"What now? You said you'd help me! So, what's our first move?" Aemie asked Philip, bouncing on her heels with a mischievous grin.
Philip was already irritated—more than irritated. He could feel the rage bubbling in his chest, and honestly, at that moment, all he wanted was to tape her mouth shut and throw her into the Pasig River.
"First of all… we are not taking revenge," Philip said firmly, trying to keep his composure.
"What? But… didn't you just agree we'd get back at him? Liar! Waaahhh! Huhuhu!" Aemie stomped her foot like a spoiled child.
Philip covered his ears. God, why is this girl so loud?
"Fuck! Listen! Yes, I'm helping you—but revenge isn't the plan. We just need to make him realize he made the biggest mistake of his life leaving you. He needs to regret ever cheating on you. That's it. He'll see exactly what he lost," Philip explained, voice rising in frustration.
"Really?!" Aemie covered her mouth, gasping and blinking in shock.
"Tss. Are you going to behave, or should we just forget the whole plan?" Philip asked sharply.
"Okay, okay! Chill… I'm listening," Aemie said quickly, hands up in surrender.
Philip rolled his eyes. This girl…
"So… what's the plan?" Aemie asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
Philip looked her over, from head to toe. "You need… a makeover."
"Huh? A makeover? I don't need one—I'm fine as I am!" Aemie protested, frowning.
"The hell are you saying? Look at you—you're walking around like a human rainbow. All these neon colors are clashing… your hair looks like it hasn't been brushed in a thousand years. Shampoo—ever heard of it? And those glasses! They're huge! Are you trying to spy on ants or something?" Philip listed off mercilessly, each word a dagger.
"Wow… wow, you're really roasting me right now!" Aemie huffed.
"Just stating the facts," Philip said matter-of-factly.
"So… what should I do then?" Aemie asked, pouting, clearly annoyed but intrigued.
"Come with me. I've got a plan," Philip said, grabbing her hand and tugging her along.
Their first stop was a salon.
"Hi, ma'am! Hi, sir!" greeted the stylist cheerfully.
"I want you to make her… presentable," Philip instructed, almost like a general commanding his troops.
"I got this, sir," the stylist replied with confidence.
Aemie's thick, unruly hair was straightened and dyed a warm brown. The stylist applied makeup that highlighted her features perfectly, and even sculpted her thick eyebrows.
"Done, sir!" the stylist announced.
Aemie turned to face Philip—and he froze. She was… beautiful. Sleek, polished, completely transformed.
Philip handed over payment, and they moved on to a boutique.
Philip personally helped Aemie pick out outfits, sifting through racks and advising which colors and styles would complement her new look. Aemie tried on multiple dresses, and each time, Philip scrutinized her, assessing whether she was ready.
Next, they went to an eye clinic. Contacts replaced her oversized glasses. She was no longer the clumsy, rainbow-colored walking spectacle from before.
Finally, they visited a dental clinic, and Aemie removed her braces. She smiled—perfect, confident, and sharp.
"Now you actually look like a human being," Philip said, examining her critically but approvingly.
"I've always been human, but thank you very much," Aemie said, crossing her arms, trying to hide a shy smile.
"Alright, next stop… a bar," Philip said.
"Why a bar?" Aemie asked, curiosity piqued.
"Someone told me your ex is there. We're going to pretend to be a couple… right in front of him," Philip explained, a sly smirk creeping onto his face.
Aemie's eyes lit up like fireworks. Excitement coursed through her.
"What's that idiot ex's name again?" Philip asked, leaning closer.
"Jack," Aemie replied.
"Ah. Okay," Philip muttered, steeling himself.
Now… the game was about to begin.
Watch closely, Jack. This is the girl you lost. Philip thought, his mind razor-sharp, bracing for the chaos that was about to unfold.
.
.
.
Philip and Aemie entered the bar. It was Aemie's first time in such a place, and she instinctively clutched Philip's arm, her fingers gripping him lightly for comfort.
Philip scanned the room, eyes sharp, until they landed on Jack. The ex was there, sitting with a woman by his side. Philip smirked. Perfect timing.
They slid into a seat near Jack, positioning themselves so Aemie could be seen without seeming obvious. Jack's head snapped up, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Aemie? Is that… you?" Jack's voice carried a mix of shock and disbelief.
Aemie turned to him, feigning surprise. "You're here?" she said.
Philip casually draped an arm around her shoulders, as if the gesture were completely natural.
"You know her, babe?" he asked, pretending to be casual.
"Yeah," Aemie smiled at Philip. "He's my ex."
Jack blinked, recognition dawning. "Wait… aren't you the guy from the mall? Small world, huh?"
Philip raised an eyebrow, clearly irritated by the casual recognition. "Mall? I don't remember meeting you there," he said, voice sharp, making it obvious he was annoyed.
