"Admit it. You were jealous."

Troy scoffed. "I wasn't jealous."

"You know very well that she can take care of herself. You didn't need to butt in."

"I had to, okay?!" iritado niyang sabi. If he hadn't butted in, baka kung ano pa ang nangyari. Sure, he did that a few times already. And with different girls at different times. Laman siya ng clubs, picking up girls left and right. But when he saw Frey kiss Red, he felt disgusted for her. It felt wrong somehow.

He was suddenly blinded by anger. Sa sobrang inis nga niya ay nakalimutan na niya si Santina. Mabuti na lamang at inihatid ito ni Vince pauwi.

"If I were you, I'd be the bigger person and apologize."

Tinapik siya nito sa balikat at saka umalis. He didn't know what he had to apologize for. Dapat nga ay magpasalamat pa si Red sa kanya. She was being harrased. He just stepped in to help.

But why does he even care? They might be having a thing and he might have just ruined it. But he's to be honest with himself, he's glad he ruined whatever rapport those two were just beginning to have. And he'd be glad to ruin it again, if the chance is to present itself.

Vince might be right though.

--

"He asked you out on a date? Again?" kunot-noong tanong ni Vico sa kanya. Vico ordered lunch for them. Nasa loob ito ng opisina niya nang tumawag si Frey.

"Yes. And after what happened at the club, I didn't know how to turn him down."

Tumaas ang kilay nito. "Just tell him no."

Bumuntong-hininga si Red. It wasn't that easy.

"I can't. When I invited him to go clubbing, he thought that we're... you know..."

Vico rolled his eyes. "My god, Red! For someone who likes firing people on the spot, I find it really hard to believe that you're finding it hard to reject Frey!"

"Sa maniwala ka man o hindi, I have a soft spot for Frey. He's been nothing but nice to me. Even when I broke up with him without any explanation, he still remained in touch. We're still friends."

"But you can't be friends with him. You saw what happened with Troy, right? When Frey kissed you, he just went berserk! He obviously has feelings for you, and you for him," he said as a matter-of-factly.

"It's probably nothing." Ayaw niyang umasa sa assumptions. Mamaya mali pala. Magmumukha lang siyang tanga kung sakali. "What should I do?"

"About Frey or Troy?"

"Frey."

"Well, it's easy. Just tell him that you are never, ever, ever getting back together... like ever!"

He did it with such flamboyance, that she momentarily forgot about her problem and rolled her head back in laughter. It's a good thing that there's a Vico in her life to match all her craze.

--

Tuesday.

Troy decided to apologize and maybe start over (kahit alam naman niya sa sarili niyang wala talaga siyang kasalanan). He asked for Vico and Vince's help on the matter. They're both willing to help. Ang plano, papuntahin si Red sa bahay nito sa subdivision where he was waiting with a surprise.

He ordered yellow helium heart-shaped balloons, wrote notes with the words 'I'm sorry' and tied each note to a balloon. He filled the living room's ceiling with those balloons. Tapos pinuno naman niya ng pulang rosas ang mga lamesa sa sala.

Kilig na kilig nga si Vico nang makita ang finished product kanina.

"I bet she'd even say yes if you ask her to marry you here!"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Vico," he said with a chuckle.

He was a little bit overwhelmed with the gesture. He'd never done this before. Even Vince was impressed.

--

Hindi ni Red alam kung ano ang plano ni Vico sa buhay. He took the afternoon off, told her that it's an emergency, and then he suddenly called her, asking her to drop by the house in the subdivision. When she asked what it's for, he simply said it was important then he hung up.

Nang binalewala niya iyon, Si Vince naman ang tumawag maya-maya. He was a little pushier.

"Fine, I'll go!"

They might be on to something. Baka may surpresa ang mga ito. Pero para saan? Hindi naman niya birthday.

Nagkibit-balikat na lamang siya at mas piniling sakyan ang trip ng dalawa. After all, it's been a while since the three of them last bonded. And since Vince pushed it, iniwanan na niyang hindi tapos ang ibang trabaho. Hindi pa naman deadline ng mga iyon. They could wait for another day.

She called her driver and asked to be picked up from the office, but she was surprised to find Frey waiting in the lobby. Nakikipag-usap ito sa dalawang babaeng empleyado nang madatnan niya ito. He doesn't seem flirty though. More like, congenial.

His face brightened when he saw her.

"Hi!"

"Hello. What are you doing here?"

"I was just wondering kung pwede kang maaya for merienda?"

"Merienda?" Frey might be random and they already did a few random things together, but this has got to be the first time na inaya siya nitong mag-merienda.

"Aayain na rin sana kitang mag-dinner later. I was planning to ask over merienda."

She frowned. "Uhm, I have to go somewhere."

He glanced at her bag. "Oh."

"But you can come with me." I'm sure they wouldn't mind, sabi niya sa sarili.

--

"She's here!" Vico announced. He inhaled sharply. Show time.

Tinapik siya ni Vince sa balikat. "Good luck," sabi nito bago ito sumunod kay Vico palabas sa back door. He stood beside the coffee table, holding a bouquet of yellow roses. He readied his smile when he heard the lock click.

If she forgives him and things turn out well, he might also ask her out on a date. No, scratch that. He'll ask her out on dates. He'll try to court her properly. She's right. She's different from every girl he's ever dated.

She's the kind that tries to hide behind a wall, but leaves a small hole unseen, just to see if anyone can find it. He managed to find that chink in her armor and he was able to break down her walls. And underneath all that snark, she's really a beautiful person.

Bruised and scarred emotionally, yes, but beautiful nonetheless.

The door opened and in came Red. Her jaw dropped when she saw the balloons and the flowers. She was even more shocked to see him there.

"Hi," he greeted, unsure of what's going to happen.

"T-Troy..."

She seemed pale. Hindi ba't dapat ay siya ang namumutla?

"I-I didn't know you were—"

"Can I come in? I want to see your little house." He heard another voice. A man's voice. Nagtiim ang bagang niya nang pumasok sa bahay si Frey. Bahagya naman itong natigilan nang makita siya roon.

He was more than embarrassed. If only he could hide behind those flowers...

"Troy—"

With what's left of his dignity, he managed to walk towards the door, towards them. He glared at Frey before pushing the bouquet in Red's hands.

Then he left without another word.