Chapter 32

"Thank you so much, @Enchanté Attire for inviting me. I am so so excited to finally meet the CEO and Designer of this clothing business. It was such an honor. See you on Saturday 😍"

Ito agad ang bumungad sa akin nang ilog-in ko ang page ko sa laptop ko.

Two weeks later ay naisipan namin na it is the time para ireveal ang sarili ko. Why not, e ngayon, mahihina na ang kalaban.

Makalipas ang isang linggo ay namahagi na rin kami ng invitation all over the Philippines. Mayroon rin sa ibang bansa.

Hanggang ngayon ay kabadong kabado pa rin ako. I know na para sa akin rin naman ito pero hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko na magtampo ang mga kaibigan namin, kaibigan ko. Lalong-lalo na si Patricia.

Kasalukuyan akong nakaupo sa harap ng table ko at ginagawa pa rin ang wedding gown ni Andrea. Malapit na itong matapos kaya naman ay hindi ko na masyadong inaalala. Napaka ganda nito.

Monday na ngayon at naisipan ni Anthony na sa isang sikat na fashion clothing sa America na lamang ipagawa ang gown na sosootin ko sa revealing day ko. I haven't seen it and I know, maganda ito.

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At dahil sabado na ngayon, maaga pa lamang ay ginising na ako ni Nanay Lydia.

"Anak, gising na. Ito na ang araw na pinakahihintay mo" ani nito.

Mabilis naman akong bumangon saka tumingin sa katabi ko. Wala na si Anthony roon. Nasaan kaya 'yon.

"Lumabas saglit si Anthony kung iyon ang hinahanap mo. Kinukuha n'ya kase ang gown na sosootin mo, maging ang soot n'ya ay kukunin na n'ya rin" ani ni Nanay. Napansin pala nito na nakatitig ako sa pwesto ni Anthony.

"Ang sosootin n'yo, 'nay, okay na ba?" Tanong ko rito.

"Oo anak, ayos na. Salamat ha. Good luck, nandito lang kami palagi sa likod mo" sagot ni Nanay.

Mabilis ko naman itong niyakap habang naiiyak.

"Sige na, kain ka na roon" ani ni Nanay.

Tumango naman ako rito saka nagpaalam na maghihilamos lamang. Nang makapaghilamos ako ay sumunod din naman agad ako sa kaniya sa kusina.

Habang kumakain ako ay dumating si Anthony. Bitbit ang dalawang malaking box. Laman raw noon ang gown na sosootin ko mamaya at ang tuxedo na sosootin n'ya. Excited na ako na kabado.

Hindi pa man ako nakakatapos sa pagkain ay dumating si Kuya Darwin at Clark.

Bitbit na ng dalawa ang sosootin nila mamaya.

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Alas dos na ng hapon nang dumating ang trusted make up artists ni Kuya Darwin. Inuna nilang make up-an si Nanay Lydia at Lyka.

"So pretty n'yo naman, Nanay and Lyka" puri ko sa mga ito nang matapos na silang ayusan.

"Naku, ikaw talaga ate. Ikaw nga wala pang make up pero ang ganda ganda mo na" ani naman ni Danica sa akin bago sila pumunta sa silid nila para magbihis na.

Sinunod namang lagyan ng make up si Kuya Darwin at Clark. Kaunting powder lamang ang sa mga ito saka kaunting lip tint rin.

Mauuna na raw ang dalawa, kasama ni Nanay Lydia at Lyka sa event dahil syempre, kailangan namin ng mata doon. Hindi naman puwede na securities at staff's ko lamang ang nandoon.

Ilang sandali pa ay nakapag bihis na silang lahat. Hindi rin sila nagtagal dahil umalis na sila.

Naiwan naman kami ni Anthony na ngayon ay nilalagyan na ng make up.

As usual, naunang matapos si Anthony. Nakabihis na ito pero ako ay nilalagyan pa rin ng make up.

"Hindi kayo pwede na sabay na pumunta sa event, lagot kayo kay Sir Darwin" ani ng make up artists sa amin.

Narinig siguro ang sinasabi ni Anthony na sasabay na raw s'ya sa akin sa sasakyan para masigurado na ligtas akong makakarating sa event.

"Hindi ba talaga pwede?" Pagpupumilit ni Anthony.

"Naku, Sir. Hindi nga po pwede" ani ng isang make up artist. Halata sa boses nito na yamot na.

Matapos ang isang oras ay ready na ako.

Si Anthony ay on the way na raw sa event. Ako naman ay nasa loob pa rin ng penthouse namin.

5:00 pa lamang naman ng hapon. 6:00 ang oras kung kailan ako magpapakita sa publiko.

Ayon kay Kuya Darwin ay sobrang dami daw ng tao. Mabuti na lamang at malaking event hall ang pagdarausan namin nito.

5:50 na nang makarating ako sa Event Hall. Ayon sa kasama kong make up artists ay hindi pa raw ako puwedeng pumasok hangga't walang pahintulot si Kuya Darwin.

