The Odds of the Present

"Tas Kuya, etong part na 'to need na 'tong matapos hanggang Wednesday," sabi ni Terrenz as he point the part sa blueprint kay Sam. She is discussing yung mga needed na matapos na trabaho sa foreman nila base on their timeline.

But Sam was nowhere listening. Nakatitig ito sa malagong bouquet of white roses na nakapatong sa mesa ng work table na ginagamit nila sa loob ng cottage na pansamantala nilang tinutuluyann ni Red. Tila ito may iniisip na kung ano at napapangiti pa ito.

Napansin ni Terrenz ang dreamy state na itsura ni Sam. Sinundan nito ang tinitingnan na direksiyon ni Sam at napagtanto niya na nakatititig ito sa puting rosas. The roses were from Red. True to his words, nililigawan siya ulit nito and he sent this roses kaninang umaga paglabas niya ng kwarto. He said that he was just roaming the market earlier and saw the roses, kaya napabili ito. It was cheesy but it made her smile kaninang umaga. She plan to put it in a vase pero dumating na si Sam kaya pinatong niya muna iyon sa work table.

She rolled her eyes saka tinapik si Sam. "Gusto mo bang hingiin yan?" aniya rito.

Ngumisi si Sam sa kaniya. "Wala naman po akong pagbibigyan niyan rito. Tsaka baka magalit si Engineer."

Napailing-iling si Terrenz. "Ngayon lang ka ba nakakita ng puting rosas na Kuya na ganyan kadami?"

"Hindi naman, Archi. Kinikilig lang ako kapag naiisip ko galing yan kay Engineer," panunukso ni Sam.

"Kuya Sam, bakit ba kayo ganyan? Daig niyo pa ang highschool kung makareact. Bakit kayo kinikilig? Para saan? Atsaka naintindihan niyo ba yung mga sinabi ko? Ang dami ko ng dinidiscuss hindi pala kayo nakikinig." Kahit napapangiti may kunting iritasyon sa litanya ni Terrenz.

"Sorry na, Archi. Idol ko lang talaga si Engineer. Tsaka botong-boto kami sa kaniya para sayo. Tsaka nasabi sakin ni Engineer na dati mo siyang nobyo kaya masaya lang kami para sayo."

Terrenz sigh in exasperation. "Kuya, ano ba? Gusto niyo pa bang ituloy 'to o manunukso na lang kayo ng manunukso?"

"Hindi na, Archi. Let's continue," ani Sam na inudyukan pa siyang ipagpatuloy na ang ginagawa.

Napairap na lang si Terrenz saka itinuon na lang ulit sa ginagawa ang atensyon. Akma na silang mag-uumpisa ulit nang dumating si Red.

"Kuya Sam, yung mga gamit dun sa beach pasuyo naman sa mga tao na pakilipat sa bodega," turan ni Red na walang muwang sa usapan ni Sam at Terrenz kani-kanina lang.

Nagkatinginan si Terrenz at Sam. Terrenz reaction was somewhat knowing na lalo pa siyang tutuksuin ni Sam lalo pa't Sam has this naughty grin on his face nang marinig ang boses ni Red.

Natukod ni Terrenz ang siko sa mesa, napayuko at sinapo ang noo as she grimace in displeasure. Alam niyang hindi siya titigilan ni Kuya Sam. Pagkuwa'y nag-angat din siya ng ulo at tumingin kay Red as if telling him 'why do you have to be here now?'

"What?" tanong ni Red na nagpapalipat-lipat ng tingin sa dalawa. He saw the different reaction from Sam and Terrenz. Sam was grinning mischievously while Terrenz looked frustrated. "Kuya Sam, iniinis mo na naman ba si Terrenz?" dugtong niya na sinabayan ng malokong ngiti. He figure out what could be possibly happening.

Terrenz sigh and rolled her eyes. She stood up. "Ewan ko sa inyong dalawa. Kayong dalawa na lang ang mag-usap. May gagawin pa ko." She was about to leave but she went to get the white roses first saka iniwanan ng matalim na tingin ang dalawa who are both grinning from ear to ear.

"By the way, Terrenz. May hinandang lunch si Manang sa garden later. We will have lunch there," pahabol ni Red.

Hindi sumagot si Terrenz. She just left with the white roses clutch in her arms. Nailing na lang si Red.

Kinatanghalian, everyone headed on the garden area gaya nang sabi ni Red. Some of their workers prepared a small feast for everyone to enjoy. It was like a mini get together para sa lahat ng mga trabahador at locals na tumutulong sa pag-aayos ng proyekto nila. The mood was fun and everyone was enjoying the mini feast. Syempre hindi nawala ang tuksuhan at usapang biruan. There were times na sila ni Red ang tampulan ng tukso but they just simply play along. It's as if Red didn't hide the fact to everyone that he is wooing Terrenz for real. Terrenz might be a little shy about it but she somewhat admires Red's persistence. In fact, this is one of the reasons why he won her over before. Red made her feel less insecure. Kahit magkaiba sila ng status ng buhay, Red never made her feel less worthy.

She knows Red and his friends had been the most sought boyfriend sa campus noon. There were even a lot of online surveys on the school forum noon that ranks men in their school. The Warrior Five were always the top 5. Marami din shipping sa kung sinu-sinong beauties noon para sa Warrior Five but everyone was surprised when they learned that she was Red's girlfriend.

