Rebirth: Serena's Revenge

Chapter 11

After leaving the distress Wendy and Winni on their own, Serena went around the luxury section and browse the items in the stores.

Hindi niya kinalimutan ang kanyang pakay sa pagpunta sa mall. She went and looked for a suitable gift for Calum for their wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Serena wanted to gift him something personal but unfortunately she didn't have time now so she can only settle on ready made items.

Habang tumitingin ng magandang regalo, biglang tumunog ang kanyang cellphone, tanda na may tumatawag sa kanya.

Napangiti siya nang makita ang pangalan ng tumatawag sa kanya. It was Stella, her dearest stepmother.

Muhkang tama nga ang kanyang hinala, tinawagan ng magkapatid ang kanyang madrasta upang humingi ng tulong.

Stella probably doesn't want to waste millions either on her dear nieces, so she is calling her to help settle the matter.

Serena sneered. What a group of blood sucking leeches, they only know how to take advantage of her.

Hindi muna sinagot ni Serena ang tawag mula sa kanyang madrasta. Nagpanggap siya na parang walang naririnig at nagpatuloy sa pamimili ng maireregalo kay Calum.

Alam naman niyang tatawag ulit ito kung hindi niya man sagutin sa unang tawag. She will make her feel annoyed and frustrated first.

After a while, nakapili narin sa wakas ng regalo si Serena. She chose a emerald-cut canary diamond cufflinks from a very well known brand.

Calum wears suits almost everyday so she knew he will be able to use them.

If she only had enough time, Serena would have liked to design a cufflink for Calum herself.

Serena is studying fashion and accessory design so she knows how to design accessories. She lived until she was thirty-five in her previous life so she knows the designs that will be popular in the future.

Sayang nga lang at nakulangan na siya ng oras. Hindi bale, may ibang pagkakataon pa naman.

Habang hinihintay na maibalot ang kanyang regalo, tumunog ulit ang kanyang cellphone.

*Stella calling....*

Nang tignan niya ang kanyang call log, napangiti na lamang siya. This is the eleventh call of Stella, she is really persistent.

Mukhang ayaw talaga nitong maglabas ng pera para sa kanyang mga pamangkin.

Thinking that she annoyed and angered her enough already, Serena finally answered the call.

"Hello, Tita Stella?"

"Kanina pa kita tinatawagan, bakit ngayon kalang sumagot?!" galit na bungad nito sa kanya.

Lihim naman siyang napangiti, ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagalit sa kanya ang kanyang madrasta.

In her previous life, she was very obedient to her stepmother. She never made Stella angry, so this is the first time she is seeing this side of her.

She didn't expect that she is this easily angered. She just didn't answer a few of her calls and her mask is starting to fall.

"I'm in a crowded place so I didn't hear my phone ring. Bakit ka napatawag, Tita Stella? Is there an emergency?" kunway maamo niyang sagot dito.

Narinig niyang nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga ang kanyang kausap sa kabilang linya, tila kinakalma nito ang kanyang sarili.

Ilang sandali lang, narinig niya ulit ang kunway malungkot na boses nito.

"I'm sorry, Rina, I was just feeling very distress for Wendy and Winni. They called me crying, saying that they didn't have enough money to pay for their purchases."

Serena secretly sneered. You feel distress for them? Then why not give them money so they can pay for their purchases then? What a hypocrite.

"Ang sabi nila ay kasama ka nilang pumunta sa mall, bakit iniwan mo sila at hindi mo tinulungan?" tila nag-aakusang dugtong pa nito.

"Oh, Wendy persistently invited me to the mall. Ayoko nga sanang pumunta dahil wala naman akong bibilhin pero gusto magpasama ni Wendy. So I reluctantly agreed and helped her. Wala naman akong bibilhin kaya hindi ako nagdala ng pera at cards."

"Paano na kaya yan? Wala ka bang mahihiraman diyan ng pera? Just borrow from someone you know first and then I'll get Wendy to pay you once they get home, Rina." tila problemado nitong sagot.

A mocking smile formed on Serena's lips when she heard her stepmother's words.

Gusto niyang manghiram ng pera si Serena upang mabayaran ang pinamili ng mga pamangkin niya? At babayaran siya ni Wendy pagkauwi nito?

Sino ang niloloko nila? Sigurado siyang kapag binayaran niya ang pinamili ng magkapatid na Wendy at Winni, hindi siya babayaran ng mga ito.

Isn't it the same as gifting them the items then? What a joke.

"I don't think that will work, Tita Stella. Hindi maliit na halaga ang kailangan nilang bayaran. I don't know anyone here who has that kind of money." paliwanag naman niya.

Bago pa makasagot ulit ang nasa kabilang linya, inunahan na niya ito.

"How about this, just lend them the money first, Tita Stella. Tutal babayaran naman nila pagkauwi nila, hindi ba? It's not a big deal."

Natahimik naman ang nasa kabilang linya. Marahil ay mabilis itong nag-iisip ng paraan kung paano siya mapapayag nito na bayaran ang pinamili nila Wendy.

Alam ni Stella na kapag binigay niya ang pera kina Wendy, hindi na ito maibabalik pa.

Wendy's family definitely don't have the money to pay her back, so why would she give the money to them? Five million is a lot of money even to their family, the Fajardo's.

Hindi na hinintay pa ni Serena na makasagot si Stella at mabilis na siyang nagpaalam dito.

"Okay, that's settled then. I have to go now, Tita Stella. It is so crowded and noisy here. Goodbye." sabay disconnect sa tawag.

Sakto namang pagbaba niya ng tawag ay tapos na din naibalot ang nabili niyang regalo para kay Calum.

Kinuha niya ito at dinala sa checkout counter at binayaran. It was very expensive but Calum owns more expensive ones in his cloakroom. But she has no choice now.

Tumingin si Serena sa kanyang wristwatch at nakumpirmang mag-gagabi na pala. Kailangan na niyang makauwi dahil ipinangako niya kay Calum na hindi siya magpapagabi.

Kaya naman naglakad na siya papuntang elevator upang makababa na sa ground floor. Tinawagan niya ang kanyang driver at ipinaalam dito na papunta na siya ng entrance ng mall at uuwi na siya.

Bago marating ang elevator, nadaanan rin niya ang store kung saan niya iniwan ang magkapatid na Wendy at Winni.

She was quite surprise when she saw them still in the store, crying while talking to someone on the phone.

Napapangiting napailing nalang siya at pumasok na sa elevator.

I guess Stella is not gracious enough even to her own nieces after all. It looks like they have to cancel their purchases in the end.