Chapter I - First Step

CHAPTER I

First Step

CORA'S POV

I am in my room, busy sketching the new designs for my jewelry. I have to finish this as soon as possible. And also, I must meet the ten new designs that my customers have been requested. Isang buwan mahigit din akong hindi pumasok sa trabaho kaya wala rin akong naipakitang bagong desinyo. It's all because of my soft side, overacting too much for that sh*t break-up. Ugh!!! Remembering it really ruins my day! Ayoko na talagang isipin pa iyon. I wanted to control my thoughts and be the master of my mind, but my mind seemed to be controlled by someone else. Tss! Does that make sense?

“Cora!” Zella's voice echoed in my room. She didn't even knock at the door, she just went inside right away. Nakakagulat naman ang babaeng ito.

“What brought you here?” I asked in a normal manner, while my eyes are still at the design I'm sketching.

“Tell me where did you lose your brain,” she said.

I have glanced at Zella and her brows are now knit together.

“Hire you a gay boyfriend? What for?” she asked with a trace of curiosity in her voice.

Akala ko ba ay sinunod niya na ang utos ko? I am expecting that she's already looking for interested gays online or in any other way! It's been an hour since I've told her about it, pero ngayon lang siya nagpunta rito para magtanong. So, what did she do in that whole one hour? Thinking about where did I lose my brain and when she can't answer her own question she went her to ask me instead? What the hell!

“I can't just isolate myself and cried over and over again because Silver broke up with me. Hindi pwedeng ako lang ang nasasaktan, so I want you to hire me a gay boyfriend to begin my astonish revenge,” I replied and manifested a radiant smile.

“Revenge? Come on, Cora, that's too immature!” she exclaimed in exasperation.

“Yes, it's immaturity for you dahil hindi naman ikaw 'yong nasaktan, Zel, ako. At kapag naipaghiganti ko na 'yong sarili ko sa kanya ay saka lang ako sasaya,” I said, straight from the shoulder, while pain and anger are visible in my eyes. I stood up and glare at her. “Now, if you can't do it, then I'll do it alone. Tabi, you're useless.”

It wasn't my intention to hurt her feelings, she's my best friend, but she disappoints me as well. Dapat naiintindihan niya ako dahil mag best friend kami, pero hindi pala!

“Cora, I'm sorry,” she said and sat in an empty seat beside me. "Don't post it," she's pertaining to the 'Wanted: Gay Boyfriend A.S.A.P' I typed, but I don't really have plans of posting it on my Facebook account. I am just trying to hit her conscience. “If you're planning to have an act of revenge, don't let anyone know a single clue,” she further added.

It's what I've thought. Tss! Pero, syempre, hindi ko na iyon sinabi at baka mas lalo ko lang siyang masaktan. Masyado pa naman siyang seryoso ngayon.

“Pero, bakit kasi bakla pa? Why not just a straight guy para madali tayong makahanap,” she put forward her suggestion.

I smiled briefly. “I've calculated it numerous times in my mind, Zel, if I choose Gay over a straight Guy, it will be more advantageous,” I replied.

“Ha? Mind explaining it, Cora.”

She looked stressed! Ganiyan talaga kapag mahina ang understanding. Haynaku!

“Look, if I choose a straight guy to be my fake boyfriend, there's a tendency that he makes no different with Silver, he will just get blinded by money. I mean, oo, may sweldo naman akong ibibigay, but who knows as time goes by, bigla na lang the world turned upsidedown! Paano kung he'll blackmail me about my plan, tapos ipagkalat niya na gano'n akong tao? Hello, what will happen to my image then? Obviously, goodbye! Mamumulubi na nga ako, bad shot pa ako sa lahat,” mahaba kong litanya. And I just hope, she gets it. Please!

She nods slightly. “So, how about choosing gay? Hindi rin ba 'yon mangyayari?” she asked with bemusing in her voice.

