IT'S BEEN A while since I attended a party. I never thought that I missed this somehow. Back in the US, I'm so fucked up in smiling and entertaining each guests that I'm facing. Do'n ko natutunan ang magpanggap na okay kayo ng kausap mo kahit hindi mo naman talaga sila kilala. Yung iba ro'n, maipakilala lang ako sa mga amiga nila na um-attend ako para maipagmayabang na napapayag nila akong pumunta sa party nila.

Kimi akong pumasok sa engradeng bulwagan na kinuha ng pamilyang Rodriguez at Mondragon. It's not just a simple engagement party. We are talking about a Duke from a European country who decided to live in the Philippines. Bawat detalye ng party sa loob ay nagsusumigaw ng karangyaan. Even the dresses of these people were all designed with some known fashion icons in this country.

Iba't ibang klase rin na mga panauhin ang naimbita. From well-known celebrities and product endorsers up to the local officials of the Government. I got an Intel that even the President of the Philippines will be here tonight.

I decided to walk in the corners of the hall. I need to get out of here. Magsisimula na ang party at hindi pa ako lubusang maayos. Nang makapasok sa likurang bahagi ng bulwagan, sinalubong ako ng isang babae na nakauniporme at mariin akong tinanguan. Iginiya niya rin ang kamay sa isang direksyon.

Sinundan ko siya hanggang sa tumigil kami sa isang malaking kwarto. Nagmamadali na akong pumasok ro'n at sunod naman akong binulaga ng maraming tao sa loob.

Dresses are scattered everywhere. The sound of hair dryers is pretty much enshrouding the whole room.

I'm impressed with how my secretary-- Aurora pulled this off without the media knowing. I should give her a credit later.

"Ikaw na ba 'yan, Madame?!" Napagawi ang tingin ko sa isang maton na lalaki na nakatikwas ang daliri habang may hawak itong suklay. His rainbow hair dye and all-out make-up are screaming that he's the head-stylist. And of course, I know this person.

"Rudolfo, my god, I missed you!" Maagap kong beso sa kanya sa magkabilang pisngi. Nginiwian naman n'ya ako at alam ko kung bakit.

"Ano ba 'yan, Madame, 'yan pa rin ang tawag mo sa'kin after all these years. It's Ruby na, bakla ka!" Irit n'ya sa'kin with matching rolling his eyes pa.

I also gave my rolling eyes and giggled a bit. Hindi ko inaasahan na sa ganitong sitwasyon ko s'ya makikita.

Rudolfo— well, Ruby is my hairstylist noon. S'ya ang parloristang kinuha ko sa dusak kung sa'n ako galing at sinama ko s'ya sa sabay naming pag-asenso. Hindi naman ako nagkamali dahil mas nauna siyang nakilala sa madla dahil sa galing n'ya sa larangan ng make-up at fashion. He even made me look stunning in every artwork that we will work on together.

"Narinig ko na kailangan mo ng tulong ko. My gosh, mamma Mia! Ang tagal kong hinintay ang tawag mo dahil gusto kong ako uli ang mag-aayos sa'yo rito. Kaso naluma na ang bahay-bata ko, wala pa rin akong narinig na call from you!" Irit n'ya sa'kin na nagpatawa sa'kin ng sobra.

"Baks, wala kang bahay-bata. Itlog 'yang may'ron ka. Paalala lang." I teased and he just rolled his eyes on me.

"Ikaw na may matres, loka ka. So, tara na. The party will start in thirty minutes." Wika n'ya habang iginigiya n'ya ako sa harapan ng malaking salamin. "Ang ganda mo pa rin loka ka kahit 'di ka naka-make up at goodness, kailan ka pa nagsuot ng ganitong kalaking salamin? Sarap mong ipa-assassinate minsan."

Muli akong natawa sa sinabi n'ya. Inggiterang tunay!

"Kaso maganda nga, wala namang jowa." Patutsada n'ya sa'kin na agad ko naman kinurot sa tagiliran.

"Personalan ka baks. Baka makalbo kita kaya mag-ingat ka sa'kin." Sabi ko sa kanya na may banta.

"'Eh kasi naman, nag-aalala lang ako sa kipay mo." Napasinghap ako sa mga salitaan nitong baklang 'to. "Maka-react ka naman para namang pepe yung sinabi ko."

"Rudolfo!" Angil ko sa kanya na nagpatawa lang rito.

"Girl, ang kipay, may pinapapasok d'yan. Kapag 'yan nagsara ng tuluyan. Ay wit 'day, mangangamoy 'yan."

Pinamulahan ako ng mukha sa mga pinagsasasabi nito. 'Di pa rin talaga 'to nagbabago. Ang hahalay pa rin ng mga sinasabi.

May nakapasok na kaya. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya but I decided not to share it because for sure, he won't stop interrogating me.

I'm wearing a classical blue oceanic gown with tiny pearls and few shining beads that hugs my curves. The left leg part has a very long slit from the bottom all the way up between the side of my left thigh.

