Vico woke her up early the next morning. Magja-jogging daw sila. She threw a pillow at him saka siya pumikit ulit, but he was relentless. He pulled the sheets off her bed. Nahila rin siya at bumagsak sa matigas na sahig.

"Ouch! Ano ba!"

When she open her eyes, si Vincent ang una niyang nakita. Vico's at the door, trying to hide his smile.

"Get up," Vincent told her.

"No!" Ibinalot niya sa sarili ang makapal na kumot. It's still dark. Wala pang alas sais ng umaga. She can go to the office anytime she wants. Pero kahit i-require nitong pumasok siya, alas dyes pa dapat 'yon. She still has a few hours to sleep.

Naramdaman niya ang pagsipa ni Vincent sa tagiliran niya. Napamura siya ng malakas.

"Fuck off!" she snapped.

"Ang grumpy mo naman. Umagang-umaga o," nakangiting bati ni Troy, who was squatting next to her.

Hindi na maalis ang pagkakakunot ng noo niya. There's Troy, Vincent and Vico inside her room, waiting for her to get up. Mga naka-sando, shorts at running shoes ang mga ito. Si Vince ay may nakapasak na earphones sa tainga habang si Vico naman ay may towel sa kaliwang balikat.

Troy poked her left cheek.

"Get up, sleepyhead."

Tinampal niya ang kamay nito saka siya bumangon. She wrapped the blanket around her. Naka-red spaghetti-strapped sando lang sya saka checkered na lady boxers and with Troy around, she suddenly felt unsafe, as if he'd violate her in an instant.

"Get out of my room," utos niya sa mga ito.

"Just make sure you won't doze off again," paalala sa kanya ni Vince.

"I won't," she said through gritted teeth. "Now, get out! I didn't invite you here!"

"Vico did," singit ni Troy. "Sa kanya ka magalit, huwag sa 'min."

The two men went out of her room. Si Vico naman ay ngumiti sa kanya saka dali-daling sumunod sa mga ito.

Grunting, she headed to the bathroom to freshen up. Saka siya nagpalit ng pang-jogging. Nasa labas na ang mga ito nang matapos siya sa pagpapalit.

"I like your previous outfit better," kumento ni Troy.

"That's why I didn't wear it," she told him.

"Let's go," untag ni Vince sa kanila. He took off first. Sumunod naman dito si Troy. Naiwan sila ni Vico sa tapat ng bahay niya.

"Why do I have to jog with them?" kunot-noo niyang tanong sa pinsan.

Nagkibit-balikat lamang ito. They followed the two men but they jog fast. Parang nagpapaunahan. Lahat na lamang ba sa mga ito ay kumpitensya? Hindi na niya ginustong makahabol pa. Naglakad na lamang siya. She also made Vico walk para naman may kasabay siya.

Maya-maya, nakita niyang nagja-jogging papunta sa kanya si Troy. He was all sweaty now. She couldn't help but stare at his arms. He's very toned. Vico's right. He's the only one who can rival Vincent's hotness.

What now?

Umismid siya rito. Bakit ba kasi kailangang gwapo ang ipi-pair up sa kanya? Pwede namang pangit para hindi nya na kailangang tingnan pa! Pero sabagay, insulto naman sa kanya kung pangit ang papakasalan nya.

Kung ganoon din lang ang lagay, then might as well marry Vincent. At least hindi masakit sa mata.

"Hey, slowpoke!"

Troy grinned, flashing his white teeth.

"Red, I'll jog ahead," paalam ni Vico. Hindi na niya ito napigilang umalis dahil humarang bigla sa kanya si Troy.

"What do you want?" mataray niyang tanong dito.

"We were waiting for you. You didn't keep up," he answered, grinning.

"I wasn't planning to."

"Vince is getting crankier."

"So?"

"Nothing. I don't care, actually."

"Then why did you bring it up?"

Troy shrugged. "Conversation starter?"

She didn't comment any further but started jogging instead. Nakakailang metro pa lang siya nang humabol ito. He clearly slowed down to keep her up with her speed.

"Why do you hate him so much?" he asked.

"I don't need a reason to hate him. I just do."

"Hmm... seems unreasonable."

"I don't care!" she blurted out and sprinted away.

Pawis-pawisan si Red nang makabalik sa bahay. Vico's already waiting for her outside. Ngiting-ngiti ito na hindi niya alam kung dahil hapong-hapo siya sa kaka-jog o dahil kasabay nito si Vincent kanina. She didn't want to know.

Nagpahinga muna sila ng kaunti bago siya nakaligo habang nagluto naman ng breakfast niya si Vico. When she got out of the bathroom, naghihintay na ang kape niya sa lamesa, katabi ng isang plato ng samu't saring pagkain.

"I don't like it," saad niya. The plate contains bacon, ham, eggs, hotdogs and toast.

"E di huwag," paismid na sabi ni Vico. Nagsisimula na itong kumain nang hilahin niya palayo ang plato.