On the lunch table, magkatabi si Red at Terrenz. There was some kind of sweetness going on between them. It was probably the thing they had in the past and they were both acting like it's a normal thing. In a subtle way, Terrenz and Red are taking care of each other. Si Terrenz ang naglalagay ng pagkain ni Red sa plato as Red doing the some stuff like peeling shrimp shells for Terrenz. Kulang na lang magshare sila ng pinggan. They were doing it mindlessly. Hinayaan lang sila ng mga kasabay sa tanghalian. Tila sinanay na ng mga trabahador nila that they are actually together.

Nasa kalagitnaan sila nang masayang tanghalian when an expected visitor came in. One of the workers approach Red at may ibinulong ito sa kaniya. Napatingin din si Terrenz rito at nakita niya ang worried reaction ni Red sa kung anuman ang binulong ng trabahador. Napatingin sa kaniya si Red. His eyes shows like fear. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya in confusion.

"Wait here..." ani Red sa kaniya saka mabilis na umalis kasama ang lumapit rito. Nakasunod lang siya ng tingin dito.

Red went straight sa dock area. Malayo pa lang tanaw na niya ung sino ang tinutukoy na bisita ng trabahador na bumulong sa kaniya. He clenched his fist as he grit his teeth. From afar, tanaw niya how the woman looked at him with excitement. Hindi pa tuluyang nakakadaong ang yate, mabilis na itong bumaba at akmang sasalubungin siya.

"Red, I knew you'd be here," masayang turan ni Llanie.

Red harshly grabbed her from the arm. His grinning like he is about to punch someone. "What the hell, Llanie! Bakit andito ka na naman?"

"R-red, nasasaktan ako," Red was clutching his arm so hard. Tila wala itong pakialam kung masaktan ito.

"Who brought you here?" marahas na tanong ni Red.

Red knows from JV na hinahanap siya nito. But they plan to send her somewhere else. That's what JV told him last night. What happened at nahanap sila nito?

Llanie knew that JV will not give her the truth kung nasan si Red. So she did something that brought confusion sa taong inutusan ni JV to bring her somewhere else. In her desperation, no one can fool her. Thus, she found the truth kung nasan talaga si Red. Once again, she had fooled the Warrior Five.

Knowing them for years, she had definitely gained the wisdom kung pano lalansihin somehow ang lima. She might have been lucky somehow for she can do it sa Warrior Five kahit pa alam niyang magiging mas matindi pa ang galit ng lima sa kaniya.

She has her reasons. A valid major reason. And right now, she is just bound to do whatever to make sure that all her plans will succeed.

"P-please Red... you're hurting me," pagmamakaawa ni Llanie.

"You have to leave now or hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko sayo," Red said in his gritted teeth. He was about to drag her back sa yate when they heard Terrenz from behind.

"Red?" she called. Sumunod si Terrenz kay Red to know what's going on. She got curious kung bakit Red has the troubled expression nang umalis ito. She thought it was something related to their project.

She saw him talking to a woman. Halos natatakpan nito ang figure ng babae kaya't di niya iyon makilala. But as she got close, she was somewhat hesitant kung tama ba ang hinala niya since she can't fully see the woman's face.

Natigilan si Red at Llanie. They bought know it was Terrenz. Red clenched his fist even harder. Hindi siya makaharap dito. Llanie looked at Red somewhat fearful. Tila hindi din ito makaharap kay Terrenz and her looks says as if she was asking Red what to do.

Somehow, Llanie was scared to face Terrenz. After all, they used to be friends. There was some kind of guilt feeling she had in herself for years dahil sa mga bagay na ginawa niya rito. Inagaw niya ang nag-iisang lalaking inibig nito. But Llanie knew, it's too late now to consider that guilt feeling. She had been through alot through all those years. She can't back out now. Siya na ang unang humarap dito. She gave Terrenz a sarcastic smile.

"Terrenz?" she said acting lively. She remove Red's clutches in her arm. Medyo lumuwag iyon kaya't napakalas siya.

Terrenz was shocked seeing her old friend. Hindi agad siya nakahuma.

"Oh my god! You're here!" ani Llanie. Mabilis itong lumapit sa kaniya and hugged her excitedly. Terrenz remained stiff. "How it's been? I haven't been in contact for years."

Terrenz can't speak. Napalingon siya kay Red. Red wasn't looking back at them. Nakatalikod lang ito at napayuko. She could sense that Red is troubled at this time.

"Red, darling, you didn't tell me that Terrenz is your architect for our rest house? Is this another kind of surprise? You know that I hate surprises," ani Llanie.

Napalingon si Terrenz kay Llanie. "O-ours?"

"Oh! I know that Red is kind of building a rest house for us. It's what he promised me as gift for our wedding," turan ni Llanie.

"Llanie!" napaharap na si Red sa kanila. He walked towards Llanie and grabbed her again harshly. As Red dragged Llanie away from her, nahuli pa niya ang pagsulyap nito sa kaniya bago ito tuluyang lumayo hila-hila si Llanie.

Terrenz was so shocked na hindi siya nakahuma agad. She did clearly heard what's the last word Llanie said. They are about to get married? Kahit na nadinig niya iyon clearly, tila ayaw niyang tanggapin iyon. And what about what Red had said to her the last time? He is trying to win her back. Was it just a joke? Kung engage na pala ito sa dating best friend niya, anong intensyonn at nililigawan siya nito ulit.

'I still love you...' she remembered what Red said that night. Hindi ba yun totoo?

She felt disappointed, hurt, frustrated and confused. She wanted to hear Red's explanation. But at this time, all she can do was look at Llanie and Red walking away from her.