Kanina pa tahimik si Red. Kinakabahan siya at hindi mapakali. Parang napakatagal na mula noong huling kita niya sa ama.

"Red, okay ka lang?" tanong ni Vico sa kanya.

"Yeah," she answered curtly.

Pahamak talaga ang pinsan niya. Kung sana sa unahan siya napaupo, makakausap niya si Vince. O di kaya ay silang dalawa ang nasa backseat ni Vico. But they put him there with Troy, who was being awfully quiet. Alam naman niyang may kasalanan siya rito. She called the deal off. Hindi tuloy niya alam kung paano ito ia-approach.

Laking pasalamat na lang siguro niya na hindi siya ipinahamak ng dalawang nasa unahan. Baka kung ano lang ang masabi niya kapag pinilit ng mga itong mag-usap sila ni Troy.

Minutes later, pumarada sila sa harapan ng bahay nina Troy. It's the one on the hill with a million stairs. She groaned inwardly as she looked up the steps. There's no way that she'll climb that staircase again.

"I'll just wait for my father to come down," she told them.

"We won't be climbing up. There's another way."

Sinundan niya ang tatlo na mukhang alam na alam kung saan ang daanang iyon. She was surprised that there's an elevator.

"May elevator naman pala," bulong niya sa sarili.

"We don't use this during parties. People usually take the stairs as courtesy to the host."

She glanced at Troy. He was looking straight ahead. Did he just talk to her? But he was pretending that he didn't say anything. Hindi na lamang siya sumagot.

Huminga siya nang malalim nang bumukas ang pintuan. They were met by the butler, who led them to the room where the meeting will be held. Nanghina ang tuhod niya nang makita ang ama. Masaya itong nakikipag-usap kay sa parents ni Troy.

The butler announced their presence and her father's eyes instantly shone when he saw her. Nilapitan niya ito at niyakap ng mahigpit.

Her father kissed her cheek. "How's my little devil?"

"Dad." She gave him a stern look.

Tumawa ito.

"Angel is not the word that best describes you, and we all know it," he explained.

"And devil is? You're mean," she said with a pout.

Hinalikan siya nitong muli, sa noo naman. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too."

"We'll leave you two to catch up. Mamaya na lang tayo mag-usap, Gerardo," sabi ni Don Victorino sa daddy niya.

"Thanks, Vic."

Kumaway lamang sa kanya sina Ariesa bago umalis ang buong mag-anak kasama si Vico. Naiwan silang mag-ama sa sala.

Hinila siya ng ama sa upuan. Hawak-hawak nito ang kamay niya.

"I'm surprised to see you in yellow."

Earlier, Vico found her yellow dress hidden in a box, sa kasulukan ng closet niya. He insisted na iyon ang isuot nya. She was such in a good mood kaya pumayag sya kaagad. Her father liked the change.

"Vico picked this one."

"You should let him pick your outfits more often."

"Dad, magaling din akong pumili ng isusuot."

Her dad chuckled. "I know. But you always pick red."

"Because I'm Red."

"You are." He caressed her cheek. Bigla itong sumeryoso. "I'm sorry, anak. For everything."

"Dad, I get it. You just want what's best for me. But I do have a say too. So don't exclude me in your decisions about my life again. Okay?"

"Kailangan ko na bang tanggapin na hindi ka na bata?"

She rolled her eyes. "Well, it's about time that you do."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Does that mean that you can choose who to marry on your own now?"

She frowned at him. "Do I really have to marry?"

"Anak, sayang ang genes natin kung hindi ka magri-reproduce," nakangiti nitong sabi. "It's up to you who to marry, as long as he's an Aragonza and he's a man."

Natawa siya sa sinabi ng ama. "Wow. Ang dami kong options, dad, ha."

"Marami na yung dalawa, anak. Huwag mo nang dagdagan para hindi tayo mahirapan."

Nailing na lamang siya. It's obvious who her dad wants for her. Sabi nga ni Vince, dito unang lumapit ang daddy niya. But Vince doesn't like her in a romantic way. At ganoon din sya rito.

"Okay lang sa'yo kahit sino ang piliin ko? Kahit yung hindi mo gusto?"

"Sino ba ang gusto ko?" pabalik nitong tanong sa kanya.

"Obvious naman e."

Inakbayan siya nito. "Anak, it doesn't matter who I like. Ikaw naman ang ikakasal, hindi ako. Ang importante, kung sino ang gusto mo." Tiningnan siya nito ng mataman. "Sino nga ba ang gusto mo?"

The question made her blush.

"Dad, let's not talk about it."

"Did I just make you blush?" Binigyan siya nito ng tinging makahulugan. "Umamin ka nga, anak."

"You're a nosy, old man," she teased, wrinkling her nose.

"I'm not nosy. I just want to make sure that you're sure about the guy and that he deserves to have you."

"Okay. But before I say anything on the matter, gusto ko munang malaman kung ano yung opinyon mo sa kanila."

Her dad cleared his throat. "Well, I've known Vince since he was a kid. He's responsible, loving, dedicated and loyal. Not to mention, a damn good businessman."

"And Troy?"

"He's a go-getter," nakangiti nitong sagot. "Fiesty, passionate and also great with business. But I don't know him as well as I know Vince."

"You don't trust him."

"Oh, I trust him all right. Just not with you. You're too alike, anak. Parang hindi balanse. Kapag galit ka, galit din sya. Walang maggi-give way. It's destructive in a relationship."

"So you don't like him," pag-kumpirma niya.

"I didn't say that."

"You don't need to say it, dad. You're implying it already."

Bumuntong-hininga ito. "Fine. I admit it, I want Vince for you."

"It's okay, dad. I know you just want what's best for me."

