Love Operation: Don't Become The Villainess

CHAPTER 23: ...

A/N: Made edits in CHAPTER 4 regarding the information about Taekwondo (just a minor change). In Taekwondo, 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.

In the end, I told Mother that I would need to think about the kind of reward I want first very carefully just to end our conversation. But on second thought... this 'reward' might prove to be useful in the future.

Pagkabalik ko sa kwarto ay nadatnan ko ang mga paperbag ng mga damit na pinamili namin ni Leo kanina bago maglunch. I tried to convince him I was okay with one or two dresses, and before I knew it, he was already instructing the sales ladies to check out more than five.

Pagod akong napangiti. Next next next next next year ka na ulit makakatikim ng shopping spree kasama ako, Lionel. Catherine's wardrobe is already FILLED with so much clothes, most of which are new ones na hindi pa nasusuot (I knew because of the tags that are not removed yet) tapos nadagdagan pa. Sobrang dami ko ng damit that this doesn't feel right at all.

I lightly tapped the side of my right fist on the palm of my left hand when an idea popped into my head. I should just donate my old and used ones when I have the time. That should reduce the amount of clothes I have.

I just don't really need that much clothes!

Padapa akong sumalampak sa kama sabay ay malalim na napahinga sa malambot kong unan. As I buried my head in the soft and cold pillow reminding me of a fluffy marshmallow, all the events that have happened to me lately came streaming into my mind like a flowing and unstoppable river.

I am dead. I transmigrated into this world of 'Beloved Jade' that I thought was just a famous romance novel back in my real world but also happens to be a whole new other world because my wandering soul got lost into a god's abode. I stole and took control of the life of Catherine, the villainess then told myself I wouldn't get involved with the plot of the story but fell in love with the male lead, made a fool out of myself and ended up being in a relationship with him. Somehow mended my relationship with my brother and met Keith, the third male lead. A lot happened--drama, explosions and a lot of chases.

But most of all, the real me, my original body in my own world is actually dead.

Before I knew it, my pillow began to be wet from the tears coming from my eyes.

I wonder... how are my parents I left behind are doing? My friends... I wonder how they are doing right now?

My parents... they must've been really sad. I was their only daughter, and I had to leave them behind like that.

How did I even die? I really can't remember.

I wanna go back.

But I can't. I know I can't.

My original body is dead. All that's left of me is my soul that ended up transmigrating to another world.

I can never return to my old life.

I sniffed. I really am Catherine now, huh? To be honest, all of these still feels like a fever dream.

But now that I think about it...

If Agen placed my soul in Catherine's body... what happened to the original soul of this body?

"Call my name when you need me. We'll see each other again later," was what he said before. Should I call him and seek the answers to my questions? Our encounter from before was cut short because it seemed like he had to go.

Pero... nahihiya pa rin ako sa kaniya. After all, he is still a god. I should mentally prepare myself first before calling for his name.

Napasinghot ako bago umayos ng upo, wiping my tears away. Man, I feel so lonely. Hindi ko pa ma-contact si Ivan dahil 20+ hours ang flight niya from here to Massachusetts and it's only been a few hours.

After fixing myself, something caught my eye among the paperbags I got from shopping with Leo earlier.

Lumipat ako ng upo sa sahig dahil sa may paanan lang naman ng kama ko yung mga shopping bag. Tinabi ko yung iba and there, I saw a white shopping bag with no brand I am not familiar with. Bago ko lang napansin dahil natabunan ng iba.

I am sure wala ito kanina. Hindi kaya't may palihim pang pinamili si Leo?

I reached for the paperbag and saw there's a small card attached to its handle. Pagbasa ko roon ay natigilan ako.

'From: Your Mother'.

Pasalubong...?

I started to cry again.

~ * ~

Days quickly flew past by. Ever since Ivan made it to Massachusetts, we've had regular contact every day despite our different time zones. Leo also had to leave for Massachusetts a few days after our shopping spree and lunch. My taekwondo summer class belt ceremony happened and I advanced from a red belt to a red belt with black stripes, so close to the Poom Belt Ranking Category (Poom is for the junior black belt students that are below fifteen). We also took ceremonial photos and I bid farewell to Sir Hwan. I haven't met with Agen too since our first encounter in his abode. I'm still having second thoughts about calling his name out loud. I sometimes wish he would be the one to come to me first pero wala siyang paramdam kaya hindi ko na rin muna siya inaabala.

After that, I prepared to go back to California to begin my 9th Grade.