"Are you alright?" Agad akong napabaling kay Kuya.

I nodded as I took my gun from my bag. I opened the white car's driver seat. Napasinghap ako nang makita ang duguang driver. Pinulsuhan ko ito at agad na napalabi nang walang maramdaman doon. Marahas kong naisara ang pinto ng kotse.

Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa kabuuan ng paligid. I saw the CCTV camera near us. I immediately pointed my gun as I pulled the trigger, aiming for the camera. Kasabay noon ang malutong na mura galing sa pamilyar na boses at ang tawag sa akin ni Kuya.

"What the fuck?"

"Cel!"

Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng pamilyar na boses. I saw the elevator opened. Lumabas roon ang bulto ni Archer. "Can you delete the footage?"

Hindi agad nakasagot sa akin si Archer. His eyes turned to the white car. Inilang hakbang niya ang sirang kotse at marahas na binuksan ang pinto noon. Nang makita ang sitwasyon ng lalaking nasa loob ay bumaling siya sa amin.

"What happened?"

"That man's planning to kill us." Iyon lang ang nasabi ko. I can still feel my heart ramming my ribcage.

"What?" He frowned and a deep furrow formed in his brow. "Hindi halata."

Napamaang ako sa tinuran niya. Natatawa itong napalingon sa kotseng iyon. "Bakit siya ang namatay?"

"May bumanggang kotse."

"Ano? Gulo mo."

Iritado ko siyang tinignan. "You know you can just watch the footage before deleting it."

"I'll definitely do that," He nodded his head. "Are you alright?" Napatango ako ay bumaling siya kay Kuya. "Clyde?"

"Yeah," He answered as he turned to me. "What the hell was that, Celestina?"

I shrugged my shoulders off. "Let's go to my cafe, Kuya."

"I'll go ahead," Paalam sa akin ni Archer. Sinagot ko lamang iyon ng isang ngiti.

Nilagpasan niya ako at tinapik ang balikat ni Kuya bago tuluyang dumiretso sa kanyang sasakyan.

"Let's go, Kuya," I said as I started walking towards his car.

Kunot noo siyang tumitig sa akin, matapos ay sinabayan niya rin ako sa paglalakad.

"So what did you told me awhile ago?" Tanong ko nang tuluyan niya akong maabutan.

Bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo. "What is it?"

"'Yung kanina, hindi ko naintihdihan-"

"That was nothing," He nonchalantly answered as he opened the passenger's door for me.

"Thank you," I muttered as I entered the car.

"I have something to ask you," Sambit niya nang makapasok sa driver's seat.

I pulled the seat belt and pressed the lock beside me as I turned to him. "Hmm, what is it?" I caught him looking at me.

He sighed as he started the engine of the car. He gently maneuvered it towards the exit of the parking lot without answering me.

I heard him heaved a deep sighed as he glanced at me. Mabilis lang ang tingin niyang iyon at muli ring bumalik sa daan ang kanyang mga mata. "What if I'm not your brother?"

I looked at him with my eyes full of confusions. "What kind of question is that?" Bahagya pa akong natawa bago nagpatuloy. "You're my brother."

"It's just a what if, Cel. Just answer me." He licked his lower lip as he continued. "What if I'm not your brother and I just want to be with you. What if I'm just fooling you? Would you be mad? What would you do?"

Nahihiwagaan akong napatitig sa kanya. "What's with your questions? Ang weird, Kuya." Alanganin akong napatawa ngunit agad iyon nahinto nang makitang seryoso siya roon. "But it's just a what if. So if you're just fooling me, you know I'll hate you. Simple as that." Matamis ko siyang nginitian. Bakit ba kung ano-anong naiisip niya. "But you're my brother, right?" Nakangiting tanong ko.

Nanlamig ang aking mga kamay nang matapos ang ilang minuto ngunit hindi pa rin siya sumasagot. "Right, Kuya?" Paguulit ko at bahagya siyang napalingon sa akin napatango.

"Yes, of course, Celestina." A smile crept in his face. Wala sa sariling napangiti rin ako dahil doon.

Hanggang sa makarating kami sa cafe ay wala ng nagtangkang magsalita sa aming dalawa. There was a deafening silence until I decided to speak.

