The Red Daisy

•Year 2022, month of July: Red’s POV•A sound of clacking heels from a pair of red stilettos was filling the whole room. Behind the darkness of the shades that I am wearing, I can see how people made their sudden look on me; like a Goddess arrived. They all greeted me with a smile on their faces which I responded with a straight face.My palm is heated up by the coffee that I am holding on my right hand while my other is holding my new released black designer bag. I sipped at the cup of coffee that I was holding as I walked, making it appear as though I was just having a breakfast. It is in the US or here in the Philippines, nothing changes, I’ve got the same routine every single day.“Oh hi, are you the secretary here?” A man suddenly blocked my way. One of my brows automatically rises as I stopped my feet from walking. I slightly put my shades down then I looked at him from head to toe. He was wearing a white long-sleeve which he covered with a navy blue coat, his black slacks and

Daisy’s POV"You smell like a Daisy, Daisy," he huskily whispered. His face slowly went towards my neck; he sniffed it as if he smells some mentholated topical ointment, "It smells so good."He planted a kiss on my neck, down to my shoulder then to the end of it. I could hear his the way he breathe, his spittle are hot as it touches my skin. His smooches make noise which turns me on.I gripped onto his shirt in a tight matter, as tight as I closed my eyes. I slightly bit my lower lip. I let him and his lips do anything on my neck but then he’s tactless. He abruptly stopped kissing me as if he did not turn me on just earlier! "Stop being kind and let anyone kiss your body parts, Daisy," he commanded. I pursed my lips with my brows furrowed, "That's a sign of formality, Ros!"“We are in the Philippines, kissing on someone’s hand is out of our culture’s formality; he could have just shook your hands or bowed down with a hand on his right chest just like the old way.” He wrapped his arm

Daisy’s POV Halos manlumo ako habang tinitignan ang resulta sa tatlong maliit na puting rectangle thing. Two lines. I'm... pregnant. Mahina kong pinalu-palo ang noo ko. Antanga ko, bakit hindi ako nag-ingat? Antanga niya rin, hindi siya nag-ingat! Pero ano bang malay ko na gan'on kabilis mabuntis, isang beses lang naman naming ginawa 'yon. "Daisy! Ano? May resulta na ba?" narinig ko ang boses ni Leizhe na sumisigaw mula sa labas ng banyo. Huminga ako nang malalim. Tagaktak ang pawis ko dahil sa kaba. Tumatakbo sa isip ko ang mga katanungan. Paano ko bubuhayin ang batang 'to? Kaya ko ba? Paano ko sasabihin kay Daddy? Ano nalang sasabihin ng iba? Everyone thinks that Eros and I are cousins, kapag nalaman nila ang balita. Paniguradong marami akong maririnig na panghuhusga. Pinalakas ko muna ang sarili ko bago ko binuksan ang pinto. There, I saw Leizhe and Axel wairing for me. Parehong may pag-aalala sa mga mukha nila. Hindi ako makapagsalita kaya kinagat ko nalang ilalim ng labi ko.

There were photos on the bulletin board. Photos where two people were daring to each other, they shared romantic kisses, hugs, and happy smiles. Their feelings are testified by the way looked at each other. And those two people inside those photos were…Eros and me."Oh my God!" I heard someone gushed. I felt Leizhe’s hands on my arms, “What the hell is this?”Nakita ko nalang si Axel na lumapit"Tangina ano 'to?" singhal naman ni Kiro.Unti-unti akong napaatras. Di nakakatakas ang mga salitang binibitawan ng schoolmates ko. Rinig na rinig ko ang masasakit na sinasabi nila. Mga salitang hindi ako handang marinig."Grabe! Anglandi, pinsan pa talaga niya ang syinota nita.""Galing pa naman sa respetadong pamilya, nako nako! Layo tayo baka nakakahawa yan.""Akala ko pa naman matino, may tinatago rin palang kaimoralan."Isa-isang tinanggal ni Eros ang mga litrato sa bulletin board at nilukot 'yon, "Who the fuck did this?"Hindi ko kayang itaas ang tingin ko, parang wala akong mukhang maih

Daisy’s POV [3 months later]Hila-hila ko ang duyan, hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti habang pinagmamasdan ang natutulog na sangol doon. Hindi ako makapaniwala na kapag isa ka na palang ina, napakabilis ng oras mo; ni hindi mo namamalayang unti-unti nang lumalaki ang iyong anak.Astraia Snow Vidal, iyon ang pinangalan namin sakanya. Rai derives from the Greek-goddess Astraea, the Goddess of Justice, innocence, purity, and precision na sana ay maisabuhay niya sakanyang paglaki. Ang Vidal naman ay apelyido ng namayapang ina ni Eros total ay iyon ang gamit na apelyido ni Eros noon pa man."Bilis mong lumaki anak," reklamo ko sa natutulog na bata.Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng de-kahoy naming pinto. Mula roon ay pumasok ay pumasok ang halatang pagod na si Eros; pawis na pawis siya at halos manguba na ang likod, bitbit pa ang kanyang lubid at bota."Good afternoon, love.” Eros walked towards me then he kissed me on my forehead, “What’s for lunch?”Napakurap ako at saglit na napatigil. Oh shit, I