The restaurant was only a few blocks away. Hinayaan na ni Red na magsabay ang magkapatid. Kay Vico na lang siya sumabay. Ngayon lang niya binigyan ng pansin ang pagkakahawig ng features nina Troy at Vince. Akala niya dati ay coincidence lang.

They almost have the same built. Matangkad lang siguro ng dalawang inches si Vince kay Troy. Halos magkamukha rin ang dalawa, mukha lang mas matured si Vince. Si Troy kasi, may pagka-boyish.

And Vince has kinder eyes. Yung kay Troy kasi, parang punong-puno ng mischief. There's always this glint, na para bang palagi itong may gagawing hindi maganda.

Tuloy-tuloy silang pumasok sa isang Japanese restaurant, patungo sa table na reserved para sa kanila. Katabi ng glass wall ang table nila. Vince pulled a chair for her.

"Thank you."

"Feeling ko tuloy end of the world na kasi nag-'thank you' ka," biro ni Vico.

She made a face. Pagka-settle nila ay agad silang nilapitan ng isang waiter, who greeted Vince like they were old friends. He gave each of them a menu, saka ito umalis.

"I'll have a sushi platter," Troy announced.

"Ganun na rin ang sa 'kin," sabi naman ni Vince. "Kayo?"

"Sushi platter na lang tayong lahat!" Vico said with a smile.

"Oyakudon na lang ang sa 'kin," she told them.

Vico pouted. "Ay, KJ."

"Ayoko ng sushi," sabi niya sa pinsan.

Vince called the waiter to give their orders. Sa kanya lang ang naiba dahil ayaw niya nang sushi. It's not like she doesn't eat sushi. Madalang lang kung magustuhan niya iyon. It's really an acquired taste. Kahit nga foie gras hindi niya magustuhan. Siguro dahil na rin iyon sa hilig sa pagluluto ng curry dishes ng mommy niya noong nabubuhay pa ito. Nasanay na siya sa Thai at Filipino food.

"Red, ayaw mo talaga?" tanong ni Vico. Kalalapat pa lamang ng platter nito ay wala na agad ang dalawang sushi. Vico loves sushi as much as she dislikes it.

"Okay, I'll try one."

Kumuha siya ng sushi sa platter ni Vince.

"Hey!"

Wala na itong nagawa nang kainin niya iyon. She made a sour face nang malunok ang kinain.

"Disgusting."

Vince gave her a stern look. "Sana hindi mo na lang kinain."

"Pinilit nyo 'ko e" she said with a shrug.

"No one forced you kaya," Vico interjected.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Nagkibit-balikat si Vico at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. They were quiet for a while, and she was actually able to eat her food. Pero maya-maya ay biglang nag-ring ang phone ni Troy. They turned to him with questioning looks.

"Excuse me," paalam nito saka ito lumabas ng restaurant para makipag-usap sa phone.

"Kailangan pa talagang umalis?" she muttered. "He could have just answered the phone here."

"Maybe it's personal."

"Personal?" She's beginning to hate the word. "What do you mean?" tanong niya kay Vico.

"A woman, Red. That's what I meant."

She frowned. Alam niyang wala na ang usapan nila ni Troy, but she was still expecting for him to honor it. Paano nga kung babae ang tumawag dito? What will she do? Nawalan tuloy siya bigla ng ganang kumain.

When he came back later, tinutusok-tusok na lamang niya ng chopsticks ang pagkain niya.

"Who was that?" tanong dito ni Vince.

"Chelsie."

Pasimple niyang sinamaan ng tingin si Troy. She quickly turned her attention to her food when he looked her way.

"Nice name," Vico commented. "Ang ganda ng name, 'no, couz?" pang-aasar nito.

Inirapan lamang niya ang pinsan.

"Red, quit playing with your food," saway ni Vince sa kanya. She looked at her bowl of oyakudon. Nagmistula itong murder scene. Binitawan niya ang chopsticks.

Vince turned to Troy to ask, "Who's Chelsie?" It's as if he's asking on her behalf.

"My secretary," sagot nito.

"So you do sleep with your secretary," hindi niya napigilang sabihin. "Sabagay, who doesn't these days?"