"I changed my mind."

"Tamo 'to. Ang gulo ng utak!"

"Maganda kasi ako."

Nailing na lang si Vico. Imbes na patulan ang pinsan, mas minabuti na lamang nitong maunang maligo. Regina didn't actually like eating breakfast. But Vico will eat it if she doesn't. At baka ikatuwa pa nito kapag nabusog ito.

Lumabas sila ng bahay after preparing for work and were both surprised to find to cars parked outside her house. Isang red Lamborghini at isang yellow Porsche. Vincent and Troy were standing next to their cars. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Vico.

Which car will she pick? The yellow Porsche would be a striking contrast to her blood-red attire. But the red Lamborghini was an easy pick. Not because it's red, but because it's Troy's. She'd rather be with him than Vincent.

"Are you sure?" pabulong na tanong sa kanya ni Vico.

"It's just one car ride, Vico," sagot niya.

"But it's like you're choosing Troy over Vince."

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. "Talaga? E di mabuti."

She walked towards Troy's car. Her car to be exact. Nakita niyang nakataas din ang kilay ni Vincent, but he didn't say a word. He just nodded to Vico and got inside his car. The latter soon followed.

Vico was envious of Red for having such hot men fighting over her. How can she be so fortunate? Mabait kaya ito sa past life nito? Santa, maybe? Masyado bang late ang good karma, kaya sa reincarnation lang nito dumating iyon?

He looked at Vince and wondered why he wanted to marry Red. Well, siguro nga ay malaki ang utang na loob nito sa tito at tita niya, na isang hiling lamang nila rito ay pagbibigyan na niya ang mga ito. Or maybe he had been in love with Red ever since.

Hindi. Parang mas logical 'yong una. But just to be sure, he dared to ask.

"Vince?"

"Hm?"

"Lalaki sa lalaki..."

Biglang napataas ang kilay ni Vince.

"Okay. Lalaki sa bakla..." he amended.

Vince chuckled. "What is it, Vico?"

"Do you like Red?" tanong niya.

Vincent became quiet. Akala niya ay hindi nito sasagutin ang tanong. His aura became cold and distant. He wondered if the question made Vince uneasy. Did he strike a nerve? Gusto kaya nito ang pinsan niya, kahit may sampung invisible horns ito sa ulo?

"No. I don't," Vince answered, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Do you like me?"

And the cold wall instantly melted. Tumawa ito.

"Vico, I'm not gay."

"In a platonic way naman e."

"Platonic?" Bahagya itong napaisip. "Okay, then yes."

"E si Red?"

Umiling ito. "No."

"No pa rin? Ang harsh!"

"There's nothing to like about that woman."

"Then why do you want to marry her?" tanong niya.

Bumuntong-hininga ito.

"I don't have a choice. I'm indebted to her parents."

"Magkano? I'll tell Red para mabayaran ka. That way, you won't have to force yourself to marry her. Forever 'yon, Vince!"

"Mahirap bayaran ang utang na loob, Vico. Besides, now that her father's in hiding, there's no one to take care of her but me."

"Are we talking about the same Red who bows down to no one? You know her, Vince. She doesn't need taking care of," giit niya.

"She's still a woman, Vico. Every woman needs taking care of."

"She's not a woman. Halimaw 'yon. Ang itim ng budhi!"

"Do you hate her that much?" tanong nito.

"She makes it hard not to."

He saw the corner of Vince's lips curve up, as if he remembered something funny.

"You don't hate her." It wasn't a question. He was just making an observation.

"Not always. She's not always hateful."

Naalala niyang once nga palang naging close ang dalawa. They were inseparable back then. And Red was good to him too. Silang tatlo ang madalas magkakalaro. But then, everything changed when Red learned about Vince's true identity.

Red was always wondering why they don't have the same surname. Vince had no answer for that. But then, one day, everything became clear. And since then, Vince was her brother no more, but a competition she needs to rival every waking day.

Kumpetisyon sa atensyon ng ama't ina nito. Kumpetisyon sa mana. Kumpetisyon sa halos lahat ng bagay. Nang magdalaga at magbinata ang dalawa, lalong naging magulo. Vince had no choice but to move out, just to retain the peace at the old house.

Then, Red's mother died. Nagkasakit noon ang mommy nito and Katerina didn't want to be hospitalized, so they created a make-shift hospital inside their house. Red never allowed Vince to visit. Ito ang nagbabantay sa ina nito.

Katerina died on Red's watch and Red felt responsible. Pakiramdam nito ay kasalanan nito kung bakit namatay ang mommy nito. Pakiramdam din nito ay ito ang sinisisi ng tito niya sa nangyari.

Red never got over that.

Lalo na ng napansin nitong mas pinapaboran ng tito Reginald niya si Vince.

"Vince, what will you do if Red marries Troy?" tanong niya maya-maya.

"Nothing," sagot nito. "Because that will never happen."