The Deceiver

"WHAT ARE you doing here again, Sab?" frustrated Volts said as she sat down in the dining chair, in front of the man. They were at an exclusive resto and Volts is waiting for his date, so she decided to approach the man.

Actually, Sab went to Meteor Records earlier — one of the best known and leading recording companies in the Philippines; which popularizes, produces and promotes beautiful OPM songs, owned by the Vallejo, Volts are currently the CEO and run it — to invite him to dinner and at the entrance gate of the big recording studio she saw Volts' car coming out, so she followed him.

The record label was created by the Double V Corporation for diversity of its function from a broadcast media and publishing house to Entertainment Company and has an agreement with Sony Music Entertainment Philippines as an Exclusive distributor. The other businesses were managed by his brother Voltaic Vallejo and his dad Victor Vallejo.

"You're here that's why I'm here, babe." She said smiling, he shook his head. She didn't know if he was just holding back or not caring at all, she was hurt by his frustrated look and he was fed up.

No matter where he is, she is also there, as if like they're twins. She is already known by his parents, his helpers in the Vallejo mansion and his two pet dogs because she is no longer being barked at. She is very welcome to his family and she feels that Aunt Avvy, Volts' mom, loves her too.

Her unrequited love for the handsome man has been around for almost ten years. It all started because of a shameful incident that made her fell in love with the man. She was a freshman student from the same University and Bacherlor course.

Ysabelle was walking with chin up and poise towards her designated classroom. She knew very well that some students around were staring at her, well, she would not be surprised if she had instant admirers right away because when she was in junior high, men really lined up just to court her and nearly cause stampede whenever they see her coming to school. She had two handsome boyfriends then but she broke up because she did not feel anything strange in her heart.

She particilates in beauty contests since grade school because she has the beauty, height and wit and of course she always wins the crown.

She was also a champion of quizbees, gold medalist in sportfest and became the Valedictorian from grade school to high school, and her family was so proud of her. If only her mom was still alive, she would also be very proud of what she achieved. Her mom died giving birth to her, so she dreamed of having a sweet and beautiful mom like her mom — but she didn't want to have a stepmother!

In all, she's a total package and she gets all the things with a snap of her fingers. Not only is she beautiful and smart because she is also rich, so many women are jealous of her, which she does not wonder because she’s really blessed.

From the very first day in school, she was able to grab the attention of all the students but only now did they seem to have a strange look, she could not help but be paranoid; Is there something wrong with her make up? Did her lipstick or eye liner smash? Does he have dirt on her face or wrinkles? He wanted to be hysterical so she walk to get to CR.

But she was surprised when a tall man was accompanying her walking, so she quickly turned to him but before she could see who he was, he already took off his black jacket and gave it to her.

"What am I going to do with this?" she asked in curiously

He quickly blocked her path then took the jacket he had given her, her eyes widened as he quickly wrapped the jacket around her waist then brought his face close to her ear.

"I think you have your red days." Then he walked away.

She was left stunned until she realized what the man had said. That's why the students was giving her the strange look because she has a "red spot". Why didn't she feel it right away? Why doesn't her stomach ache but normally it hurts when she has? She wants to keep running in shame.

She hurried to the CR and called to their mansion and request to one of their maids to bring her clothes and sanitary napkins in school.

When she took off the black jacket that the man gave her, she felt the thoughtfulness and kindness, and in an instant her heart suddenly had a strange reaction. Who was that knight and shining armor? This is the first time she has seen the man at the University.

After that incident, she wanted to see him again. Goodness gracious, the heaven must heard her little wish when she saw him again.

He looked so gorgeously handsome, his eyelashes were long, his eyebrows were thick, his nose was beautiful, his lips were pinkish, his skin was fair and his fragrance was addicting that added to his cute korean look, he has a curly hair that fit him and his height was probably at five feet and eleven inches.

She needed to return the washed, ironed and perfurmed jacket.l to him. She had found out that he was just a year ahead of hier and his name was Voltaire Vallejo, who was also one of the campus heartthrobs, top student, member of the music ensemble and student council.

He is also good at singing and playing the guitar, and whenever he has a basketball match, she is always present. He was the only man that she felt this strange and brand new feeling that she could not name and she could not feel with another man.

Until she discovered to herself that she was in love with Volts. At first she did not confess about it because this was the first time she ever had fell in love with a man because she was often courted and she was not used to how she felt every time she was with Volts.

They became best of friends and always together at lunch time and going home, if his class ends first, he waits for her and vice-versa. They also get to know each other’s family because every weekend they hang out at each other’s house to watch movies and stuffs.

One year later, Sab encouraged herself to tell about her secret feelings for him. He had a girlfriend who was one of his classmates, who was introduced to him and which made her very jealous.

"I think I've fallen in love with you, Volts." She confessed, which surprised the man, he didn't answer her immediately. "I thought I just had a crush on you, but my heart feels different for you." She added.

He just stared at her and said nothing until he averted his gazes. "I'm sorry, Sab, I can't love you back." He answered, that truly broke her heart.

“Why? Am I not beautiful and sexy for you? Don't you like my type? I will change myself and I will not put on make-up, if that what you want. ”

He shook his head before turning to her. "You know that I am already courting someone and I love her."

She shook the man. "You just like her believe me, I love you." She said with determinaton..

"What?"

"I know, you will also realize that you love me and not her, Volts."

"I'm sorry, Sab," he said shaking his head before tapping her shoulder then leaving her alone.

She could not explain how much she was hurt, she felt that her heart was dying because of his rejection of her feelings.

They ignored each other when they met the next day. And the following days, she entertained suitors again for her plan to make Volts jealous but epic failed. She exchanged boyfriends to show Volts that she was admired by many, but she ended up with double heartbreaks because apart from the cold treatment plus the man has a girlfriend now.

She tried to forget him by drinking, smoking and clubbing, and she was always preached by his daddy and grandmother on his father’s side. So, she felt very guilty when his grandmother died of heart disease, she could not even apologize when she was still alive, and because of longing for his grandmother, his grandfather also followed her in heaven. Volts also sympathized and visited the wake of her grandmother but they weren't able to talk about theirselves.

She felt so pathetic and heartbroken. She no longer knew what she was going to do in life. She lost her best friend, she lost her grandparents, she felt so helpless, terrible and really awful!

But even though she felt savage, she still continued to studies, there were times when she almost dropped her grades because she was too lazy to study, but she recovered immediately because she did not want to worry her dad.

She saw an unexpected gift in her locker room, it was a snow globe. She read the letter that was written in the small card:

‘Whenever you’re sad, just shake the globe to churn up the snow and it will make your sadness go away! Smile. ’–Igcognito.

She has no idea who that sender was or maybe a concerned citizen who feels the sorrow of her heart. Indeed, the globe helped to dispel her sadness. Since then, she always received a snow globe with different designs and landscapes from 'Igcognito', even though she does not know how to reply or say thank you but she hope that Incognito could also feel the happiness she was feeling.

A year later, Incognito stopped giving her a snow globe that made her downhearted, so she continued buying it until she realized that the glass cabinet in her room was already full and has become her collection and hobby as well.