His Wrath

Chapter 7: They left

Nathalie's POV

The situation inside the event hall was not the same as the one I left a while ago. The busy place was nowhere to be seen. Nakabibingi ang sigawan ng mga babaeng nag-aaway doon mismo kung saan kinukuhanan ng picture si Priscila kanina. It was a catfight between two girls at dito pa lang sa kinatatayuan ko kilalang-kilala ko na kung sino ang nakikipag-away.

It was no other than Priscila Arden. Ano na naman kayang ginawa niya? Mapapaaga ata talaga ang pamamaalam ko kay David.

I put down all the plastic bags that I'm holding and run my way to them. Ang tanong ko lang talaga bakit hanggang ngayon ay di pa rin nila napaghihiwalay ang dalawang ito. Priscila was holding the other girl's long hair as if her life depends on it. Same as the other girl, she was holding onto Priscila's dress tightly while her eyes were blazing with anger.

Pumagitna ako sa kanilang dalawa para matanggal ko ang kamay ng bawat isa sa kanila. I looked at Priscila and firmly said, "Priscila, let go." but to no avail.

What I saw in her eyes was not anger just like the other girl but amusement, like a kid enjoying and having fun. I saw her smirked before suddenly pulling the girl's hair down. Napabitaw ang kawawang staff sa damit ni Priscila pero napunit nito ang laylayan ng damit niya na nagpatahimik sa lahat. Because of that Priscila's leg got exposed pero mabilis akong nakabawi at nakakilos upang kumuha ng jacket na nakita ko sa malapit. It was a fine jacket at hindi siya mukhang mumurahin kaya tinanggap ito ni Priscila ng walang ano-ano at binalot sa kanyang baywang.

" I won't wear anything designed by this girl anymore! " Priscila's voice resonate inside the hall. She then swivel her way to her waiting room. I look at the girl who was still slump crying on the floor . Her colleagues rushes to her trying to calm her with assuring words.

"Lily tahan na," said the staff wearing a black cap, "hindi mo dapat iniiyakan ang mga taong kagaya niya." she added.

"Tama! Tama!" said the others as if they could read each other's mind.

"Lily, tawag ka ni direk. " said the girl that came running towards us.

Ngayon ko lang napansin na wala dito ang direktor kanina na nanermon sa akin at yung pinaka bata sa mga photographers. Sinundan ng staff na naka-away ni Priscila ang babaeng tumawag sa kanya. At that time, nahagip ng paningin ko si Charlene kasama ang ibang staffs na kasama niya na nag d-decorate ng background.

Tama malapit sila sa pinangyarihan ng away. Sigurado akong alam nila ang nagyari dito. Para malaman ang puno't dulo ng awayan na ito ay pinuntahan ko ang grupo nila. I can just say the excuse na ibabalik ko ang susi ng kotse ni Charlene para makalapit.

"Ang babaitang iyon grabe na siya ahh," sabi ng isa sa kanila. "Unang-una tumanggi siyang mag shoot sa probinsiya dahil lang sa ayaw niya daw ng 'cheap location', pangalawa, isang oras siyang late sa shooting, at huli sa lahat itong pag-aaway nila ni Lily hanggang sa mga damit ba naman aarte siya?" dagdag nito na animoy gigil na gigil kay Priscila.

" Ininsulto niya na nga ang damit na dinisenyo ni Lily pati pa ang nakaraan ni Lily ininsulto niya rin. " sabi ng isa pa. "Paano naman niya nalaman na may ganoong nakaraan si Lily?" bulong ni ate girl na may bangs. Medyo nakaharap kasi siya sa akin kaya nakita ko ang mukha niya.

"Iyong dati siyang may trabaho sa isang bar? " tanong ulit nung gigil na gigil kay Priscila kanina, "Eh hindi ba halos lahat naman tayo alam iyon? dahil sayo Charlene pero alam naman namin na sinabi mo iyon sa amin para maintindihan namin ang sitwasyon ni Lily. "

Charlene then finally spoke, "Magkakaibigan kaming tatlo dati nina Lily, " she said, "ako, si Lily at ni Priscila." Everybody in this circle group gasped in surprise. Pati ako na nakikinig sa medyo tagong lugar ay nagulat.

Now we all know why Priscila knows that secret Lily wants to hide. Pero bakit ? Diba friends should always protect each other's secret?

" Nagka watak-watak kaming tatlo dahil sa isang insidente na maging ako'y hinding-hindi makalilimot." Charlene's voice almost broke when she said those words. Hindi na nagtanong pa ang mga ito sa kanya kaya't sinamantala ko ang pagkakataong maibigay ang susi ng kotse niya.

"Excuse me, " I said as I attempt to call her attention, "here's your key, I parked the car in that same place by the way," I said politely with a smile.

"Oh, the things you asked, I put them near your place of work and uhmm I am very sorry for the trouble and delay that we've caused." I added then excuse myself when they fell into silence. I handed the car key to Charlene and she gave me a warm smile before I left.

When I did what I intended to do and heard what I think was enough to know the staff's side. Now, it's time for me to hear Priscila's version of the story.

