After the long day, Red was relaxing at the pool with Vico. He made a makeshift bar at the poolside. Bourbon is the drink of the night.

"Red, bakit naka-sunglasses ka? Wala namang araw," puna nito.

"Walang araw pero may ilaw. My eyes will hurt," sagot niya.

"E di patayin."

"Patayin mo," utos niya sa pinsan.

Vico grimaced. Hindi yata nito malaman kung nagbibiro siya o ano. May nakabukas kasing poste sa likod bahay. Awtomatiko itong nagbubukas kapag alas sais na ng gabi at namamatay kapag alas sais na ng umaga.

"Red, can we invite the two hot guys over?" pag-iiba nito ng topic. "Napansin ko kasi na you don't spend time with them e. Pa'no ka makakapili sa kanila kung hindi mo sila kinikilalang mabuti?"

"Tigilan mo 'ko, Vico. Gusto mo lang silang makitang nakahubad e."

Ngumisi ito. "Hindi naman ako tatanggi. Pero valid din naman yung sinabi ko sa 'yo, di ba?"

She blew some air off. "I don't need to know them. I just agreed to this setup so I could buy myself more time."

"Para namang wala kang ginagawa e."

"Natural. Hindi ko naman trabaho ang magpakapagod. That's your job."

"I only do what you ask me to do, Red. Since you have me on the leash, you have to give me instructions bago ako kumilos, di ba?"

She simple replied with a grunt.

"Red, invite na natin sila, please. Ang boring kasi kung tayong dalawa lang e."

Tinanggal niya ang sunglasses at pinagtaasan ng kilay ang pinsan. "Inuutusan mo 'ko?"

"No. I'm begging," he replied sardonically. "Didn't you hear me say please?"

Red rolled her eyes. "Fine. But if they get out of hand, I'll drown you."

Ngumisi si Vico sa kanya. "No need. I'll drown myself."

Naiiling na lamang niyang ibinalik ang sunglasses habang si Vico naman ay umahon sa pool. It's a good thing na hindi ni Vico pansin ang pagtingin niya sa katawan nito. He might feel like he's being harassed with her blatant stare. But she can't help it. Until today, nanghihinayang pa rin siya kay Vico.

Vico could have been every girl's ideal guy, kung hindi lang ito bakla. It's probably the reason why his parents gave him to her family as payment for their debts. Tingin kasi ng mga ito ay walang pakinabang si Vico dahil sa pagiging bakla nito, which is not true.

He had proven himself useful countless of times. And even though nakakapanghinayang na bakla ito, it worked on her favor. Having no siblings, she treats Vico as her... well... a combination of both a sister and a brother.

Ayaw nga lang niyang sabihin dito. Baka matuwa pa ito.

When Vico came back, lampas tenga ang ngiti nito. He was followed by Vince and Troy, who are both already naked from the waist up. Hindi niya napigilang mapataas ang isang kilay.

"And why are you half-naked?" tanong niya sa dalawa.

"Mag-si-swimming kami. Why else?" nakangising tanong ni Troy.

"Pool ko 'to. Ako lang ang may karapatang mag-swimming dito."

"Then why the hell did you invite us here?" asked Vince, irate.

"I didn't. Si Vico ang nag-imbita sa inyo."

"It's just the same, Red. Vico won't do it without your permission."

"It's because I just feel like being nice. But don't abuse that fleeting chance. Sa loob kayo," utos niya sa tatlo.

Nagkatinginan ang mga ito. Vico invited them inside the house. Pasunod na sana si Vince, when Troy suddenly jumped in the pool. Tinamaan siya ng tubig sa mukha. Her drink was also soiled with pool water.

She could feel her blood boil. When Troy emerged from the water, grinning like a fool, she threw the bourbon at his face. Napaurong ito. Tinamaan yata ito sa mata.

"What the fuck!"

"Exactly!" she retorted. "Get out of my pool!"

He tried to clean the wine off of his face with the water. Lalo syang nainis. Why can't he just get off the pool and go back home?! May sarili naman itong pool! Pakialam ba niya kung doon ito mag-dive nang mag-dive?

"You're fucking selfish!" bulyaw nito. Vince and Vico tried to help him out pero pinalis lang nito ang kamay ng dalawa. He got off the pool and glared at her. "Malunod ka sana!"

She saw Vince shake his head.

"What?" mataray niyang tanong. "You're free to leave."

Tumingin ito kay Vico. "Sorry. I'd rather swim alone, in my own pool."

"Pool ko rin yun," pagtatama niya. "I own your pool, your lawn, and your house."

"I'll buy the whole property, if it will make you feel any better," kalmado pero mariin nitong sabi.

"Huwag na, baka ikahirap mo pa."

Vince scoffed. "Ikahirap? Baka nakakalimutan mong mas mayaman pa ako sa 'yo?"

"I-enjoy mo na. Ngayon lang 'yan."

Vince left without another word. Vico gaped at her.

"Red!"

"O, ano? If you want to leave, the door's wide open, Vico."

Sumimangot ito. "Tapos magagalit naman ka kapag umalis ako!"

"You bet I will. But at least I'm allowing you to leave. O gusto mong sabuyan din kita ng bourbon?"

"What is up with you tonight?"

She hates it whenever Vico gives her this worried look. Why would he care? People stopped caring about her since her mother died. She's already used to the hate. Naiirita lamang sya sa mga taong nagpapakita ng concern.

