Everyone is in a frenetic mood. Lots of people come and go,
fussing about one thing after another. Dona Consuelo was
dressed in a regal baro and saya. Lolo Ignacio was in his
best barong Tagalog. Enzo was wearing a casual suit, calm
and collected in his demeanor.

Janna was in no mood to be outshined by anyone, especially
by Lena. She walks into the living room like a lioness in a
prowl. She was dressed seductively in a bright blue halter
top dress. Dona Consuelo, upon seeing Janna, made a sign of
a cross. Don Ignacio’s jaws dropped to the floor.

ENZO
(irritatingly)
Janna, yan ang isusuot mo?

JANNA
Bakit? Anong meron sa damit ko?

Enzo shook his head in dismay.

TINAY
(to aling minda)
Manonood lang siya ng parada,
ganyan ang suot?

MINDA
Pang Pok...

TINAY
Pok! Natumbok niyo Inay.

Paco, in the meantime, wanted to milk every moment of it.

PACO
Janna, saan ang gimmick natin?

JANNA
Che!

PACO
Magpalit ka nga, mamayang gabi mo
na lang yan isuot! Tutal sa gabi pa
naman ang party, parada pa lang
ngayon...

JANNA
Iba pa yung isusuot ko mamaya. Mas
daring!

ENZO
Honey, I know you can pull off any
dress. Pero it’s just a
bit...reavealing.

JANNA
Duh...it’s too late. Wala na
kayong magagawa. This is it...this
is so freakin’ it!

PACO
Okay! But don’t say we didn’t warn
you.

DON IGNACIO
Saan na ba si Lena? Magaalas-kwatro
na, ah! Malapit na magsimula ang
parada.

TINAY
Pababa na po sila ni Lizzie.
Patapos na ho sila ng tiningnan ko
kanina. Isusuot na lang nila yung
gown.

DONA CONSUELO
Ah ganoon ba? Eh, yung konsorte
ready na ba?

MINDA
Ay, si Julio nga pala. Sandali
lang at ma-check nga yung batang
yun. Kanina ko pang sinabihang
maligo’t magbihis na, eh.

Enzo looks unto Aling Minda.

As if on cue, Julio strides into the living room, slightly
staggering. Beads of perspiration, running off his face. He
had not slipped into his barong yet. He only had his black
pants and camiso chino on.

DONA CONSUELO
Iho, bakit hindi ka pa handa?!

JULIO
Pasensya na po kayo, Dona Consuelo.
Pero, mukhang hindi po ako makapagparada
ngayon.

Enzo deviously smiles.

DON IGNACIO
Bakit naman, iho?

JULIO
Ewan ko po, Don Ignacio, pero
parang masama ho ang nakain ko.
Napakasakit po ng tiyan ko.

DONA CONSUELO
Kawawang bata...

TINAY
Eh kasi, ang takaw-takaw mo. Kung
ano-ano ang kinakain mo!

JULIO
Bakit, ginusto ko bang magkasakit ako?

TINAY
Naku, magagalit sa iyo si Lena niyan!

DONA CONSUELO
Naku, paano na lang to? Matawagan
nga si Rafael. Pupunta din naman
yun dito. Sabihan ko lang na magbihis ng barong
, nang sa gayon siya na lang
ang pumalit kay Julio.

DON IGNACIO
Naku, baka gahol na tayo sa oras.

MINDA
Siya nga po. Baka wala nang oras.
Naku, paano ngayon yan. Sinong
kokonsorte kay Lena?

JULIO
Bakit hindi na lang po si Senorito
Enzo!

Everyone looks at Enzo, who can’t hide his sheepish grin.

PACO
(winking at Enzo knowingly)
Oh my God, how could we forget Enzo!

ENZO
Sige, ako na lang. Kasya naman sa
akin ang barong ni Julio.

JANNA
Enzo, no! Sino ang magiging kasama ko?

ENZO
Honey, huwag kang ganyan. It’s
about time we put our selfishness
aside, okay baby?

JANNA
(crossing her arms)
But, Enzo, what if I don’t want you to!

ENZO
Honey, it’s just a parade...

JANNA
For you it's just a parade...not to me!

ENZO
Ah ewan!

DON IGNACIO
O siya, magmadali na kayo! Julio,
kunin mo na ang barong ng senyorito mo.

