Love Operation: Don't Become The Villainess

CHAPTER 4: UNTIL... MAYBE...

Four days passed since Tita Mira's party. It was the first and last time me and Ivan talked as well.

I searched through his social media accounts and found out he wasn't really active on the internet. His last post was from 2016 and it was his family picture during Christmas Eve. I still sent him a friend request though pero hindi niya pa rin inaaccept.

I pursed my lips, throwing my phone away to the other side of my queen-sized bed. I glanced at the digital clock on my wooden bedside table to see that it's already 9:30 in the morning.

Katatapos ko lang magbreakfast kaninang mga 7:30 pa. Mamayang 10 naman ay meron akong taekwondo summer class.

One thing I learned, Catherine takes taekwondo classes during summer and is quite talented at it. As of now, she already gained a red belt, which is one of the high ranks in the taekwondo belt ranking system, 'Gup' Category. There are three main belt categories: Gup, Poom and Dan. Gup is the rank for the colored belt, Poom for the junior black belt for students that are under fifteen and Dan is the black belt level open for those that are over the age of fifteen. The taekwondo summer class for this year already started last week.

I suppose learning how to fight and defend herself is necessary given her status.

I transmigrated into this world just as Catherine finished her eight grade and was already preparing to go back here in the Philippines for her vacation but I still have an idea of her lifestyle back in California, or how she was in school because when I searched through her messaging apps... uhm, I can definitely say she's a huuuge power tripper.

Dumapa ako sa kama at doon malakas na sumigaw dala ng kahihiyan. Why is Catherine like this!?

Base rin sa private messages niya with some other teachers, even they are afraid of her.

What the hell, Catherine...

When it comes to her social media accounts, she usually posts pictures of the beautiful places she goes to and food she eats. She's kind of famous too, garnering a minimum of 1,000 likes in her every post. Ang pinakahuling post niya ay nung Recognition Program ng school nila nung June pa, with her surprisingly claiming a With Highest Honors Award.

"Ma'am Catherine...?" a woman, probably one of our maids called from outside my room, followed by a knock on the door, "Oras na po para umalis."

"Opo," walang ganang sagot ko pabalik habang nanlalatang bumangon mula sa kama. Wala na ring ibang sinabi ang katulong.

Nakapaghanda na rin naman ako. I'm just wearing a white t-shirt, black jogging pants and will be wearing a pair of white rubber shoes. Pagdating sa gym kung saan ang taekwondo class ko'y tsaka ko susuotin ang uniform namin o tinatawag ding 'dobok' at ang kulay pulang belt ko.

That red belt and With Highest Honors Award... well, at least Catherine actually has something good worthy to be proud of that she did herself. I give her credits for that.

After I grabbed my backpack and wore my shoes ay umalis na kami.

One thing I will be eternally grateful for is kahit ako na ang nasa katawan ni Catherine, ang talento niya'y napunta na rin sa akin, tulad ng galing niya sa pag-exercise.

Catherine, aside from being rich, is actually biologically intelligent and talented. She's a child prodigy. Nothing less from the ultimate villainess of this story.

Sadyang 'di lang talaga siya nabigyan ng tamang pangangalaga at atensyon psychologically, so she ended up straying from the correct path.

Kaya kung saan man ang orihinal na kaluluwa ng katawan na ito, sana'y patawarin mo ako sa kawalang-hiyaan ko ngayong napunta sa akin ang talino at talento mo, huhu.

If I was in her place, I'd be mad if someone took what was mine as well.

Pero matagal ko na ring iniisip... what happened to the original owner of this body?

~ * ~

"You did well again today, Ms. Cordova."

Napatigil ako sa pag-ayos ng mga gamit pagkatapos ng training session namin ngayon.

Umayos ako ng tayo at yumuko nang makita ang instructor namin na si Sir Hwan Do Yun (Do Yun is his first name) na nagmula talaga sa South Korea para turuan kami. He is currently a Senior Master and a 6th degree black belter in taekwondo.

I stood back up and met his gaze, "Thank you, Sir."

Bahagya siyang napataas ng kilay, at mas lumawak ang kaniyang ngiti sa mga labi. Though I can tell that it wasn't in an insulting kind of way. It's like... he's amazed?

He raised his fists in an encouraging gesture, "Keep up the good work and I'll see you tomorrow!" natutuwang saad niya.

I nodded my head in response, "Yes, Sir!" I answered firmly.

"If you need anything, you can always ask me," pahabol niya pa na muli ko namang tinanguan at sinagot nang maayos.

When he turned his back, my eyes followed him as he walked away. I can see that he's close with the other students here, and pretty popular, most especially among the girls.

Well, he is kind of cute. He has this bright and adorable doe eyes that makes girls squeal and lower their guards down over. He's probably the reason why this taekwondo summer class is popular too.

Hindi tulad niya na madaling makisama sa ibang mga estudyante, si Catherine naman ay walang dudang kinakatakutan at iniiwasan. The original Catherine probably already established a rather intimidating and fearsome reputation in the past summer classes with the way they are acting towards her right now.

So, yeah. I'm kind of alone right now. Wala rin naman akong balak makipag-close...

Pero kung may gusto namang makipag-close, hehe, why not...?

Ah, nahihiya lang talaga ako.

Makauwi na nga. Tapos na rin naman ang training at wala na ring ibang gagawin.

After I changed into a fresh set of clean clothes and packed my things, lumabas na ako ng gymnasium.

"Tara! Kain tayong lunch! Samgyup!"

Napasilip ako sa isang grupo hindi kalayuan sa akin. That's when I realized they're actually my fellow students.

Nakita ko pa ang isa sa kanila na lumingon sa gawi ko, pero nag-iwas na ako ng tingin at umalis patungo sa kabilang direksyon. There's a waiting shed nearby. Doon ko kadalasan hinihintay ang sumusundo sa akin.

Alas dose na ng tanghali at oras na para kumain ng lunch. I would usually eat lunch back at home... but I should try eating outside too, sometimes. Siguro bukas.

Pero saan kaya? This place is similar to the place of my old world. Probably because it is inspired from the real world.

I'm thinking of eating at a fast food tomorrow. Just imagining the foods I can eat... like fried chicken, spaghetti, burgers, fries and ice cream ay hindi ko mapigilang maging excited! Or siguro coke float na lang para both ice cream and drink in one na kaagad.

"Catherine?"

Nilingon ko ang tumawag sa akin... at roon ko nakita ang isa sa mga taong hindi ko inaasahan na makita ngayong araw, o kahit sa mga susunod na araw, linggo o buwan. Maski taon nga.

My eyes widened when I saw the same shade of amber eyes as mine...

"Leo?"