"Thank you, Kuya."

He nodded as the side of his lips lifted. "Alright, I'll go ahead."

Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kanyang papalayong sasakyan hanggang sa tuluyan ito nawala sa aking paningin.

I was about to go inside when a car parked directly in front of me. Agad na bumaba ang driver noon at Namilog ang aking mga mata nang makilala kung sino iyon.

I stilled as his eyes immediately found mine. His stubbles makes him have a darker aura than her older brother as it compliments his squared jaw.

"Are you alright?" He asked. Wala sa sariling bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanyang kotse. It's a Ferarri, ngayon ko lang nakita ang sasakyan niyang iyon.

"You were there," I muttered while still looking at his car. Malinis iyon at bagong-bago, walang kahit na maliit na gasgas. "Ikaw 'yon."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Tuluyan kong sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. "The one a while ago, the Porsche. Binangga mo 'yong puting kotse? Tama ako hindi ba?"

"Let's not talk about that." He licked his lower lip as he continued. "Are you alright?"

"Why did you do that?" I asked, ignoring his question.

"Let's talk but not about that, Strid." I tightly shut my eyes off when his voice softened. What the hell are you doing, Hoax?

I heaved a deep sighed. "I'm busy," I answered with my voice full of finality. Agad ko siyang tinalikuran at tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng cafe.

I smiled as I greeted my staffs back when they welcomed me. Inilibot ko ang aking tingin at nang nakitang iilan pa lamang ang tao roon ay agad akong dumiretso sa aking opisina. I even locked it before walking towards  my table. Tumungo ako at doon inalala ang kaninang nangyari.

Ilang oras lang ay nagpasya akong lumabas ng opisina. Triple ang tao sa cafe kumpara kaninang dumating ako. I immediately walked towards the counter when I saw a commotion near it. Nagkumpulan doon ang ilan sa mga staffs.

Nakasalubong ko ang isa sa aking mga tauhan. Hinarang ko siya nang makitang mukha siyang balisa at nanggigilid ang mga luha. "Rachel, what happened?"

"M-ma'am sorry. N-natapunan ko po 'yung isang customer. Hindi ko po sinasadya, Ma'am. 'Wag niyo po akong tatanggalin-"

Napakunot ang aking noo. "Calm down, alright? I won't fire you. I'll just talk to the customer."

Her eyes lit up as she looked at me. "T-thank you po, Ma'am!"

I nodded. "Calm down," Muli kong paalala bago tuluyan siyang nilagpasan at nagtungo sa komusyon.

"Go back to work, I'll handle this," Sambit ko nang makalapit ako sa aking mga staff. Agad naman silang nagsibalik sa mga ginagawa.

Sa gitna ay nakita ko ang lalaking nakatalikod sa akin at babaeng abala sa pagpupunas ang damit ng lalaki. The woman's wearing a lipstick as red as her dress while the man's wearing a suit. "Ang tanga naman ng mga tauhan niyo!" Nagpanting ang aking tainga dahil sa narinig mula sa babae.

"Enough," Mariing sambit ng lalaki na nakapagpatigil sa akin. His voice sounds familiar, even his built but I immediately shrugged it off when I remember what happened.

I cleared my throat. "Excuse me, Ma'am, Sir," I muttered as I stopped at the back of the man.

Humarap ang lalaki at agad akong natigilan nang makilala kung sino iyon. "Hoax." My eyes went down on his Armani suit. Bakas ang tumapon na frappe roon at pati na rin sa kanyang puti na dress shirt.

I opened my mouth to speak but the woman in the red dress cutted my words. "Are you the manager of this cafe? Lahat ba ng empleyado rito walang alam? Simpleng bagay na lang hindi pa magawa!"

Bahagyang napakunot ang aking noo dahil sa asta niya. Hindi naman siya 'yung natapunan. That's why I don't understand the reason why she's mad. Oh, maybe she's with Hoax, that's why.

I saw Hoax's jaw clenched and he was about to speak when I gestured him to stop.

"Are you done, Ma'am?" I asked, directly looking at the woman. Pinigilan ko ang sariling maging sarkastiko.

