Unwanted

Chapter 22

SAVANNAH

I TOOK A deep breath, collected my broken pieces, and thought even deeper. I shouldn't let her step on me. Hindi ko pwedeng patunayan sa isang Elleria na totoo ang mga sinasabi niya.

Yes, I was a dupe, but I wasn't as weak and dumb as she thought. And the way she treated Tasya was enough reason to slap her with her own words.

"I think you missed something, Elleria," I said eagerly and it caught her attention. She raised her brow, stood up, and grinned at me. She was triggered and so was I.

"What have I missed, Miss Fake?" she asked and it challenged her. Halatang natuwa siya sa tono kong naghahamon at 'di lang atensyon ni Elleria ang nakuha ko pati na rin ang interes niya.

"Kung basura ang tingin mo sa amin, ano ka pa? Mas mabaho ka pa sa nabubulok na basura. If you think having this face is a privilege, well, let me tell you that it sucks to live with the same face as you."

Panandalian akong tumigil at lumapit sa kanya. Hindi nagkakalayo ang taas namin kaya mabuti ko itong natitigan sa mga mata niya. She looked surprised na para bang ngayon lang may naglakas na loob na harapin at kalabanin siya.

I shouldn't forget how I used to live with this face. Mahina lang ako 'pag kaharap si Will pero ibang usapan na kapag ibang tao ang kaharap ko, siya man o hindi ang may-ari ng mukhang 'to, wala siyang karapatang umapak sa tao.

"You know why? Because everyone hates you, everyone wants you as their toy in their bed, your bitchy attitude and your crimes are a mess...in short, you're a total mess, Elleria. This face is unwanted."

Mariin kong sinampal sa mukha niya ang mga huling salita at kahit ako mismo ay nagulat din ako sa mga lumalabas sa bibig ko. I never thought I could be this harsh to someone. Buong buhay ko, palagi akong naging tikom at hinayaan na lang ang mga nangyayari sa paligid.

All I could see was their beauty, not now as I realized that they weren't always as pretty as you saw them. Tulad ni Elleria—ang ganda niyang pagmasdan, pero kung anong kinaganda niya ay siyang kinapanget ng kalooban niya.

At nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa dalawang taon na panggagaya ko sa kanya...dahil natutunan ko kung paano harapin ang mga katulad niya.

"Oh. Hahaha! You admit it. You're a fake!" she said, her eyes getting bigger in madness. Ngumisi ako sa naging reaksyon ni Elleria.

"Oh, huwag mong ibahin ang topic...natatakot ka ba na tanggapin sa sarili mo kung gaano ka kabaho at kadumi?" I mocked her, intentionally insulting her with the same words she used to insult us. I think that was fair enough para maramdaman niya rin iyong sakit sa bawat hagupit ng mga salita niya.

"You're a bitch!" she said.

"Yeah, we're on the same page." And I smirked. Bakas ang gigil at inis sa mukha ni Elleria at hindi na ako nagulat nang iangat niya ang kamay para sampalin ako.

Narinig ko pa ang mahinang pagsinghap ni Tasya sa gulat but I didn't take my eyes off Elleria.

"Who the hell are you? Why are you using my face?" mariin niyang tanong sa akin at balagbag kong binitawan ang kamay niya.

"I am you, none other than you. I am Elleria Andrada."

I remembered what Dr. Yoon told me before—once I was caught by anyone, I should stand as Elleria, make them believe that I was the real Elleria, and if I faced the real one, I should be her, threaten her like I could ditch and replace her in everyone's life.

At iyon ang pinakatamang gawin, iparamdam kay Elleria na kaya ko siyang palitan sa buhay ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya and I knew that I could. To him. I knew we could...muling nanlalambot ang puso ko nang maalala si Godwill at naisip na buti ay umalis na siya dahil kung hindi, alam kong mapipilitan siyang mamili sa amin ni Elleria.