Ruby put a strong look makeup highlighting my magenta nude lips color that embossed my natural pout lips. He made my eyes smokey with blue majestic tint. My hair was formed in a twisted french style with few hairs falling on my ears and sides. As for the last piece of his creation, he put a fifty-four karat golden tiara on my twisted french bun hair to give a Queen-like vibe.

"There you go, friend. Lahat luluhod sa'yo mamaya. I won't ask you why you were in a nerdy type look a while ago but having this look of yours, no one would dare to notice na ikaw 'yon." Ruby grinned while saying that.

I gave back a usual demonic grin at him. This is the reason why I want him to do my over-all makeup. He's the only one who can make the Lady Elle form on her strongest look.

Nang matapos akong ayusan ay saka lamang akong nagpasyang lumabas sa kwartong iyon. Lady Elle is finally ready to face everyone. Pero bago ako umentrada sa okasyon na 'to, I smirked at the woman smiling at me while she's receiving an enormous claps from the audience when she has been introduced.

"Let's all welcome, Wilhelmina Aurora Mondragon." I gave her a nod before she gave me her usual grin.

Gaya ng inaasahan ko sa babaeng 'to. Magrebelde man ito o magpakalayo layo, alam niyang babalik ang dalaga sa totoo nitong estado sa oras na mangyari ang hinihintay nito— ang ma-engage sa taong minamahal niya, pero sadly, hindi s'ya kayang mahalin pabalik.

Even before pa akong magpasyang bumalik ng Pilipinas, Aurora contacted me and asking for help. She needs a job dahil naglayas raw s'ya sa kanila dahil hindi si Luke Francis Rodriguez ang itatambal sa kanya ng mga magulang para ikasal. Her parents froze her accounts that time at hindi naman daw nito kaya ang mabuhay kung wala itong mapagkukunan ng pambayad.

I offered her money dahil Aurora is my loyal friend. Siya ang naging takbuhan ko noon kapag may mga bagay akong hindi ko kayang solusyunan bilang tao. I became a monster in business field at kalimitan, ang babaeng ito ang nagpapaalala sa'kin na lumingon sa pinanggalingan para hindi tuluyang lukubin ng sistema ng buhay. Hindi niya tinanggap ang perang inalok ko dahil gusto raw niya ng pinaghihirapan, and that's what I like about her. A woman with dignity and perseverance in life. A woman for keeps. Kaya ang swerte ng Luke na 'to at ang kapal ng mukha para gamitin ako para saktan si Aurora.

Binantaan niya ako na h'wag saktan si Troy, now I'm going to return the favor.

Everyone looked at Aurora with awe. She's a stunner I must say. Kahit galing 'yan sa trabaho para punan ang pagkukulang ko sa mga commitments ko sa media, her regal beauty is still on point.

I saw how her hands shook with nervousness. Alam ko kung bakit. She never attended any parties like this even before. Aurora always tells me that she's an introverted type of a woman but I didn't agree with her. Nahihiya lang s'ya kung minsan pero alam niya kung paano makisalamuha.

Aurora walked beside the Emcee of this evening. I smirked when our plan is finally moving accordingly. She asked for the microphone and people below reacted unknowingly. Tanaw ko mula rito sa kinatatayuan ko kung paano nagtagis ang bagang ng ama ni Aurora na akala mo naman ay may gagawin ang anak na hindi nila magugustuhan.

Aurora can be a rebel woman at times but she knows when to fight for her right.

"Ladies and Gentlemen? Thank you so much for attending my engagement party with Luke Francis Rodriguez." Aurora's intro and I can totally feel her shaking voice but she's fighting it.

"Aurora, get down here now!" rinig naming utos ng ama nito.

Aurora smirked at her parents. Hindi iyon inaasahan ng magulang nito and I can totally feel their nervousness. I chuckled a bit. She's really learning from me, huh.

Aurora is an Angel without wings. Has an Angelic face but with a devil inside. That's what I like about her.

"Don't worry, Mom and Dad. I won't do something reckless. I just want to get this opportunity to introduce someone for this evening."

I craned my neck from left to right and vice versa. My brow is twitching right now.

"Tonight, this is going to be the first time that this person would show up in the media right after this person went back from US and brought pride to our country."

Naging maingay ang mga bisita sa paraan ng pagpapakilala ni Aurora sa'kin.

"I assumed that you all know this person and I know that you're all eager to face her personally."

The media at the back became wild because they've already known whom Aurora is talking about.

"Let us all welcome, the Lioness of the West and East, the Eve of Asia-- Serena Gabrielle Fontanilla."

The audience roared in shock upon knowing my presence. And with that, lumabas ako sa entrada kung saan doon pumasok si Aurora. Taas noo akong naglakad sa pwesto ni Aurora at nang makalapit ay bineso ko s'ya.

"Nandito ba si Adrianna?" I asked her in between of our beso.

"Yes, she's with my parents as usual." She replied at pahapyaw ko siyang tinanaw. Adrianna is really there, her mouth gaped upon staring at me. Tinaasan ko lang s'ya ng ulo tapos ay iginawi ko na ang aking sarili sa harapan ng lahat.

