Gilded Lies
Chapter 3. Mortal Enemy
Eloisa Phoebelyn Medrano
How she wished hindi niya nakilala ang babae.
Eloisa's parents died and Tanya, who was the bestfriend of Eloisa's mom, became their guardian until Eloisa's older sister turned twenty one.
They were friends in the beginning dahil madalas itong isama ni Tanya sa mga gatherings.
Or so she thought. Until she noticed how she was trying to immitate everything she does, was very patronizing to the point that she almost lost her self-confidence.
Worse, she was so good at making people believe that she's innocent and Sophia was the spoiled one.
Including her own parents.
Sophia was thirteen when she had her first suitor. Two weeks later, nalaman niyang nanliligaw na pala ito kay Eloisa.
She confronted her and slapped her in the face. Ito pa ang may ganang magsumbong at kinampihan pa ito ni Gemma, Eloisa's older sister at sinabing hindi kasalanan ng kapatid kung ito ang nagustuhan ni Jared.
Sobrang sama ng loob niya lalo na nang sabihin ng mga magulang na hindi pa siya dapat mag boyfriend dahil bata pa siya.
Tanya took her side behind Eloisa's back but for sure, ayaw lang nitong lumala ang gulo at sumama ang loob ng mga magulang niya.
"I'm on your side, Sophie," mahinahong sagot ni Tanya. "I know how you trusted Eloisa and she betrayed you. But she's not in a good situation right now. Just be patient with her. Isa pa, lalaki lang iyan. It's never good to fight over a guy. You're pretty. Marami ka pang makikilala in the future. Enjoy life and focus on your dreams."
"Sophie's rich. She doesn't need to focus on her studies," ungos ni Jade.
"Si Eloisa ang pagsabihan mo nyan. Hindi na lang mag-aral mabuti nang gumanda ang future niya. Isa pa, kung tunay siyang kaibigan, hindi siya papatol sa lalaking iyon. Alam na nga niyang gusto ni Sophie."
"Jade." saway ni Tanya.
"Just saying. Paawa effect pagkatapos gumawa ng kalokohan," reklamo ni Jade.
"I understand, auntie," sabi na lang ni Sophia. "Ako na lang po ang iiwas sa kanya."
Nakangiting tumango si Tanya, "Thank you. But just so you know, I'm on your side."
Simula noon, Sophia tried to avoid Eloisa kahit pa nalaman niyang boyfriend na nito si Jared. Jared was one of the popular guys kaya naman naging sikat na rin si Eloisa. When the group of Raegan found out na kapatid siya ni Spade, sinama siya ng mga ito sa grupo which she knew infuriated Eloisa. Very exclusive ang barkada nila Raegan. Hindi basta nakikipagkaibigan ang mga ito kung kani-kanino.
Muling bumalik sa kasalukuyan ang isip ni Sophia nang magsalita ulit si Vernon.
"Ano bang nagawa ni Sophia sa kanya? Why does she need to throw her under the bus?"
"Eloisa is Prim's friend and totoong kaaway ko si Prim. Siguradong she only based her judgment sa nakikita niya," sabi ni Sophia.
"But she's a family friend. She should have considered that."
"Your dad is right," Tanya sighed.
"Hindi ko siya dapat kunsintihin. I noticed the jealousy even before but I was afraid to confront her. Hayaan mo, pagsasabihan ko."
"I'm innocent," Sophia said. "Iyon ang mahalaga. Basta naniniwala kayo sa akin. Okay na iyon."
Hindi natuloy ang dapat sana'y bakasyon ni Sophia at Diana dahil ayaw ni Sophia na isiping nagtatago siya. Diana decided to stay too para samahan siya.
"I'm sorry. Hindi ka tuloy nakadalaw sa inyo," Sophia told Diana habang naghahanda na silang matulog.
"Okay lang iyon. Ano ka ba?" Diana chuckled. "Dio's right. Hindi naman kami welcome doon. I just didn't want to hurt aunt Tanya's feeling."
Nahiga na si Sophia at pinatay ang lampshade na nasa side table.
"Pero nasaan nga kaya si Prim?" Diana curiosily asked. "Sa kwento mo sa akin dati, her parents are very strict. Hindi kaya naglayas siya?"
Saglit na natigilan si Sophia, hindi ugali ni Prim na sumuway sa mga magulang.
"Anyway, huwag na natin siyang pag-usapan," pag-iiba ni Diana.
"Your debut is coming," muling sumigla si Sophia. "I'm so glad you change your mind about the party."
"Tama ka. Once in a lifetime lang iyon. After I survived that tumor, I just wanted to enjoy life."
"Huwag kang mag-alala. Yours will be more extravagant and memorable. Narinig ko si Mommy at lola na kausap ang event planner," pangako ni Sophia. "Way better than Antonella's Quinceañera."
Antonella is Diana's half-sister. The youngest daughter of her biological mother to her current, very obnoxious husband, Luis.
Natapos ang Christmas break ngunit wala pa ring nakakaalam kung nasaan si Prim.
Napansin ni Sophia nang simula nang mawala si Prim, iniwasan na siya ng mga kaibigan. She tried confronting them at sinabi ni Raegan ang tunay na dahilan. They were upset na idinawit niya ang mga ito sa imbestigasyon.
Sophia thought it was petty.
Sa huli ay nagdesisyon siyang lumipat ng paaralan. At least, makakapagsimula siya ulit at hindi niya na makikita si Eloisa. Lalo na si Jared, the first guy who broke her heart.
Years passed at nakapagtapos ng college si Sophia. She decided to work for Vernon's company.
All those years, they never found Prim. Hanggang sumuko na rin ang mga magulang nito sa paghahanap sa dalagita.
Every clue leads to a dead end.
But Sophia had never forgotten about her.
Until one day, she received a surprised call while she was at the office.