RED (Aragonza #1)

RED 27

The restaurant was only a few blocks away. Hinayaan na ni Red na magsabay ang magkapatid. Kay Vico na lang siya sumabay. Ngayon lang niya binigyan ng pansin ang pagkakahawig ng features nina Troy at Vince. Akala niya dati ay coincidence lang.

They almost have the same built. Matangkad lang siguro ng dalawang inches si Vince kay Troy. Halos magkamukha rin ang dalawa, mukha lang mas matured si Vince. Si Troy kasi, may pagka-boyish.

And Vince has kinder eyes. Yung kay Troy kasi, parang punong-puno ng mischief. There's always this glint, na para bang palagi itong may gagawing hindi maganda.

Tuloy-tuloy silang pumasok sa isang Japanese restaurant, patungo sa table na reserved para sa kanila. Katabi ng glass wall ang table nila. Vince pulled a chair for her.

"Thank you."

"Feeling ko tuloy end of the world na kasi nag-'thank you' ka," biro ni Vico.

She made a face. Pagka-settle nila ay agad silang nilapitan ng isang waiter, who greeted Vince like they were old friends. He gave each of them a menu, saka ito umalis.

"I'll have a sushi platter," Troy announced.

"Ganun na rin ang sa 'kin," sabi naman ni Vince. "Kayo?"

"Sushi platter na lang tayong lahat!" Vico said with a smile.

"Oyakudon na lang ang sa 'kin," she told them.

Vico pouted. "Ay, KJ."

"Ayoko ng sushi," sabi niya sa pinsan.

Vince called the waiter to give their orders. Sa kanya lang ang naiba dahil ayaw niya nang sushi. It's not like she doesn't eat sushi. Madalang lang kung magustuhan niya iyon. It's really an acquired taste. Kahit nga foie gras hindi niya magustuhan. Siguro dahil na rin iyon sa hilig sa pagluluto ng curry dishes ng mommy niya noong nabubuhay pa ito. Nasanay na siya sa Thai at Filipino food.

"Red, ayaw mo talaga?" tanong ni Vico. Kalalapat pa lamang ng platter nito ay wala na agad ang dalawang sushi. Vico loves sushi as much as she dislikes it.

"Okay, I'll try one."

Kumuha siya ng sushi sa platter ni Vince.

"Hey!"

Wala na itong nagawa nang kainin niya iyon. She made a sour face nang malunok ang kinain.

"Disgusting."

Vince gave her a stern look. "Sana hindi mo na lang kinain."

"Pinilit nyo 'ko e" she said with a shrug.

"No one forced you kaya," Vico interjected.

She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Nagkibit-balikat si Vico at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. They were quiet for a while, and she was actually able to eat her food. Pero maya-maya ay biglang nag-ring ang phone ni Troy. They turned to him with questioning looks.

"Excuse me," paalam nito saka ito lumabas ng restaurant para makipag-usap sa phone.

"Kailangan pa talagang umalis?" she muttered. "He could have just answered the phone here."

"Maybe it's personal."

"Personal?" She's beginning to hate the word. "What do you mean?" tanong niya kay Vico.

"A woman, Red. That's what I meant."

She frowned. Alam niyang wala na ang usapan nila ni Troy, but she was still expecting for him to honor it. Paano nga kung babae ang tumawag dito? What will she do? Nawalan tuloy siya bigla ng ganang kumain.