“I am aware that most of the gays pay a straight guy to spend a night with them. So, see? Sila 'yong nagbabayad, hindi sila 'yong humihingi ng pera,” Zella nods her head again, plainly she gets my point. “And one more thing, if I settle on a straight guy, I am a hundred percent sure that he will fall for me, however, if I go for gay, he will end up making me one of his 'sisterets,' 'sisses' or whatever they call their girl friends are rather than falling in love with me, you know hindi kami talo,” I explained further.

“You really did think of this smartly, aren't you?” she said with a wide smile.

“Come on, Zel, I am the true essence of beauty and brain. Thinking smartly is just one of my legion skills,” I said with confidence, and needless to say, she agreed. Alam niya na ang mangyayari kung ikokontra niya ako.

“Let's make some flyers?”

With my brows knit together, I asked, “Flyer?”

“You rank first as the goddess of beauty and brain, and I am next in line,” she even waved her right hand slowly and glamorously as if she's in the midst of a Miss Universe Pageant. I just took a sigh with what she did. “Okay, seryoso na, first step, gagawa tayo ng flyer. The second step, tomorrow's night we will visit the house of gays, the comedy bar! The third step, doon natin ipapakalat ang mga flyers. The final step, friendship over, unfriend me if ever walang tatawag sa'yo after.”

She grins from ear to ear, showing how confident she is for what she'd planned. We'll see.

***

I have been walking back and forth outside my room, waiting to see the flyer Zella has been making inside. I wanted to raise my disagreement when she wanted to make the flyer alone, baka raw kasi mag-debate pa kami sa loob kung ano ang ilalagay sa flyer, kaya hinayaan ko na lang siya. Well, it's a good thing, it makes the waiting time more intriguing!

I knocked at the door, three times. “Are you done?” I asked in an excited tone.

“Stay still. Give me five minutes,” she replied.

I sat down while waiting patiently. I can't imagine Silver's reaction when he will find out that after more than a month of our split up, I already have replaced him. Well, he deserves to get hurt too! He wasted my love for him! He wasted our five-year relationship! He wasted everything because of his first love! Alam ko namang hindi ako ang nauna sa puso niya at ganoon din siya sa akin, pero nang mahalin ko siya ay pakiramdam ko I never loved anyone in the past, para bang siya pa lang ang minahal ko. Look how stupid I was. At meron pa, may pa kasal-kasal pa kaming nalalaman at mga anak, pero maghihiwalay rin pala. God damn it!

“Sabi ko maghintay ka, hindi ko sinabing umiyak ka,” Zella said as she bent down and wiped my tears away. Hindi ko na napigilan. I am just hurt, big-time! She offered me her hand and helped me get up. “Last na 'yan,” her soft, comforting voice made me smile. “Here,” she handed me the sample of the flyer.

Hindi siya ganoon kalaki, parang hinati niya sa apat ang isang long bond paper. A smile worked its way across my face before I read what is written in the flyer.

Wanted: Gay Boyfriend A.S.A.P

You must have all of the following criteria:

• Single,

•Decent, innocent, no criminal records,

•Looks don't actually matter, pero 'yong madadala naman sana na mukha sa mall

That actually made me burst into laughter. It's damn hilarious!

•Knows how to treat a woman well,

•Never been fall in love with a woman,

•And lastly, never will fall in love with a woman.

For further discussions such as restrictions, other dos and don'ts, the salary, and the like, and if you're really, really, really interested don't hesitate to dial this number. 09071653893. Thank you!

Ps: This is a serious matter. Nothing will lose if you try, you'll get something in return instead.

“Thank you, Zel, you're always the best!” I even embraced her for too much happiness. “I am apologizing for telling you useless earlier,” I whispered with sincerity.

“Forget it. Sanay na ako sa mga painful words mo,” she replied and let out a light laugh.

She actually doesn't mean it, but I still have to alleviate my uncontrollable bad-temper. I don't want to hurt her once more.

I've glanced at the flyer I'm holding again and my smile broadened. Wait for my freaking revenge, Silver! You've messed up with the wrong person, I'll serve you the nightmare you deserve! And I will hit your damn conscience and feel regretful every single time you remember, heard, or read the name Corazon Peters, I swear!