Luxurious Glory

Kabanata 4

Paris, France

"Luxuria, girl!" Ang baklang manager ni Luxuria ang sumalubong sa kanya sa airport. She waved her hand saka pumunta sa direksyon na ‘yon.

There is no media reporters’ dahil hindi ipinaalam ng PR at manager ni Luxuria ang pagbabalik niya. Baka dumugin siya ng kanyang fans at hindi siya makalabas. Nagkakagulo pa naman sila kapag nakikita siya. Well, what can she do? She is their idol and they admire her.

Kahit na gano’n may mga tao paring nakakakilala kay Luxuria at kumukuha ng litrato na pino-post sa social media.

[Saw Ms. Luxuria at the airport OMG! (Picture below)]

[Oh my god she's back?]

[Did you, people, hear the rumors?]

[To the comment above: What? What? Spill it sis.]

[Her boyfriend, Enrique cheated on her. It was all over the social media.]

[But she has a runaway is it because of that?]

[Is it true? Oh, even if you're rich and pretty there will always be a better person than you. Is it because Enrique found someone better? Did he even love her?]

[I don't know but if it’s true, Luxuria is so pathetic.]

[Karma is a bitch.]

"Wow! Did you see it? The guts of this people to bash and insult you?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Manager Kyle, ang nagma-manage ng schedule ni Luxuria.

"They can bash me because that’s what they are only good for. But they could never reached my level," mataray na sagot ni Luxuria habang nag-iiscroll sa i********: kung sa’n nakapost ang picture niya sa airport. Ganito talaga ‘pag maganda at sikat ikaw palagi ang pagtsitsismisan.

Luxuria took a picture and posted it on her official i********: account.

[They keep talking, I keep slaying.] Ang nakacaption sa picture niya holding her CELINE Ava Shoulder Bag and showing her Annelise Michelson Créoles Virtogo earrings.

"Kaloka ka, tara na nga," natatawang sambit ni Manager Kyle. They could never win against this woman in terms of bashfulness.

-----

"Hello, grandpa." Luxuria hugs her lolo at humalik sa noo nito. Kadarating niya lang at dito siya unang pumunta.

"Buti naman at bumalik ka na," matigas na sambit ni Francis sa apo pero kita ang pagmamahal sa mga mata nito. Luxuria is his only biological granddaughter at alam niya ang nangyayari sa buhay ng apo sa kanyang stepmother at stepsister lalo na at pinapabayaan lang ito ng ama.

Luxuria scanned her surroundings and saw her childhood friend outside the garden smiling at nakakapit sa braso ng ex niya. Yes, the woman who her boyfriend cheated with is her longtime friend. Her heart felt pain as she saw how happy Enrique with someone else but she won't let them see that she was affected by all.

Napatingin ang dalawa sa direksyon ni Luxuria at biglang binitawan ni Enrique ang kamay ni Patricia. Lumakad si Enrique sa kinaroroonan ng fiancée, but she raised her hand and made a stop sign.

"Akala ko ba bawal mag-papasok ng hayop dito?" Luxuria mockingly asked. Patricia stiffened and her eyes widened as she clenched her fist. Napatigil din si Enrique as he glared at Luxuria.

'Plastic! What a great actress,' singhal ni Luxuria sa sarili nang makita ang pag iyak ng traydor na kaibigan.

"Luxy, I badly want to tell you about us. I love Patricia, I'm sorry and please don't blame her. It's my fault," pagpapaliwanag ni Enrique sa dalaga. Oo, he loved Luxuria but his love for Patricia is more than his love for Luxy.

"Shameless! Kung mahal mo pala ang babaeng ‘yan, edi sana sa una palang siya na ang niligawan mo! How dare you?" Pinipigilan ni Luxuria ang sarili na ‘wag pagsasampalin ang lalaking nasa harap niya.

