Of course, Red was lying when she said that. She's not a strong woman. Dependent nga siya kay Vico e, kay Troy pa kaya? Kahit pa sabihing nabuhay siya nang wala si Troy, meeting him still has a huge impact in her life. He became the defining line between her life then and her life now.

But she doesn't want him to think that way. She wants him to think that he's an exemption. He's a choice.

She chose to be with him because she wants to. That gives her the advantage. He will do anything just to keep her interest. He will try his best to remain wanted. She believes that it would keep men in their toes.

She doesn't want him to slack off, thinking that anything he does is alright with her because she needs him. Ayaw rin niyang maging kumportable na lamang ito, thinking that he's her life line. Ayaw niya ng ganoon. He has to realize that he earned her, because he did.

Santina was discharged sooner than expected. She heard that Antoinette agreed to be sent to Canada with her daughter, provided na tuloy-tuloy ang flow ng pera. Dahilan nito, maraming pangangailangan ang anak at magiging apo nito.

But Vince already anticipated that. He hired an accountant to calculate all their needs per month. A certain amount will be sent depending on that calculation. Ang mga pangangailangan ay nakalista at dadaan muna sa accountant. The money will then be sent in estimate. And receipts will be required and should match the list of necessities aforementioned. Knowing Antoinette, siguro ay hindi na dapat siya nagtataka kung ganito man kahigpit ang pamilya ni Troy sa pagbibigay ng pera.

Bago umalis ang mag-ina patungong Canada, nakiusap muna siya kay Troy na pakiusapan si Santina na kausapin siya. He thinks that it's a bad idea. She just told him to be prepared, in case something bad happens.

Wala naman siyang planong masama. She just wants to knock some sense into that woman's head. She doesn't want to spend the rest of her life, looking over her shoulder, paranoid that Santina might come back and steal Troy away.

Sabi nga ng daddy niya, always anticipate and prepare.

Mukhang masama pa rin ang loob ni Santina nang makipagkita ito sa kanya. Alam niya kasing sinabi ni Troy rito na hindi ito sasama sa pag-alis.

"Will this take long? I have a plane to catch in two hours."

"Then, I'll make it quick. Santina, Troy will never love you back."

Napalunok ito sa sinabi niya.

"You don't know that."

"Stop lying to yourself. We both know it. You've tried for what, twenty years? O, may nangyari ba? Wala naman, di ba? Save yourself from complete devastation and just let him go. Marami pa namang lalaki dyan—"

"But I need Troy!"

She sighed. She calmed herself before speaking again. If there's one thing that she hates more than bitches bitching back, it's the stupidity and desperation of a weak woman.

"You don't need him. You're just fixated. All these years, sa kanya ka lang nakatingin. You've ignored the fact na marami pang ibang lalaking nakapaligid sa 'yo, who'd be willing to love you if you would just give them a chance."

"Si Troy lang ang gusto ko," Santina insisted.

"E hindi nga kasi pwede yung gusto mo. Kung may mahal ka tapos hindi ka naman mahal, huwag kang magpakagaga. You won't get a man if you constantly run after him. Mapapagod ka lang kahahabol. You should let him come to you. You should make him come to you. Make him want you. Ikaw dapat ang ahead, hindi sila."

"And I should listen to you because...? You're just saying those things because you want Troy for yourself."

"Correction: I already have him."

Umiling ito. "I'm going."

She took a sip of her coffee and waved. "You should. And don't ever come back."

--

Hindi niya alam kung tumagos ba kay Santina ang mga sinabi niya. She hopes that it did, kasi kung hindi, mapipilitan siyang gumamit ng harsher methods just to get rid of the woman. Pasalamat nga ito at nakuha pa niyang makiusap.

"Red?"

Napatigil siya sa ginagawa nang sumulpot ang ulo ni Vico sa nakaawang na pinto.

"Yes?"

"Delivery!" Pumasok ito bitbit ang isang heart-shaped box ng mamahaling chocolates at isang bouquet ng bulaklak. There's no note, pero alam na niya kung kanino iyon galing. Yellow roses e.

Ngiting-ngiti niyang tinanggap ang mga padala ni Troy.

"Pahingi a!" Akmang kukuha ng chocolate si Vico mula sa lalagyanan nang tampalin niya ang kamay nito.

"Sa 'kin 'yan!"

"Isa lang!"

She took her purse and pulled a 500 peso bill.

"Ayan, bumili ka ng iyo."

"Gusto ko 'yan e," nakanguso nitong sabi.

"E di bumili ka ng iyo."

Itinago niya sa drawer ang chocolates.

"Ang damot mo. Saktan ka sana ng ngipin!"

Padabog itong lumabas ng office niya. Hindi sya mahilig sa chocolates. She's a coffee person. Nakakabuhay kasi ng dugo ang kape. But they're from Troy and that immediately made her want them. Kung sa iba siguro iyon galing, baka ibinigay na niya kay Vico ang buong lalagyan.

