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"Western Eagle University," I whispered as I felt the triumph near me.

It's good to be back! It's good to be here again! After how many years, I am here again where the game started. Same ambiance. Same infrastructures. Walang nagbago, gaya pa rin ng dati. And I think, there is only one thing that changed—people—some are now matured and getting older; some are now popular in the business world and succeeded in their lives. 

Napangisi ako. Sa wakas ay makikita ko nang muli ang mga taong may mahalagang parte kung bakit ako nagbabalik.

"Are you ready, Sean?"

Napabaling ako sa driver's seat kung saan siya naroroon. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa tanong niyang iyon. Handa na ba talaga ako? Yes, of course! Six years of staying in the States was enough. It has been a long and hard time just to prepare myself for this. Anim na taon silang namuhay nang matiwasay at tahimik. Ngayon, oras ko naman para maningil sa mga naging atraso nila sa akin.

"What do you think so, Marl?" I asked. Umiling ako at muling tinanaw ang tatlong salitang nakaukit sa tuktok ng pader. 

In front of us, the five-storey building of Western Eagle—the Agila—the old and main building of this university. Mimicking some old Spanish Architecture, the grand staircase screamed its power and authority on the entrance. 

Ang ladrilyong pader, halos lumutin na, ay nagpapahiwatig kung gaano na iyon katagal naitayo. Marami rin ang nakapalibot na malalaking poste sa buong gusali, parang magigiting na sundalo, laban para sa mga tatangkang papasok.

"Handa na ako. Handa na ako para harapin sila. Sapat na iyong maraming taon na pinalipas ko," may diin kong pahayag.

"If you say so... then, I am trusting you, Sean. But if you need my help, by any chance, just tell me."

I smiled as I glanced him moving. 

Bumaba ng kotse si Marl at umikot para pagbuksan ako ng pinto sa backseat. In a couple of seconds, bumungad sa akin ang isang mala-adonis na lalaki. 

Wearing a white tuxedo, Marl looked clean, smart, and gentle. Smilingly like an angel, he held his hand out in front of me.

Nakangiti akong inabot naman iyon. 

Wearing a red serpentine gown with a high slit on the left part that revealing my smooth and porcelain leg, and matches with silver killer high-heeled shoes, I dropped off from Marl's black limousine.

"Thank you." I smiled and rucked to reach Marl's cheek for a peck of a kiss.

"My pleasure, Sean," he whispered hoarsely at the back of my ear. "Good luck."

I nodded and smiled sweetly. At saka ko hinarap ang engrandeng hagdan at tumingala para tanawin ang bilog na buwan. Tila isang kamangha-manghang obra iyon sa taas ng gusali. Nagbigay misteryo dahil sa liwanag na hatid. Like, there were so many untold stories that hiding so many years ago and yet, ready to be discovered. Mas nae-excite tuloy ako sa gagawin. Because I felt that I belonged in those stories.

Flashes na nakakasilaw galing sa mga camera ang sumalubong sa akin nang marating ang entrance ng Function Hall. 

The spotlight focused on me and everyone gasped and halted. Maraming bulung-bulungan ang narinig ko habang rumarampa ako sa extravagant red carpet. Marami rin akong tingin na natanggap. Like I am a puzzle waiting to be solved or Hollywood actress surprisingly attending a party. 

Mas tumaas tuloy ang baon kong kompiyansa para sa sarili lalo pa dahil sa party rock song na tinutugtog ng isang kilalang banda. 

"Is that Engineer Sean Lee?" a baritone voice asked somewhere.

"Yeah. I think so."

"But, what is she doing here?"

"We don't know."

"But we're lucky! She's so gorgeous and hot, Boy!"

"We're lucky if she's still single." 

They laughed playfully.

I rolled my eyes. Hindi gusto ang mga naririnig sa isang grupo ng kalalakihan. I lived in the States, a modern and vulgar, but still, I am not used to being appreciated like that. Medyo may inis at ilang akong naramdaman dahil doon. But I am here not because of them. 

So, I let it go.

