Red got a bandwagon welcome from Troy's family. Hindi na niya alam kung kanino titingin dahil halos sabay-sabay nagsalita ang mga ito. Troy had to intervene. He must have sensed that they're starting to get on her nerves.

Inilayo siya nito at saka inisa-isang ipakilala ang pamilya nito.

"Honey, this is my father, Don Victorino Aragonza. And this lovely lady here is my mom, Henrietta Angelica Aragonza. Ma, pa, this is Regina. But she goes by the name Red."

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa paggamit nito ng endearment, pero agad niya iyong ibinaba nang lapitan siya ng mga magulang nito at halikan sa pisngi.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, hija."

"Likewise," she responded curtly.

"And these are my sisters, Ela Maria and Ariesa Jane."

Pilit siyang ngumiti sa dalawang babaeng kanina pa nakatingin kay Vico.

"Ela, Ariesa, say hi to your future ate."

Gusto niyang sikuhin si Troy. He was clearly enjoying this.

"Hi, ate." Nilapitan siya ni Ariesa at hinalikan sa pisngi. Sumunod naman si Ela, na nahuli niyang sumulyap kay Vico at ngumiti.

"Nice to meet you," she said blandly. Binalingan niya si Vico. "By the way, this is my cousin Vico."

"Hi, Vico!" Mukhang mas tuwang-tuwa pa si Ela na makilala si Vico kaysa sa kanya. She can't blame the girl though. Vico looks so manly in a tux. But that's about the manliest he can get.

"Hello, Vico!" Ariesa elbowed her sister out of the way and took Vico's hand. "You're so gwapo!" she exclaimed.

Vico laughed weakly and uttered his thanks. Hindi na nito mabawi ang kamay kay Ariesa. She got him on a tight grip. It was not until Don Victorino cleared his throat that she let go. Nagtago ang pinsan sa likuran niya.

"They like you," she teased.

Vico grimaced. "I'm gonna need a drink."

"I'll take you to the bar," Ariesa offered. Umangkla ito sa braso ni Vico.

"No, tutol naman ni Ela. "I'll take you."

Vico looked helplessly at her. Siya naman ay inaya si Troy palayo sa mga magulang nito. Naupo sila sa table na reserved sa family and close friends ng mga Aragonza.

"Aren't we supposed to help him?" tanong ni Troy sa kanya.

"No. Mahal ang trip to Maldives, 'no. I should at least be entertained."

Troy looked confused. Hindi kasi nito alam kung ano ang kuneksyon ng sinabi niya.

Hindi ma-hindi-an ni Vico ang magkapatid. Both look gorgoeous in their gowns but neither does it for him. Kung maha-high man siya sa dalawa, iyon ay dahil sa mga suot nilang damit. Ariesa's wearing an ombre dress. Black on top, then fading down into white. It looks so classy with her finger wave updo. Si Ela naman ay naka-black lacy dress na plunging ang likod. Her hair's up to a messy bun.

He loves those dresses. Kung mamarapatin nga lamang ng pagkakataon ay hihiramin niya iyon at isusuot. Pero kabilin-bilinan ni Red sa kanya, huwag syang aastang bakla kahit ngayong gabi lang. Don Victorino doesn't approve of gays. Old-fashioned kasi ito at may pagka-tradisyunal. Gusto nito na ang mga nakasanayan lamang nito ang makikita nito.

Wala nga raw itong phone sabi ni Troy. Kung paano nito napalago ang negosyo gamit ang makalumang paraan ng pamumuhay ay hindi niya alam.

He flinched when both girls pulled at him.

"Ariesa, you're not even allowed to drink yet!" reklamo ni Ela sa nakababatang kapatid.

"I'm already 19!"

"Papa said no drinking until you're twenty-one!"

"So?!" Ariesa retorted. "I'm just going to show Vico where the bar is!"

"Ako na nga, di ba!"

Ela tugged at his arm the same time Ariesa did.

"Ow! Please, stop pulling!" aniya.

"Sorry! Si Ariesa kasi!"

"O, ako na naman?! Ikaw rin kaya!"

Vico helped his hands up in defeat. "Girls, both of you can take me there. Please, just stop fighting."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa. Saka parehong ngumiti.

"Okay, pero selfie muna tayo."

Ariesa took the phone from her purse and opened her Instagram.

"Ang tagal!" reklamo ni Ela.

"Teka lang, nag-hang."

"Mag-delete ka kasi ng pictures mo. Nakakasira ng phone."

Sumimangot si Ariesa saka hinila ang dangling earring ng kapatid. Ela backed away.

"Ouch! You almost tore my ear off!"

"I'll tear your ear off kapag hindi ka pa tumigil," banta nito.

He was momentarily thankful. Na-realize kasi niya na kahit gaano pa man kasama ang ugali ni Red, hindi siya nito sinasaktan ng madalas. Verbal abuse nga lang ang kapalit. Yung tipong nakakababa ng dignidad at nakawawala ng tiwala sa sarili.

"Uhm guys, selfie?"

Sabay na ngumiti ang dalawa. He was creeped out by the sudden change of mood. Hindi lang siguro siya sanay. Kahit naman pusong babae siya, hindi siya ganito ka-moody.

