Henrietta's Blade

Kabanata 54

"Nandito na tayo, Mom." Sinilip ni Mila ang kabuuan ng bahay. Ang laki at ang ganda. Mabuti naman ay maganda ang buhay ng anak. Vincenzo really took care of her lovely daughter.

Tinulungan siya ng binata na bumaba ng kotse.

"Welcome home, Aunt."

"Aunt? Tawagin mo na akong mom, Enzo. You are also my son," natatawang ani ni Mila.

Vincenzo smiled lightly. "Okay, Mom."

Napangiti si Henrietta nang makita ang interaksyon ng mga importanteng tao sa buhay niya. Wait. Importanteng tao? She looked at Vincenzo who was now wearing his usual aloof aura. Hindi niya namalayan na nagiging mahalaga na si Vincenzo sa kanya.

She suddenly felt satisfied. Sana parati na lang silang ganito pero hindi matatahimik ang buhay nila hanggat may taong galit at gustong pabagsakin at saktan sila. That's why it's hard for Henrietta to be attached with Vincenzo, but she can't longer avoid it dahil sa bagong nararamdaman niya.

"Anak," tawag ni Mila kay Henrietta na nakatulala lang sa kawalan.

"Huh? Mom?"

"Napagisip-isip ko lang. Why don't you go public? I mean ayaw niyo bang i-public ang relasyon niyo?"

It's not the time yet. Henrietta's eyes deepened.

"If my wife doesn't want to publicize our relationship, yet, I'll respect her. Mom, baka sabihin ng iba ay ginagamit lang ng asawa ko ako para magkaroon ng koneksyon sa iba." Well, people can't stop their mouth to spout nonsense kahit pa hindi malinaw ang nakikita. These people are those who will believe everything that they saw first without confirmation basta lang may mapag-usapan. Besides bakit pa kailangan ni Henrietta'ng gamitin siya if his wife could anything. She is a big thigh herself. He is also willing to make use of himself for his woman. He will gladly lend her a helping hand kahit hindi needed ng asawa.

"We will announce our marriage soon, Mom. Now is not the right time," sagot ni Henrietta. There's so much to consider at may kailangan pa siyang ayusin. Napag-isipan niya na rin ang sinabi ni Vincenzo na magka-anak sila. Pero gusto niya sans ay wala ng problema bago dumating ang anak nila. Sure, she was also excited to have a child of her own. Ayaw niyang lumaki ito kagaya niya. She will shower him/her with love and care na hindi niya naramdaman sa pamilyang hindi naman siyang itinuring na isa.

"Mom, gusto mo ba ma-met si grandma?" At the mention of Mila's mother-in-law, her eyes widened in surprise. Her mother-in-law always comforts and loves her. Akala niya hindi niya ito muling makikita but God gave her a chance to live again.

"Where is she?"

"Wala siya dito, mom. Pero uuwi din si lola once she got to know that you are here," ngiting tugon ni Henrietta at tumingin kay Vincenzo na kalmado lamang na nakatingin sa kanya. He nodded and left.

Kinuha ni Vincenzo ang phone at tinawagan ang assistant niya to deliver the message about Henrietta's mother. He can already picture the old woman packing to go back home. It will definitely shock her.

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"What did you say?" Nabitawan ni Helen ang tasang hawak-hawak nang ibinalita sa kanya sa tawag ang tungkol kay Mila.

"She's alive... my daughter-in-law is alive..." she whispered, she burst in tears while holding the phone tightly. All along, ang akala nilang patay na ay buhay pa pala. It's great news! Thanks to the almighty!

"Butler! Pack your things we need to go home asap!"

Seeing that the old madam ecstatic, agad na sumunod ang butler. Whatever that news is, he can see that the old woman is eager to go back home. Perhaps it's about her granddaughter.

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AC International Airport

A man with a mask and big sunglasses walks outside the airport. Maraming tao ang nag-aabang sa labas dala ang ilang banner at kanya-kanyang cellphone para makita ang kanilang hinihintay. Meron ding mga media reporters na naka-stand by sa gilid para makakuha ng balita sa taong darating ngayon. It's been three years nang mapagpasyahan nitong bumalik ng bansa.

"Ron, let's head this way. Masyadong maraming fans sa labas at baka hindi tayo makaalis. The agency already arranged the car for you and they are waiting outside," saad ng manager ni Ron. Ron was a famous actor. At the age of fifteen, nakilala na siya bilang isang teen star na nanalo ng malaking award dahil sa galing niyang umarte. He even gained thousands of fans during that event and now, he has forty-five million followers on Instagram.

Agad pumasok ang dalawa sa van at inalis ni Ron ang sunglasses sa mata, showing his unique emerald eyes. It's one of his biggest assets as an actor. Ron has olive skin and was perfect for modelling. Mas nag-mature ang mukha nito at medyo lumaki ang katawan.

"Santi. Santi Vanderbilt," sagot ng manager nito at kinuha ang tablet para ipakita ang larawan ni Santi na magiging female elad ng drama.

"What?" Ron sneered. "Is this a joke? This kick out starlet is my partner?" Nakarating din sa kanila ang balita tungkol dito. Wala namang pake si Ron sa mga ganito but why is that woman the female lead? At least, choose an A-list actress to act with him. Paano ito ulit nakapasok sa entertainment industry? Does she want to change her image in public?

"Well, we don't know. Alam namang hindi malinis ang industriya ng pag-aartista. I guess she had a backer kaya nakapasok ulit siya. And this drama was invested by twenty million. Hayaan mo na but be aware of your image."

"Tss." Palagi naman, eh. Ang hirap maging artista dahil kailangan mong ingatan ang image mo. Then they blame you because it's what you choose. They will see you as a toy and act like they know you better pero marami silang hindi alam behind the camera.

"And..." the manager hesitated. Sa mahigit ten years na pagsasama nila ng agent niya ay alam niya ang karamihan sa buhay nito. Even the girls he dated and fling too na hindi nahuhuli ng paparazzi or even the first woman he loved from afar, the manager knew it.

"What?"

"The screenwriter for this drama is Henrietta."

Ron's first love.

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© _eysteambun