Halos maihi na sa kaba si Gio sa kakahintay kung lilingon ba si Red o hindi. Malapit nang lumiko ang dalawa nang biglang lumingon si Red sa gawi nila Gio kaya tuwang tuwa naman siya.

"There! Lumingon!" Scale exclaimed with joy.

"OA lang?" Bulong ni Sorpia kay Scale

Bulong ni Sorpia kay Scale.

"You're just bitter," bulong pabalik sakanya ni Scale. "I'm not bitter... Sadyang team Karl ako," sagot na pabulong ni Sorpia kaya tinitigan naman sya ni Scale na nagtataka.

"Blue... Lumingon sya," tuwang tuwang wika ni Gio.

"I know, nakita ko," pamimilosopo ni Blue kay Gio kaya napakamot naman ito ng ulo. "Biro lang. Paano ba yan looking forward sa panliligaw mo," dagdag pa ni Blue.

...

Bahagyang siniko ni Scale si Sorpia saka itinuro si Desa na nasa likod lang ni Blue, tahimik kaya napagpasyahan nilang lapitan ito.

"Oh paano ba yan mukhang ikaw nalang yung nag iisang T-O-R-P-E," pang aasar ni Scale kay Desa dahilan para irapan sya nito.

"Paano ba kasi hindi gumagawa ng paraan para mapansin," dagdag pa ni Sorpia. "Ikaw rin naman ah torpe," balik na pang asar ni Desa kay Sorpia kaya nakurot nya ito sa tagiliran.

"Aray! Nananakit ka ha... Makasabi kayo ng torpe ako eh si Sorpia nga-" naputol ang sasabihin ni Desa nang makurot sya ulit ni Sorpia. Naiwan namang nagtataka si Scale sa pinaggagawa ng dalawa

...

"Um," tumikhim si Severo na may hawak na mga bulaklak; bouquet of Dahlias.

"Blue," wika ni Servero kaya napatakip naman ng bibig ang mga chismosa at bahagyang napa tili. "Pwedeng excuse me? Nahaharangan mo kasi sya" dagdag pa ni Severo. Natawa naman si Blue sa pabor ni Blue nang marealize nyang natatakpan nya si Desa kaya umusog sya ng bahagya sa gilid.

Mas lalong napatili ang mga chismosa nang lumapit si Severo kay Desa.

"Desa..." Tawag ng binata kay Desa na halos mag mukang hinog na kamatis sa pula.

Tinanggap ni Desa ang bulaklak na dahlia galing kay Severo na may hiya at ngiti sa mukha.

"Pwede bang manligaw?" Tanong ni Severo sakanya. Napalingon naman si Desa kay Blue na kinikilig sa gilid.

"Akala ko si—" magsasalita pa sana si Desa nang maputol ito dahil nagsalita rin si Severo.

"Akala mo si Blue? Nag usap na kami tungkol dun. She made me realize what I've been missing for, and I'm sorry that it hurt you, can I be your prince... Again?" Tanong ni Severo sakanya na ikinagulat ng lahat.

"Mhie? Anong again? Bakla anong AGAIN?!" Gulat na gulat na tanong ni Scale. Hindi sya makapaniwalang hindi nya alam kung bakit sinabi yun ng kuya nya.

"Ikaw yung kapatid, and you don't know why," pang aasar ni Sorpia kay Scale kaya nabatukan sya nito.

"Gaga, malay ko ba, eh nasa Italy tayo," sagot ni Scale sakanya at doon lang nag click sa mga utak nila. "OMG! Si Sevy yung chat mate mo?!" Dagdag ni Sorpia.

"Napaka ingay nyo naman," reklamo ni Desa.

-----------------------------------

"Karl... Bakit mo ba ako hinila habang kausap ko pa si Gio, hindi pa nga niya ako nasasagot," sabi ni Red.

"Ano? Pwede ba siyang manligaw sa iyo?" tanong ni Karl.

"Oo, wala namang masama doon... I mean, I like him too, pareho kaming may nararamdaman," sagot ni Red.

Mapaklang tumawa si Karl at umirap.

"The feelings are mutual huh... Ano, pag pinayagan mo na siyang manligaw sa iyo, kayo na agad?" tanong ni Karl.

"Hindi naman... Teka, bakit parang galit ka?" tanong ni Red.

"Ako galit? Of course not! Bakit naman ako magagalit... Concerned lang ako sa iyo... Alam mo naman, hindi maaasahan ang mga lalaki ngayon," paliwanag ni Karl.

"Galit ka ba? Girl, you raised your voice... Hindi ba galit 'yun? Ano, bumirit ka?" tanong ni Red.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Karl, nakapamewang at naglalakad habang nag-iisip ng sasabihin kay Red.

"Are you mad because... Giovanni confessed his love for me and... Do you... like him?" tanong ni Red.

"What! No!... Argh, darn it," sagot ni Karl.

"See, you cursed... Galit ka," sabi ni Red.

"Yes! Oo, galit ako because you're giving ridiculous reasons on why I am mad," sagot ni Karl.

"Well... Tama naman 'yung binigay kong reason," sabi ni Red.

