Amour Rouge (Red Love)

Chapter 16

"¡Carlos, despierta! ¡Tu amigo está aquí!" (*Carlos, wake up! Your friend is here!)

I heard Tía shouting from downstairs. Ginigising na ang anak niya.

I tried to sleep some more pero nagising na ata ang diwa ko sa boses ng nanay niya. Bumangon na lang din ako at naghugas ng mukha.

Bumalik muna ako sa kama para i-check ang phone ko. Shet, nakalimutan ko i-chat si Charles! Parang routine na din namin na mag-chat at mag-usap muna bago matulog. Naks, bebe time yarn?

cl16priv: Red, can we talk?

cl16priv: can i call you?

And boom, 10 missed calls from him.

cl16priv: are u sleeping?

cl16priv: okay, sleep tight

Napasigaw ako internally pero hindi 'yun sapat! So I grabbed a pillow and screamed, kahit muffled na ang sound.

Okay, kalma lamg Red. Hindi mo obligasyon na i-chat palagi si Charles. Hindi mo 'yan jowa!

rose_edeline: charles, sorry. I was busy last night

rose_edeline: good morning!

I was finally able to breathe again when I saw him typing. Thank you Lord, hindi siya galit!

cl16priv: isnt it 1pm in your country?

Shit!

rose_edeline: afternoon* sorry typo

Hindi na din siya nag reply after ng chat ko. Buti naman, hindi kasi ako magaling magsinungaling. Baka mahalata pa niya na wala ako sa Pinas. Ayoko masira ang surprise ko para sa kaniya!

Lumabas na ako ng kwarto at naamoy ko ang mga pagkain mula sa kusina. Nagugutom na ako! Ang bango ng mga luto ni Tía!

"¡Buenos días, tía! Puedo oler tu cocina desde mi habitación. ¡Huele delicioso!" Sabi ko kaagad habang pababa sa hagdanan. (*Good morning, Tita! I can smell your cooking from my room. It smells delicious!)

I also saw Carlos in the living room talking to someone. Baka siya 'yung tinutukoy ni tía kanina na friend daw ni Carlos. Nakatalikod siya sa akin kaya hindi ko makita kung sino. I doubt na kilala ko dahil wala naman akong kilala na Spanish except kay Carlos at sa pamilya niya.

"Carlos! Buenos días!" I greeted him pero he looked at me with horror. Aba ang bastos?! Tama ba na ganito ang reaction niya sa bati ko?

"Nuestra hermosa Rosa, buenos días! Eduardo se fue a trabajar hace un momento." His father greeted me. Buti pa yung Carlos Senior! Yung junior niyo po attitude, ang aga aga! (*Our beautiful Rosa, good morning! Eduardo went to work just now.)

"Tío," I went directly to Tito, kung nasaan siya nakaupo at umiinom ng kape. I kissed his cheek before adding, "Papá suele irse así de temprano?" (*Papa usually leaves this early?)

Tío nodded while giving me a bitter smile.

"Te ves muy guapo, tío!" Pambobola ko sa kaniya para hindi na siya malungkot. (*You look very handsome, Tito!)

He only laughed and pinched my nose. Kagabi ko lang naman na meet ang pamilya ni Carlos pero I already feel comfortable around them. Nakatulong din ang dinner namin kagabi, lahat sila ay mabait at maganda ang trato sa akin. I feel so welcome with them.

"Carlos también se ve guapo, pero ¿por qué está gruñón?" I teased Carlos pero he only looked at me very angrily. Anong problema niya? Hindi na ako natutuwa ha! (*Carlos also looks handsome but why is he grumpy?)

I heard his father chuckle, gusto ko din tumawa pero ayaw lumabas. Umiinit ang ulo ko kay Carlos! Bakit ba beastmode siya ngayon? Ang ayos ayos ng pakikisama niya sa akin kagabi, ah!

And when I turned my back, I finally saw the face of Carlos' friend that visited him early in the morning.

No other than, of course, Carlos' friend which is also his Ferrari teammate...

Charles.

"Y aquí hay otro que se ve muy guapo," I unconsciously muttered pero alam ko na rinig pa din iyon ng lahat. (*And here's another one who look very handsome.)

"Charles, you're here." I probably looked like a mummy, naninigas ako habang siya ay nakatingin lang sakin. Parang any moment ay mag ta-transform siya into a wild beast. Hindi naman sya animagus, di ba?

"Is it your personality to praise every man you meet?" He scoffed. Charles pati ba naman ikaw galit din?!

"I left my car keys, amigo. Oh Carlos, you're awake? Good morning, son!" And kung minamalas ka nga naman, kumpleto na po ang mga characters sa soap opera na ito. My dad greeted Carlos while patting his shoulder. Carlos only laughed nervously.

"Anak, you're also here! Eat breakfast with them, iha. I shall go now. I have a lot of outpatients today. See you!" Dad hurriedly got his car keys na nakapatong sa table na nasa harap ni Tío. Dali dali din siya na umalis pagkatapos.

"So... uh.. welcome to Spain, Charles!" Para akong gago.