LADY IN RED

PROLOGUE

HAVANA CAITLIN ARELLO MONTEVERDE

Nag-iisang anak ng isa sa mga binansagang pinaka-magaling, mahusay at maunlad na Negosyanteng si Harmando Ruiz Dela Cuesta Monteverde at ng kanyang pinaka magandang misis na si Cailyn Arello Monteverde.

Nanonood kami ng palabas kung saan kami nasa living room nina dad and mom. Masaya ako kahit mag-isa lamang akong anak nila. I never complained of being alone. Di din ako nagrereklamo sa mga bagay na minsan ay hindi ko makuha. My dad was always been so strick when it comes of buying stuff that has no valued. Strikto siya pagdating sa pera, sabihin na natin. My mom is opposite, binibigay niya lahat ng gusto ko. But of course my limitations. Di gaya ng nasa isip niyo.

Ang palabas na aming pinanu-nood ay iyong palabas kung saan nanalo bilang isa sa mga Contestant ng aming school. I am the champion in the Math-Sci contest. Campus by campus ang labanan. Hindi lamang ordinaryong campus kundi ay mga sikat na campus ang nasa laban nito. One week had past before our school admin announced who's finally the champion over all. Di naman ako nag a assume na mananalo. Kahit naman kase i am confident still i don't want to assume nor expect. Naranasan ko na din kase ang ma disappoint.

Ng tuloyan ng i announced ng MC ang buong pangalan ko ay talaga naman'g napahiyaw ako sa sayang naramdaman ko. Take note. Pati ang mommy ko tumalon talon din. Kung hindi pa kami inawat ni dad baka na tumba na kami pareho ni mommy. At sa sobrang saya ko my tears suddenly fall. Mom and dad hugged me tight and said.

"Were very proud of you our little princess." They utter.

Napanguso naman ako ng marinig ko na naman ang 'Little' my gosh! I hate to admit that i was still teen and my parents always figured out that i am still a Child. My goodness. Ilang years nalang magiging senior high school na ako. Pero ang trato ng mga magulang ko sa akin ay parang elementary pa rin.

"Oh dear, please don't be embarrassed. You are still our baby no matter how old you've become." My mom mutter in a soft lovely voice. Talagang napakaganda sa taenga ang tinig ng aking ina. My dad tap me at my head and said.

"Yes baby, mommy's right. Kaya wag ng komontra pa. Let's celebrate your achievements tonight." Dad utter.

6pm...

I am in my room, fixing my hair a little and putting some lip gloss on my lips. Konti lang ang pag-aayos na ginawa ko ngayon. I could say, i am sophisticated without any of those. Pero para kasing mas nabubuhay lalo ang mukha ko kapag my postura. Sa school naman lagi lang akong naglalagay ng lip tint. Ang putla kasi ng labi ko kaya ko nilalagyan ng lip tint. But the rest i just don't care. I have two good pares of eyes i have good shape my face. My nose was too perfect they say. Everyone has been always cherish and idolised me for being perfect. In everything. Yes i may say so. Kahit tatlo lang kami ay hindi ko naramdaman na nag-iisa ako. Mom and dad was always been there guiding and assured me. Di talaga nila ako pinapabayaan. Regardless of how strict my dad is, i am still very proud and blessed to have him as my Dad. He never let anyone harm nor touch on his little princess. Mahal na mahal ako ng mga magulang ko. At syempre mas doble ang pagmamahal ko sa kanila.

Matapos kong mag ayos ay tiningnan ko ang sarili kong repleksyon sa malaking salamin na nasa aking silid. The little girl infront me now was like a young beautiful lady. Di mo matatanaw ang isang estudyanteng highschool. Nag suot ako ng isang dress na hanggang ibabaw ng aking tuhod. It was golden red dress that my mom gave me. She bought it for she knew daw na i will be the champion in our School. Naughty. Napangiti naman ako dahil sa kakulitan ng aking ina.

Lumabas na agad ako ng silid ko upang bumaba na at para makapag dinner na rin kami. I thought we will dinner outside so i prepared a lot. But to my surprise there's a lot people chatting each other on our Lobby and Living area. Makikinita mo rin kasi ang mga tao sa labas kapag nasa ibabaw ka ng hagdan ng entrance. Mommy told me to prepared but not telling me with these. Oh my goodness! To be honest, i hate party sa totoo lang. Ayokong party is puro businessman ang naririto. Ang gusto ko ay iyong mga kaedaran ko lang sana kung sakali mang nagpaparty talaga sila dad. But how come? I just left them a minute just to prepare for our dinner. How could it possibly be so fast. Napakapit ako sa aking laylayan dahil akmang tatalikod na sana ako ng bigla akong tawagin ni Dad.

My heart pounded as if i was about to faced someone down there. Bago ako humarap ay suminghap muna ako ng hangin upang maibsan ang hiyang nararamdaman.

"Baby, come down here. I wanted to personally introduce you to them, come." My daddy smile widely and handed me his hand. Tumango naman ako at maingat na naglakad patungo sa kanila. All of them were businessman. Puro mga kaedaran lamang ni dad. Kaya bakit ako kinakabahan? Ini abot ko ang kamay ni dad upang magbigay galang. Nagmano ako isa isa sa mga business partner ni dad. Hindi na lamang ako nag angat ng paningin upang hindi na mahiya sa kanila. Talagang inisa isa ko ang pag mano sa kanila. At sa huling pag mano ko ay hindi ko inaasahang hindi matanda ang aking mina manohan. My goodness. What a sht.