JULIO
Opo!

Julio exits.

Enzo, meanwhile, rushes up the stairs to change.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Enzo comes down to the living room a few minutes later,
dressed in his well-fitted barong. He looked very slick.

PACO
Wow, pare! Mukhang sinukat talaga
sa iyo ang barong na iyan ah!

ENZO
Okay ba?

DON IGNACIO
Naku iho! Bagay na bagay sa iyo.

Janna, remains sulking on the side. Enzo goes up to her.

ENZO
Honey, would it hurt for you to
smile a little bit?

JANNA
I don’t feel like it! Basta, ayaw
kitang maging niya.

ENZO
Janna, listen to yourself. You’re
acting childishly again. Ilang
ulit ko bang kailangang magpaliwanag,
ha? This is just a parade. Wala
nang iba!

JANNA
Alam mo, Enzo. Gusto ko na sanang
maniwala sa iyo.

ENZO
Then, do!

JANNA
In as much as I don’t trust her,
now, I don’t trust you either!

Janna walked out of the room, heading towards the kitchen.
Enzo meanwhile just released a gargantuan sigh in her trail.

A collective gasp from the room, made Enzo look towards the
grand staircase.

IT was Lena! She was every bit as beautiful as anybody
could be! She looked very beautiful with her hair done up
in an intricate bun. She had a small tiara on. Her white,
silk dress screamed royalty and elegance. She was simply the most beautiful woman Enzo has ever seen.

Lena made her way down the stairs, followed by Liz.

PACO
Oh my God!

TINAY
Sheeeeet Lena, ang ganda mo!

DONA CONSUELO
Para kang prinsesa, iha!

DON IGNACIO
Hindi talaga sila nagkamali sa
pagpili sa iyo.

LENA
Thank you po, Lolo.

PACO
Naks, Lena. Para kang ikakasal sa
damit mong iyan ah!

Lena blushes lightly.

LENA
O, tara na! Late na ba tayo?

DONA CONSUELO
Hindi, Lena. Medyo maaga pa nga, eh.
Pero mabuti na rin yung mauna na
tayo sa simbahan.

LENA
Saan na ba si Julio?

TINAY
Hay naku, Lena, hindi ka maniniwala
kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya!

LENA
Bakit, anong nangyari kay Julio?

MINDA
Ayun, inatake ng katakawan. Sumakit
ang tiyan. HIndi daw siya makapagparada
kasi nagtatae daw siya.

LENA
Ganon? Paano na ngayon iyan?

DON IGNACIO
(dramatically)
Buti na lang at may magiting tayong
binata na siyang liligtas sa iyo...

LENA
Sino?

Everyone turns to Enzo.

ENZO
Ako!

Lena’s eyes widened --- with a hint of joy, masked with a
bit of tension. Enzo moves in to claim his princess. Lena
akwardly accepted his hand. They, as a pair, moved out of
the house.

PACO
And they lived happily...ever after!

With that, everybody cheerily moved out of the house.

INT. CHURCH LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

Everyone is still in a frantic mood. The parade was about to start.

LENA
Wala ba akong nakalimutan, Tinay?

TINAY
Wala naman siguro.

LENA
Feeling ko kasi meron.

ENZO
Baka panyo, ito Lena, o, meron ako.

LIZ
Eto ang paypay Lena, just in case
mainitan ka.

LENA
Hindi eh, may nakalimutan tayo...

DONA CONSUELO
Ano naman yun, Lena. Baka
pakiramdam mo lang iyon.

LENA
Hindi po, Lola. Sigurado yun.
Malakas kasi ang pakiramdam ko sa
mga ganitong bagay.

ENZO
Guni-guni mo lang iyan, Lena.

LENA
Hindi eh.

LIZ
Ano naman kaya yun, na check ko na
ang lahat.

PACO
Pare, si Janna!

Everyone looks at Enzo.

ENZO
Oh !

PACO
Ha ha ha...pare, nakalimutan mo
girlfriend mo!

Enzo starts to panic.

INT. LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME

Janna, coming from the kitchen, came back to an almost empty
room. Aside from the event organizer doing final touches on
the house decor, Janna was by her lonesome.

JANNA
Oh my God, where is everybody?

