Love Operation: Don't Become The Villainess

CHAPTER 2: CHANGE OF PLANS. I FELL IN LOVE.

I think I just fell in love at first sight.

Haha, I'm doomed. I'm so freaking dead.

Is this feeling mine though? Or does it belong to the original Catherine?

I don't know.

Pagpasok namin sa lobby ng hotel, hindi ko talaga inaasahan na makikita ko siya kaagad.

Just one look, alam kong siya kaagad ang male lead, si Montague Ivan Xi. Only son and sole heir of Cipriano and Almira Xi. Clean and slicked back brunette hair with a few small strands falling over his clear and smooth forehead, gorgeous blue eyes as clear and deep as the ocean and features as if he was carved intricately and delicately by the most finest and talented sculptor.

But what caught my attention the most was his smile while he was talking with some other people. His smile... He looked so handsome and ethereal, fitting for the typical gorgeous male lead.

Naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng aking mga pisngi bago iniwas ang tingin.

Wala sa sariling naikuyumos ko ang aking burgundy colored dress na gawa sa malambot na silk organza. This is probably how the story went with the original Catherine.

She was already in love with Ivan even before the story began. This should be one of the moments when she met him and liked him, during his mother's birthday party.

Ah, I'm already going down the same path as her.

But... who wouldn't fall in love with a guy as handsome and attractive as him? Maybe even gods and goddesses would falter in front of him.

No wonder Catherine was desperate.

I don't want to be like her.

Pero may katiting na palaisipan sa akin na paano kung... subukan ko lang? Kahit alam ko na walang patutunguhan?

Napalunok ako sa naiisip. Isang tingin ko lang sa kaniya, nawala kaagad yung determinasyon kong huwag mangielam sa takbo ng istorya nila.

Wala na talaga akong pag-asa.

Pero wala pa naman, diba? Wala pa namang nangyayari sa kanila. Ni hindi pa nga sila magkakilala. Tsaka lang sila magiging magkakilala kapag nasa Westwood na kami.

Kaya siguro, bago pa magsimula ang lahat, pwede ko muna pagbigyan ang sarili...?

At kapag nakikita ko na talaga na wala akong pag-asa, tsaka ako susuko.

This thought of mine reminded me of that one famous quote, 'Love makes you foolish.'

I really am a hopeless romantic, even before, in my past life.

~ * ~

The party officially began. One word I can use to describe everything in this party: Grandiose. Everything is just so sickeningly expensive and luxurious. From the crystal chandeliers, warm and rich ambience to the people wearing branded gowns, jewelry and suits. The theme of the party is red, gold, black, white and... more gold.

I went with my mother and socialized with her. There was a mere minute when I saw my father and brother, one of the other main characters, Santos Lionel Cordova, or Leo for short.

We just exchanged greetings, did a small talk not really worth narrating and went on with our separate ways.

It was kind of sad, knowing that still, we are family. Or were.

Magkahawig kami ni Leo kahit mas kamukha niya ang aming ina at mas kamukha ko naman ang aming ama. Me and Leo both have brown hair and amber eyes, which we both got from Mother dahil itim ang buhok at kulay abo ang mga mata ni ama. Although kay Leo ay straight at abot hanggang balikat ang buhok niya pero sa okasyon ngayon ay nakatali in a man bun style habang sa akin ay mahaba at maalon, abot hanggang likod.

Leo, even in the book, is described as a kind and matured character. Kahit kanina ay mabait at maayos ang pakikitungo niya sa akin. He even smiled.

I remembered in the book, he was still considerate of the original Catherine because he still respected her as a person who shared the same blood as him. Unti-unti lang nagbago at naging malala ang pakikitungo niya nang malaman niya ang hindi magandang asal ni Catherine lalo na kay Jade na gusto niya.

But I think... there was still more to it than that. Kahit na sabihin nating nagbago ang pakikitungo niya kay Catherine dahil kay Jade ay sigurado akong kahit pa bago nakilala ni Leo si Jade ay ilang na kaagad siya sa kapatid.

They probably already had a history even before the story at Westwood began. Napuno na lang si Leo nang malaman ang pambubully ng kapatid sa natitipuhan.

Pero sa ngayon naman, now that we just met each other for the first time since our parents separated, ay totoong mabait at maayos ang pakikitungo niya sa akin.

I just have to not mess our already unsteady relationship.

All I have to do is to not be like the original Catherine. Just don't be mean, rude, selfish and spoiled.

Right, I can do that.

"Catherine..." I snapped back to reality when I heard my Mother called me once again.

After socializing earlier with too many people I can't even remember their names, I decided to just stand here on the side of the party, while enjoying a glass of sparkling water and alone with my thoughts.

As I raised my eyes to where she is, my gaze ended up landing on those pair of familiar yet unfamiliar blue eyes.

Unconsciously holding my breath, we both stared at each other.

Then he smiled.

"Darling," my Mother said to me with her unusual sweet voice. Her hand gestured to another beautiful woman whose even her subtle movements were refined, her presence screaming elegance, "Come greet your Tita Mira."

"This is Catherine?" tila namamanghang wika nito, her arms adorned with jewelry reached out to me for a hug and kiss on the cheeks, "Ang laki mo na! Parang kahapon lang nung sobrang liit mo pa," she cried.

"Time does fly fast," dagdag pa ng aking ina.

"Tita Mira," I greeted, returning the hug and kiss on her cheek, displaying a facade of charming innocence, "Happy Birthday, Tita. Thank you for inviting us. We're so honored to be here."

"So kind and humble," she praised, and I said my thanks. Pretending to be calm and proper, but to be honest, my heart's been hammering inside my chest the whole time as I could feel his eyes observing me.

I am so hopeless. So freaking hopeless.

"Right, this is the first time you'll meet each other. This is my son," we turned to him, and my hands felt cold.

I didn't want to accept his handshake because my hands felt icy cold compared to his warm touch, but I still did.

I saw how his brows slightly raised at me as our hands touched, and I could just awkwardly smile at him. Siguro yun ang dahilan kung bakit pansin kong tahimik siyang natawa.

"Montague Ivan Xi," ang boses niya'y malalim, nakahahalina at tila alam niya ang epekto nito sa mga nakakausap niya, "You can call me Ivan."

Simula kanina pa na alam kong hindi totoo ang mga pinapakita kong ngiti sa mga taong naririto, for the first time, I could feel myself being able to genuinely smile. My eyes sparkled at this warm and sincere feeling swelling up inside of me.

"Catherine Graciela Cordova," I introduced myself, "You can call me Catherine or Cath."

As if our Mothers were secretly planning for something, they left us to 'talk' for a while as they greet Tita Mira's other guest.

He walked closer, stopped beside me and with a low voice, he said, "Do you want to take a breather outside for a while?"

Slightly turning my head to the side, peeking at him. I nodded, "Sure."

Habang naglalakad kami patungo sa kung saan siya lang nakakaalam, bago ko lang napansin na simula nung handshake namin kanina ay hindi na namin binitawan ang kamay ng isa't-isa.