Two weeks have passed since Santi and Luciel's wedding. Mabuti at walang naging gulo sa kasal nito na inaasahan ni Reynold kay Henrietta. As if naman. Henrietta is not Santi that will make a scene every damn time when she have opportunity to mess up with her step sister.
"What is it?" tanong ni Henrietta kay Vincenzo. They are inside their house now at nasanay na rin s'yang makatabi ang lalaki sa kama. Kahit na minsan ay nagigising siya na yakap siya ni Enzo ay isinasawalang bahala niya na lang. She attempted to avoid his arms but it always found a way to snake it into her waist and hugged her closer.
"How's your day, wife?" tanong ni Enzo at tumabi sa asawa.
"It's fine. I have to go outside. Kikitain ko ang mga kaibigan ko mamaya," paalam ni Henrietta at isinarado ang laptop.
Vincenzo reached his hand to caress her hair.
"Hmm. Should I drive you there?"
"No. I can manage. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal sa mga plastik na 'yon. I'm just gonna go there to maybe... cause a problem?" nakangising ani ni Henrietta.
Napatitig si Vincenzo sa mukha ng dalaga. Hindi na siya naaalala nito. Why? Why did she forget about him?
He sighed. "Okay. But I will accompany you there. I'll wait inside the car until you are done."
Tumango si Henrietta. Vincenzo grabs her shoulder and lets her lean on his chest. Hindi iyon inaasahan ni Henrietta. He's really bringing this marriage into a different level.
"Is this the place?" Vincenzo's face turned in disgust with a knitted brow. The people going inside look like delinquents and rebellious people.
"Yep," sagot ni Henrietta popping the 'p' sound. Bumaba siya ng sasakyan at dumiretso sa kabila.
"Are you okay being here?" she asked. Marami pa naman ang mga taong basag ulo dito.
Vincenzo smirks. "Concerned about me? How about I'll go inside with you?"
Napaikot ng mata si Henrietta. When that happened, all eyes were going to Vincenzo kahit ang mga kaibigan niya lalo na si Lisa. Oh, speaking of. Lisa's contract with her agency had been terminated. It surely is a big blow to end her career. After all, with all that scene she caused, who would recruit her?
"I'll go now."
The blasting sound of music and colorful lights greeted Henrietta inside the bar. Yes, they will be meeting inside the bar. Palagi naman eh.
She scanned the surroundings and finally saw her friends.
"Oh! Here she is! Henrietta Vanderbilt!" bati ni Jordan at umusog pakabila.
Henrietta gave them a light smile and looked at the man na ngayon niya ba lang nakita.
"How are you, Mikael?" she asked. Mikael is not easy to read. Hindi niya malaman kung ano ang totoo sa pagkatao nito. Sa lahat ng kaibigan niya ito ang pinakamahirap i-approach. The man doesn't talk much and will just observe.
"I'm good," sagot nito. Mikael is still wearing his business attire. Sa magkaka-ibigan, silang dalawa lang ni Mikael ang masasabing mayaman talaga. When she died. Hindi niya nakita ito maging noong mga oras na walang-wala na siya. But one thing is for sure. Sigurado siyang nakita niya si Mikael noong namatay siya. It was so dark but with the help of the moonlight, she clearly saw his face; cold and blank.
Kumuha ng maiinom si Henrietta. Siguro ay alam na ng dalawa ang nangyari sa kanila ni Lisa. The woman is busy talking with someone else at the bar na hindi man lang siya kinikilingan. Mas mabuti na 'yon dahil baka magka-round two ang away nila.
"Let's enjoy this day. Ngayon na lang tayo ulit nagsama-sama. It's my treat!" sigaw ni Jordan dahil sa malakas na music.
Lumingon si Lisa sa kaibigan. "Your treat? I thought..." At lumingon pa ang mga mata nito kay Henrietta.
Jordan crack a smile. "Well, ako naman ang nagyaya," rason nito.
Lisa crosses her arms. "I thought meron kang financial problem? Henrietta is okay with paying the bills, right? Mayaman naman siya at salapi lang sa kanya ang mga drinks dito," aniya niya.
"Bakit palaging ako? Why don't you treat us too? Akala ko ba marami ka ng pera dahil isa ka ng sikat na artista?" sarkastikong tanong ni Henrietta. Jordan give a meaningful glance at Lisa.
"Okay. Tama na 'yan. Oh, Mikael, let's cheer!"
Pero hindi pa naman din nakakainom si Jordan nang magsalita ulit si Henrietta.
"Uh? 'Di ba account mo 'to, Jordan? Bakit may video ng nangyari kay Lisa. And there's a lot of content about her." Henrietta was referring to the day when Lisa made a fool out of herself by claiming that Vincenzo is her boyfriend. Binura na ito but who knows, isa pala sa mga kaibigan mo ang meron pa nito at ikinakalat sa social media.
Napatingin din naman si Jordan sa sinasabi ni Henrietta. Damn! That's his another account pa'no nito nalaman? And yes, pinagkakakitaan niya ang mga videos na ina-upload niya sa social media.
"What video?" Inagaw ni Lisa ang phone kay Henrietta. The latter smile secretly.
"What the hell, Jordan!?"
Jordan and Lisa are friends with benefits. Sila lang ang nakakaalam ng meron sila. Of course hindi na ngayon dahil alam na din ito ni Henrietta.
"Explain this to me!" Ayaw pa naman ni Lisa na pinag-uusapan ang nangyari noon. That was the greatest downfall of her life!
"It's not that..."
Tunayo si Lisa at umalis sa inuupuan nito. Sumunod din naman si Jordan dito.
"Lisa, wait!" Hinawakan ni Jordan ang braso ng dalaga at ipinaharap sa kanya.
"It's not me. Binura ko na ang account ko dati. Maybe someone did this just for us to fight, " pagpapaliwanag ni Jordan. Well, hindi niya basta-basta mabitawan ang babaeng 'to.
"Really? Sino naman?"
Jordan sneered. "Sino pa ba?"
Lisa glared at Jordan. She knew who he was talking to. Ang babaeng 'yon!
"Come on. Let's make our night memorable." Jordan teases and kisses Lisa's Neck.
"Paano 'yong dalawa?"
Jordan stopped and looked back to the two people they are with. "Hayaan mo na. Sila na lang magbayad ng inumin natin." The man smirked and they both went out.
-----
"You don't have to do that," biglang sambit ni Mikael.
"Now you're talking," reply ni Henrietta. Tila isang misteryo ang pagkatao ni Miakel. Konti lang ang nalalaman niya dito.
"Hinayaan mo na sana si Lisa. Nasira pa ang career niya. Hindi 'yon nakatulong dahil nadamay ka." Uminom ng alak si Mikael. His eyes deepened.
"Siya ang nagsimula noon, Mikael. Don't tell me, wala kang kinalaman sa nangyari? I knew a few things about you but it doesn't mean I can't unveil and see it." Ngumiti si Henrietta at sumandig sa upuan habang hawak sa kaliwang kamay ang isang glass of wine.
"So tell me, are you a friend or a foe?"
-----
© _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...
