4. The woman in red

ANG five star hotel kung saan ginaganap ang kaarawan ni Beatriz ay dinagsa ng mga pili at kilalang tao sa lipunan. Masquerade ang tema ng party. Kasalukuyang tumutugtog ang isang waltz at ilang magkapareha na ang sumasayaw sa gitna. Ang may kaarawan ay busy sa pag-entertain ng mga bisita kasama ng dalawang taong gulang na anak pati ng asawang si Rafaele. Halata sa suot nitong customize emerald empire gown ang may kalakihan nitong tiyan. Nagkakasayahan ang lahat.

Naka-pwesto si Marco sa isa sa mga high round table sa likuran ng hall. Makisig at simpatiko ito sa suot na midnight blue na tuxedo. Nagmamasid. Kumuha ito ng isang kopita ng alak sa dumaang waiter. May mga ilang kababaihan na nagpapakita ng interes pero hindi nito pinansin. Tila malayo ang iniisip nito habang sumisimsim ng alak.

Lumapit ang kaibigang si Vladimir na tulad ng lahat ng kalalakiha'y naka-tuxedo. Maroon ang kulay ng suot ng kaibigan. Malawak ang ngiti nito ng siya ay akbayan. "Where's the date?" Gaya niya ay kumuha rin ito ng kopita ng alak sa dumaang waiter. "Dalawang taon at ni hindi mo man lang ipinakilala sa amin ni Stef? I'm intrigued of the woman who had your elusive heart?" Nagpalinga-linga pa ito bago bumalik sa kanya. "So where's she?"

"Delayed flight," he supplied. Itinaas niya ang kopita sa mga kakilalang negosyante na bumati sa kanya. "Mga 1-2 hours siguro bago siya makarating. I already texted her the address." He swirled the wine inside the fluke. "I should just fetch her instead of waiting here for eons. What was she trying to imply?"

"Ah, independent. I see..." Vlad tap his shoulder. "I know your worried 'bout her but let's put some faith to her. Aight!" Some ladies from the other table call Vlad. The ever ladies man waved back and whisper to him. "Now if you'll excuse me I'm meeting the ladies out there. Enjoy the fucking party, my friend. Don't be like Hernandez. Loosen up!" Then off he went to the ladies. Napa-iling na lang siya. Pabling talaga itong si Vladimir.

With nothing to do inside he search for his sister. She's talking to someone over the phone near the banquet when he approached her. She looked stress. Hinalikan niya ito sa noo bago ito binating muli. He handed over a small rectangular box from Tiffany & Co. It's a simple bracelet with studded diamonds.

Tinakpan nito ang mouthpiece. "Thank you kuya," binalingan nitong muli ang kausap at nagsalubong muli ang kilay. "You're what? Still, stuck on traffic? Yes, please do that. Pinagaalala mo ako."

"I'll just go outside," he mouthed to her that she immediately nodded. Wala pang ilang segundo ay nasa may reception na siya. He loosen up his bow tie but it won't budge. In the end, he finds himself in the garden staring at the night sky. Same as before.

Sumandal siya sa isa sa mga poste sa pasilyo at nilagay ang libreng kamay sa bulsa. He's playing his fluke once more, slowly making circles so that the liquid color will move around. Smooth with no obliterations. Hopefully everything will go well after this night. Pumayag na si Poleen na ipakilala ito kay Beatriz. As for his sister, well, she could and would adjust. That's only fair since he finally accepted that bastard Avila to be her husband.

And maybe with all the people around knowing their relationship and Beatriz acknowledging it will led Poleen to settle down. With that in mind, a small smile make way on his lips. Dinukot niya sa bulsa ang cellphone when he got a text. It comes from Poleen. Nakapag-book na ito ng cab at papunta na sa hotel pero matatagalan dahil sa traffic. Nakapulang-gown ito. Red was her color after all. Inubos muna niya ang laman ng fluke bago nagtype ng reply. Tumalikod siya sa hardin at nagtungo sa front desk. Two uniformed ladies smiled at him as he came to halt before them.

"Good Evening, Mr. Fuentebella! What can we do for you?" Bati nilang sabay. Pinatong niya ang wala ng lamang kopita sa desk.

"Can you do me a favor?"The second floor had rooms that are usually used for private viewing on the ballroom under it. Itinuro niya ang pangatlong kwarto sa kaliwa. "My female guest, Poleen Devit, will arrive minutes from now. I want you to instruct her to go to that room and wait for me. She's in a red gown, by the way." He finished. Kumunot naman ang noo ng attendant habang nagsusulat sa isang notepad pero agad ding nawala at tumingala sa kanya. Ngumiti ulit ito pero halatang alanganin.

"Most certainly, Sir. Kami po ang bahala." Tumango siya ng may ngiti sa labi.

"Thank you." And off he went to the party inside.

-+-

"SERIOUSLY?" Cielo stopped doing her hair and get her phone on the vanity desk. Nasa linya si Stefano and he's telling her now that he can't make it on time. Business as usual but that excuse just made her upset. Naka-roba pa siya at kakatapos lang maglagay ng light make-up. "I was expecting you to come with me. You agreed, right?" She heard him sigh on the other line.