"Anyway," Jack continued, clearly struggling with his own discomfort, "I can't believe you two are together now."
"Me neither," Philip said smoothly, his arm still wrapped possessively around Aemie. "But thanks to you. If you hadn't cheated on her, we probably never would have met. I'm lucky to have her—she's sweet, kind, and… affectionate." His gaze lingered on Aemie.
Jack felt his face burn, humiliation twisting in his chest. The sting of Philip's words and Aemie's closeness pierced him like a knife. He clenched his fists, jaw tightening. Without another glance, he turned sharply and walked away, leaving the two of them standing triumphantly in his wake.
Aemie's cheeks flushed, and she whispered, "Hihi… is that really true? Kind, sweet, affectionate? Aww, you're making me shy." She let out a soft, playful giggle.
Philip raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer. "Stop acting cute… and don't get the wrong idea," he whispered.
"Hehe, I know," she chuckled softly.
Philip suddenly fixed his gaze on her, taking in the sight of her soft, playful chuckle.
"Why?" she asked, tilting her head.
Philip quickly averted his eyes. "Nothing," he muttered.
After a while, they left the bar, walking through the streets together.
.
.
.
The next day.
"Philip!!!" Aemie's voice rang out suddenly, sharp and playful.
Philip pressed a hand to his ear, letting out a sigh. "Why are you here? Aren't we already done with our plan?" he muttered.
"Hehe, I know. I just wanted to thank you," Aemie said, her eyes sparkling.
"Alright, I accept your thanks. You can go now," Philip replied.
"Hehe… I was going to invite you to dinner as a thank you," she said sweetly.
Philip nearly choked. "If that's a dinner date, I'm not going."
"Ehh… come on! I just wanted to show you my sincere gratitude. Just this once, please!" she pleaded, bouncing in place.
Reluctantly, Philip gave in, not wanting a tantrum on his hands.
They sat in a restaurant, and Philip couldn't help but notice how well Aemie had followed his advice to dress neatly and properly. She looked stunning. For a brief moment, he felt an unfamiliar warmth in his chest, an unexpected flutter. He quickly downed a glass of water to steady himself.
As they ate, Jack appeared again, this time with a new woman.
"Well, look who it is," Jack said smugly.
Philip ignored him, eyes forward.
"And here you are too," Aemie said, shrugging casually.
"Yeah, we're on a… date," Jack said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"None of us asked," Philip cut in coldly.
Jack muttered a goodbye, and Aemie waved lightly. Philip followed her lead, his jaw tight as Jack gave Aemie one last lingering look.
Philip felt his irritation spike. How dare he?
As they walked down the street, Aemie's voice floated beside him. "It's really fun going on a date… with you," she said softly.
"What date? We just ate," Philip replied, grumbling but secretly enjoying her words.
Aemie giggled, her face lighting up. She couldn't deny it—she had a crush on the grumpy, infuriating, yet undeniably charming Philip.
When the taxi arrived, she glanced at him one last time. "See you next time! Bye-bye!" she said, hopping in.
Philip waved lazily, watching her go, breathing a sigh of relief. He had been restless all day, uneasy around her energy, but… secretly, it amused him.
Then, as if the universe enjoyed teasing him, Jack appeared again. Philip just rolled his eyes and slid into his car.
Later that evening, Aemie couldn't sleep. She was still tingling from being with Philip, her mind replaying every glance, every touch. She silently wished they would meet again tomorrow.
.....
The following day, feeling bored and unable to focus on anything, Philip decided to call Aemie.
"Hey, want to hang out at the mall?' he asked casually."
Aemie squealed into the phone. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
"Shut up, it's not a date," Philip muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Pft. Oh, come on, deny it all you want," Aemie teased, tickling him over the phone.
Philip's lips twitched—he couldn't hide the small smile forming.
"Are you coming or not?" he asked, pretending to be serious.
"Of course I'll come!" she replied, practically buzzing with excitement.
Philip smiled. "See you at 10," he said, then ended the call.
At the mall, Aemie began teasing Philip again.
"I can't believe you invited me on a date!" she said, grinning.
"Shut up. How many times do I have to tell you this is not a date?" Philip replied, flustered.
"Aww, you're still denying it, haha!" she continued, teasing him before tickling his side.
"What the—!" Philip exclaimed in surprise, but he quickly retaliated, tickling her back.
"You want to do this, huh? I won't stop until you beg me," he said, smirking.
They ran around the mall like kids, chasing each other and laughing until their sides hurt. Soon, they entered the arcade, where every game turned into a playful competition—neither of them wanted to lose.
Aemie's laughter rang out like music, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing—Philip, so grumpy, so sarcastic, had this childish, playful side. And she adored it.