--

After the talk with her dad, mas lalo niyang nakumpirma sa sarili kung sino talaga ang gusto niya. She was defending Troy in her head when he said those things about him. If that's not proof enough, then she doesn't know what is.

Maraming pagkain ang ipinahanda ng pamilya Aragonza para sa pananghalian. Her mouth watered at the sight of the beef curry. Pero malapit iyon kay Troy at ayaw niyang magkaroon ng dahilan para maka-interact ito. Ewan ba niya. He just makes her anxious.

Their dads talk about business, but Henrietta shushed them, saying na walang usapang negosyo sa hapag-kainan. It took a turn for the worse.

"Let's talk about the marriage then."

Muntik na siyang mabilaukan sa suggestion ng daddy niya.

"E sino ba sa mga anak kong lalaki ang ipakakasal?" tanong ni Don Victorino.

Tumingin ang dalawang matanda sa kanya. Napainom siya ng tubig nang wala sa oras.

"Dad, let's not talk about that," singit ni Vince.

"Pero mabuti na yung maaga. Preparing for a wedding is no joke."

"Vic, your son is right. Not now," sabi naman ni Henrietta sa asawa.

So the old man had no choice but to talk about their next favorite thing, golf. And she was glad that all she had to do is to pretend to be listening.

--

"Will you be returning to the company, dad?" she asked her father bago sila umuwi.

"I will. But we need to take care of the merger first. Para plantsado na pagbalik ko," sagot nito. "Nga pala, anak, kailan ka babalik sa mansion?"

"I'll have Vico arrange my return." Humalik siya sa pisngi ng ama. "Bye, dad."

Troy decided to stay so silang tatlo na lamang ang bumalik sa subdivision. Nagmistulang throwback ride ang byahe nila dahil puro childhood memories ang naisipan nilang pag-usapan. And for the first time in a long time, nakapag-usap-usap ulit sila nang walang galit o sumbatan.

Napakagaan ng pakiramdam niya. Parang lahat ng bagaheng dala-dala niya noon ay nabitawan na niya.

But when the topic shifted to Troy, bigla syang natahimik. The two noticed it in an instant. Tinudyo-tudyo pa siya ni Vico.

"Why don't you just talk to him?" Vince asked.

"I already told him that the deal's off," sagot niya.

"Then tell him that it's back again," sabi naman ni Vico.

"I can't."

"That damn pride of yours will only cause you heartache, Regina."

"It's not pride. It's just that..." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at bumuntong-hininga. "I don't know how."

--

Monday.

Nagulat ang guard sa lobby nang makitang hindi siya nakapula. She's wearing a yellow dress again, to match her happy, skippy mood. Dahil sa gaan ng pakiramdam niya, nagawa pa niyang ngitian ang ibang empleyado.

"Good morning, Ms. Periwinkle," bati ni Vico sa kanya. Nauna ito sa kanyang umalis kanina dahil kinausap pa siya ng daddy niya.

"Gaga ka talaga."

Vico laughed. "Akala yata ng mga empleyado, may sakit ka."

"Hayaan mo sila."

Pumasok siya sa office. She smiled when she saw a steaming cup of coffee on the table.

"Nga pala, Red, sabi ni Vince, sabay-sabay na raw tayong mag-lunch mamaya."

"Okay."

She was actually looking forward to having lunch with Vico and Vince. Para silang magkakababata na nagkahiwa-hiwalay ng ilang taon.

Work was also surprisingly lighter. Hindi lang dahil sa walang masyadong trabaho, pero dahil na rin sa mga empleyadong natutuwa sa pagbabago niya. Mayroon pa rin namang doubtful, including herself. She doesn't know kung temporary lang ba ito o permanente na.

Mabilis na lumipas ang oras. Parang kauupo lang niya kanina, tapos biglang lunch na. Ganoon na nga siguro kapag nag-e-enjoy sa trabahong ginagawa, na ngayon lamang niya naranasan.

"Red, lunch?" aya ni Vico.

Tumango siya at kinuha ang purse saka sumunod kay Vico papuntang lobby. May ilang empleyado na nag-alangan kung sasabay sa kanila pagbaba. Nagkatinginan sila ni Vico.

"Sabay na kayo," sabi niya sa mga ito.

Vico smiled.

"Uhm, may nakalimutan po yata ako. Ariella, samahan mo 'ko pabalik."

"Okay," sabi ng isa sa kasama. "Sorry po, Miss Red. Mauna na po kayo. Thank you."

Naiiling niyang pinindot ang 'close' button.

"Don't worry, Red. Naninibago pa kasi ang mga 'yon."

"Dapat sinasamantala na nilang mabait ako. Malay mo, may expiry date pala 'to."

Pagkalabas nila ng elevator ay agad nilang hinanap si Vince. Maglalakad lang daw sila dahil walking distance lang ang kakainan. But they didn't find Vince. Ang nakita nila ay si Troy. Kumunot ang noo nito nang makita sila.

"Si Vince?" tanong nito kay Vico.

"Pababa na yata."

"Oh. Okay."

Lumayo ito at kinalikot ang phone. Siya naman ay hinila sa braso ang pinsan.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabing kasama sya?"

Tumawa si Vico. "Relax, Red, napaghahalataan ka e."

"Vico, I don't want to have lunch with him!" she hissed.

"Ano na lang ang iisipin nya kapag hindi ka sumama?"

She groaned inwardly. Yeah, that would be questionable. But maybe it's better than awkward. Hindi na niya alam. When Vince came down, sinamaan niya ito ng tingin, as if telephatically telling him that she will kill him later.

"Let's go?" aya nito.

Huminga siya nang malalim. Just this once, sabi niya sa sarili.