"Done? I'm not yet done. How about you? Do you want me to fire you?" My brow automatically rose up on her. Nasa harapan ko siya habang si Hoax ay nasa gilid namin.

"May I ask who are you to fire me?" Marahang sambit ko.

"Laurene Robertson, is that enough-"

"Sorry, doesn't ring a bell," I shrugged as I cutted her words.

Her eyes widened as she cursed. "What the fuck!" She pointed her finger on me. "You shi-"

"Enough!" Hoax voice thundered. Natahimik ang buong cafe dahil doon. Maging ako ay natigilan dahil doon. I gazed around and saw some people looking at us.

Hoax's eyes darkened as he faced the woman. "You see, Miss, I appreciate your concern." Napalabi ako nang marinig ang malamig niyang boses. Marahan ngunit mariin ang pagsambit niya na para bang ipinapaintindi sa babae ang bawat salitang kanyang binibigkas. "What I don't appreciate is you pointing your finger and shouting at my wife." I bit my lower lips as I heard him called me his wife.

"And you'll fuck off if you still want to see the Robertson Firm operating the next days." His statement sent shiver down my spine. I swallow as I felt a big lump on my throat.

Lauren's caught off guard as she gasped. Hindi naman iyon binigyang pansin ni Hoax at bumaling sa akin.

"D-do you have spare clothes?" Tanong ko. Bahagya pang nangatal ang aking boses.

His eyes softened as he nodded. "Yeah, in my car."

"You can change in my office," Anyaya ko ngunit hindi siya sumagot.

I tilted my head as I waited for his answer. I saw the woman from the side of my eyes walked ayaw.

He licked his lower lip while directly looking at me. "Can we talk?" Marahan at nananantyang tanong niya.

"Change your clothes first."

Agad naman siyang tumango at tumalima. I looked at him as he walked out of the cafe.

Nagtungo ako sa counter at doon naghintay kay Hoax.

I served some customers while waiting for him. Nang makabalik ako sa counter ay nakita ko na ang palapit niyang bulto.

I waited for him as he walked towards my direction.

"There's my office," Sambit ko bago siya tuluyang iginiya sa aking opisina.

"Mauuna ka na, susunod ako kapag-" Napalabi ako. "Nakapagpalit ka na."

"Alright, it won't take long."

Agad ko naman siya tinangguan. He went inside his office while I waited for him outside. I walked back and forth as I remember what happened between him and Mirae. Hindi ko alam kung nagkabarilan ba sila o ano. Siguro naman ay hindi dahil wala namang nabanggit sila Creed.

"Astrid."

I startled when Hoax called my name. Hindi ko namalayan na naroon na siya sa aking likuran.

Nauna na akong pumasok sa aking opisina. I saw him closed the door when he entered.

"Let's fix this, Strid," Sambit niya matapos akong harapin.

"Are you planning something against Mirae?" I asked, ignoring what he said.

His lips formed in a thin line. "We're not talking about that."

Nahihiwagaan akong napatingin sa kanya. I heaved a sarcastic, audible breath. "Why? You're planning something, right? What is it? How about Vynz? What is he planning?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko.

His jaw clenched as he massaged his temples. "Astrid." He walked near me and tried holding my arm. Agad naman akong lumayo at hindi hinayaang dumikit sa akin ang kanyang kamay.

"A-are you sure your sister was raped?" Nananantyang tanong ko.

He slowly frowned and a deep furrow formed in his brow. "What are you implying?"

"Maybe she's not raped. B-baka nagkakamali ka lang, Hoax. Mirae won't do something like that."

"Hon, that won't be the reason of our argument. "

I repeatedly shook my head. "M-maybe that's not Mirae," I desperately muttered. "Don't hurt her, Hoax."

"She needs to pay for it, Astrid," Pinal na sambit ni Hoax. Bumagsak ang aking mga balikat at nangatal ang aking mga labi.

Agad ko siyang tinalikuran nang maramdaman ang pagsikip ng aking dibdib.

I heaved a deep sighed as I went out of my office. Narinig ko pa ang pagtawag ni Hoax sa aking pangalan ngunit hindi na ako nagabalang lingunin pa siya.

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