"Ok, let me make this clear to you... I don't like Gio, okay? And... Ugh, forget it," subukan ni Karl ipaliwanag, ngunit tanging ngumiti lang si Red, kaya umalis na siya.

"Hey!" sinundan ni Red si Karl ng tingin, nagtataka kung bakit ito umalis. "Someone just walked out in front of me... Ang hirap talaga niyang basahin... Pero gusto ako ni Gio... Nagtanong siya kung puwede bang manligaw. Oh my gosh, ano kaya 'yung mukha ko kanina. Okay lang kaya 'yung reaksyon ko," dagdag pa ni Red habang kinakausap ang sarili. Kinakagat niya ang kuko habang inaalala ang nangyari kanina.

"Oh gosh, that will be so embarrassing kung nakakatawa 'yung reaction ko kanila, piste!" At napatakip na lang siya ng mukha habang sinusubukang alalahanin lahat ng nangyari kanina lang. Sa kanyang pag-aalala, biglang nag-ring ang cellphone niya, nagdulot ng gulat sa kanya.

-----------------------------------

"Chika naman dyan mhie," wika ni Scale habang pumasok sila sa shared bedroom nilang tatlo.

"Anong ichi-chika ko?" Pagkukunwari ni Desa na parang hindi alam ang gustong iparating ng dalawa kaya nagkatinginan si Sorpia at Scale.

"Ano, may amnesia lang, syempre yung ano. Naging kayo ba ni Kuya?" Tanong ulit ni Scale.

"Paano naging kayo? Sino yung nag first move?" Tanong din ni Sorpia.

"Maguguluhan lang kayo, mabuti pang tigilan nyo nalang ako," wika ni Desa, ngunit hindi siya tinantanan ng dalawa hanggang sa mabwisit siya at sinabing sasabihin nalang sa kanila kaya umayos ng upo ang dalawa.

"Okay, naalala nyo pa yung friend ni Red si Savanah?" Panimula ni Desa sa pagkukwento.

"Savanah Losceen?" Panlilinaw ni Sorpia kaya tumango naman si Desa. "Diba naging magkarelasyon sila ni Sevy dati? That was the time... Fling lang naman and hindi na natuloy," paliwanag ni Desa kaya napatunganga nalang sila Sorpia at Scale dahil sa mga nalaman.

"Sabi sainyo magulo eh, ayaw maniwala," wika ni Desa at umiling-ililng.

-----------------------------------

As Savanah guided the new recruit around Lyxeeries, Red and Scale suddenly appeared, causing a stir among the new employees.

"Savanah... Is the CEO already in?" Red inquired.

"Good morning, Ms. Red. Yes, the CEO arrived earlier, and you're late for the meeting," Savanah replied with a hint of authority.

Scale chimed in, "What's new, Savanah?" in agreement, prompting a sharp gaze from Red.p

"Basta mga S nga naman ang pangalan, mapanglait..." Red muttered under her breath as she walked towards the elevator, heading to the CEO's office.

"Are they having a meeting with the CEO?" one employee whispered to another.

"Does that mean they'll meet the CEO face to face?" another questioned.

A murmur spread among the new employees at Lyxeeries, as the elusive CEO rarely interacted with them directly.

"They've met several times. She's not just an Institutional investor but also a close friend of the CEO," Scale explained to the curious onlookers.

"I second that. Oh, wait, I need to do something," Savanah hurried to catch Red before the elevator doors closed.

"What's this?" Red asked, eyeing the envelope Savanah handed her.

"It's an invitation to my engagement party, and I specifically want you there," Savanah explained.

"Why me?" Red questioned before taking the envelope from Savanah's hand.

"You're special, Red. I wouldn't choose anyone else if you're already here," Savanah retorted, causing Red to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"Are we friends?" Red probed.

"Yes," Savanah replied.

"The truth," Red pressed.

"No," Savanah admitted.

"Am I a sponsor?" Red tried again.

"No," Savanah affirmed.

Red simply stared at her in response.

"A slight one," Savanah added.

"What did you expect my answer to be?" Red challenged.

"No," Savanah replied.

"Exactly. Excuse me," Red said as she entered the elevator, leaving Savanah behind, much to Scale's amusement.

"Ha-ha, funny. She accepted the invitation, just so you know," Savanah remarked to Scale.

"Relax. You seem to have a short fuse. It's like you're not used to our bardagulan kemeruts," Scale teased, earning a glare from Savanah. "You're different," Scale added.

"Oh!" Savanah snapped back, handing Scale an envelope similar to the one she gave Red.

"Oh, do I have an invitation too?" Scale asked in surprise, knowing that if Red was invited, she would automatically be included. "Open it," Savanah instructed, leading to a surprised expression on Scale's face as she looked at Savanah, who was smiling at her.

-----------------------------------

As Desa passed through the garden, she noticed Sorpia sitting alone, lost in thought.

"Pia? What are you doing here?" Desa asked as she approached and sat beside Sorpia.

"Just thinking," Sorpia replied.

"Thinking about Scale?" Desa guessed, causing Sorpia to look at her in surprise.

