5. The Smudge of Red Tint

NAGMAMADALI na tinalunton ni Cielo ang entrance ng 5 star hotel na pinagdadausan ng party ng kaibigan. Matapos ang isa't kalahating oras, salamat sa traffic, ay narating niya ang lugar. She wore her mask and find her way inside the hotel. Marami ang napapalingon sa gawi niya but she could not care less.

Agad siyang nagtungo sa reception. "Miss, saan ang party ni Beatriz Fuentebella?" Untag niya sa isa sa nga receptionist. Pinatanggal nito ang maskara niya at kinuha ang pangalan. "Sorry, where's my manners?" Tinaggal niya ang maskara at ngumiti sa dalawa. "Consuelo Sta. Maria, kaibigan ako ng celebrant."

"Siya kaya yung ibinilin ni Sir Marco?" Bulong nung isa sa kanyang attendant. "Give her the instructions." Tumango ang kausap niya. Napakunot ang noo Cielo. What are they talking about?

Hinarap siya ng kausap afterwards, ngumiti ito kapagdaka. "My apologies for waiting, Miss. Please proceed to the left-wing of the ballroom. Use the grand staircase then wait inside of the third door. Sir Marco will be with you shortly." Nagugulumihanan man ay sinunod ni Cielo ang instructions ng receptionist.

Who's Marco by the way? With that in mind ay hinawakan ng dalaga ang laylayan ng suot na pulang fitted gown saka umakyat sa hagdan. Maybe the receptionist must have mistaken her to someone, pinagkibit-balikat na lang ni Cielo ang naisip. If that was true then she will find the way by herself.

Madali naman niyang nahanap ang nasabing silid. Surprisingly it was dark when she enter but she could hear the loud noise below. Cielo made her way till she reaches the open porch. Nasa baba lang pala ng silid ang Masquerade party ng kaibigan. She'd discovered several rooms just above the ballroom. Cielo guesses the rooms are used for private viewing in special occasions. Kinuha niya ang cellphone sa purse at tinawag ang kaibigan. Thank God that after several rings ay sinagot iyon ni Beatriz.

"Honey, where are you? I'm freaking worried ang akala ko kung napaano ka na?" Cielo explained everything kung bakit noon lang siya nakarating at kung bakit siya late. "Hindi ka na kasi tumawag pagkatapos. Kung alam ko lang na matatagalan ka pa sana pinasundo kita kay Kuya Marco."

"You don't have to and besides nandito naman na ako...oh my! Hmph!"

Cielo was dragged into the dark and was kissed fully on the lips. Ang mga halik nito ay malayo sa mga nababasa niya sa libro. His kisses are wild yet passionate. Rough yet achingly sweet. Such dangerous combination and before Cielo knew she was already drowning to the sensation.

Was she coaxed to return the favour? Hindi niya alam ang sagot. It felt right even for the wrong reasons. Umalipin sa kanya ang isang babaeng hindi niya inakalang taglay niya. She became someone she never imagined. Pinukaw ng estranghero ang ibang klaseng sensasyong na noon lamang niya naranasan. Nakakaadik. Nakakabaliw. Nakakawala ng bait.

Their searing, hot kiss came to an end. She opened her eyes and saw a man wearing mask staring intently at her. Pareho nilang habol ang hininga pero nanatiling magkalapit ang mga katawan. Nakaalalay pa rin ang isa nitong kamay sa hubad niyang likod. Her body looked frail against his strong built yet Cielo couldn't care less. Hindi pa hanggang sa narinig niya ang mga sinabi nito.

"You are definitely not Poleen." He said surely. His voice was cold and stern. Ngunit ang mga mata nito ay nakatitig sa halos namamantal niyang mga labi. Then he searched her eyes, reading the truth in between them. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"E-Excuse me..." To save herself for further embarrassment, kumalas siya sa yakap ng lalaki at walang pasabing lumabas ng silid.

Nagdesisyon ang dalagang umuwi na lang at di na umattend pa sa party. Nakalimutan niyang nahulog ang kanyang cellphone sa silid at ngayon ay nasa possession na ng lalaki. Malapit na siya sa dulo ng hagdan nang makita si Beatriz na tila di mapakali. She looked worried na nang magtama ang kanilang paningin ay agad na umaliwalas ang mukha nito. Kahit na buntis ay mabilis na nilakad ang distansiya nilang dalawa. They met at the middle of the reception and she was envelope by a tight hug.