Janna instantly fiddled with her cell phone. She was trying
to call Liz.

JANNA
! Walang signal!

Janna decided to ask the organizer.

JANNA
Ahh, miss, alam mo ba kung saan
nagpunta ang mga tao dito?

ORGANIZER
Pasensya na miss, hindi ko ho
napansin. Kani-kanina lang andito
pa sila.

JANNA
Ah, okay.

Janna leaves the room, stomping.

CUT TO:

INT. CHURCH - CONTINUOUS

People started to swell. Most of whom are curious to see
Lena. Enzo meanwhile is pacing, still trying to call Janna.

PACO
O, pare ano? Na-kontak mo na?

ENZO
Pare, out of coverage area ang
cellphone niya.

PACO
That’s what you get for forgetting
your girlfriend, pare! Be prepared
for the wrath of a woman scorned, pare!

ENZO
Thanks for rubbing it in, pare.

PACO
Ha ha ha. Bakit mo kasi nakalimutan
si Janna?

Enzo looks at Lena. Paco immediately understood.

PACO
I don’t really blame you, pare.

ENZO
She has become, pare...an official
distraction.

Paco bursts into laughter.

Enzo walks towards aling Minda.

ENZO
Aling Minda, umalis na ho ba si
Kuya Marlon para sunduin si Janna?

MINDA
Ay oo iho. Kakaalis lang niya.

Meanwhile, Lena is waiting patiently just outside the church.

DON IGNACIO
O, eto na pala ang karwahe niyo, Lena.

LENA
Karwahe po?

DONA CONSUELO
You didn’t expect us to let you
walk, iha? Especially not in that
expensive gown.

DON IGNACIO
We arranged a ride para sa iyo.

LENA
Talaga po?

DON IGNACIO
Actually, Rafael made all the
arrangements.

Slowly, a white convertible rolled into scene. Driving it,
was Rafael. The vintage chevey was dressed in white balloons and white
chrysanthemums.

DONA CONSUELO
Ayan na!

LENA
Yan?

DON IGNACIO
Yes, iha? Do you like it?

LENA
Opo, lolo.

Rafael halts in front of them. He steps down the vehicle
excitedly.

RAFAEL
Do you like it, Lena?!

LENA
OO naman!

RAFAEL
Pinahiram ni Ninong Gov sa atin. Nakasakay ka na ba sa likod ng
convertible?!

LENA
Well, there’s a first time sa lahat
ng bagay, di ba?

RAFAEL
That’s my girl! O, sige sakay na!
Saan na ba si Julio?

DON IGNACIO
May nakalimutan pala kaming sabihin
sa iyo...

RAFAEL
Ano po iyon, Daddy Iggy?

DON IGNACIO
Hindi pala siya makakarating, kasi
sumakit ang tiyan.

RAFAEL
Sino po ang e- kay Lena
ngayon?
(looking on to his black shirt)
Naku...di pa naman ako masyadong
nakabihis.

ENZO
Ako pare!

Rafael’s face instantly darkened, especially with the knowledge that Enzo
has one-upped him.

RAFAEL
O hala, sige, akyat na kayo at
mukhang magsisimula na ang parada!

LENA
Halika ka na, Enzo!

ENZO
Tara lets.

RAFAEL
Shucks, tsuper lang pala ang role
ko ngayon.

LENA
Di bale, ikaw naman ang pinaka-cute
na tsuper dito.

Lena actually intended that statement for Enzo to hear. She wanted to see his reaction.

Upon hearing this, Enzo took a step back, a look of disdain
on his face.

RAFAEL
O pare bakit?

ENZO
Yung girlfriend ko kasi naiwan sa
bahay!

RAFAEL
Ba’t siya nagpa-iwan?

ENZO
Naiwan siya, pare...hindi nagpaiwan.

RAFAEL
Malaking gulo yan, pare...

ENZO
Oo nga pare!

LENA
O ano? Sasakay ba kayo?

The boys looked unto Lena who is already seated at the back
of the convertible.

RAFAEL
Lika na, pare.

ENZO
Dahan-dahan ka lang sa pag maneho
pare, ha?

RAFAEL
Oo naman, ikaw rin alalayan mo rin
siya, nang sa ganoo'y hindi
mapapaano ang babaeng pinaka-ingat-ingatan
ko....

