RED (Aragonza #1)

RED 15

"Red!"

She ignored Troy and continued walking. Hindi na rin siya bumalik sa table kung saan naroroon ang mommy nito. She wanted to get away, to be alone. Pakiramdam niya ay isa siyang outsider na nang-gate crash ng family gathering.

"Ate, wait!"

Red stopped on track. Boses ni Ariesa ang tumawag. She turned to see the girl running towards her, with Ela following behind.

"Ate, galit ka ba?" tanong ni Ela nang makalapit sila.

"N-No," sagot niya sabay iling. "I'm just not used to that."

"Well, you better start getting used to it. Kuya can be so terribly sweet with his girl."

...his girl. That made her stomach churn. She doesn't want to be anybody's girl. Parang ang submissive ng dating.

Hinawakan siya ni Ela sa kamay at saka hinila pabalik kay Troy. She tugged back.

"Ela..."

Ela sighed and let go of her hand. "I'm sorry, ate."

"Tell you what? Tayo na lang ang mag-bonding."

"Are you serious, ate? Yey! We can ride the golf cart!"

She smiled at the girls. Dahil sa nag-iisa siyang anak, hindi niya naranasan ang sibling bond na nakikita niya ngayon sa magkakapatid. Ngayon siya nakaramdam ng matinding panghihinayang. Kung siguro ay totoo silang magkapatid ni Vince, baka iba ngayon ang sitwasyon niya.

Baka naging close sila ng daddy niya. And her mom might even still be alive. Who knows? Isang kibot lang naman sa tadhana, mababago na ito.

"Can Vico come with?" asked Ariesa.

"Sure." Just not your kuya, gusto niyang idagdag. But Troy didn't look like he has any intention of going with them. Pumunta ito kina Henrietta at kinausap ang mag-inang santa-santita. She was surprised when she felt dismay.

Sumakay sila ng golf cart at nagpakalayo-layo sa ibang tao. Madaldal ang magkapatid. Sinamahan pa ni Vico na wala ring preno ang bibig. Naaliw sya kahit sa pakikinig lang sa tatlo. She was enjoying the joyride, until she became the topic of interest.

"Ate, ilan na ang nagiging boyfriends mo?" Ela asked.

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Vico.

"I'm not sure," sagot nya. "Maybe three?"

Vico snorted. "Three, my ass. Did you mean, three last quarter?"

Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang pinsan. "Dating doesn't count, okay? Yung iba naman kasi, dini-date ko lang ng ilang beses, hindi ko binu-boyfriend." She doesn't normally care about what other people think of her, but at that time, she's subconsciously craving for Troy's sisters' approval.

"Okay lang yan, ate. Kuya had plenty of girlfriends too."

"Speaking of which, naging girlfriend din ba nya si Santina?" tanong niya sa magkapatid.

"Curious ka?" sabat ni Vico.

"Hindi pa, ate," sagot ni Ela. "Kuya thinks of her as a younger sister kasi."

"You mean to say, not appealing enough'? I get where he's coming from. She looks so boring kasi."

The three laughed at her remark.

"You're obviously jealous," Vico teased.

Rolling her eyes, she responded, "Please... what's there to be jealous about?"

"Nothing, ate," Ela interjected. "We like you better for kuya."

"Yes. He's tamed when he's with you."