Laura's Vengeance

A Storm They Couldn’t Escape

I stared at the wall, my mind blank, but my heart boiling with a mix of pain and anger. One month after that chaotic confrontation with Devon and Celeste at the Salvador mansion, and here I was, hiding in the darkness of my apartment. I still couldn’t believe everything that had happened. Devon and Celeste’s wedding? Celeste’s pregnancy? Was that the reason they were in such a hurry to get rid of my baby?

Ang pag-iisip na ginawa nila akong tanga, na nagawa nila akong paikutin sa kanilang mga palad, ay nagtulak sa akin sa bingit ng galit. Ang bawat pangako ni Devon, bawat yakap, bawat halik lahat ng iyon ay isang kasinungalingan. At si Celeste, ang aking "best friend," ang babaeng pinagkatiwalaan ko ng aking mga sikreto, ay kasabwat pala sa lahat ng panloloko.

"Laura, may sulat ka rito," tawag ni Aling Nena mula sa labas ng aking pinto.

Wala akong ganang bumangon. Anong sulat? I wasn’t expecting anything.

"Galing yata sa mga Salvador," dagdag niya.

Bigla akong napatayo. Mga Salvador? Anong kailangan nila sa akin? Hindi ba sapat ang ginawa nila?

I took the letter from Aling Nena. An elegant envelope, bearing the logo of the Salvador Group of Companies. Inside was a formal invitation an invitation to Celeste Salvador’s baby shower.

Ang aking kamay ay nanginginig. Hindi lang imbitasyon, kundi kasama rin ang isang offer letter. Isang offer letter na maging "event staff" sa baby shower. Isang maid.

I raised an eyebrow. This wasn’t an ordinary invitation. It was an invitation to humiliation—a way to rub in just how low I was and how high they stood. A clear message that I was beneath them, and there was nothing I could do about it.

But the anger burning in my heart turned into a cold, unwavering resolve. Pupunta ako. Not for them, but for myself. Not to show weakness, but to plant the seed of vengeance.

"Saan ka pupunta, anak?" tanong ni Aling Nena nang makita akong nagbibihis ng isang simpleng itim na uniporme.

"Sa baby shower ni Celeste," sagot ko, walang emosyon.

Namutla si Aling Nena. "Ano? Bakit? Alam mo namang saktan ka lang nila doon, Laura."

"Alam ko po," sagot ko. "Pero kailangan ko itong gawin."

I needed to see how happy they were amidst my sorrow. I needed to witness their triumph so I could bury deeper into my heart the burning desire to avenge myself and my child.

Hours Later, at the Salvador Estate

The mansion was filled with decorations—balloons, ribbons, and photos of Celeste proudly displaying her baby bump. Every corner screamed joy, a new beginning. But to me, every laugh, every smile, felt like a knife stabbing into my heart.

"Laura, ikaw ang mag-aasikaso ng mga inumin, siguraduhin mong walang magkukulang." malamig na sabi ng isang head maid.

Nagsimula akong magtrabaho, ang aking mukha ay walang emosyon. Naglalakad ako sa pagitan ng mga bisita, nag-aalok ng champagne at iba pang inumin, habang pilit kong hindi tinitingnan si Devon at Celeste.

I saw them at the center of the room—Celeste wearing a white dress that highlighted her pregnancy, while Devon stood beside her, his hand resting on her waist. They looked like the perfect couple—happy and content.

Guests were handing them gifts, offering their congratulations. I overheard the comments.

"Ang ganda ni Celeste!"

"Ang swerte ni Devon!"

"Ang perpektong pamilya!"

Each compliment felt like a reminder of how low I had fallen. I was the discarded ex-fiancée, the woman who lost her child, and now, a spectator to their celebration.

Habang naglalakad ako sa gitna ng mga bisita, nakasalubong ko si Tita Elena. Ang kanyang mukha ay may ngiti, tila wala siyang nakikitang anumang mali.

"Laura, good thing you came. I hope you've learned from your past." sabi niya, ang kanyang tono ay may halong pagmamataas.

Hindi ako sumagot. Pinitpit ko ang aking mga labi at nagpatuloy sa pag-aalok ng inumin.

"Uy, look who’s here!" narinig ko ang boses ni Marco, ang pinsan ni Devon. Nakatayo siya sa tabi ng ilang kaibigan, lahat sila ay nakatingin sa akin na may halong amusement.

"So you’ve become a maid now, Laura? I thought you were rich too, like us."

Nagtawanan ang kanyang mga kaibigan. Ang mga matatalim na salita ay tumagos sa aking balat. Naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng aking mga pisngi. Ngunit pinilit kong maging matatag.

"Excuse me, do you need anything else?" sabi ko, ang aking tinig ay malamig.

"Nothing, Laura. We’re just surprised to see you here. We thought you had moved on. But the truth is, you just went back to where you belong. A maid. This is your place," Marco said, continuing his insults.

I struggled to hold back my anger. The urge to slap him was almost unbearable. But this wasn’t the time. This wasn’t the place.

As the party was nearing its end, Celeste called me over. She was seated on a large chair, her belly prominently showing. Devon stood beside her, holding her hand.

"Laura, may kailangan akong ipagawa sa iyo" sabi ni Celeste, ang kanyang boses ay malambing, ngunit may bakas ng tagumpay.

She handed me a baby bottle. “Please prepare the milk. I received a lot from the shower, but I need to make sure we have some ready for the event.”

It felt like a bucket of ice-cold water had been poured over me. The woman who took my child was now ordering me to prepare milk for the child she was having with the man who once promised me forever. Isang malinaw na pang-iinsulto.

Kinuha ko ang bote, ang aking mga kamay ay nanginginig. Nakatingin ako kay Devon, at sa loob ng ilang sandali, nakita ko sa kanyang mga mata ang isang bahagyang pag-aalangan, isang kislap ng pagkakasala. Ngunit agad din itong nawala, napalitan ng isang blangko at walang emosyong tingin.

Nagpunta ako sa kusina, ang aking mga mata ay puno ng luha. Binuksan ko ang gripo, hinayaan ang tubig na umagos, at pinunasan ang aking mga luha. I started preparing the milk, each movement seemingly filled with its own silent grief.

When I finished, I returned to the living room. I forced myself to stay calm, though my heart was still overflowing with pain.

“Thank you, Laura. You’ve been such a big help,” Celeste said as she took the bottle from my hand.

In that moment, someone spoke. “A baby shower is a celebration of new life. A wedding is the union of two souls. What could be more beautiful than this?”

I saw Devon smiling brightly. And suddenly, a thought whispered in my mind. A shocking idea.

"Hindi ka ba nagtataka, Devon," sabi ko, ang aking boses ay kalmado, ngunit may malalim na diin. "Ang bilis ng lahat. Hindi pa nga kayo kinakasal, magkaka-anak na kayo? At ang anak na iyan... Sigurado ka bang sa iyo 'yan?"

Devon turned pale. The entire room fell silent. Whispers began to spread among the guests.

Celeste narrowed her eyes. “Laura, what do you mean by that?”

I gave a bitter smile. “Oh, nothing. Just asking. Everything happened so fast, that’s all. Sometimes, secrets are hard to keep.”

Nagpalitan ng tingin sina Devon at Celeste. May bakas ng pagkabahala sa kanilang mga mukha.

In that moment, I knew I had planted a seed. A seed of doubt. A seed that would slowly creep into their lives, until it completely unsettled them.

At last, I found my strength. Revenge isn’t swift, but I knew it would come. And when that time comes, I will no longer be the maid. I will be the storm.