RED (Aragonza #1)

RED 14

"Red, wake up. We're late!"

Napahawak siya sa ulo. Bigla iyong dumagundong dahil sa lakas ng boses nung nagsalita. She opened one eye and it was directly hit by sunlight. Hawing-hawi ang kurtinang nakatabing sa bintana niya. She felt like puking.

"Go away," she managed to muster.

Ramdam niya ang paghila ng kumot na tumatalukbong sa kanya.

"You have a meeting by ten. Alas nwebe na, Red! Ang tagal-tagal mo pa namang maligo!"

Hinatak siya ni Vico pabangon. The sudden movement almost made her throw up. Buti ay napigilan niya ang sarili. Kinusot niya ang mata at saka pinanlisikan si Vico. Bihis na bihis na ito.

"It's a fucking Sunday!" paasik niyang sabi. "Can't I fucking rest on a fucking Sunday?!"

"Red, Troy's family is expecting us by ten. Hindi mo ba nabasa ang text ko kagabi?"

She hit her forehead with her palm. What meeting? Wala siyang maalala. Did she check her phone last night? Hindi niya maalala.

"Where's my phone?"

"Here."

She squinted at the screen. There's a lot of missed calls and new messages. Paubos na rin ang charge ng phone niya. She opened some and saw that they're from Vico, telling her about the so-called meeting.

"If the horse will come, I will not go."

"Horse?" Comprehension donned on Vico's face. "Oh, Tanya?"

"Who else?"

"I think she has an appointment with her derma and a certain spa today. She won't be around."

"She better not be. Ugh! Ang sakit ng ulo ko!"

Pinamay-awangan sya ni Vico. "E bakit ka ba kasi naglasing ha? Saka bigla ka na lang nawala kagabi. Pa'no ka nakauwi?"

"Vince."

"Ohhhh." He sat next to her, his face expectant. "Make kwento."

She rolled her eyes and grunted. "Masakit ang ulo ko, Vico. Huwag mong hintaying pasakitin ko rin ang ulo mo," she threatened.

"Come on, Red. Just tell me something. Anything! May nangyari ba last night?"

Binatukan niya ito ng malakas.

"Okay!" He raised his hands in defense. "Hindi na ako magtatanong."

He stood up and made her bed. Pinababa na rin siya nito para maligo.

"I'll cook you breakfast. What would you like to eat?"

"I don't feel like eating."

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Okay. Kakain ka rin naman mamaya pagdating sa venue. Coffee?"

"As usual."

--

Sa kamamadali ni Vico sa kanya ay hindi na siya nakaligo ng maayos. It usually takes her more than an hour to take a proper bath, but she doesn't have that much time. Pagkaligo ay humugot na lamang siya ng kahit anong pula mula sa closet niya.

"No, you can't wear red, Red. May ipinadalang damit si Troy. Yun daw ang isuot mo."

"I don't want to."

"Don't make me force you into those clothes, Red."

Her eyes widened in unwanted surprise when she saw Troy leaning on the doorway. Kanina pa ba ito roon? Ni hindi man lang niya napansing pumasok na pala ito ng bahay.