"I know." Tila pagod ang boses nito. "Ipapasundo na lang kita kay Kent---"

Umiling siya. Frustrated. "Don't bother. I can manage. Hihiramin ko na lang ulit ang sasakyan ni abuelo."

"Cielo---" pinutol na niya ang tawag at nilagay ang cellphone sa desk. She continued fixing her hair. Nakalugay lang iyon na bahagya niyang kinulot sa dulo. Listening to him will just worsen her already bad mood. He promised yet he broke it off. Maliit man na bagay pero para sa kanya ay importante iyon.

Tinanggal niya ang robang sa katawan at isinuot niya agad ang nabiling gown kahapon. Umikot siya sa vanity mirror para bistahan ang sarili.

In the end she wore the red gown. Huli na nang mapansing sobrang seductive ng tabas ng damit. But then it fits her body to the T. Matutuwang talaga si Beatriz kapag nakita ang ayos niya. That woman, already married and have children, were obsessed of changing her taste in dress. And this was a good start.

Medyo inaayos pa ng bahagya ang telang tumatakip sa dibdib. Dahil backless ay wala siyang bra. She opted for a nipple tape. It feels very liberating without those pads. Kinuha na niya sa kama ang nabili sa online na silver venetian lace eye mask na dumating kahapon at inilagay sa mukha. She wore her naked pumps, get her purse on the side of the bed and storm her way out of her room.

Nakasalubong niya si Max sa sala na minamanduhan ang katulong. He bow a little to her. "Good Evening, Senorita."

"Max, where's abuelo?" Tanong agad nya. Her fingers keep tapping on the purse. Wala nang isang oras at mag-start na ang party. "Well anyway, I need to use the car. Pupunta ako sa birthday party ni Beatriz. Is it available?" Mabilis itong tumango.

"It's actually outside right now. Ikaw na lang ang iniintay." Now that made her arched a brow but nonetheless walk her way with Max at the main door.

Pinagbuksan siya nito ng pinto at pumasok na siya sa back seat ng itim na BMW. "Enjoy the night, Senorita." Sabi nito bago isinara ang pinto. The car drove off the mansion. She texted Beatriz that she will be late. Tatawag na lang siya mamaya to give her updates.

Samantala...

Nakapasok na rin si Max sa loob nang uminom si Arman ng brandy sa hawak na baso. Nasa kwarto siya ng mga sandaling iyon at nakamasid sa labas mula sa second floor. He witnessed everything. Kinuha niya ang cellphone sa bulsa at tinawagan si Stef. A few rings and the boy answered it.

"She already left," imporma niya. Naglakad siya pabalik sa isang coffee table at muling nagsalin ng brandy. "What happened, boy? Di ba ikaw dapat ang maghahatid sa kanya sa party?"

"Something came up, Sir." Stefano looked back at his room. Particularly to his bed. Nasa veranda siya at nag-iisip ng mga oras na iyon. He got a cigar in between his teeth. He puffed the smoke in the air afterward. "I can't leave at the moment. Business as usual."

"Para na rin kitang apo, Stef," bumalik si Arman sa bintana at nagbalik tanaw. Dalawang bata na naghahabulan sa hardin at masayang nagtatawanan. That's Cielo and Stefano back to those days. Mas matanda ng limang tao ang batang lalaki. "Just remember to keep the end of our deal. If this mess up and if my granddaughter gets hurt hindi lang ang lolo mo ang makakalaban mo. You'll face my wrath and good lord huwag na sanang humantong pa sa puntong iyon." He took a deep breath. Being this old really gives a disadvantage. "All I want is for her to be safe. I trust you and your words, Stefano. Your business is none of my concern but please be discreet or better end that now. Don't make me think otherwise. This old man can still kick butt."

"I bet you can, Sir, but rest assured it will not affect the engagement. Tuloy ang kasal." May diing idinikdik ng binata ang natitirang sigarilyo sa ashtray. His chest rise and falls, face muscles harden with concealed anger. "At kung sakaling di matutuloy ang kasal, sisiguraduhin kong hindi ako ang may kagagawan. I don't have a heart to give at the first place that's why this arrangement suits me but Cielo...maari siyang magkagusto sa iba. And I'm certain that man is not me." Dahil ang isang tulad niya ay hindi nararapat kay Cielo. She needed a man that can devote his life to her happiness. Definitely not him.

"I know that but let's cross the bridge when we get there," the old man cough. "I'll end this call now. Take care, child. Make wise decisions." Napabuntong hininga si Stefano bago pumasok sa kwarto.

He places the cellphone on the night table and removes his overall suit leaving him naked. Pumailalim siya sa comforter at pinatay ang bedside lamp. Stefano reached for the soft body of a woman sleeping soundly beside him and pulled to an intimate embrace. He fondly sniff the familiar womanly scent that he loves before burying his head to the hollow of her neck. Seconds later he fell asleep peacefully.

In the arms of Blaire Ericka Chastain.