"What’s wrong with that? Nagmahal lang naman siya, eh," sabat ng isang boses. Isa pang hayop, ang stepsister ni Luxuria na nakangiti sa kanya.

"Huh! Palibhasa kasi parehas kayong ahas. ‘Di ba gawain mo din ‘yon?" Luxuria refuted, kita niya ang pagbabago ng ekspresyon ng mukha ng stepsister niya.

"That's enough!" sigaw ni Francis na ikinatigil nilang lahat.

"Mr. Enrique, please leave and bring your woman with you," utos ni Francis sa malamig na boses.

'He didn't even say Patricia's name.' Apo na din kasi ang turing nito kay Patricia dahil nga matagal na silang magkaibigan ni Luxuria and now?

"Lolo Francis—"

"Leave, now!" Hindi na muling nagsalita si Patricia. Her tears started to fall at inalo naman ito ni Enrique. Luxuria gestured their butler na paalisin na ang dalawa kaya wala na itong nagawa at lumabas na pero bago ‘yon tiningnan siya ni Patricia ng nagmamakaawa.

'Psh, you can't deceive me.’

-----

"The anniversary of Hernandez Conglomerate is coming, I want all of you to be there," ani ni Francis nang matapos sila sa ng pananghalian. Hindi siya tumingin sa mga ito at pinunasan ang bibig.

"I will be announcing the next CEO of Hernandez International, one of my properties after the event and my lawyer will announce my will." Napatigil ang lahat sa kani-kanilang ginagawa.

"Father, naka-ready na po ang will niyo?" tanong ni Amanda, ang stepmother ni Luxuria.

"Yes. Matagal ko nang ginawa ‘yon while observing and evaluating the next successor."

"Luxuria, apo," tawag pansin ni Francis sa dalaga nito na kanina pa tahimik. He sighed. Ayaw kasi ni Luxuria na makasama ang step family niya at alam niyang hindi ito masaya na nagsasalo-salo sila sa iisang mesa. It's his fault, he didn't take care of her. Umalis si Luxuria noong fifteen pa lamang ito at pumasok sa modelling industry. Francis didn’t regret it though, because she became a strong woman.

"Yes, grandpa?" Luxuria asked.

"Are you planning to continue your modelling career?" tanong ni Francis. Ngumiti sa kanya si Luxuria. Kuhang-kuha nito ang ngiti ng yumaong ina.

"Yes, grandpa. But it will not be for too long," sagot nito.

"Why did you even choose a modelling career? That's a disgusting profession," sabat ng ama ni Luxuria na si Francisco.

Naging ganito ang ama ni Luxuria nang dumating ang kabit nito. Palaging mali ang nakikita nito sa kanya at ibang-iba ang trato nito sa kanya kaysa sa stepsister niya. Feeling niya siya ang adopted dahil para silang masayang pamilya kahit nandyan siya.

Luxuria clenches her fist. 'This is the first time.' This is the first time na sasagutin niya ang ama. She kept silent dahil ayaw niyang madagdagan ang hatred nito pero tapos na siya sa pagiging tahimik. She wants to speak for herself.

"It's not disgusting for a person that is passionate about their dreams. Baka po sa inyo disgusting? Modelling changed me, it's part of my life. I became the person I am today," sagot niya saka ngumiti ng peke. Wala na siyang pake. Ang lolo niya na lang ang itinuturing niyang pamilya, bumalik siya dahil sa lolo niya.

"Is that the attitude you learned from modelling?! How unfilial! Why do I even have a daughter like you?!" sigaw ni Francisco. Luxuria froze on her spot, napatigil din ang iba pati ata ang mga maids nila ay nagsipagtigil sa ginagawa.

'Don't cry,' pag-aalo ni Luxuria sa sarili.

She bravely looked at her so-called father with heated eyes.

She said firmly, “Bakit? Nasaan po ba kayo nang mga panahon na kailangan ko kayo? You were never there, especially in my losing time." She stands up and leaves.