Playboy Mouth (Queen Bee/RaStro)

Red Dress

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

K a i

Thud. Thud. Thud.

"Wait a sec!" I groaned as I push myself up. "I said wait!" Ang kulit namang talaga ng kumakatok, sabing maghintay, eh. I was rubbing my eyes, walking slowly towards the door. "O, nasaan na 'yun?" Pagbukas ko kasi ng pinto, tanging isang pulang envelope na lang ang nasa pintuan ko. I opened the letter and it says:

Miss Sinclair,

We will be having our grand reunion tonight. The Mardi Gras Themed Masquerade Party will be held at the Scarlett Manor. We are expecting you to come.

Kay Jackie naman pala galing 'to. Bakit 'di na lang niya ako tinawagan? Hindi na rin kami masyadong nakakapagkita ng mga 'yun, kaya siguro tama lang na pumunta ako. "But wait," Napayuko na lang ako at napailing. "...syempre, pupunta si Ice. Bahay nila 'yun, eh. I don't think it's a good idea."

"Coward." May tumulak sa akin bigla galing sa likuran. "You little bitter bitch, dapat lang na pumunta ka." I hugged her as soon as I realized who she is. "Missed me?" Niyapos ko siya ng bonggang-bongga. "'Di halatang na-miss mo ako ng sobra ah."

"Yuuuuuriiiii!"

"Kai." She smiled and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "How's my arki baby?" Nakayakap pa rin ako kay Yuri. "I heard what happened. She called me nung 'di mo sila sinipot ni Paxton. Freaking hilarious."

"What did she tell you?"

"Well, my twin's whining about it... again, as usual."

"If she's whining, then, she loves me."

"That's what it seems, but she says she's pissed dahil medyo nainsulto daw siya." Naku, if I know, galit 'yun dahil mahal pa niya ako. Kainis, umaasa na naman ako. Pero malay natin, diberrr? "Bitterness overload."

"Kung bitter pa, eh, di mahal pa niya ako." Nag-fist pump ako ng medyo dramatic. "Yes! Mahal pa ako ni Ice. Yoohoo!"

"Kai, sino ba'ng nagsabing hindi?" Ipinaliwanag din ni Yuri kung paano siya nakapasok. She told me that she MacGyvered her way in. Anak nga pala siya ng dakilang si VV. "Pero ang problema, ayaw ka na niyang makapasok pa ulit sa buhay niya. May bakod na. Barrier after barrier. Saklap, 'di ba?"

"I will break down her walls."

"The walls are too high, too thick, and too strong for you to break." She handed me a crimson-colored box with a matte black ribbon. "I stole this from Ice's room. It has your name in it." Binuksan ko yung box. Napanganga ako sa kagandahan ng aking nakita. So elegant. "A red dress for you to wear tonight. Mahal ka nga talaga ng gagang 'yun. Mahal ka pero ayaw na sa'yo. Depressing."

"Well... I'm not going."

"Because Paxton is there?"

"Obviously."

"Maraming nangyari sa loob ng panahong 'di natin siya kasama, Kai. May mga bagay na dapat mong malaman." Kinabahan ako. Gusto kong kulitin si Yuri, pero alam kong hindi rin niya ito sasabihin. The Cambria twins are good at keeping secrets. "She has a big announcement."

"Should I be scared?"

"You should be." Yuri stood up and gave me another peck on the lips. "I gotta go. My twin is waiting for me at the manor." Hinatid ko sa may gate si Yuri at pasimpleng sumilip sa bahay ni Ice. "Do you have a date for tonight?" Umiling ako. I never dated anyone naman after Ice. I isolated myself from people. "Why don't you go with Mason?"