I was still looking at them when someone held my hand at nang lumingon ako ay agad kong nakita si Denver na matamang nakatingin sa akin.

"T-That man! I know him!" Agad kong sabi at muling tumingin sa may entrance.

Denver nodded. "Yes, I know him too. Your father's bestfriend, right?"

"Yes, and the person who stood as my father. P-Pwede ko ba siyang kausapin? I...I trust him!"

Napatigil siya. I watched how his expression darkened.

"Okay, but let's do it next time, love. For now, let's go home." Aniya na nagpakunot sa noo ko.

"Bakit? I thought we're going to investigate?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

Tumango siya. "Yeah, but let's not do something like this anymore. I am changing my mind. Field work is for me, just help me with papers and other information, love." Aniya at mabilis akong hinila palabas ng hall.

When we got home, nagmamadali niya akong dinala sa basement ng bahay, which I didn't know exists.

May inilabas siyang patong-patong na mga dokumento at inilagay iyon sa mesa na nasa tapat namin.

"These are the files I've gathered for years." Aniya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at agad na nilapitan at binuklat ang mga iyon.

"Ito na ba lahat?"

He sighed. "Truth is...we still lack a lot. Because this is a restricted case."

I furrowed my brows. "Restricted? What do you mean?"

"Someone's preventing the case from being opened. Someone who has the power to do that. Sinubukan naming i-hack ang system nila but they have hackers of high caliber working on the defense already." Aniya at hinawakan ang balikat ko. "But I know someone who has a copy of those documents."

"Sino?" Agaran kong tanong.

"Are you sure you want to know?" He asked.

"Why? Kilala ko ba ang taong 'yon? Will I get disappointed kung malaman ko kung sino 'yon?" I curiously asked.

"Well, maybe not." He sighed. "And yes, kilala mo. Kilalang-kilala."

I clenched my fist. "Sino? Tell me."

Tumigil siya at tinitigan ako sa mata.

"The prosecutor in charge of that case back then. Prosecutor Manjarrez."

Napaawang ang bibig ko. I know I was warned already pero iba pa rin pala na marinig mismo iyon.

Si Alaric? Bakit nasa kanya ang files? At bakit siya ang humawak ng kaso? I know it could be just a coincidence, but...

I shook my head. Regardless of the reason, we should get the documents.

"Pwede ba nating mabawi ang mga dokumento?" I asked and tried to calm myself.

"We can but it won't be easy, Nel. Your ex fiance's no longer just a simple womanizer now, isa na siya sa mga tanyag na prosecutor dito sa bansa. He has a strong security, too."

Tumango ako. That's expected already dahil no'ng makita ko siya no'ng nakaraan ay iba na ang dating ng awra niya. He looked playful and dangerous back then but now, he looks ruthless.

"But can we try? May magagawa ba ako?"

I know it's not ideal to go near him but if it's what it takes to finally put an end to this chaos ay gagawin ko iyon. I just don't want the kids to live a messy life because the past keeps on chasing them. They don't deserve that.

"Yes, pero ako na ang gagawa, Nel. Baka mapahamak ka pa."

Umiling ako. "Don't mention it. Just tell me what I can do, love."

He sighed. "Can you go..." he closed his eyes. "Talk to him and try to befriend him." Nahihirapan niyang sabi.

Tumango ako at nilapitan siya para hawakan sa pisngi. "I'll do it. Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Nanatili ang tingin niya sa akin and I was startled when he suddenly pulled me towards him.

"Bakit?" Tanong ko habang nakatingin sa mga mata niya.

Umiling siya at pinakawalan ako. Napabuntong-hininga naman ako dahil doon.

"If you're worried about the feelings I had for him, don't worry..." I smiled. "It's already in the past."

He nodded and gave me a smile before pulling me closer for a kiss.

"I love you," he whispered and kissed me again.

Ngumiti ako. "I love you too."

I'm already used to saying those words, but for the first time after we got married, I felt guilty and I don't want to know the reason why... I don't want to confirm it.

Niyakap ko siya at siniksik ang sarili sa dibdib niya, hoping to find the safe space I've been longing.

That night, we planned ways on how I can get close with Alaric. We also got his schedule at nakatulong naman iyon sa pagpaplano namin.

Marami siyang ganap sa buhay but we chose a party as our meeting place because that would be less suspicious. Hindi rin kasi ako pwedeng magpanggap na kliyente dahil masyado iyong mabusisi.

I spent the next day rehearsing my lines, alam kong maaaring hindi naman masunod, but I just want to come prepared. Ayokong magmukhang lutang at halata sa harapan niya. And there's also something I should rehearse...which is to suppress my loud heartbeat.

When the night came, I immediately got myself dressed with the outfit that matches the event. I wore a simple beige gown that has a deep v design and paired it with a beige Dior purse. Inilugay ko rin ang maiksi ko na ngayong blonde na buhok na bumagay sa morena kong balat.

