Love Operation: Don't Become The Villainess

CHAPTER 29: ...

"So... did anything happen?"

"Hmm?" I looked up from writing on my pad paper, meeting Ivan's eyes on the screen of my phone.

I'm currently writing an assignment I was told about from my Social Studies that I didn't attend earlier this afternoon. I'm currently inside the huge walk-in closet of my bedroom, sitting in front of the dressing table na ginagamit ko na rin bilang study table. I left the door open to the main part of my bedroom to make it feel like it's more spacious.

My dressing table is a simple white table with a huge oval mirror up front. There are two small drawers on both sides of the mirror at isa pang mas malaking drawer na nakatago sa ilalim ng lamesa. Me and Ivan are currently on a video call at nakasandal ang cellphone ko sa kanang drawer sa tabi ng salamin.

"Sabi mo kanina gusto mo nang bumalik sa Pilipinas," he said, lying down sideways on his bed as he's already done for the day. Magulo na rin ang kulay tsokolate nitong buhok na bumagay naman sa kaniya. I couldn't help but blush at how he looks so soft and comfortable tonight, feeling like home. I really miss him.

I smiled a little, averting my eyes back to my assignment, "It's nice to hear someone speak Tagalog after all these time."

His lips pursed a little, "Why are you avoiding my question?"

"Am I?" I teased, looking back at him making him pout more.

I laughed, putting my pen down on the table then leaning backwards on the chair. Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kisame, malalim na nag-iisip, "The thing is..."

It's not like I can tell him I feel overwhelmed because I'm not really used to the kind of lifestyle the old Catherine has and I have no choice but to quickly adapt because this is my new reality now given by a god pero choice ko rin naman talaga 'to nung binigyan niya ako ng pagpipilian but STILL!

I did choose to have this new life because I wanted to be with him... and truthfully, aside from that...

I still wanted to live.

It felt scary, knowing that I was just a mindless soul that was about to become one with the universe without any sense or awareness if I didn't somehow end up in Agen's abode. My being a part of the stars and dust in the emptiness of space. That's how the dead ends up in this world according to the Speculo--Our souls were borne out of stardust, created by the almighty, and to stardust shall we return.

Sa loob-looban ko'y umiiyak na ako pero ang mukha ko'y kalmado lang.

Nah, I can't really tell him that.

"Ivan..."

"Hmm?"

I let out a deep sigh, "I have a confession to make."

"What is it?"

"I..." I pressed my lips together, my hands feeling cold, "I wasn't really a good person before," I'm unsure if I'm even a good person now.

"Hmm," he hummed, "Tell me more."

"I was a very spoiled brat," I closed my eyes, smiling because I wanted to laugh and mock myself, "I abused my family's name and money a lot. I belittled and took advantage of other people to the point I've formed a notorious reputation at my school. All of them fear me. Instead of having friends, they act like my assistants more and I don't know if I'll be able to make real ones. Like this girl named Josie..."

I told him about Catherine's past, about who she was and what she did. All her sins and misdeeds, but it's becoming unclear to me if her sins were my sins too, or if I mixed my own sins from my past life with hers.

I told him all my worst, but the expression he has on his face when I looked at him was that of an understanding, caring, and loving one. He made my heart want to burst out of my chest.

After I told him everything, there was a few moments of silence between us. Then he spoke.

"You being a tyrant is kind of alluring, I'm not gonna lie," ang unang sinabi niya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, "What!?"

Malakas siyang natawa, mas humigpit ang yakap niya sa kaniyang unan.

"Ivan!" suway ko sa kaniya, covering my face with my hands when I felt my cheeks heating up.

Nang huminahon na siya'y nagpatuloy siya, "But you wanting, trying and becoming a better person than you were before is much more attractive and beautiful that I think I just fell in love with you more."

Naluluha ko siyang sinilip sa pagitan ng mga daliri ko, "Stooop..."

I don't know what kind of reaction I was expecting from him after I told him about my past but it was certainly not this!

"Catherine, I see you trying and becoming a better person than you were before. No one's purely a good person nor a bad person at birth when we're all just humans in the first place. We're bound to sin, to make mistakes. What matters most is we realize and learn from those mistakes and make up for it. To stop those old bad doings and change for the better, not just for others, but for yourself as well."

I lowered my hands from my face, my eyes filled with sadness as I allowed myself to be vulnerable with him.

"Don't worry, Catherine. You're doing great, wonderful even," his tone softened, "You're a good person, if that's what you're worried about. But even if you choose to be the most vile person in this world, I'd still be with you."

I huffed quietly, raising my eyes back at him, "I won't let you do that."

Malawak siyang napangisi, "I won't let you not let me be with you."

Sumusukong natawa na lang ako, leaning sideways before going forward a little, facing him, "Do whatever you want to do."

"Walang bawian, ah?" pagkumpirma niya at pabirong inirapan ko na lang siya.

"How was your day by the way?" I asked, "Sa September pa simula ng klase niyo diba?"

"Yeah," he said, "I stopped training at the company for the meantime to rest before school at para makapagfocus na rin sa acads. I went golfing with dad earlier spontaneously too. Some girls tried to flirt with me but I told them I already had a very beautiful, wonderful, gorgeous, amazing, and loving girlfriend."

Tuluyan na talaga akong natawa sa sinabi niya, "Ang gwapo mo rin talaga kasi, hindi mapipigilang makaagaw ng tingin at pansin."

He raised his chin proudly, "I'm just glad you love my face."

I cackled, and he laughed too.

It's true his face was the first thing I noticed about him. Pero mas lalo lang siyang gumwapo nang mas nakilala ko pa siya. If he isn't who he is, his handsome face would probably quickly deteriorate in my perspective.

"Though..." natatawa kong sambit, unti-unting kumakalma, "Do you like my face too?"

"I looove your face," he said so sincerely I felt warmth on my skin, "I wanna plant millions of kisses on your face whenever I see you."

I smiled, "That's nice to hear."

We talked the night away to the point na muntik ko nang hindi matapos yung assignment ko pero nagawa ko pa rin naman. We talked about the most important to mundane things, even talking about Josie. He made me think twice about my relationship with her, that if I was looking for a friend, I already had someone willing to be a friend with me right in front of me.

Talking to him brought me so much comfort and warmth that I never wanted for it to end. He made me realize a lot of things, and one of those realizations is how much I love him.