Pero bakit nga ba ang sungit na naman niya ngayon? Hindi na rin niya alam. Minsan lang talaga, tinotopak siya kahit walang dahilan.

The next morning, she was still surprised to find herself in a no-speaking territory with the three guys. No one even offered her a ride to the office. She just shrugged it off, irked at the fact that men can be this petty.

If they can't stand her now, paano na lang kapag nagpakasal na siya sa isa sa dalawa? Paano na lang kapag tumira na sila sa isang bahay? Paano na lang kung araw-araw na silang magkasama? E di naloka-loka sila sa pabago-bago nyang mood?

Nagpasundo na lamang siya sa driver.

Pagkarating niya ng opisina, nakahanda na ang kape sa mesa niya. Vico's in his cubicle, talking to someone on the phone while typing at his computer. She guessed that Troy didn't stop by. Si Vince naman... wala syang pakialam kay Vince.

Kauupo pa lamang niya nang kumatok si Vico sa nakabukas na pintuan ng opisina niya.

"Someone's here."

"Who?"

"Margaux."

"What does that bitch want?"

"The bitch wants to talk to you, obviously," sagot ng babaeng naka-faux fur at boots na parehas animal print. Tuloy-tuloy itong pumasok sa office niya and she even made herself comfortable on the visitor's seat next to her table.

"Tell the bitch that she doesn't have an appointment with me," she told Vico.

Nilingon ni Margaux ang pinsan niya. "Tell her that I don't need to set an appointment. I already did set a few, which she all cancelled."

Tumikhim na lang si Vico, hindi alam ang gagawin.

She rolled her eyes. "Leave," she told him.

Agad naman itong sumunod.

She sat on her chair and crossed her legs, eyeing Margaux with contempt.

"I'll give you five minutes to talk" she told her.

Margaux removed her coat, revealing a thin-strapped dress na animal print din ang design. She hates the woman. Gaya-gaya kasi ito. Nang maging trademark niya ang pagsusuot ng pula, gumawa rin ito ng sariling trademark. Dakilang inggitera kasi.

"You can at least offer me something to drink," sabi nito sa kanya.

"Hindi naman kita inimbita rito, so technically, you're not a visitor. Why would I offer you anything?" taas-kilay niyang tanong.

Margaux smiled. "I heard about your impending marriage with the bastard."

Bastard. She hates and likes that term for Vince. Hate it, because it kind of ensued na may halong dugong Domingo si Vince kahit wala naman and like it, because it suits him.

"There is no impending marriage."

"And what's with this Troy?" tanong nito, ignoring her previous remark. "You bought him a car just to bribe him into marrying you? That is so low, Red."

"I bought him a car because I can."

Margaux laughed. "Yeah, right."

"Your five minutes is up. You can see yourself out."

Tumikhim ito. "I'm not done yet."

"I don't care."

Margaux relaxed in her chair and gave her a lazy smile. At mukhang ayaw talagang tumayo ng bruha.

"Let's talk some more, Red. I missed talking to you."

For a moment, parang gusto niyang maniwala. Margaux was her friend. Sort of. They were each other's nemesis back in college. Nagkabangga na sila minsan and once was enough. They weren't exactly friends, but they shared common things. They talked low about the same people. And to her vocabulary, that's as close to a best friend someone will ever be to her.

But then, during their last year, Margaux changed. Siguro ay dahil naging angat siya rito sa maraming bagay. Napag-iwanan niya ito. Margaux began stabbing her at the back, spreading all kinds of rumors about her.

And although she's used to it, it still hurt. Minsan na nga lang siyang magtiwala, sinira pa nito. Since then, hindi na siya nagtiwala sa kahit kanino. She refused to open up to people, afraid that another Margaux will come to her life to ruin it.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ito nagbabago. Always two steps behind, still a copy-cat.

"You're pathetic," she told her. "Oops. I said it out loud."

She smiled triumphantly when her cheeks turned red in discomfiture. Tumayo ito at ikinuyom ang mga palad. She could see her animal-printed claws dig their way into her palms. Gusto niyang mapangiwi habang iniisip ang pakiramdam ng mga kuko nito sa mukha niya.

"I'm pathetic? I'm pathetic?! Wow! Nagsalita ang hindi pathetic! At least I have friends who care about me! At least I have a family who have my back! At least I have a mother who I can look up to!" bulalas nito.

Sumama ang timpla ng mukha niya sa huli nitong sinabi. Not thinking twice, she took the steaming coffee from the table and emptied it on Margaux. Naghumiyaw ito nang tumama ang mainit na likido sa mukha nito.

"Fuck! My face! Oh, god! I'm going to kill you!"

Inakyat nito ang table niya. Her laptop was shoved out of the way. Margaux took a hold of her neck and choked the life out of her.

Sinabunutan niya ito pero parang tinik ang mga kuko nito sa lalamunan niya. She could feel her nails digging, could feel the hot blood trickle.

Just then, the door burst open and in came Vico. He looked mortified at the scene. He managed to get Margaux off of her. Hilong-hilo siya dahil sa pagkawala ng hangin. From her dizzy vision, she could see some of her employees at the door, nakikiusyoso ang mga ito.

"Call security!" Vico yelled.

Napaupo siyang muli. She felt her neck. May dugo nga.

"I'll sue you, you fucking witch!" banta ni Margaux.

"Fine! Just get in line, marami na'ng nauna sa 'yo!"