"Let me introduce you to your female lead, Santi. She's good and I hope you two can cooperate well."
Inilahad ni Santi ang kamay at hindi naman iyon tinanggihan ni Ron. Santi exchanged greetings with him and smiled cutely.
"And this is our writer, Miss V. Siguro naman ay kilala mo siya?"
"Of course, I heard about her a lot."
Ngumiti si Henrietta. "I hope it's not a bad thing."
Ron smiles, "Well..."
The director then said, "Let's sit down and discuss the production and filming. And of course this will be the first reading of your scripts."
Nagsiupuan na ang lahat at kinuha ang scripts na nakalapag sa table. The drama is all about how the male lead strives towards stardom and meet the woman who will bring him happiness and downfall, pero lingid sa kaalaman ng male lead ay plano iyon lahat ng female lead to avenge the death of her best friend na sa pag aakala niya ay si male lead ang naging sanhi ng pagkamatay nito dahil sa relasyon ng dalawa—sikretong relasyon which later on the female lead discovers na hindi pala but to put everything's on, the female lead fell in love at hindi na nito alam ang gagawin. Soon, the male lead knew her motives that lead them to a big problem. Na-expose sa media ang lahat lahat na naging sanhi ng pagbagsak ng career ng male lead. Well, they separated. The female lead moves far away and the male lead fights back to prove his innocence. After years, nagkatagpo ulit sila at binigyan ang isa't-isa ng pangalawang pagkakataon para magsimula ulit.
"So are there any suggestions?" Tumingin si Director Tony sa mga cast na napili niya para gumanap sa dramang ito. "Okay na ba sa inyo ang scripts or may gusto kayong baguhin?"
Surprisingly, tahimik ngayon si Santi at hindi nag-aalburoto. She was seriously reading the script the entire time and didn't bother to make anything.
Of course, Santi wants to change some scenes and dialogue in the scene pero kailangan niya mag lie low ayon sa taong iyon. She could not bear to make mistakes, now that she was starting her career as a new person. Isa pa hindi niya sasayangin ang chance na 'to na binigay ng taong iyon. Hindi niya man masiraan si Henrietta, someone will.
"I'm okay with it. Hindi lang nagpapakita ng kasiyahan sa pag-ibig ang drama na 'to but also the struggles of the main characters sa pamilya, showbiz, personal interest and feelings," ani niya at ngumiti ng simple.
Tumingin si Santi kay Ron. "I'm okay with it, too. Kailan ba natin sisimulan ang filming?"
"We will start next week. Ihahanda pa natin ang promotional advertisements niyo and announcements," sagot ni Director Tony bago tumingin kay Henrietta na tahimik lamang sa upuan nito. Hindi na bago sa kanila ang dalaga dahil sa mga balita nito noon but now that he saw her, the rumors about her was not describing her at all. Tila ba isa itong noble lady ng aristocrat family.
Henrietta felt the vibration of her phone on her bag kaya kinuha niya ito at nakitanang ang ina niya ang nag-message.
From Mom:
[We'll be dining out later with your lola. Sama ba kayo ni Enzo?]
She types a reply.
To Mom:
[Hindi po, Mom. Marami po akong aasikasuhin na trabaho. Maybe, some other time? And are you okay with going out? Baka may makakita sa inyo?]
Dahil nga nawala sila ni Vincenzo ng ilang araw natambak ang trabaho nila so now they have to work on it.
From Mom:
[Don't worry. Nag-book naman kami ng private room and isa pa kilala ni mother-in-law ang may-ari ng restaurant na 'yon.]
Kumpyansa naman si Henrietta na hindi pababayaan ni Grandma Helen ang mommy niya lalo pa't may mga kasama ito na well trained pagdating sa seguridad.
To Mom:
[Okay. Just take care.]
Pagkatapos ay ibinalik niya ang phone at tumingin sa kasama niya na nagsitayuan na.
"Do you want to come with them, boss?" bulong sa kanya ni Faye.
"Saan?"
"Libre daw po ni Direk Tony ang lunch niyo. Munting salo-salo lang daw po."
Mahinang tumango si Henrietta. May time pa nan siya kaya okay lang na makasama muna ang mga ito bago bumalik sa office niya.
"Sige."
Sa isang private room, nakaupo ang dalawang babae. Isang matanda at may edad na. Ngunit sa itsura ng dalawa ay masasabing mayayayaman ito lalo pa't kilala ang matandang babae sa larangan ng pagnenegosyo—Helen Vanderbilt at ang daughter-in-law niya na ex-wife ng anak na si Mila.
"Mom, hindi mo ba sinabi ang totoo tungkol sa bagay na iyon?" Mila had a worried face when Helen talked about that thing. Alam niya din kung ano ang totoong nangyayari sa bagay na iyon. Pero hindi niya akalain na magkakaroon ng reaksyon iyon.
Helen was also worried. "Alam mong kailangan natin iyon gawin. A female with Vanderbilt's blood should inherit that jade. Alam mo na ito din ang magpo-protekta kay Henrietta—"
"But it will also be the reason kung bakit mapapahamak ang anak ko!" Mila knew the origin of that jade. Oo, it was for protection but it was more than that! May mga taong naghahanap nito. At ayaw n'yang mapahamak ang anak dahil dito pero wala s'yang magagawa dahil hindi nila pwedeng hindi maibigay kay Henrietta ang jade.
Napahinga ng malalim si Helen.
"Huwag kang mag-alala Mila. Vincenzo was with Henrietta. Hindi iyon pababayaan ng binata. I know that boy. He seem distant on the outside but he cares too much to my apo." Isa pa, isa ito sa dahilan kung bakit gusto n'yang mapalapit ang dalawa sa isa't-isa dahil kayang protektahan ni Vincenzo ang dalaga mula sa mga taong iyon. Pero hindi niya na ito sasabihin. Mas mabuti pang ilihim na lamang ito para hindi na gumulo pa ang buhay nila. There are secrets that should be kept forever.
Their talk was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.
"Yes?"
A waiter voiced out, "Someone was looking at you, Ma'am Helen."
Nagkatinginan sina Helen at Mila. Sino ito at bakit alam nito na nandito sila?
-----
Lorien Hotel
"So you think you saw it when you were in that place?" The woman took a sip on her green tea. Ang buhok nito ay nagbibigay ng sign na tumatanda na at naka-bun style. The woman looked so strict and had a sharp gaze. Her age could be younger from Helen at katulad nito ay nanggaling din sa marangyang pamilya ang matanda.
"Yes, madam." Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali alam niya kung ano ang feeling nIyon. It was powerful pero dahil malayo siya it felt so faint. 'Di niya ini-expect na nandito pala sa lugar na iyon ang hinahanap nila.
The woman faintly smiles. "Good, then. Call them to go here."
-----
© _eysteambun
BINABASA MO ANG
Henrietta's Blade
Romance"Divide your enemy so you can reign approach." Upon rebirth, she returned to the time when she was twenty-four years old. As she recalled the torture she had through, memories filled her head. Smarter, feistier, and more daring! She became the cold...