I walked passed the shooting set, entered a door and a long empty corridor greeted me. I kept walking in it until I saw another door that has a printed wordings of 'Priscila's waiting room'. It was closed unlike before. Siguro sinara niya talaga para walang ibang makapasok.

Kumatok ako bago pumasok at nakita ko siyang nakaupo sa harapan ng salamin habang abala siya sa kanyang cellphone.

"Priscila, okay ka lang? " napaka walang kwenta ko talaga mag umpisa ng usapan sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. "Nathie! where have you been? " biglang tanong nito sa akin. "Ahh, inutusan kasi ako ng mga staff na bumili saglit ng mga gagamitin sa set hindi-" I wasn't able to finish what I wanted to say when she started crying and hugged me by surprise.

"All of them are against me," she said sobbing at my shoulder, "I just said that the dress I'm wearing seems like it wasn't designed by Magestic line and then I said the designer must be new and without any proper training," while she was saying those words her shoulders are going up and down.

"And then the next thing I knew she was already grabbing my dress, I felt like she was gonna strip my dress thats why I tried to stop but she was adamant, " I slightly push Priscila in order for me to face her. Nang makita ko ang mukha niya, malayong malayo ito sa Priscila na nasaksihan ko kaninang nakikipag-away siya.

What was in front of me was a pitiful girl. Parang inalipusta siya sa itsura niya. Her tears were falling none stop, her hair flowing on her back was a little dishiveled and her little nose was too red because of crying.

"So, I tried to pull her hair, " she then added looking down, " I thought she will stop pulling my clothes if I did that. " she looks like a lost puppy, emitting the picture of someone's damsell in distress. A trait that most men want their woman to posses. 'cause they just love protecting these kind of girls. Weak and too dependent to them.

So, I was reminded by that one scene in my favorite drama. This timing is so similar that I have a strong feeling that the male lead will arrive any moment to save his female lead.

My intuition was right. Confirmed by the sudden arrival of David who snatched Priscila from me and hug her tightly. As if she was the most valuable possesion on earth.That's when I gave up every bits of hope I have for David. I know better than anyone that he is busy these days. That he won't move from his seat in the office if not for an important event.

Priscila cried even harder as soon as she fell on David's embrace.I felt a pang of pain in my heart when I saw the sharp gaze of David looking through my soul. I unconciously took one step back because a sudden fear crept inside me. "Get Priscila's things, we're leaving." David said, the kind of order you'll have to obey immediately or else.

He looked at Priscila with a worried expression in his face. That was fast, he just changed his expression in a split second.I saw Priscila nod at David's question which I didn't manage to hear. Sunod ko na lang nakita ay ang paglabas nilang dalawa dito sa waiting room. I followed his order and gathered all the belongings of Priscila here. Thank goodness dalawang bag lang ang nandito kasama ang make-up kit niya.

Nang mapadaan ako sa set. I saw David scolding the director. That 'direktor' na grabe manermon. Akalain mo nga naman, ang bilis talaga ni karma. From a wolf-like scolding me when we arrived, he now looked like a dog who hides his tail because of fear.

"Consider the deal invalid," David said to the director. David then began to walked away but stopped on his track and turn around to face the director again. "I know 'everything' that happened here." David stated emphasizing the word 'everything'. Before he continue speaking he stopped his gazed at me for a while and then look at the director.

"You better say goodbye to that profession, it doesn't suit you." he coldly said to the director before he walked away leaving the old director completely stunned. I stared at everyone in this room before leaving with a heavy heart.

I arrived at the parking lot and instantly look for a white hyundai van. I supposed Priscila was inside, so as David but before I could open the car's door. David stepped out and get all the things that I'm carrying and put them inside the van.

Pagkatapos niyang maipasok lahat ng gamit sa loob ng van ay kinaladkad niya ako sa isang tabi at pabalibag na binitiwan ang kamay ko. I winced in pain but he didn't bother giving me an inch of concern.

"I put Priscila under your care because I believed that you could do the job properly but looked what happen!' he shouted at me. Nasigawan din naman ako kanina pero hindi ganito ang naramdaman ko. "My intel had informed me that you arrived here an hour late because of your stupidity! " my heart was beginning to beat so loud that it was defeaning. I bit my lower lip to stop my tears from flowing.

" And you know what's worst? you left Priscila alone!" I saw him closing his eyes as he was trying to suppress his anger. When he was about to open his eyes, I lowered my eyes and stared at my shoes as if they could be my reverie that could save me from this scolding.

"I'm giving you one last chance Ms. Garcia, you better know that I don't tolerate foolishness." David warned me before he left. I mean, before they left.

I was too out of my mind when I suddenly realize that they left me. Tuluyan na akong naiyak dahil sa halo-halong emosyon, pagod, frustration, dumagdag pa ang bagong problemang ngayon ko lang nalaman.

Yung bag kong may wallet at cellphone ko. Naisama ni David sa mga bag na kinuha niya sa akin kanina T.T.

Paano ako uuwi niyan!