Ilang sandali, sa wakas ay nakapasok na ako sa loob ng Hall.

The grand ballroom was adorned with elegant decorations, shimmering chandeliers casting a warm glow over the room. The air was filled with an undercurrent of excitement and anticipation as the guests mingled, their voices blending into a low hum of conversation.

Sa pagpasok ko sa entrance ay agad na akong naka agaw ng pansin as made my way through the crowd. I'm still wearing my mascara. At napapalibutan ng body guards.

"S'ya na siguro yan" rinig kong ani ng isang bisita nang lumampas ako sa kanila.

Pilit kong iwinawaksi ang aking kaba hanggang sa successful akong nakatuntong sa stage. Agad na tumama sa akin ang spotlights, everyone was staring at me.

Hindi ko pa rin inaalis ang aking mascara. Inumpisahan ko na ang speech ko.

"Ivy San Francisco, the epitome of grace and elegance, had spent years building her clothing business. As the CEO and designer of the famous Enchanté Attire, My designs adorning the bodies of the rich and famous. But behind the glamorous façade, lay a story of struggle, betrayal, and determination" ani ko. I heard a loud gasps of everyone saka hinanap ng mata ko si 'ate'. Sa hindi kalayuan ay nandoon rin sina Adrian and friends.

"My life before was marked by cruelty and hardship, particularly at the hands of" I trailed of.

At the age of eighteen, I had fallen victim to the manipulations of the ruthless boy who had tormented me throughout the past years. This boy had taken pleasure in ridiculing her, teasing her for her aspirations and dreams. It was a time of darkness and pain for me, but I refused to let it define me" ani ko habang inaalala ang pait ng nakaraan. Hindi ko mapigilan ang luha ko kaya inabutan ako ng staff ko ng tissue.

Now, standing at the center of attention, Ivy took a deep breath, steeling herself for the moment she had been waiting for. The room fell silent. The people who ruined my life didn't have the of the storm about to descend upon them, stood amongst the crowd, their expressions filled with smug satisfaction.

With a voice that resonated with power, Ivy began to speak again. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, it is an honor to stand before you tonight. Many of you excited to finally meet me, the CEO and designer of Enchanté Attire. But there is a story that I have kept hidden, a story that needs to be told." Ani kong muli.

The room grew tense as Emma's words hung in the air, curiosity burning in the eyes of those present. Ate Vanessa and Adrian's company exchanged wary glances, their confidence fading as a sense of unease washed over them.

Ivy continued, her voice steady but filled with conviction. "I was once a young girl who appreciates everything about life. I was subjected to cruelty from those who should have protected me" I trailed off again.

"My own sister, Vanessa Dela Fuente, who stands amongst you tonight, was the orchestrator of my pain. She manipulated, belittled, and sought to destroy everything I held dear." Hindi ko na mapigilan ang sakit at hapdi na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

A gasp rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned to Vanessa, who stood frozen, her face paling with shock. The realization of her sister's revelation etched itself onto her features, as the weight of her actions descended upon her.

Ivy's gaze then shifted to Adrian and friends who tried to maintain his composure but failed, his confident façade crumbling under the weight of his guilt.

"And Adrian and company," Ivy continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "You took pleasure in tormenting mee everyday and night, in making me doubt my worth. But tonight, I reveal the truth, that I am no longer the girl you once taunted. I am the woman who built myself again, who overcame the obstacles you placed in my path."

The room went silent, the tension palpable as the gathered guests absorbed the magnitude of Ivy's words. The air crackled with a mixture of shock, disbelief, and a newfound respect for the woman who had risen above her circumstances.

The camera's and news agencies were all alert and capturing every moment. I'll let them to expose ang baho ng mga ito.

I took a step forward, my eyes blazing with determination. "For years, I have silently endured the pain and betrayal, but because of this people, I stand here today to reclaim my power, to expose the truth, and to show the world that I am the master of my own destiny."

The audience erupted into applause, their admiration for Ivy resonating through the room like a tidal wave. Vanessa and Adrian's company stood in stunned silence, unable to comprehend the woman standing before them. Their false sense of superiority shattered, replaced by a deep sense of regret and remorse.

"Oh, I forgot this one" Ivy continuously said. "Hi, Mayor Acosta. Kamusta naman? Sayang, hindi namatay 'yung babae na pinasunog mo dati. Better luck next time, ah" ani ko kay Mayor.

All of people's attention ay nabaling kay Mayor.

Ivy approached them, her gaze unwavering. "You thought you could break me, but I rose above your cruelty. I will never forget. From this moment forward, you will witness the success and strength that you once sought to destroy."

And with a final glance of defiance, Ivy turned away from her past, leaving people who ruined her life to face the consequences of their actions.

"And Yes, Ladies and gentlemen, Good evening! Thank you for coming here" ani ko saka dahan-dahan na tinggal ang mascara ko.

"I am Ivy San Francisco or Marisse Dela Fuente, the CEO and designer of the famous Enchanté Attire"