RED (Aragonza #1)

RED 2

"Ms. Red, nasa conference room po ang papa nyo. Ipinatatawag po kayo for a family meeting," bungad ng isang empleyado pagbukas nito ng pintuan ng opisina niya.

"Marunong ka bang kumatok?" tanong niya, ignoring what the employee told her.

"O-Opo," nag-aalangan nitong sagot.

"Then why didn't you knock?" she asked casually.

"S-Sorry po."

Nanatili itong nakatayo sa may pintuan, hindi alam ang gagawin. Mukhang naghihintay ito ng susunod niyang sasabihin.

Sumandal siya sa upuan at saka tinitigang mabuti ang kawawang empleyado.

"Ulitin mo."

"P-Po?"

"Take two tayo."

"A-Ano po?"

She rolled her eyes. Most of the time talaga, walang makagets ng humor nya.

"Do I have to dumb it down for you to get it?" Tumayo siya at dahan-dahang lumapit dito. She likes the way they quiver under her stare, the way they cringe every time the metals on her heels kiss the ground. Hinawakan niya ang pintuan habang minamarkahan ang mukha nito gamit ang titig niya.

"Red!" she heard Vico call.

"What?!" she snapped.

"Hinahanap ka ni uncle. Nasa conference room na sila."

She grunted. It's rare for her dad to call a family meeting at the office. Sino na naman kayang kamag-anak niya bukod kay Vico ang dadalo? The last time was chaos. Of course, as usual, she started it. Akala niya'y graduate na sya sa mga ganoong klase ng meetings.

Hindi pa pala.

Sinundan niya si Vico papunta sa isa sa mga conference rooms kung nasaan ang daddy niya at ang mystery relatives na makakasama nila sa meeting. When she entered the room, she was surprised to see Vincent, sitting there and laughing with her dad.

Sumeryoso ang mga ito nang makita siya.

"Regina, finally!" her dad exclaimed.

"Akala ko ba family meeting? Bakit may kasamang ampon?" She didn't even try to hide her disgust towards Vincent. Nag-tiim ang bagang nito, halatang hindi nagustuhan ang tinuran niya.

"It was nice to see you too, Regina." It sounded like threat coming from him.

"Who gave you permission to call me that?" Pinamay-awangan niya ito. "Call me Red instead."

"I'm not your subordinate," mariin nitong sagot.

"You're not family either!"

Tanging mommy at daddy lamang niya ang pinapayagan niyang tawagin siyang Regina. The name comes with authority and territory. Only the people closest to her heart get to call her by that name.

"Would you two please calm down? Wala pa tayong five minutes in this room yet you two are already going at each other's throats!"

"What business does he have here, dad? He's not family!" giit niya.

"That will soon change, hija. That's why I called you two."

Napamaang siya sa ama. "W-What did you mean exactly?"

"I think you better sit down."

Naupo siya sa tapat ni Vincent. Sumunod naman si Vico, na mukhang naguguluhan din sa takbo ng pangyayari.

"I want you two to get married."

Tuluyan na siyang napanganga. "What?!"

"Believe me, ayoko rin," Vincent told her. "But I owe your dad a lot."