"No matter how much you deny it, I know that Scale is the one you have feelings for. Pia, it's so obvious, hindi ko lang alam kung bulag ba si Scale o manhid, kasi halatang-halata ka na," Desa said.

"What's so obvious?" Sorpia asked.

"That you love her," Desa answered, prompting a shocked reaction from Sorpia who quickly covered her mouth, warning Desa not to be loud in case someone overhears. Desa furrowed her brow and removed Sorpia's hand from her mouth.

"Kahit yung pulubi na binigyan ni Scale ng tubig at tinapay, pinagseselosan mo. Grabe ka na, mhie," Desa added.

"I don't know if he'll accept me. I'm a woman, and he's a woman too," Sorpia expressed her uncertainty.

"You know what Ms. Red said, you're a woman, but not—" Desa was interrupted as Sorpia covered her mouth again and hugged her. "Shh. Okay, be quiet now," Sorpia said to Desa.

"Pia..." Desa called out.

"Hmm?" Sorpia responded.

"Did you fart?" Desa asked.

"Shh. Embrace the silence," Sorpia replied.

"Eww, that's gross, it's like a dead rat," Desa commented.

"Shut up, your fart smells like a dead rat too," Sorpia teased.

They both laughed and Desa fixed Sorpia's hair.

"Be true to yourself for him, no one's stopping you. Let it out... Let it all out... Let it go," Desa advised.

"The what? The fart?" Sorpia asked.

"No, you silly... The pain," Desa clarified.

"Oh, I thought the fart," Sorpia chuckled.

"Stop that," Desa said.

Sorpia laughed at Desa's reaction, and Desa couldn't help but smile seeing Sorpia laugh despite the sadness in her eyes.

-----------------------------------

"Hey, you're here? Good morning, bro," Jane greeted her brother who was cleaning.

"It's already noon, you just woke up... Don't you have school?" Karl asked.

"Eh, kasi sabi mo hindi tayo magbubukas ng shop and wala kaming pasok kaya tanghali ako gumising... And you, I thought you were going to sleep at tita Ella's?" Jane replied.

"Ikaw lang kasi mag isa dito kaya umuwi ako," Karl explained.

"Oh, come on! I'm often alone in your condo, tell me the real reason," Jane teased.

"Fine, I didn't want to stay there... Red and I had a fight," Karl confessed.

Jane was taken aback by Karl's revelation.

"You and Red? You fought? Ano kayo mag jowa?" Jane asked.

"Nah... It's just that she agreed to Gio's offer to court her," Karl explained.

"That's it? You got mad just because she agreed to let someone court her? That's not a valid reason to be upset, kuya," Jane pointed out.

"I'm just looking out for her against guys who might hurt her," Karl defended.

"Let me ask, are you her boyfriend that you have to protect her?" Jane inquired.

"As a friend, Jane... I'm protecting her as a friend," Karl clarified.

"Bakit, magkaibigan ba kayo? Parang hindi yan as a friend, because you don't sound like a protective friend to me, you sound like a jealous boyfriend," Jane observed.

Come on, Jane... I'm gay," Karl clarified.

"Yes, alam ko, kuya... But admit it, she's quite attractive... There are only two options; either you like Gio or you like someone else," Jane suggested. Karl looked at his sister in surprise and confusion.

"I know you understand who I'm referring to, think about it carefully, don't rush into things, ikaw rin naman ang masasaktan sa huli," Jane advised.

"That's foolish," Karl remarked.

"Well, it's up to you... I'm going back to sleep; nighty night," Jane said.

"Matutulog ka nanaman? Hindi paba husto yung tulog mo eh tanghali ka na nga nagising," Reklamo ni Karl.

"Well, malambot yung kama ko dito and I like my room here... Kasalanan mo 'to, ito kasi binigay mo sakin na kwarto," pangangatwiran ni Jane.

"Eh kahit saan naman pag pumikit ka tulog ka kahit nga bigyan kita ng upuan uupo ka lang tulog ka na agad," Karl teased.

"Shh, I'm going to sleep... There's food on the table, bro, it's freshly cooked," Jane said.

"Hay nako. Tatak Derioso nga, laging tulog, buti nalang sa Flor ako nagmana," Karl sighed. Karl sat on the sofa and thought about what Jane had said to him.

"Hindi talaga tama yung ugali ko kanina. Kaya ko ito, kailangan ko lang isantabi ang pride ko para sa isang kaibigan," Karl said as he took his cellphone and removed Red's number from his contacts. "Friend kong hindi ako friend." Karl chuckled softly and shook his head as he tried to call Red, but couldn't reach her, so he decided to leave a text message instead.

-----------------------------------

The door to Red's room was left open, tempting someone to enter and uncover any secrets hidden inside. The intruder meticulously searched the room, ensuring not to leave any fingerprints or footprints behind.

They opened the walk-in closet and looked for a secret compartment or door, not even overlooking the bathroom in their search. Nearly out of breath from the thorough investigation, they paused by the side of Red's bed and stared intently underneath it, sensing something ominous. They were about to lift the long comforter on the floor when they suddenly heard a voice approaching. Quickly, they hid behind the partially open door.

—♡—