God, what's he doing to me?

Inilagay muna niya ang mga bulaklak sa isa pang vase dahil hindi pa lanta iyong mga bulaklak na ipinadala ni Troy kahapon. Tiyak na magmumukha na namang flower shop ang opisina niya makalipas lamang ang ilang araw.

Pagkalagay ng mga bulaklak ay kinuha naman niya ang chocolates. French yung pangalan nung brand, mukhang hindi lang 500 pesos ang presyo. Napangiti siya nang buksan iyon. They're chocolate truffles with gold designs. She picked one to taste, pero biglang tumunog ang phone niya bago pa man niya iyon maisubo.

She put the truffle back and answered her phone.

"Hey."

"Hi," came his sweet voice. "Did you receive the flowers and chocolates?"

"Yeah, I did. Anong meron, bakit panay ka na naman ng padala?"

"Wala lang."

Natahimik ito after. Pakiramdam niya ay may gusto pa itong sabihin, so she waited for that. But his pause became too long already.

"Troy."

"Yes?"

She sighed. "Wala. I thought you hung up on me."

"I'm just..." He exhaled. "How do I say this? Uhm... I can't forget about what you said last week."

"The 'I don't need you' speech? What about it? Don't tell me, nagtatampo ka?"

"Hindi naman. It just feels weird. Weird ba na feeling ko nagka-crush ako bigla sa 'yo?" Troy laughed. "I thought I was past that phase."

Napahawak siya sa pisngi. Bigla yatang nag-init ang mukha niya dahil sa sinabi nito. Medyo deep na kasi ang feeling na love. Kapag crush, giddy. Yung tipong parang inaasnan yung buong katawan mo. Kapag love, medyo tamed, but it runs deeper. It's like a burst of warmth that courses through the body.

What she's feeling now is a bit of both. She looked at her hand mirror just to make sure. And her red face said it all. She'd be embarrassed kung makikita siya ni Troy ng ganoon. It's a good thing that he's not there to see it.

"Anyway, do you want to have dinner tonight?"

"Uhm, okay. What time?"

"I'll pick you up at seven."

"Sige."

She ended the phone call bago pa ito magsabi ng kung anumang ikapupula lalo ng mukha niya. Pero maya-maya ay tumawag na naman ito.

"I wasn't finished talking," he said.

"Busy kasi ako. Mamaya na lang," dahilan niya.

Tinapos na ulit niya ang tawag. Saka niya iyon inilagay sa pinakang-ilalim ng drawer niya. Nang mag-ring iyon ay hindi na lamang niya pinansin. She tried to concentrate on work pero maya't mayang pumapasok sa isip niya iyong dinner nila ng seven o'clock.

Nagkita naman sila kahapon. The same pa rin naman. Kung hindi lang siguro dahil sa sinabi ni Troy kanina, baka hindi siya natutuliro ngayon.

Bandang alas kwatro ng hapon, tumunog na naman ang phone niya. She ignored the call, thinking that it was still Troy. Maya-maya ay may kumatok sa pintuan niya.

"Come in."

The door slightly opened. Tapos ay may pumasok na kamay, tangan ang isang pumpon ng pulang rosas. Next came the arm, and then the face. She was surprised to see Frey again. Nakalimutan na kasi niya ito. Ang akala niya, makahahalata na ito sa hindi niya pagsagot sa mga tawag at text message nito.

Hindi pa pala.

"Hi."

"Frey! What are you doing here?"

"I just came by to see you. Hindi mo kasi sinasagot yung mga tawag ko." He handed her the flowers. "For you nga pala."

"Uhm, thanks."

"Do you have any plans for tonight?"

"Actually—"

Napapitlag siya nang bigla na lamang bumukas ang pinto. Si Troy naman ang pumasok.

"Troy!"

Napatayo siya bigla. Frey didn't seem fazed at all. Troy looked upset, lalo na nang makita nito si Frey sa loob ng office niya, and the bouquet of flowers in her hands. But he acted like they were alone. Nilampasan nito si Frey at dire-diretsong naglakad patungo sa kanya.

He cupped her face and crossed the tiny distance between them for a kiss, crushing the flowers while at it. It wasn't a chaste kiss. And she knew that it made Frey uncomfortable.

"I'll just wait outside," she heard him say.

Hindi na siya nakapagpaalam dito. Narinig na lamang niyang bumukas-sara ang pinto maya-maya. Troy's hands went down on her waist to pull her closer. She threw the flower at the table and put her arms on his nape.

Ilang minuto rin silang ganoon. Humiwalay lamang ito nang maramdaman nitong hindi na siya makahinga. They were both panting after.

"W-What—the hell..."

She was still disoriented.

"If I'm yours and yours alone, then you're mine. And mine alone," mariin nitong sabi. "Hindi lang ikaw ang selfish, Red."