"Red?" Nag-aalangang pumasok si Vico sa office nya pagkatapos nitong kumatok ng dalawang beses.

"O?" taas-kilay niyang tanong dito.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She felt the bandage on her neck. "I'm fine, but I'll have a neck scar thanks to you."

He gaped. "I was not the one who clawed your neck!"

"You might as well be. Ang tanga mo kasi, bakit mo pinapasok yung tigreng yun?!" she snapped.

"She showed herself in!" giit nito.

"Sana pinigilan mo!"

"Secretary mo 'ko, hindi bouncer!"

Red leaned back on her chair. "Shall I add that to your description then?"

"You're unbelievable! Can't you just be thankful that I was worried?"

"What will your worry do? Matatanggal ba nyan ang mga sugat ko?"

Vico was seething. If she could have a penny for each time na napapainit niya ang ulo nito, baka bilyonarya na siya. Technically, she's already a billionaire. Pero hindi lahat ay cash. Marami rin silang mamahaling properties pero nakapangalan pa rin sa daddy niya at mamanahin sana niya kung hindi lang ito nagkaroon ng maraming utang.

"Go away, Vico," utos niya rito.

Inayos ni Vico ang tindig nito at saka umirap sa kanya. "Sana pati mukha mo nakalmot din. Baka sakaling bumait ka."

Pagkasabi'y lumabas na ito ng office niya. Wala pa yatang isang minuto ay bumukas na naman ang pintuan.

"What is it this—"

"I just came by to check on you."

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. Normal na siguro kung si Vince iyon, kahit pa ayaw niya rito. He's the most likely to show concern because he's such a goody-goody. But Troy?

"Ano'ng nakain mo?" hindi niya napigilang itanong.

"Uhm, waffles?"

"Seriously Troy, I don't need your concern. You can see yourself out."

He let out a chuckle. "I'm not concerned," sabi nito. "But my mother was."

She frowned. "At paano naman nakarating sa mom mo ang nangyari?"

"I told her, of course."

"Are you out of your mind?!"

Wala iyon sa usapan nila. Hindi pa naman siya namimili. Why would he tell his mother about her?

"I already told them about you, Red," he said nonchalantly. "In fact, they asked me to bring you over this coming weekend. May family gathering kami."

"No fucking way!"

"Yes fucking way!" He took a few steps towards her. Nang makalapit ito sa lamesa niya ay itinuon nito roon ang tigkabilang kamay. He stared at her intently. She held his gaze. "My mother will be expecting you."

"Then I'll disappoint her."

"Red, you cannot disappoint my mom," mariin nitong sabi.

"I can and I will! Kasalanan mo naman yun e. Why did you tell them about me? Ano, tayo ba? Hindi naman, di ba?"

"Oh, so ano pala 'to? Trip-trip lang? Need I remind you that you almost begged me to marry you?"

She gritted her teeth. He's right. She's the one who dragged him into this. If she didn't ask Troy to marry her, hindi na sana niya pinuproblema ang pamilya at kundisyones nito. But if she didn't ask him, kay Vince naman ang bagsak niya.

She can't end up with someone she hates more than life itself.

"Fine. But I'll bring Vico."

"Okay," pagsang-ayon ni Troy. "He must have a date though."

"Can he bring his boyfriend?"

He shook his head. "No. Either he goes with a female company or he goes alone."

She grunted. Vico's allergic to women. Kinikilabutan ito kapag tinititigan ng babae. So she knows that he wouldn't be convinced to go to the gathering with a woman in his arms. Siguro kung iniidolo nitong diva ang isasama, papayag pa ito. But she can't ask Mariah Carey or Beyoncé to take a few minutes off of their busy schedules just to keep her gay cousin company.

Pag-uwi sa bahay ay tahimik niyang pinagmasdan si Vico. He's still mad at her. She can tell by the way he averts his gaze and tilts his head on the other side when she looks.

Tinawag niya ito at pinaupo sa tapat niya. They're in the kitchen, eating pizza for dinner.

"About that Maldives trip," simula niya. "I just want to tell you that I'm reconsidering."

About a month ago, Vico asked her to approve his 10-days leave from work to go to Maldives with Mitch. Hindi pa ito natatapos pagsasalita ay umayaw na siya kaagad. Vico already bought two plane tickets, which were non-refundable. Nasayang lang ang mga ito dahil sa hindi niya pag-approve.

"I'm listening," sabi nito.

"Do you still want to go?"

"Of course. Ten days away from you would equal heaven for me," he muttered.

"I heard that."

Nagtaas ng kilay si Vico. "I wanted you to."

She sighed. "Listen, if you want it, I'll approve it."

"It's too late, Red. Expired na yung tickets."

"I'll buy you two tickets. All expenses paid pa, if you like."

Naningkit ang mga mata nito. "And what's in it for you?"