Mas lalo siyang na-frustrate nang hindi nito iyon itinanggi. Maganda yung secretary ni Troy. Nakita na niya ito once nang minsang puntahan niya si Troy sa office nito. And she looks so young too. Mga 23 siguro. Mas imposible pa yata kung malalaman niyang walang sexual relationship ang dalawa.

"She called about Meg," sabi nito sa kapatid, ignoring her previous remark. "Nanakawan na naman kasi. I swear, that woman's a thief-magnet."

"Meg?" The name piqued her interest. "Megan Dirham?"

Tumango ang magkapatid.

"She works for you?" tanong niya kay Troy.

"Yes," he answered curtly.

"Why is she working anyway? Isn't Daniel rich?"

If Meg's out of the picture, she would have just arranged for Daniel to marry her. He's the best catch among the three. Looks, attitude and wealth. Para kang naka-jackpot kapag isang Daniel Angelo Dirham ang mapapangasawa mo.

"May marital problems kasi sila. They've been separated for almost five years. Dani asked me to give Meg a job to support herself. So she became my responsibility," paliwanag ni Troy.

"Bakit hindi na lang sila magpa-annul?"

"Lovesick nga, remember?" singit ni Vico.

"Well, it's stupid. Why hold on to someone who wants to leave? Kung ako sa kanya, hihiwalayan ko na lang 'yang Meg na yan at maghahanap ako ng bagong mapapangasawa."

Nagkatinginan ang tatlo.

"It's none of our business," sagot ni Troy.

That immediately killed the conversation. Hinintay na lamang niyang matapos sa pagkain ang tatlo bago sila umalis. Troy headed to the parking lot for his car. Umuna naman si Vince pabalik sa office habang sila ni Vico ay pumunta sa isang Burger King chain, which was along the way.

"Vico, I just had a thought," sabi niya sa pinsan pagkabili nila ng burger.

"What is it?"

Umangkla siya sa braso nito.

"I want to make Troy jealous."

Vico looked amused.  

She grimaced. "Tell me it's a bad idea."

"It's a bad idea," he obliged. "Do it."

"Won't you ask me why?"

Vico gave her a knowing look. "Do I have to?"

--

Hindi agad niya naisagawa ang plano dahil naging abala siya ng ilang araw. Her dad insisted na bumalik na siya sa mansyon para may kasama ito. She wanted Vico to come with her, but she knew that he'd want to come back to Mitch. At dahil ayaw niyang sirain ang bagong ayos na relasyon sa pinsan, pumayag na siyang bumalik ito kay Mitch, provided that he will visit often.

Si Vince naman ay walang permanenteng bahay. Minsan ay kasama ito ng daddy niya sa mansyon. Minsan ay na kina Troy ito. Minsan naman ay nasa bahay sa subdivision. And sometimes still, he sleeps in his office.

Vico took care of her things. All she had to do was sit in the office and work. Nang mailipat na ang mga gamit niya, doon na siya sa mansyon dumiretso. Hindi na naulit ang lunch nila with Troy. Mukhang ayaw na rin nitong makisabay.

It's been four days already. She kinda misses his smug face. And Vico knows that. Maya't maya nito iyong ipinaaalala sa kanya.

"Why don't you just ask him on a date?" Vico suggested. Nakaupo ito sa lamesa niya. He's eating a granola habang siya naman ay umiinom ng mocha frappe.

"Ako? Mag-aaya?" She pointed to herself.

Vico shrugged. "Why not? Nagawa mo nga syang tanungin kung willing syang magpakasal sa 'yo, di ba? Walang-wala yung date compared to that."

"I'll never do that. Marunong pa naman akong mahiya, Vico."

"Bahala ka. Ikaw rin. Sabi nga nila, 'Absence makes the heart go wander'. Baka one of these days, mababalitaan mo na lang na ikakasal na sila nung Chelsie girl na yun."

She almost choked on her coffee. "'Grow fonder' kasi yun, gaga. And who the hell cares? E di magpakasal sya. Regaluhan ko pa sila ng house and lot e."

"Reregaluhan mo ng bahay tapos ipasusunog mo rin, with them inside?" Vico laughed. "Just admit it. You're jealous. And it's been eating you up since Monday."

"I'm not going to admit anything."

Vico sighed. "Pa'no ka makapag-aasawa nyan? You should go out on dates with Troy. Get to know him. Ang tagal nang humihingi ng apo ni Tito."

