragile like her in front of me.

I made it my mission to ignore her existence, telling myself that all of it was just a result of my unfortunate luck. That meeting her was nothing but a mere coincidence. Until fate decided to punish me again, setting me up to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"May bago na namang babaeng student assistant ang team." rinig kong sabi ni Ashton. Tahimik na ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang pag-aayos ng mga gamit sa locker ko.

"Maganda ba? Sexy?" tanong ng isa naming team mate, si Michael.

Ashton laughed, snorting in the process. He's laughing hard over Michael's question like it was some kind of joke. "Maganda? Sexy?" rinig ko ang pandidiri sa boses niya. "More like baduy at mukhang nasubsob sa aspalto."

Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagkulo ng dugo ko. I've mocked and insulted girls before, but it wasn't because I meant it. It was just me effectively pushing them away. My defense mechanism.

"Easy on your words, Ashton." rinig ko ang boses ni Marcus. Mas lalong uminit ang dugo ko. I've always hated that guy. I hated their group. Silence poured the group for a little while until another voice chimed in.

"Hey, how about a dare? See if one of us could charm the new student assistant, record a video of you two kissing that she willingly gave and then break her heart." the voice paused, waiting for a reaction from their group. "What can you say, Marcus?"

He scoffed. "Kailan ba ako tumanggi sa ganyan?"

"Alright then. Kapag nagawa mo, you can have my car. Kapag hindi mo nagawa, we'll just exchange cars." tumahimik saglit si Marcus at mukhang pinag-iisipan pang mabuti bago pumayag.

"Call." the devil agreed.

I chose that moment to slam the door of my locker and walked into their view. They all went still, their eyes wide when they saw me. I'm pretty sure they didn't expect that someone else was in the locker room. I kept my stoic facade on, staring coldly at them one by one. I gave them a threatening smirk before completely leaving the room.

One day, Marcus started to make his move. I tried hard not to care. I really tried not to, but when she raised her hand and fell for the asshole's bait, I couldn't stop myself from intruding.

I was able to hold myself the second time, it took me a lot of self-control but I managed to do it... Until she hit my head with a ball and pushed my button. I really didn't mean to shout at her but I was pissed. I was pissed at her for even entertaining someone like Marcus. She was too gentle, too good for someone like him.

The night before their said date was wasted in making myself see reason. I kept on convincing myself that I shouldn't get involved, that she wasn't my business but my mind keeps on being swayed everytime I remember Marcus and his friends' dare.