Siya na ang humawak ng camera. Yumakap naman sa tigkabila niya ang dalawa.

"Groufie kasi," pagtatama ni Ela.

"Selfie, groufie, pareho rin yun."

"In what universe?"

He groaned inwardly. Kanina pa niya gustong mag-boy hunting pero dahil sa dalawang makulit na kapatid ni Troy ay napupurnada ang mga plano niya. Kanina pa nga niya gustong sabihin sa mga ito na hindi naman siya interesado sa kanila dahil lalaki rin ang hanap niya.

But Red will kill him. At kapag sinabi nito kay Mitch ang pinaggagawa niya inappropriateness, malilintikan din siya sa nasabing boyfriend.

Pagkakuha nila ng ilan pang pictures ay nagpunta na sila sa bar. Lady's drink lamang ang pwedeng order-in ni Ariesa, though he's pretty sure na nakakainom na naman ito ng liquor kapag malayo sa mapanuring mata ng pamilya nito.

Ela ordered a margarita.

"One Cosmo for me."

Napatingin sa kanya ang bartender.

"Sir?"

"Uhm, it's vodka," paliwanag niya. "With cranberry juice."

"That's a lady's drink, Vico," Ela said blandly.

"I know. But I don't really want to drink anything hard. May gagawin pa ako bukas e," dahilan niya.

Hindi na lamang nagreklamo ang dalawa.

"I'm really sorry for my daughters, hija. Mukhang napusuan yata nila ang pinsan mo. Kanina pa sila nag-aagawan," Henrietta said sweetly.

"That's okay. Vico's good with girls naman."

"How old is he?" tanong naman ni Don Victorino.

"He's twenty-five."

Nagkatinginan ang mag-aswawa.

"Does he have a girlfriend?"

"I don't think so." Pero boyfriend meron. Tanungin nyo ako dali.

Troy shot her a warning look when she opened her mouth again.

"Vico's very picky... with girls. Not with guys though. He gets along with guys so well."

She gave Troy a sly smile when he glared.

"What do you mean?" kunot-noong tanong ng daddy ni Troy.

"She meant that Vico's very nice, Dad."

"Yes, he's so nice," sabat niya. "I heard nga that he's going to Maldives this year with his guy friend e."

"Barkada bonding?"

"I guess," she replied with a shrug.

"Hon, can we talk for a sec?"

"Can't we talk here?"

"It's private."

She gave him a cheeky smile. "I'm sure your parents wouldn't mind."

"Regina, don't make me beg," he said in his sweet voice that nearly made her hurl.

Nakita niyang nagdaop ng palad ang dalawang matanda, mukhang tuwang-tuwa sa pag-arte ng anak nila. It took a nudge on her foot and a deadly stare to make her get up.

Troy led her on one corner, his fingers already digging on her elbow.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to give my father a heart attack?"

"Ang O.A. ha. So what kung malaman ng daddy mo na bakla si Vico? Mamumulubi ba kayo?"

"Have I not explained enough?"

She crossed her arms. "No! Ano ba ang problema ng daddy mo sa mga bakla?"

"He despises their existence."

"Why?"

Troy sighed. Sumandal ito sa pader, nakaiwas ng tingin. Agad nitong pinaalis ang waiter na may dalang champagne pagkakuha nito ng dalawang wine glass at saka magkasunod na tinungga ang laman.

"Just for your cooperation, I'll tell you the backstory."

"I'm all ears."

Kung si Troy man ang makakatuluyan niya, might as well get to know him a little better.

"When I was a kid, I had this piano teacher. He also acted as my babysitter kasi sa kanya ako iniiwan nina mama tuwing may business trips sila. There's this one business trip na napaaga ng balik ang parents ko. They caught that teacher molesting me. Turns out that he's gay. My father nearly killed him."

"Weren't you traumatized? You seem fine around Vico."

Troy shrugged. "I guess it doesn't really bother me."

"O, e di hindi 'yon excuse. I know Vico's stupid most of the time, but I don't blame it on his sexuality. He's a damn good executive secretary."

"Are you drunk yet, Red?" narinig niyang tanong ni Vico. Nang lumingon siya ay nakatayo na ito roon, tangan ang isang cocktail drink.

He's smiling from ear to ear. Nanginginang pa ang mga mata nito.

"I didn't mean it," sabi niya rito.

"Then why did you say it?"

"I'm trying to prove a point."

"Did you prove it?"

"Go away, Vico."

He laughed. "I know you love me," sabi nito sabay alis.

She turned to find Troy smiling.

"What?" mataray niyang tanong.

"Ang gullible mo."

Comprehension dawned on her. "You mean to say that that's not true?!"

"Of course it's not," natatawa nitong sabi. "You should have seen your face though. You almost looked concerned. I was almost touched!"

"You're a jerk."

He pointed the wine glass at her. "Beware. This jerk can sweep you off of your feet."

"I highly doubt that."

With two huge steps, she almost lost her breathing space to Troy. Halos idikit nito ang mukha nito sa kanya. When he spoke, his hot breath fanned her face, sending unwelcomed shivers down her spine.

 Troy smirked. He must have sensed her uneasiness.

"And yet I made you shiver."