"You just have to come with me to this party."

His face lit up. "Party?"

"Sort of," she said with a shrug. "Troy invited me to meet his family."

Vico gaped. "He did what?!"

"Apparently, he already told his family about me and they want to meet me. So ayun."

"And how do I fit in the picture?"

"I just want you there," she admitted, trying to sound nonchalant.

Vico's face softened. He gave her a smile. "Aww... you really can't live without me, can you?"

"That's not it!" she said with a scowl. "I just don't want to be alone with his family!"

"Why? Scared?"

"Me, scared? Please."

"O, ayun naman pala e. You don't need me there. You can take them."

Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin. "All expenses paid, 10 days sa Maldives. Round trip pa yung ticket mo. Don't you want it?"

"I-reimburse mo rin yung tickets na binili ko dati."

"Abuso ha!"

Vico lifted his forefinger. "And I want an allowance."

"What?!"

"If you agree, I'll cooperate."

Red had no choice but to agree with Vico. Totoo naman ang hinala nito. She's scared. She's scared of being alone, surrounded by people she doesn't know. If Troy's family is anything like him, then she's in deep trouble.

Sanay naman siyang inaaway, pero isa-isa lang.

She was already clad in her long, red strapless gown when Troy went inside the house. May dala itong dalawang malalaking paper bags.

"What are those?" she asked.

"Your dress and your shoes."

"I'm already wearing them," she pointed out.

"You can't wear that. You're too red, Red."

"So? It's my signature color. I won't go wearing anything else." Red makes her feel strong. In a way, the color became her armor. And without it, she'd feel weak.

"Black and white ang theme ng party."

"E di iba na lang ang ayain mo!" inis niyang sabi.

Troy sighed. "Why do you always have to make things difficult?"

"Just go, Red. You can wear red accessories naman," pangungumbinsi ni Vico. He just got out of his room, fixing the cuffs of his tuxedo. "And red lipstick."

She scowled at both men.

"Come on, Red. Take these." Troy handed her the bags. "Don't make me force you into them."

May pagbabanta sa mga mata nito. She heaved a sigh saka niya hinablot sa kamay ni Troy ang mga bag at padabog na nagpunta sa kwarto niya.

"Do you want my help?" Vico asked.

"No!"

Simangot na simangot siya habang nagbibihis. Troy made her wear a white Grecian gown. It's so light, it's like she's wearing nothing. She was disgusted with the strappy black shoes that go with it. To compensate with her mundane look, she wore red lipstick and accessorized with a pair of red drop earrings, a diamond-encrusted Indian bangle and a gold and red purse.

She also wore her hair down to complete the look.

Nang lumabas sya ay napangiti si Vico.

"You look tamed, Red."

She rolled her eyes. "Shut up."

"See? It's not that bad."

Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Troy, who in turn laughed and ushered her outside. Saktong labas nila nang lumabas din si Vince mula sa bahay nito.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"We're going to Troy's party," sagot ni Vico.

"You're not invited," dagdag niya.

Vince's face looked bland. "I have no intention of going."

"Good," singit ni Troy. "We'll get going then."

Red was so tensed. Halos ayaw na niyang bumaba ng sasakyan nang makarating sila. The house looks majestic. The way it's lit reminded her of Positano, in the mediterranean coast of Italy. The house was situated on a hill so each floor was elevated. May dalawang grand staircase sa harapan at isang malaking pintuan sa hugpungan ng mga ito.

Iba't ibang klase ng mamahaling sasakyan ang nakaparada sa kaliwa niya. Maraming attendants ang nasa labas. The usherettes wear red short dresses, which made her sigh in relief. Kaya pala ayaw siyang pagsuotin ng pula ni Troy. Magmumukha kasi syang usherette.

"Kung nagpula ka pala, you'll be the head of the ushering department," Vico joked.

Inismiran lang niya ang pinsan. Kinawit niya ang kamay sa braso ni Troy at sabay silang umakyat ng hagdan. They took their time, like the others.

"Your parents are obviously rich. Bakit hindi sila nagpagawa ng elevator?"

"It's not a hotel. There's no need for elevators."

"But this is tiring," reklamo niya.

"No one's complaining."

"I am!" she hissed.

"Do you want me to carry you?" taas-kilay nitong tanong.

She simply grimaced.

When they reached the top of the stairs, sinalubong sila ng ilang katulong na nakabihis din. Their butler, greeted them with a bow and led them himself to the ballroom. Nagsimulang kumabog ang dibdib niya nang makita niya ang buong pamilya ni Troy na naghihintay sa gitna.

They look like a family of gods and goddesses. The women are wearing long, flowy white gowns while the men are clad in black. Even Troy's grandfather looks dashing.

"Great genes, Red," bulong ni Vico sa kanya. "Your children would look breathtaking."

Troy heard that. Tumawa ito. "They surely would."