She pushed him gently. "Bumalik ka na nga lang sa cubicle mo."

"Okay. But in case you change your mind, Mitch and I will go clubbing later. I've already invited Troy and Vince. It's up to you kung sasama ka."

--

This is the reason why she doesn't want to like anyone in a romantic way. Ang komplikado. Siya pa naman yung tipo ng tao na ayaw mag-reveal ng feelings. It makes her vulnerable. And she doesn't like being vulnerable. Kasi sya rin naman ang masasaktan sa huli.

She wanted to condemn Troy for making her feel... different. She doesn't want to admit her feelings for him to anyone, but she couldn't hide them either. Vico could easily read her like a book.

Bago mag-uwian, pumasok itong muli sa office niya to see if she changed her mind. He didn't ask. He simply stared from across the room until she sighed and told him that she will go.

"But I'll bring a date," sabi niya rito.

That made Vico frown. "Troy is your date."

"No, he's not."

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ito. "Okay. Nagpakuha na nga pala ako ng isusuot mo. Masyado kang mukhang inosente sa dress mo e."

"What's wrong with my dress?" Tiningnan niya ang puting dress na suot. It's not her usual style. Hindi kasi iyon tight-fitting. May blue and violet flowery print iyon sa laylayan na parang nagpi-fade pataas. Ever since nagkaayos sila ni Vico, hindi na sya nagpupula.

The ambiance in the office was distinctively lighter. Hindi na masyadong takot ang mga empleyado sa kanya. Isa na marahil sa dahilan ay ang pagbabago ng style niya sa damit. Wearing clothes with light colors and girly details made her seem a lot nicer than before.

She looked back at Vico. He's giving her an I-told-you-so look. Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Okay. You're right."

"Naman! The dress will be here in a moment. Sabihan na lang kita."

When Vico has gone, tiningnan niyang muli ang damit. Then she looked at herself in her hand mirror. Pati makeup niya, nag-iba. Hindi na siya mukhang mataray. Tama nga si Vico. Masyado syang mukhang inosente.

But the change on her makeup and wardrobe reflects the change in her life. Iba na kasi ang pakiramdam niya. Mas magaan na.

Maya-maya ay dumating na ang katulong na may dala ng damit na isusuot niya. Black dress ang dala nito. It's three inches above the knee. Simple ang tabas. Fitting, see-through lace ang likod at capped ang sleeves. Tinernuhan iyon ng isang pares ng black stilleto ankle boots na may gold chain as design. Vico even thought of the accessories.

"And of course, here's the most important accessory."

He handed her her red lipstick.

--

Vince leaned on the doorway. Kunot na kunot ang noo ng kapatid niya habang nakatitig ito sa computer.

"Didn't you get my message?"

Napatunghay ito sa kanya. "What message?"

"Yung invitation ni Vico."

"Oh, that." Sumandal ito. "I don't feel like going."

"She'll be there."

Alam niyang alam nito kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. Troy's been avoiding Red since that lunch they had last Monday.

"That's exactly why I don't feel like going," his half-brother admitted.

"Until when do you plan on avoiding her? Para kang bata."

"Shut up."

"Come on. It's Friday. Stop working already," pangungumbinsi niya.

"Sa 'yo pa talaga nanggaling 'yan ha." Troy looked amused. True, wala syang social life. But he's trying to change that. Kapag nagkataon, mauunahan pa sya ni Troy na magkaasawa. Sabi nga nina Vico, he needs to go out more. And that's the plan. Go out and mingle.

Nasobrahan na rin yata siya sa pagiging business oriented that he failed to have some well-deserved fun.

"She's bringing a date," was his last draw. "And it's not you."

He knew he had him. Bigla itong naging iritable.

"Fine." Kinuha nito ang phone.

"Who are you going to call?"

Troy has women at his beck and call. He could whip up a date in minutes. But against Red? Wala pa man ay naaawa na siya sa date na ipantatapat nito.

"Santina."

Napamaang siya. "Santina? Is she even allowed to go clubbing?"

Na-meet na niya si Santina ng ilang beses. Prim and proper ito. Demure. But she's untouchable because Troy's parents are friends with her parents. Mayayari ito kapag may ginawa itong hindi maganda sa dalaga.

"Why her? Don't you have someone else to call?"

Troy's answer left him amused.

"It has to be her. Red hates her."