Even some female socialites looked insecure when I finally reached the center—the apple of their eyes. I hate the big attention, but I loved the way their eyes rolled and burned in envy and irritation! Tila gusto ko ng araw-arawin ang pagbisita sa unibersidad. Sa ganoon, muli kong makikita kung gaano sila kairetable sa presensya ko. 

"Is that... A-Akemi?" Dean asked nervously.

Uncomfortably, Rose turned to her. "W-what is she doing here? I-is she even invited?"

Inakala ko buong buhay ko na kapag kabutihan ang itinanim mo, iyon din ang babalik sa iyo. But I was wrong! Naging mabait ako sa kanilang lahat. Walang tinapakan. But here they are, some of them looked at me with disgust on their faces, like I am a criminal who committed so many crimes. I let out a sigh and continued.

Ilang hakbang pa, natanaw ko na ang lamesa ng tatlong iyon. I stopped. Now I am too near you all, guys! Too near, para maisagawa ko na ang mga plano ko. I smirked as the thought played on my mind.

Napatingin silang tatlo sa akin. Sabay-sabay na nagitla, gulat, at hindi makapaniwala. 

"I-ikaw," wala sa sariling sambit ni Ryu. 

Sigurado akong siya nga iyon. Aside from my info, memorized ko pa rin hanggang ngayon ang bawat kurba, liko, at detalye ng kanyang mukha. Kahit physically, ang dami niyang ipinagbago.

He became manlier and mature because of his black beard, more developed muscles concealed by his black tuxedo, towering height, and unusually long black tresses that made him look like a god of ancient Greece. 

And that deep-set of brown eyes, still looked authoritative, ruthless, and bold. Siya lang ang kilala kong nagmamay-ari ng mga matang iyon. 'Yung tipong isang tingin lang, luluhod o hindi naman kaya'y dadapa ka na dahil sa takot.

Na ngayon, wala ng epekto iyon sa akin. Kaya ko na nga na makipagtitigan sa kanya at manghamon. Na noon ay hindi ko magawa-gawa. 

Nahanap niya ang mga mata ko na may naninimbang sa kanyang mga titig. Tila naghihintay sa susunod kong gagawin. Tatakbo ako at mariin siyang yayakapin, iyon ba ang nasa isip niya? Well, he's definitely wrong. Oo, maaari ngang gagawin ko iyon pero kasunod naman nang pagtarak ng kutsilyo sa kanyang likod.

"This is not t-true... This isn't frigging happening," si El Sandra sa maarte at nakakarindi niyang boses.

Natatawa, pairap ko siyang binalingan. Bukod-tangi ang ganda niya sa lahat. Aminado ako roon pero tingin ko, walang nagbago sa kanya o sa ugali man. Nararamdaman kong ganoon pa rin siya gaya ng dati. 

In her revealing green mermaid dress, I am pretty sure that she wanted to stand out tonight. But I am really, really sorry, El Sandra. Because now that I am here, it really won't happen. Hindi ko hahayaan iyon.

Right here and now. The fire of desperation that burned on her deep-set of brown eyes was evident. Her sultry red lips trembled for uttering words. Her perfectly shaped brows shot up in shock and irritation. I saw how her illusion melted like a piece of ice in the desert, because of my comeback.

I shook my head in disbelief and turned to the man beside her who looked like a detective—Ren in his black tuxedo and big eyeglasses. Gaya ng mga kasama sa lamesa, gulat din siya. However, I think it wasn't a shock but a surprise. Utter a surprise. The glimpse of joy in his hooded gray eyes told it all. 

May bigla akong naalala nang magtagpo ang aming mga mata. It was the same as the intensity that night. Maaari kayang siya iyon? Iyon kaya ang naging papel niya sa laro?

Hindi ako magugulat kong siya nga iyon. He's so madly in love with my dearest cousin. Bago bumagsak ang mga talukap, naaninag ko si El Sandra sa tagpong iyon kaya hindi nga imposibleng may punto ang nasa isip.

"I'm back!" I uttered playfully.

Mas humakbang ako palapit sa lamesa nila. Bahagya silang napalunok at umatras ng kaunti. Parang mga dagang nakakita ng pusang gutom at handa silang sakmalin. 

I am back! Yes, I'm back! I'm back for my revenge. So better be wise in playing my game. Because my game... is much more exciting than hers.