I smiled at them and the clicks of the media's cameras are now enshrouding the whole place. Nalipat sa'kin ang atensyon ng party na 'to at dapat ko na 'yon ibalik sa dalawang ikakasal.

"May I call on Luke Francis Rodriguez?" pauna kong wika sa mikropono nang maabot sa'kin 'yon ni Aurora.

I saw the man raising his hand. Nasa isang dulo pala ito kasama ng iba pa nitong kaibigan at kitang kita ko rin ang paninitig ni Troy sa'kin.

Bahagya akong napalunok sa paraan ng pagtitig n'ya. Hindi ko alam kung tinatanaw n'ya ba ako o iniisip kung saan n'ya ako huling nakita. Gosh, sana 'di n'ya malaman na ako si Serena Angeles.

Nang makaakyat si Luke sa stage kung nasaan kaming dalawa, nagtagal ang tingin n'ya kay Aurora imbes na sa'kin.

I clearly remember what he told me about his childish plan.

"I'll introduce you as my girlfriend at seryoso ako sa'yo. Kapag napaniwala natin sila, 'di na matutuloy ang kasal." Sabi n'ya sa'kin habang papunta kami sa isang boutique.

I look at him with impossible look. "Ako ba ay ginagago mo? Ayan na 'yon? 'Yun na ang plano mo para mamaya? Plano na 'yon sa'yo?"

He childishly nodded at me while still driving. "May naisip ka bang ibang paraan para matigil ang kahibangan ng magulang ko sa kasal kasal na 'yan? For goodness sake, 'di na uso ngayon ang arrange marriage!"

Inikutan ko s'ya ng mata. "Baka nakakalimutan mong may dugong-maharlika ka at hindi basta basta lang."

"Hindi enough reason 'yon. Kita mo nga yung kakakasal lang na sina Prince William at Kate, they got married even it's against to their royal tradition." He reasoned out.

May punto naman s'ya.

"Bakit ba kasi ayaw mong ikasal do'n sa babae? Don't tell me, a man like you believes with destiny? That you will only marry the ones you love." I asked him with shock and slight mockery.

Marahas ang naging paglingon n'ya sa'kin. "No fucking way! Love, love. There's no such thing as Love. It's just in our mind that we can be tied to someone because our hearts says so. It's all in our brain, so I don't believe that."

My lips curved downward and my eyebrows twitched upward at the same time.

"Right, science." I reacted.

"I just don't simply like the idea of getting yourself prepared for something you do not want to happen." He explained and I'm not asking him to do that. "You see, I'm a spontaneous person. The reason why I decided to stay here in the Philippines is to feel the essence of the spontaneity of life. The simplicity of it."

I nodded to show that I'm listening. "So, you're now a Taoist, huh."

"Not really, I just want to live my life the way I want it to happen." He summarized.

"Then, just let it be," I advised causing him to take a glance at me twice. His face was asking for further explanation.

"What do you mean? That I should just accept it? That's it?"

I shook my head. "No, kasi kung ako 'yan, tatanggi rin ako. But if we have the same mindset in life, I'd rather tell my parents that 'Mom, I'm not agreeing to this but... I'm willing to know the woman first, if I don't see myself living with her, then accept my disagreement as I won't change my mind anymore' like that."

Luke's face looks satisfied. "That way, you can still be spontaneous as you are."

"I will think about that."

"You better think fast, you don't have much time... Your Highness." I teased and he just glared at me.

Binaba ko na mikropono na hawak ko at nakangising tinanong si Luke. "Aurora is my friend and as a friend, I don't want her to be hurt of this upcoming union, Mr. Rodriguez. I know that you're going to do the same with your friend so now, I want to know straight from you... are you against of this engagement?"

Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Aurora sa damit ko. Signaling me to stop but I didn't listen. This is what we've talked about the other day.

Pinapanuod ko lang ang reaksyon ng binata. His expression is unreadable but at the same time, I can see his astonishment upon seeing the lady behind me.

Let's add some spices for him to react. "'Cause if you don't, I have tons of male species who are willing to entertain and much deserving to be her husband--"

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil matapos akong tingnan ng masama ni Luke ay mabilis nitong hinablot sa braso si Aurora at parehas silang umalis sa lugar na 'to.

Muli kong hinarap ang mga panauhin and I smiled at them unknowingly. "Just enjoy the party, everyone. Seems like our two lovely birds will be taking their honeymoon tonight."

Everyone laughed at my joke and just like that, the party continued.

I gave the microphone back to the Emcee in which is still stunned upon seeing me. I just winked at him and continued my walk to the party area.

Pagkababa sa entablado, sa iisang tao lang ako nakatingin ng may ngisi sa labi. The person that I'm looking at took a step back with the way I stare at her.

It's time to entertain this woman tonight. Impress me, Adrianna.

This time, you'll face the real Serena in which you don't have any idea. Let's see the difference.