Napainom na lamang si Henrietta sa hawak na wine glass habang nakatitig pa rin sa baba kung saan nakaangkala ngayon ang kamay ni Mariel sa asawa. Sa kanyang tabi naman ay hindi mapakali si Vernon at pabalik-balik ang tingin sa kapatid at sa kanyang sister-in-law. Siya ang nakakaramdam ng tensyon dahil sa nanagyayari. He was anxious and wanted to get his brother from below. Kaya ba nauna sila dito? Kaya ba umalis ito pagdating nila kanina? Akala niya ba ay ayaw nitong maging escort ni Mariel? Imposible naman na i-blackmail ito ng kanilang ina. Tss.
"Sister-in-law, this must be a misunderstanding..."
"What misunderstanding?" nakangiting reply ni Henrietta kay Vernon. "That your brother will be the one to escort Mariel to her banquet?"
Sinubukang ngumiti ni Vernon ngunit naging grimace iyon. Why is his sister-in-law smiling? It makes him scared lalo na sa kanyang kapatid.
Napakamot sa batok si Vernon at sinubukang idepensa si Vincenzo. "Baka no choice si Mariel at ayaw mapahiya kaya tinawagan siya ni Mom kung saan nagsumbong din si Mom kay lolo." Mukha naman siguro gano'n ang nangyari.
Henrietta lets out a chuckle. "It seems you don't know your brother, Vernon." Ibinaba ni Henrietta ang baso at tumingin muli sa baba kung saan naglalakad paalis ang binata matapos i-escort si Mariel.
"I'll see you later," wika nito bago napagpasyahang bumaba.
"Wait! Saan ka pupunta? Inatasan ako ni kuya na bantayan ka," pigil ni Vernon sa dalaga. Nako. Nagalit siguro ang hipag niya dahil sa nakita. Kailangan mag-explain ang kapatid niya dahil baka hindi ito i-welcome ni Henrietta sa kanilang tahanan.
"Don't worry, hindi ka sisisihin ni Vincenzo," saad ni Henrietta at tumalikod na. Vernon was about to stop her again just stared at her helplessly. Well, huwag na raw s'yang mabahala sabi nito. Okay, he will hold on to his sister-in-law's said. Bahala na ang kuya niya magpaliwanag dito.
He sighed. Siya ang nai-stress sa dalawa.
---
Habang naglalakad si Henrietta paalis sana ng venue ay biglang lumitaw sa kanyang harapan si Mariel at nakatingin sa kanya ng may pagtataka.
"Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito? I don't remember inviting you here? Narito ka ba para mamerwisyo?"
Henrietta just looked at her calmly.
"Wala akong oras para pag-aksayahan ka, Mariel. And regarding kung paano ako nakapasok, I have invitation specifically name for me. Hindi ko kasalanan 'yon and besides, I'm giving you face for attending your birthday. Anyway, happy birthday. Hindi na ako nag-abalang magbigay ng regalo dahil hindi mo naman tatanggapin." Magpapatuloy na sana sa paglalakad su Henrietta nang magsalita ulit si Mariel.
"Baka naman dahil pinilit mong bigyan ka rin ng invitation dahil nalaman mong magiging escort ko si Vincenzo? You really think you won just because he's married to you?" Mariel then mockingly smile, "I know Vincenzo, he will left you after he gain what he wants from you. Cherish this moment, okay, Henrietta?" Masyadong maganda ang mood ngayon ni Mariel dahil kay Vincenzo. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ginawa ng Tita Jody niya para mapapayag ito but it doesn't matter. Ibig sabihin lang n'yon ay may pag-asa pa siya sa binata.
Napataas ng kilay si Henrietta bago napangisi ng sarkastiko. Medyo may mga taong nakatingin na sa kanila lalo na at kilala silang dalawa sa society. Henrietta remain calm and to others point of view, para lang silang nag-uusap na tila magkaibigan ngunit para sa nakaaalam na iilan ay hindi iyon ang nangyayari. Nakakunot ang noo ni Jody habang nakatitig sa dalawa.
Ano'ng ginagawa ng babaeng 'yon dito? How dare she come and ruin Mariel's day? She sneered and was about to walk towards them, when her niece stopped her.
"Aunt, 'wag na po natin dagdagan ang eksena nila. Marami na pong nakatitig. I bet hindi naman gagawa ng iskandalo ang babaeng 'yon. Isa pa hindi tayo ang magulang ni Ate Mariel at baka ma-involve tayo sa gulo. Lolo won't like it," aniya nito. Jody hesitated, pero sinunod niya na lang ang sinabi ng pamangkin. Wala s'yang nagawa kung 'di ang tumitig dito.
Henrietta smiled. "If you really know him, bakit hindi mo nalaman na hindi pala ikaw ang gusto niya?" She laughed lightly. "You should've cherished those moment and took the chance to get him, sadly... he will never choose you," mahinang sagot ni Henrietta ngunit sapat na para maapektuhan si Mariel. Her smiling face cracked and clenched her fist.
It feels like Mariel was stabbed ten times.
Kunwaring ti-nap ni Henrietta ang balikat ng kaharap at nilakasan ang boses na maririnig ng malapit sa kanila.
"Enjoy your day, Miss Mariel. I'll go first," paalam nito at taas noong lumakad paalis.
Mabagal ang paghinga na nakatitig si Mariel sa likod ni Henrietta. No. She can't let that woman ruin her day at hindi siya magpapadala sa mga sinabi nito. Vincenzo was right in front of her a while ago. May kompyansa siya sa sarili na matatauhan din ang binata.
---
Tumingin-tingin sa kanan at kaliwa ng corridor ai Henrietta. She sighed and decided to search for a place to seat. May nakita naman s'yang mahabang upuan sa may glass wall kaya doon siya pumunta.
"Where are you going, wife?"
Kanina pa nakasunod si Vincenzo sa asawa. The woman sat and he followed.
"Where did you go?" balik naman ng dalaga bago sumandal sa likod ng upuan.
"I've made some important call. Nasaan si Vernon? Bakit ka umalis?"
"Hindi ko gusto doon. Si Vernon lang naman at ikaw ang kilala ko. I don't want to socialize with others. Nakakapagod," wika ni Henrietta bago pumikit at sumandal sa balikat ng asawa.
Ilang minutong katahimikan ang lumipas bago nagsalita si Vincenzo. He looked at the head that was leaning on him and the corners of his lips lifted up.
"Hindi ka ba magtatanong sa nangyari kanina?" he asked.
Henrietta opened her eyes and lifted her head, sitting straight, looking at the man beside her.
Vincenzo frowned at the sudden loss of warmth on his shoulder. He wants her to lean on him, to depend on him.
"Many people may confuse you for others, but not me, Enzo. I know your differences," sagot ni Henrietta. Tinitigan siya ni Vincenzo ng ilang segundo ito ngumiti at binigyan siya ng mabilis na halik sa ilong.
"Of course, you're my wife. You are smart."
He sighed before looking ahead.
"He's back. I was away and he took that chance," sagot nito at alam na agad ng dalaga kung sino ang kanyang tinutukoy.
He was glad that his wife knew him better. This setup is getting its fruits now.
Pasasaan pa at nagbubunga na ang plano niya.
-----
© _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...