"Goodness!" Nang humiwalay ay hinawakan nito ang magkabila niyang braso. She looked like a worried mother to her child. "Mapapaanak ako sa'yo, Consuelo! Kausap lang kita kanina then I heard a loud sound. What happen? And what the hell are you doing on the second floor?" Sunud-sunod na tanong nito. She bit her lower lip. How can she explained what happen earlier? Maisip pa lang niya ay nagiinit na ang kanyang pisngi. She just shared a passionate kiss with a stranger! That's so not her.

"Some misunderstanding...I just lost my way." Pagdadahilan niya na lang. Beatriz narrowed her eyes in disbelief. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "C-Can I just go home? Masama kasi ang pakiramdam ko..." She wanted to lay in her bed and scream on top of her lungs. Good Lord! She responded and that's horrible. Hindi niya kilala ang lalaki!

Hinawakan nito ang braso niya at sapilitang hinila papunta sa pinagdadausan ng party. If she's buying her alibi or not, inignora nito iyon at pinilit pa rin ang gusto. "Hindi mo pa nga ako nababati, aalis ka na agad? Sayang ang get-up mo. I'll introduce you to some folks. My brother is also here. Papakilala kita kahit na may dala siyang date. And nasaan si Stefano?" Patuloy sa pagdaldal ang kaibigan. Tahimik lang si Cielo at walang nagawang nagpatangay dito.

Saktong pagpasok nila sa venue ay siyang pagdating naman ni Poleen. She's gorgeous in her red halter gown with her hair tied in a high ponytail. Hindi na ito dumaan pang reception at tinalunton na agad ang staircase papuntang second floor.

She knew already where to find him. Her beloved was already waiting on one of those closed doors. Hindi mapuknat ang ngiti nito nang sapitin ang pangatlong pinto. She entered and immediately hugged the man from behind. He remained stiff but Poleen ignored it. Kumalas ito sa lalaki at nagpunta sa harap nito. Unti-unting nawala ang magandang ngiting nakapaskil sa labi at napaltan ng kakaibang kirot sa dibdib.

He wasn't looking at her but to the nothingness ahead as if she wasn't there. Kung di pa lumapat ang kamay niya sa labi nitong may bahid ng pulang lipstick ay di pa ito lilingon sa kinaroroonan niya. Her heart constricted while wiping the smudge of red tint on his lips.

Gusto niyang maniwalang tapat sa kanya ang lalaki. Na siguro ay tamang hinala lamang siya. They've been together for two year. Dalawang taon. Ang pinakamaligayang dalawang taon sa buhay niya. At magpapakasal siya sa lalaking tanging minahal ng kanyang puso.

This was some kind of mistake. Right, kahit na nga ba iba ang nais isigaw ng kanyang isipan. Kahit na nga ba gusto niyang sumabatan si Marco ay di niya magawa.

She's holding onto that one reason why they've stayed together. At iyon ay dahil pareho nilang mahal ang isa't isa.

She put a smile on her lips though its fake. Ibinaba niya ang kamay at inabot ang kamay nito. She held onto it like her life depends on it. Wala siyang tiwala sa sarili ngayon na makakapaglakad ng tuwid.

"I'm here," she announced. Nais pigilan ang mga luhang gustong umalpas. Then she remembered that she was an actress. And faking everything was her forte. "I may be late pero nandito na ako, Marco."

"Of course," hinalikan siya nito sa noo. The same lips he kissed with the other woman. Napapikit siya. The scent of her lingers on his suit. And it's killing her slowly from the inside. "Nasa baba ang party. I'll introduce you to Beatriz. Are you hungry?" Umiling siya. Pumaikot ang kamay ng binata sa kanyang baywang at inakay siya papunta sa baba.

Bago maisara ni Marco ang pinto ay isinilid niya sa bulsa ang cellphone ng babaeng napagkamalan niyang si Poleen. He'd definitely search for that woman.

And that took him only minutes as he stared at the lady in stunning red at the party.

What a coincidence?