ENZO
Natin, pare...natin.

With that, they took their places in the procession.

INT. KITCHEN - ISLAND MANSION - SAME TIME

Janna was on a warpath. It now occured to her that she was
left behind. SHe rushed to the kitchen to lash on whoever
she might meet there. Unfortunately for JUlio, Janna caught
him taking a bite of some food.

JANNA
Kala ko ba masakait ang tiyan mo?

JULIO
(still munching)
Kanina pa iyon. Ngayon, medyo okay
na ko.

JANNA
Nakita mo ba silang umalis?

JULIO
Opo, kanina pa po iyon...

JANNA
Ganun ba? Hindi ba nila ako hinanap?

JULIO
Ewan ko po, nagmamadali po kasi
silang lahat...siguro hindi!

JANNA
(annoyed)
Ganun ba? Siguro binalak ito ni Lena!

JULIO
Naku po! Wala hong kasalanan si Ate
Lena dito. Kami lang naman po ni
senyorito...

JANNA
Anong ginawa niyo ni Enzo?

JULIO
Ay wala po...

JANNA
Hindi Julio, narinig kita! Anong
ginawa ni Enzo?

JULIO
Wala ho talaga. Ang gusto ko pong
sabihin, kasalanan ko ito talaga,
kung hindi lang nagkasakit ang
tiyan ko...ganon po.

JANNA
Mukha ba akong tanga, Julio?

JULIO
Hindi naman ho!

JANNA
Pwes, huwag mo akong gaguhin!

JULIO
Opo.

JANNA
Inutusan ka ba ni Enzo na magsakit-sakitan
para siya ang maging
ni Lena?

JULIO
Ay naku po, di ho magagawa ni
senyorito iyon...

JANNA
Sagutin mo ako ng maayos Julio!
Inutusan ka ni Enzo ano?

JULIO
Hindi po talaga!

JANNA
Kung may sakit ka pa, bakit ka
lamon ng lamon ngayon? Kasi nga
wala kang sakit at kailanman hindi
ka nagkasakit!

JULIO
Nawala na lang ho ng bigla ang
sakit ng tiyan ko!

JANNA
Sabihin mo ang totoo! Si Enzo ang
may pakana nito ano?

Julio was forced to nod.

JANNA
Sinasabi ko na nga ba!

Janna picks up a salt shaker and throws it on the floor,
sending shards of glass all over the place. She then storms
out of the kitchen,leaving Julio, struggling to swallow a lump of cold.

JANNA
Makikita nilang dalawa!

CUT TO:

EXT. TOWN PLAZA - CONTINUOUS

The white car with the princess and her new prince paraded
all over town. People line up to see Lena. She was like a
celebrity for them. But being considered one of their own,
Lena was praised by everyone in town. Each had their own
story to tell.

BABAE 2:
Hay naku! Ang bait talaga niyang
si Lena!

BABAE 1:
At di hamak na mas maganda siya sa
lahat ng naging Maria Elena dito!

BABAE 2:
Tinatanggap ko na mas maganda
talaga siya sa akin!

BABAE 1:
Oo nga pala naging Maria Elena ka
nga rin pala. Kelan ba iyon?

BABAE 2:
1983 ata.

BABAE 1:
Buti na lang pala, hindi na
padamihan ng makukuhang daga ang
pinagbabatayan ng Maria Elena ngayon.

BABAE 2:
Che!

LALAKE 2
Huwag nga kayong mag-away! Ang
ganda talaga ni Lena!

LALAKE 3
Lena! Lena!

Lena waives at them.

MATANDA 1:
Mabait na bata talaga yang si Lena!

MATANDA 2:
Bagay sila ni Senyorito Enzo ano?

MATANDA 1:
Oo kumadre! Bagay talaga sila!

EXT. TOWN PLAZA - CONTINUOUS

Janna arrives at the plaza, just in time to see Lena and
Enzo pass her by. She gave the both of them a dagger look.

Lena looks a little bit worried.

.
.
.

----
.
.
.

Hello sa lahat!

Promise po, talaga. Tuloy-tuloy na to. Big, big chapters coming up. I had a bit of a difficulty how to go about them, kasi nga these chapters are part of a big turning point in the story. Lots of exciting twists and turns coming...thanks to everybody!