"Do i look like an old man, silly little girl,?" A baritone voice echoed that makes my head up. And made my eyes grew wider. My lips parted as if i am seeing a prince. Nope. He's like a Goddess. Gosh.

"I-im sorry, i never mean to insult you. i-i was jus—," He never let me complete my sentiments because he suddenly walk pass through me. Ang bastos naman. At ng tuloyan na akong nakabawi ay saka ko lang napansin na wala na sina dad. They're gone right away.

What?

Para na pala akong tanga na nagmamano sa kung sino hindi man lang ako inawat ni daddy? What an embarrassment. Siguro akalain ng taong yon ay baliw akong tao. Pero ang inis ko ay biglang umusbong ng bumalik sa aking isip ang sinabi niyang little girl. Hindi ba't, hindi pa siya matanda? Ilang taon lang naman yata ang agwat niya sakin. So why did he just call me little girl anyway? How could he act so rude in our own house huh? Ang kapal naman ng mukha niyang hindi ako patapusin sa aking sinasabi gayun na hindi ko naman sinasadya iyon?

Habang nagpupuyos sa inis ay siya naman ang pagtawag sa akin ni mommy.

"Anak, come here. You're daddy was looking for you, he forgot to bring you at the lobby.." Saad nito.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako ng sabihin nitong nakalimutan ako ni dad. Sa rami ba namang bisitang inimbita niya. Gosh.

I'll just shrugged and follow mom order.

Sa lobby ay halos lahat ng mga bachelor na sikat sa buong bansa ay halos andito. Imagine how my dad invite them, just because i received an award for being the Champion of our school? Sino ba naman ako para daluhan ang imbitasyon ng aking dad? Or maybe it was just dad's idea for me to know how to deal all the businessman here.

My goodness.

I can't.

I mean im too young to handle it.

My mind was too pre occupied that i never thought were in the middle of all the Gentleman and beautiful ladies.

Sht!

Embarrassing.

Havana Caitlin what are you doing?

Parang gusto kong bumalik na lamang sa aking kuwarto dahil nahihiya na talaga ako. Di ko alam paano humarap sa mga taong kilalang kilala sa buong bansa. I don't know how to act like one of them.

Mommy brushed my hair, i knew that she wanted me to calm down. Mom knew me in the first place, syempre anak niya ako. Alam na alam niya kapag kinakabahan ako. Isang senyales na rin ang aking mga daliri na hindi mapakali. Tumingin ako sandali kay mommy at bahagya niya akong tinanguan. She mouthed 'You can do it'. Ngumiti naman ako ng dahil sa gesture na binibigay niya sakin.

"Good evening, ladies and gentleman. This night is supposed to be my Princess achievement party, i invited you all to introduce you everyone my one and only daughter. And the one and only heiress of our family's fortune. I hate to admit that this may sounds passing my everything to my daughter but the fact that i am not getting any younger means it's better.. Atleast, you my fellow gentleman would consider my daughter as part of our team. I am well aware and fully trusted you all. Alam kong hindi niyo kailanman tatratuhing iba ang aking anak pagdating ng panahon. Maraming salamat sa pagdalo. Let's enjoy the night." Dad long message to everyone. And he then darted his eyes on me and mom. I saw pain suddenly glisten to his not so old face. Nagtataka ako kung bakit ganoon ang nakita ko sa kanyang mga mata. I would ask him later. Because i was in awe when he introduced me to his fellows. But one thing that triggered me was his last part of speech. He mentioned pagdating ng panahon which puzzled me the most. Ano ba'ng ibig niyang sabihin? Di ko maintindihan kaya napatingin ako kay mommy. She's face already becomes saddened. And when she noticed that i am facing her. She smiled a little and hugged me tight. What's the matter? I don't understand.

I tried to ask but no words came out.

Hanggang sa bumalik na ang sigla ni dad. He joined his fellows while mom and her friends talking.

I am alone right now at the corner of our living area.

I was about to go back to my room when someone suddenly approached me.

"Hey little kid. You're alone?" The man with baritone voice asked me. I turn around and there i saw again a handsome goddess. Sht.

Stop it caitlin. Sita ng isip ko.

"Aren't you know how to answer,?" He teasingly ask me again. Dahil sa hindi ako kumibo ulit pinagpatuloy niya pa din ang pagtatanong. What an ass.

"How old are you,?"

Out of nowhere i felt stupid not to answer his question first. So i decided to answer his another question.

"I am turning 18 next year, why'd you asked,?" There's a hint of a brat tone when i answer him. Binabalik ko lang naman ang ginawa niya kanina sa kin. Ani pa ng isip ko.

"Cool, so you're not so young than i thoughts, Akala ko kase parang sixteenth palang. Well i guess i was wrong. But still you're not ready." He examined me from head to toe. What the.

Why did he do that. Napaka pormal niya sa kanyang suit ngunit parang my kabulastugan na naiisip ang taong to ah.

"What's the matter on my age anyway,? Do you think i could have crush on you,?" I said in a disgusted way.

He then chuckled and leave me behind.

What the hell.

Sobrang bastos ng ugali.

Natapos ang gabi ng party ko na naiinis. Sobrang inis. Parang gusto ko siyang sapakin. Sana lang. Sana. Hindi na mag krus pa ang landas namin.