RED (Aragonza #1)

RED 35

"So... how was the sex?" Iyan ang bungad na tanong ni Vico kay Red nang magkita sila. Nasa kwarto ito ni Ariesa. Her dad made her go there habang nag-uusap ang mga ito sa sala. Dumiretso sila kanina sa bahay nina Troy and waiting in the living room are their dads, Vince, Antoinette and Santina.

"I'm not telling," sabi niya sa pinsan.

"Aww, come on, Red. Humor me. Was it great? Splendid? Spectacular?" he pried.

"It's... none of your business."

"Come on! I'm dying to know!" paghuhuramentado nito.

"Then die curious. It's better than dying from jealousy."

"Whose jealousy: yours or mine?" taas-kilay nitong tanong.

Naupo siya sa malambot na kama at humila ng unan. Niyakap niya iyon.

"Stop prying, Vico. It's a private affair."

"Bakit yung dating affairs mo, not so private? Ganyan na ba kapag in love?" nakanguso nitong tanong.

Ngumiti siya. "I don't want to share him with anyone else. I hope you'll understand."

Vico rolled his eyes. Tumabi ito sa kanya at kumapit sa braso niya.

"Fine, I'll stop asking. You look happy, by the way."

"I am."

"So... si Troy na ba talaga?"

She sighed. "I don't know. I hope so. Baka nga lalong magkagulo dahil sa ginawa nya e. And speaking of which, I didn't know na kasabwat ka!"

Vico chuckled. "I know. Nagpipigil na nga ako ng tawa nung sumigaw ka ng 'Call security!' e. But we needed your genuine reaction because someone from the office reports to Tito. We had to make it look like he was taking you away, not you going away with him."

"I can act, just so you know."

Umiling ito. "You're very transparent with your feelings."

Well, he might be right. Siguro rason iyon kung bakit hindi sya natanggap sa teatro noong college. She's very mean and blunt, which made her honest, in a way. She practically can't lie, lalo na kapag galit.

"Was dad very angry?"

"Very, very," sagot ni Vico. "The arrangement almost got cancelled. Nagkasagutan pa sila ni Tito Vic. Frankly, I don't know how Vince managed to calm the two men down. Siguro sa pagiging sobrang kalmado nya, nahawa na rin yung dalawa."

"You think he'll be alright kung sasabihin ko sa kanyang I'd rather marry Troy than Vince?"

"Ewan ko. Sino ba'ng mas matigas ang ulo sa inyong dalawa?"

Napangiti siya sa tanong nito. She's definitely more stubborn. At dahil nag-iisa siyang anak, her dad might give her what she wants. And if that doesn't work, well, she has a few guilt cards to pull whenever it's necessary.

--

Red assumed that the parties involved (excluding her) were already done talking when she was called out by the maid. Paglabas niya ay nakita niyang magkausap sina Troy at Don Victorino sa isang tabi. Santina was being comforted by her mother. Si Vince naman ay kausap si Henrietta.

Her father walked towards her, with the stern look on his face.

"Hi, dad," she greeted with a smile. Her attempt to be cheerful didn't sit well with him.

"Follow me to the study room."

Tahimik siyang sumunod sa ama. Once the door was closed, hindi na magkandamayaw ang kaba niya. Pa'no naman na kaya kapag ama na niya ang mismong tumutol sa gusto niya? Troy clearly didn't think this through. He needed to be on her father's good side, but he effortlessly made her father hate him.