"Are you really sure about this, Nel? Pwede ka pang magback-out." Denver reminded when we arrived at the hotel in Makati.

Umiling ako. "I need to do this now. Ayoko nang maging duwag."

Tumango siya at hinalikan ako nang mabilis sa pisngi. "Nasa likod mo lang ako palagi, just call me."

As usual, Denver and I were holding hands as we entered the place. Kalmado akong ngumiti nang maramdaman ang tingin nila sa akin.

I know some might recognize me and think that I am Klio but I don't care anymore. Hindi naman ako ang magmumukhang baliw if they insist that I am her. And to those people behind all of these, I hope they're watching now. So they could see that I am no longer in the shadows.

Buhay ako at ngayo'y maniningil.

"There he is," I uttered and looked at Denver when I spotted Alaric in the crowd.

He nodded after we exchanged meaningful looks.

Nanginginig ang kamay kong tumungo sa kinaroroonan niya. Hindi pa ako nakakalapit ay lumingon na siya, dahilan kung bakit agad kaming nagkatinginan,

Agad nandilim ang titig niya nang makalapit ako at agad din akong nainis dahil kahit anong pigil ko ay ang lakas lakas pa rin ng kabog ng dibdib ko.

This is really wrong but I can do it...I should!

I smiled. "Hi, we met again. Tama nga ako, ikaw nga! At last, a familiar face!" Nakangiti kong bati.

Agad na hinagod ng titig niya ang kabubuoan ko, making me feel a little conscious ngunit binalewala ko rin iyon. Maganda naman ako at sexy, kaya bakit ba?

"Right, we met again." Pag-uulit niya. "So you decided to stay, huh?"

I nodded. "My husband has an important business to accomplish that's why we decided to stay. Gusto ko rin namang magbakasyon." I smiled. "Tama nga sila, maganda ang Pilipinas."

He smirked. "Right, and you should try provinces in the north...like Ilocos."

Agad kong natutop ang bibig dahil sa narinig. Damn him. Because of that ay tila gatilyong bumuhos sa isip ko ang mga memoryang mayroon ako sa lugar na iyon.

"Why? Have you been there? Maganda, 'diba?" He uttered as he looked deeply into my eyes.

Kalma, Klio. You can do it.

"I haven't been...m-maybe I should." Sagot ko at agad na nag-iwas ng tingin dahil hindi ko na matagalan ang titig niyang halos butasin na ang pagkatao ko.

"Yes, you should. That's a very beautiful place. My favorite, actually." He added and took a sip of the wine he's holding. Agad namang nalipat ang tingin niya roon.

"Do you like wine?" He asked, still with a smirk on his face. For a while, I thought I was seeing the old Alaric.

"I-I guess." I answered.

"Should I get you a glass?" He asked again at sinilip pa ang mukha kong nakayuko.

Tangina, kamote. Everything I've rehearsed is useless.

"Yes, please." Sagot ko nalang at nang makaalis siya ay doon lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag.

Damn, that's close. And that guy's really something. Hindi man lang ba siya natatakot na mapagkamalang nasisiraan na ng ulo?

"Omg! He's the famous prosecutor, right? Si Ashtine Manjarrez!"

I heard girls giggling behind me. Agad naman akong naging alerto at nakinig.

"Yes, siya nga! Grabe 'no! Gwapo na nga, matalino pa!"

"Engineer na, prosecutor pa! Grabe, full package!"

"Iyon nga lang hiwalay sa asawa."

"Pero at least hindi cheater! Tsaka sa pagkakaalam ko mutual naman ang hiwalayan nila."

"Mutual kasi alam naman ng babae na wala na siyang pag-asa sa puso niya. Rumor has it nga e, na hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin siya nakakamove-on sa ex niya."

I raised a brow. Ex?

"Ex? E bakit siya nagpakasal kung iba naman pala ang mahal niya?"

"Oh? You don't know? His ex-wife's father was a supreme court judge at that time. Sabi nila, he only married that woman dahil doon, kasi gusto niya ng koneksyon at backer. And see? Right when he became a prosecutor, naghiwalay na rin sila."

I bit my lip because of what I heard. Tila hindi ako makapaniwala. Alaric really did that? Gano'n na talaga siya? Manggagamit? Pero bakit? I thought he wanted to become an engineer? 'Yon ang sinabi niya sa akin dati e.

"Bakit naman gano'n? Mayaman naman na sila at engineer na rin naman na siya that time. Pero bakit pa siya nag-abogado at naging prosecutor pa?"

Biglang humina ang usapan nila pagkatapos but despite that, I still heard what the girl said next, which made me held my breath.

"Rumor has it that he wanted that position so badly because he wanted to give justice for his ex girlfriend who got framed-up and died."